Tim Dierckxsens of Venly.
Tell us about yourself.
Tim Dierckxsens-Cofounder and CEO at Venly. I am passionate about growing the business vision and the potential of web3. A family man with a wife and baby.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
When you’re gaining traction, people think that success happened overnight. One VC bio I once read really put it well, and apparently, it is a quote from Elon Musk.
“Running a start-up is like chewing glass and staring into the abyss. After a while, you stop staring, but the glass chewing never ends. “
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
I hate this kind of question because it’s the journey that shapes you. If you think you can cut corners, then you’re wrong.
So if I need to provide a tip, learn from the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
I don’t think I stand out. I’m just out there building a business along with my business partners, and I try my very best day in and day out.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
I tend to be really good at organising everything in a quadrant of (Not) Important-(Not) Urgent.
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
We believe the concept of WEB3 technology has always been very disruptive and that it holds a lot of promise.
The ability to tap into the technology is/was just too much to make available. It’s my belief that technology can be used in many ways and will shape how we do business in the future.
Where do you see your business in five years?
As a tech provider servicing 1000s of businesses to leverage web3. A platform player, supporting many use cases in different industries.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
Building a business is a forever-changing discipline. There are no fixed rules, and the best practises of today may be obsolete tomorrow.
The bigger a company gets, the harder it is to adjust the sales if the wind is blowing from a different direction.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far.
I find this a difficult question because I don’t think of myself as successful, so it’s hard to share a story around that.
Don’t get me wrong; we have experienced quite some achievements over the years at Venly, from winning awards to being amongst the lucky few that successfully raised funds via venture capital to build the business.
If I have to answer the question, then I’d say I’m too forward-looking. By the time there is a success to celebrate, my mind is already focused on the next step of the journey.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
We’ve built up a strong product reputation. The product maturity helps our clients to build with the technology, and there is quite some word of mouth as well as showcasing by some of our top clients.
I wouldn’t consider myself a salesperson, but as CEO, I am, of course, painting a vision of how we can grow.
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
Work with other founders While being respectful to one another, your partners and employees should also be your most prominent critics.
And finally, what do you hope the future brings for both you personally and your business?
I hope to continue building and growing as a founder and as a person. My work is my hobby, but I also don’t forget that my work and hobby are not my only life worth living.
