
Beginner's Mind
Blueprints for Builders and Investors
Hosted by Christian Soschner
From pre-seed to post-IPO, every company—especially in deep tech, biotech, AI, and climate tech—lives or dies by the frameworks it follows.
On Beginner’s Mind, Christian Soschner uncovers the leadership principles behind the world’s most impactful companies—through deep-dive interviews, strategic book reviews, and patterns drawn from history’s greatest business, military, and political minds.
With over 200 interviews, panels, and livestreams, the show ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the #1 deep tech podcast.
With 35+ years across M&A, company building, board roles, business schools, ultrarunning, and martial arts, Christian brings a rare lens:
What it really takes to turn breakthrough science into business—how to grow it, lead it, and shape the world around it.
🎙 Expect each episode to deliver:
- Founder & Investor Blueprints: How breakthrough technologies scale from lab to IPO
- Historical & Biographical Frameworks: Timeless playbooks from the world's great builders
- Leadership & Communication Mastery: Tools to inspire, persuade, and lead at scale
Whether you're building the next biotech success, investing in AI, or leading a climate tech company through hypergrowth—this podcast gives you the edge.
Listen in. Apply what matters. Build companies that last.
📬 Join the newsletter & community: https://lsg2g.substack.com/
Beginner's Mind
#50: Dimitrios Tzalis - Insights Into Building CROs in Asia and in Europe
In this conversation, we discuss the development of the European Pharma Eco-System, different business models, and what it takes to lead a company to success.
Today’s speaker is Dimitrios Tzalis.
In the 90s, he received a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Chicago, and a Master of Science in Biochemistry from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana USA.
1998 he returned to Germany to found Taros Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG.
Questions we discuss in the show:
- When and why did Dimitrios decide to found a novel company?
- How did Dimitrios find the Right Business Model?
- How did the industry evolve in India and Germany over the last two decades?
- How do you see the future of the life science industry globally after the push that it got with Sars Cov 2?
- And more…
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:25 Introduction Dimitrios Tzalis
05:45 How to Start a Life Science Company During the Dot.com Bubble Times
08:15 The Decision to Start a Company Rather Than Applying for a Job
10:15 How did the European Life Science Eco-System Look Like in the 1990s?
12:54 Where to Get Inspiration for Writing a Business Plan?
16:54 The Structure of the Pharmaceutical Industry in the 90s/early 2000s
20:15 The Life Science Economy
22:55 The Different Mindsets to Bringing an Idea to Market
31:05 How to Fund Early-Stage Development Companies
36:30 From Founding a Company in Germany to India
41:10 How Technology Changed Collaboration in the Last Two Decades
44:25 Development of Cultural Similarities and Differences Between India and Germany Since 2000
47:00 Is there a Global Convergence of Business Culture?
52:17 The Pharma Industry in India – 2000-2021
55:20 The Future of the Pharmaceutical Industry in India
57:40 How Are Problems Approached in India vs. Europe?
01:01:20 How Entrepreneurs Approach Problems
01:03:15 Entrepreneurship & Passion
01:06:00 The Role of Passion
01:10:20 The Role of Leadership
01:12:26 Teamplay in Companies
01:14:54 Life Science Business Models
01:20:10 The Private and The Public Life Science World
01:25:00 The Future of the Life Science Industry
01:42:50 The European Culture Around Entrepreneurship
01:50:00 Short-Term Thinking and Long Term Planning
01:54:30 What is the Most Important Advice to First Time Founders
Follow Dimitrios Tzalis and Taros:
Shownotes:
Podcast Links:
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