Founder Mode: Whatever it takes to get the job done

In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Daniel Graetzer, the former CEO and Founder of MaximBet and Carousel Group.

Dan shares a raw, unfiltered account of the "tumbleweed effect" that comes with rapid scaling, eye-watering valuations, and the immense pressure of managing a high-profile brand in the US market.

The conversation explores the "staring into the abyss" reality of leadership, the critical distinction between Founder Mode and Manager Mode, and the high price of isolation.

Guest Bio

Daniel Graetzer has spent the past two decades working across the full company journey, from building and scaling businesses to transactions, restructurings and exits, across tech, AI, iGaming and digital media.

Over that time, he has led strategy, M&A, commercial growth and international expansion across Europe, the US, LatAm and Australia.

He has worked with founders, operators and investors through growth phases, complex deals and high-pressure strategic decisions.

Today, his focus is on advisory work, investing and supporting early-stage companies.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 - Raising money is just the start, not the celebration

04:00 - Sustainable High Performance

07:30 - Burnout and the "too little, too late" reality check

10:30 - Pivot to MaximBet and Nicki Minaj

14:00 - The $250M valuation that felt like a "momentum trap"

17:30 - Bullishness vs. Kidding Yourself

22:00 - How stress clouds strategic lateral thinking

26:00 - Empathy vs. Sympathy in the executive suite

30:00 - Stoicism and Values

34:00 - Mindfulness for High Performers

39:00 - Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode

Memorable Quotes

• "I don't think people should celebrate raising money... it's actually just the start of the next step."
• "Owning a business is like staring into the abyss while eating glass."
• "The train just kept getting bigger... the stakes were bigger... and at some point the macro started really going against the growth story."
• "Founder mode says: results over process any day of the week."
• "Mindfulness has had a really bad CMO."

Key Takeaways

• Raising Money is a Responsibility, Not a Win: Celebrating a fundraise can distract from the fact that anxiety and investor demands start the moment the cheque is cut.
• Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode: The traditional MBA paradigm of "hiring good people and getting out of the way" can be fatal for early-stage companies; founders must stay close to the truth of the business.
• The High Cost of Isolation: High-performers often avoid burdening family or friends with complex corporate problems, making professional support and mastermind groups essential.
• Reframing Mindfulness: Tools like breathing exercises and journaling shouldn't be seen as ways to "disconnect," but as biological "power-ups" to sustain elite executive performance.
• Decision Quality Erosion: Chronic stress narrows a leader's perspective into binary choices; maintaining a "cool head" is a requirement for creative, lateral problem-solving.

Follow Daniel Graetzer:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/graetzer/

https://newtonlorenz.com/

Follow Leo Judkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/

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This episode is sponsored by Sumsub, the leading identity verification provider for iGaming operators. Learn more at https://sumsub.link/8gu