The Startup Queen Who Took on Iran’s one of the Toughest Tech Competitions - Nazanin Daneshvar

Nazanin Daneshvar is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Iran and the Middle East. She founded Iran's first online supermarket, Meydoonak, in 2009 and Takhfifan, Iran's first and largest discount platform. Takhfifan has now millions of users and is filed for an IPO. In Iran, Nazanin is not only an entrepreneur but also a national hero as she is one of the first female founders in the technology sector and has played a very crucial role in shaping the startup ecosystem. Her Startup acquired Netbarg, its largest competitor, in 2019 after almost a decade of intense competition. Today, Nazanin is an investor in Europe, investing in promising founders in the technology sector and helping them scale. She used to invest with EQT Ventures for a while and now focuses more on her own angel investments.

In this episode, we talk about:
✅ Challenges woman face in Iran especially in business✅ Her journey from studying in Iran to moving to Europe, going back, founding multiple startups✅ Scaling startups in Iran and the challenges but also opportunities there✅ How she made Takhfifan sustaining customers while similar models in Europe and US have failed✅ The skills future founders need to succeed✅ Her transition to an VC Investor and the challenges in that processThis Episode is hosted by Nour Idelbi and Ahmad Zandnia.00:00 – Introduction02:02 – Early Motivation – Family, culture, and proving herself in a male-dominated society05:12 – Founder Mindset – From problem-solving to entrepreneurship.07:52 – First Startup Attempt – Iran’s first online supermarket—success and failure.13:30 – Lessons from Failure – Market timing and business fundamentals.16:32 – Family as Co-Founders – The pros and cons of working with her sister.19:20 – Returning to Iran – Why she went back to build something bigger.24:12 – Challenges as a Female Founder – Navigating bias and credibility issues.28:12 – Has Iran’s Startup Scene Changed? – What’s different now for women in tech.32:50 – Building Trust in E-Commerce – Educating businesses and consumers.37:22 – Handling Crises – Economic instability, scaling, and regulations.41:51 – Leaving Iran – Her decision to move to Germany.45:29 – Staying Connected – Supporting Iran’s tech ecosystem from abroad.49:27 – Toughest Leadership Moments – Layoffs, crisis management, and resilience.53:47 – Becoming an Investor – The shift from founder to VC.57:22 – Women in VC & Leadership – The need for more diversity in tech.01:03:22 – Final Advices – Lessons on resilience, networking, and soft skills.Subscribe on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/42ijB4A...Subscribe on Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast...Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/roots2disrupt?igsh=MXJ3eW9sZnVoa2Vibg==Visit our Website:https://youngfounders.network/Visit Nazanin Daneshvar’s LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazdnr?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appVisit Nazanin Daneshvar's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@controlbcast⁩  #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Startup #Business #Founder #IranianEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #TechFounder #FemaleEntrepreneur #StartupJourney