What have you learnt? Episode 3 with Lymphaticas Valentina Triacca

What have you learnt? This is a question we’re putting to company founders from our portfolio. Because if you found a start-up, run a company, make investments or work in management, you are learning something new every single day. You also have to deal with new situations. And continue to develop new skills. To cover the latter aspect, we expanded the HTGF Academy this year to offer a comprehensive programme for company founders. And because we firmly believe in the power of peer-to-peer learning, our newsletter now includes the column: What have you learnt? Once a month, company founders from our portfolio share tips and advice in this column. Valentina Triacca, Co-Founder and COO of Lymphatica, joins us this time round.

Lymphatica Medtech develops medical systems for the treatment of lymphatic diseases. The first product, LymphoDRAIN, is the world’s first active lymphatic bypass for the treatment of chronic lymphedema, a debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

What was your last major learning that helped you grow personally?

Step back from time to time and look at things with a fresh mind. It sounds simple and obvious, but it is very difficult to detach yourself mentally from your start-up, even for a few days: turn off email alerts, take time for yourself and you’ll be a better person at home and at work.

What do you take away from your startup journey so far for the rest of your life?

The privilege of having a job that I love, and the pride of working towards a noble goal shared with a great team. During my start-up journey, I learned how to handle the stress and the unknowns, and to be able to fully focus on the bigger picture.

How important is learning for founders in general?

As a founder with a scientific background, you often lack knowledge in everyday administrative tasks and people management. You have to be ready to learn something new all the time and to quickly select the right resources to learn from.