E90: How a Backpack Hustle Led to Ryte, Semrush & Europe’s Biggest Founders Festival | Andy Bruckschlöegl

In this episode of Perception Paradox, Zivile Einikyte sits down with Andy Bruckschlöegl, whose entrepreneurial path started selling backpacks on eBay at age 12 and led him to co-found Ryte—recently acquired by Semrush—and Europe’s largest founders’ festival, Bits & Pretzels.

Andy shares:

• How humble beginnings turned into ambitious ventures
• The secret sauce behind designing events that foster real community and serendipity
• Navigating acquisitions, co-founder dynamics, and the grind of balancing multiple ventures
• Why the toughest moments taught him more than the highs—and why persistence is everything
  

Whether you’re building a startup, a community, or just want to crack open authentic founder wisdom—this one delivers.

Connect with Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruckschloegl/ More about Bits & Pretzels: https://www.bitsandpretzels.com/ 

🎙️ Hosted by Zivile Einikyte:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

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🎵 Music by Luca Nioi: 

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:36 The Birth of Bits and Pretzels

06:58 From Breakfast to Oktoberfest: The Evolution of an Event

09:54 Networking Challenges and Solutions

12:41 The Importance of Community in Entrepreneurship

15:29 Attracting Big Names: The Secret Sauce

18:30 The Shift Towards Business Value

21:26 Building an International Audience

23:42 The Role of Founders in Shaping Events

26:28 The Future of Bits and Pretzels

29:40 Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

36:21 The Importance of Role Models in Entrepreneurship

37:57 Finding Community and Support

39:54 Balancing Personal Problems with Market Needs

43:46 The Value of Co-Founders

46:25 Navigating Conflict in Co-Founder Relationships

50:27 Managing Multiple Ventures

52:05 Reflecting on Past Decisions

57:51 Transitioning After Acquisition

59:42 Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs