🌍 Founder Friday with Rob Kramer: Own the Chaos, Build the Dream

Watch the full episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7L53CdpRt0

When you meet Rob Kramer, you're not just meeting a founder—you’re meeting a force. In this Founder Friday episode, we go deep with Rob, the Austrian-born, Ireland-schooled, Portugal-based co-founder of Apollo Medica and the unapologetically bold bakery brand La Putaria. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity.

For first-time founders wondering if now is the right time to build an MVP or start validating their idea, Rob’s advice is refreshingly clear: start now, perfect later. From a near-fatal accident to building businesses across three continents, Rob has lived many lives—and in each one, he’s followed opportunity with heart and hustle.

🎮 From GTA Dreams to Global Startups

Rob’s entrepreneurial spark came from an unlikely source: video games. Growing up obsessed with Grand Theft Auto, he realised that life didn’t have to follow the script. Combine that restless ambition with the inspiration of fellow Austrian Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Rob set out to rewrite the rules.

While still a student in Dublin, he launched a pastry wholesale business inspired by a Hungarian franchise. He had no team, no warehouse, and no logistics—and yet, he made it work. His early scrappy hustle is the stuff every first-time founder can relate to: pitching Spar with a borrowed PDF, juggling uni and a part-time job, and building from sheer drive.

💥 Agility is a Founder Superpower

What makes Rob truly exceptional is his agility. He doesn’t just pivot ideas—he pivots countries. From Ireland to Portugal to Brazil, Rob adapts to local culture, regulation, and markets, while staying laser-focused on business growth. “Life pivots,” he says. “If you’re paying attention, you pivot with it.”

That mindset is what helped him launch La Putaria, a viral bakery concept that blends bold branding with genuinely great food. When it took off in Portugal, he teamed up with his Brazilian girlfriend—not for convenience, but because of her relentless work ethic and complementary skillset. Today, they co-run the company across borders, blending personal and professional lives in a way that works.

👯‍♀️ The Co-Founder Equation

Rob is refreshingly candid about co-founder dynamics. He’s had the good, the bad, and the catastrophic—but what he’s learned is this: a great co-founder isn’t just someone you like. It’s someone who shows up, brings their superpowers to the table, and complements your own.

His current co-founder (and partner) is all of those things. They’ve built a way of working that many founders would envy—balancing clarity, curiosity, and candour.

“You don’t have to like them. What matters is contribution. That force multiplier is gold.”

🧠 Own the Chaos

So what’s Rob’s best advice for first-time founders?

“Start now. Keep your job if you need to, work on your idea at night. But stop waiting. There’s no such thing as perfect. Own the chaos.”

Whether you're building your MVP in Lisbon, validating your startup idea in London, or considering investing in early-stage ventures in Boston or Singapore—this episode is a blueprint for resilience and reinvention.

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Watch the full episode - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrMrateB2yVW18RTKS0xhQRGMoMf4WeYa&si=ygBdia4IIXHo00vA

Listen to the podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1636093