On December 4th, Lauder Business School had the privilege of welcoming Wolfgang Platz, founder of Tricentis and Katharo Ventures, one of Austria’s most influential tech entrepreneurs. In an inspiring Fireplace Talk, Mr. Platz walked students through his journey—starting as a young physicist-turned-software-developer, becoming the architect of a new paradigm in test automation, and eventually building Austria’s first unicorn.
Beyond the story of Tricentis, Mr. Platz offered something far more valuable: a set of principles, mindsets, and hard-earned lessons that every aspiring entrepreneur and business leader should take to heart. His message was clear—success requires meaning, discipline, excellence, and the courage to evolve, especially in a world being reshaped by AI.
Here are the most powerful takeaways for our students.
- Entrepreneurship Starts with Meaning, Not Money
Platz stressed that founders often obsess over “the next big idea,” but ideas are abundant. What matters is why you pursue one. A meaningful mission—solving a real problem for real people—must come first.
He reminded students that creativity is rarely about invention; it’s about connecting existing things in new ways. Execution, not novelty, separates winners from dreamers.
- Validate Before You Build Anything
One of Mr. Platz’s biggest warnings was about rushing into product development. Many startups jump straight to building an MVP—but this skips crucial steps. He outlined a disciplined validation funnel:
- Is the problem worth solving?
- Is the market big enough?
- Will the go-to-market strategy work?
Only after these are confirmed should coding begin. “You should be able to sell the product before it even exists,” he said.
- Master the Art of Selling—Emotion First, Features Later
When Tricentis expanded internationally, it struggled to win the US market. The breakthrough came not from changing the product, but from changing the message.
Mr. Platz summed it up brilliantly: “Don’t sell radio buttons… sell the music.”
Customers don’t buy features—they buy outcomes, confidence, and peace of mind. Learning to sell emotion is an essential skill for every student, regardless of their future field.
- Scaling a Company Requires Reinvention
Crossing the famous “technology adoption chasm” is where many startups fail. Mr. Platz openly shared how Tricentis hit this wall and nearly stagnated before rethinking its strategy, leadership, and storytelling.
He emphasized that scaling requires different skills than starting. The founder who thrives in a 10-person company may not be the right leader for a 1,000-person one—and that accepting this is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- Artificial Intelligence Will Reward Excellence—Not Entry Level
Perhaps the most sobering part of the discussion centered on AI. Mr. Platz described AI as a productivity amplifier, not an equalizer. Senior developers become dramatically more productive, while junior roles are at risk of disappearing entirely.
This shift raises the bar for employability. Students cannot rely on basic technical skills alone—they must cultivate what AI cannot imitate:
- Connecting the dots
- Asking the right questions
- Understanding context
- Creating new perspectives
With Agentic AI on the horizon—systems capable of autonomously completing complex tasks—the disruption will only accelerate.
- Wise Career Planning Is Sequential, Not Simultaneous
Mr. Platz offered a clear, memorable framework for approaching one’s career:
- 20–30: learn deeply
- 30–40: take risks
- 40–50: maximize productivity using accumulated skills
- 50+: teach, mentor, and give back
Networking, he added, is not about collecting friends—it’s about knowing who people are and activating those connections when needed.
- Discipline, Focus, and Sharing Are the Real Multipliers
Behind every entrepreneurial success story lies an often invisible truth: relentless work. Mr. Platz spoke frankly about 60–80 hour weeks, unwavering focus, and the necessity of saying “no” to distractions.
He also challenged the common fear of giving away equity or control. “To multiply, you must share,” he said—not just ownership, but responsibilities, opportunities, and credit.
Final Reflection: Excellence Is the Only Sustainable Strategy
Mr. Platz closed with a message that resonated deeply: AI is raising the bar for everyone, and the only defense is continuous learning and personal excellence. But amid the intensity of entrepreneurship, he reminded students that what ultimately matters are the relationships we build—friends, family, mentors, and the teams who share the journey.
Lauder Business School was honored to host Wolfgang Platz, and our students walked away not only inspired, but also armed with a roadmap for navigating an ever-changing business landscape.
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