David von Rosen appeared on the Riding Unicorns podcast to speak about his approach to entrepreneurship, investing, risk, and building businesses across different sectors and markets.
The conversation covered David's career as a serial founder, including the creation of Lottoland and 25 Degrees, as well as his work through the VONROSEN investment office, which invests globally in fast-growth pre-IPO startups. The conversation explored how he identifies opportunities, why he prefers concentrated ownership over spreading capital too thinly, and how his experience as an operator shapes his investment decisions.
Von Rosen discussed his preference for backing genuinely new ideas, often taking meaningful stakes so he can be actively involved. He also shared his views on hiring, explaining why he values motivation and adaptability over conventional credentials, and reflected on how his attitude to risk has evolved over time.
The interview also touched on Dubai’s growing appeal as a hub for talent, capital, and entrepreneurial momentum. Alongside insights into his investment philosophy, von Rosen shared stories from his career, including the origins of Lottoland, his interest in Tytan Technologies, and how his fashion brand was worn by Steve Jobs during an Apple WWDC keynote.
Listen to the full episode here.
