Preserve start-up spirit at scale: Techstars’ Maëlle Gavet

Early Ventures

Maëlle Gavet began her entrepreneurial journey at a young age, starting her first business at 16 and later founding an event planning business in Moscow by age 20. Her early ventures were marked by a blend of fear and excitement, which she saw as a signal to pursue opportunities with potential for growth 1. Gavet transitioned from consulting to a leadership role at Ozon, a small e-commerce company in Russia, where she quickly rose to become CEO 2. Her entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to embrace challenges were key to her success.

   

Leadership Roles

In her leadership role at Ozon, Maëlle Gavet faced the challenge of growing an e-commerce company in a complex market. She emphasized integrity and refused to compromise her values, insisting on running a clean business without resorting to bribes 3. Her efforts led to the creation of Russia's first nationwide retail delivery network, a significant achievement in a country with vast geographical challenges 4. Gavet believes in balancing technology with human elements, a philosophy that guided her success at Ozon.

   

Joining Techstars

Upon joining Techstars, Maëlle Gavet redefined the company's vision, emphasizing its role as a pre-seed investor focused on bridging opportunity gaps for overlooked founders. She believes that talent and ideas are evenly distributed, but opportunities are not, and aims to address this imbalance 5. Gavet was drawn to Techstars by its potential to support entrepreneurs, a resource she wished she had during her own early ventures 6. Her leadership continues to focus on empowering founders to achieve success.