Darya Kamkalova is an entrepreneur, angel investor, podcast host, community builder, speaker, digital nomad, and tech industry professional with fourteen years of experience in data products and marketplaces. When she hit her glass ceiling in the corporate world, she launched Venturing Women – now an ecosystem that supports women founders, founders-to-be, and investors of all genders. Read our interview to learn more about Darya’s mission, check out the advice for founders she shared with us, and find out what is it about the startup world that particularly attracts her.

1. Hi Darya, thank you very much for agreeing to do the interview. Could you tell us about your background and how you got connected to the startup world?

It all started with a New Year’s resolution — to improve my German. I committed to attending industry events in German and, to make it less painstaking, picked a topic that excited me: startups. I set a quota — one event per month — but soon found myself at two or three meetups a week. That massively expanded my network and offered invaluable insights into the ecosystem. 

Later, I started mentoring at startup accelerators, sharing my expertise in data products and marketplaces. Then came my podcast, Venturing Women, where I interviewed female founders and investors to spotlight role models and inspire more women to build startups. This passion project grew into a business and a thriving ecosystem.

2. You’re the founder of Venturing Women, a platform for female founders, founders-to-be, and investors of all genders supporting diversity in tech and the venture capital industry. Tell us about your mission.

Entrepreneurs shape the world we live in — yet, most of our products and services are still built by men, for men. In Europe, women are 2.5 times less likely to start a business than men, and they make up just above 10% of startup founders. This means that countless ideas go untapped, real needs stay unmet, and customers remain unsatisfied.

My goal is to change that. At least 30% of startup founders should be women by 2030. I want every woman with an idea and ambition to dare to build a successful tech business and receive the necessary support along the way. 

More women among founders means more innovation, better products, and stronger economies.  This is not just about diversity — it’s about unlocking a massive, overlooked market opportunity. It is about tapping into humanity’s full creative and economic potential.

3. You’re an entrepreneur, angel investor, podcast host, community builder, speaker, digital nomad, and tech industry professional with fourteen years of experience with data products and marketplaces. What is it about the startup world that particularly attracts you?

The startup world forces you to be resourceful, adaptable, and constantly learning. I thrive in environments where I have to figure things out as I go. 

But what keeps me hooked is the people. Founders push ideas into existence, see opportunities where others see roadblocks, and shatter the status quo. For me, there’s nothing more profound than seeing human imagination and willpower change reality.

And then there’s the speed. In a corporate job, an idea can take months — sometimes years — to execute, often thanks to endless approvals and red tape. In a startup, you test, iterate, and pivot within weeks, sometimes days. That level of intensity, ownership, autonomy, and direct impact is addictive.

Startups are messy, unpredictable, and full of setbacks. Yet, they offer an unmatched opportunity to push your vision into existence and create lasting impact.

If you have a big idea but are hesitating to take the leap, go for it. The world needs bold, unconventional thinkers, and you might just be one of them.

4. After years of working with startups, which advice would you share with founders reading this interview?

• Know when to listen — and when to ignore advice. Everyone will have an opinion about your startup. Filter noise from signal, design a decision-making process, and trust it — not just your gut! Make sure the advice comes from people with real experience.
  
• Your network is your superpower. Your first hires, first customers, first investors — even volunteers — will likely come from your network. Build it before you need it.
  
• Harness the power of content and social media. You don’t have to be an influencer — no founder has time for that. But you can’t ignore the impact of visibility and storytelling. Share your journey, insights, and expertise. It attracts customers, talent, and investors and creates growth opportunities.
  
• Protect your energy and your relationship with your Co-Founders. Burnout and founder conflicts kill more startups than competition does. Find ways to recharge, set boundaries, and communicate openly.
  
• Fundraising is not validation. Raising money doesn’t mean your startup is great — it just means you convinced investors. Real validation comes from paying customers who love your product.

5. What do you predict for the startup ecosystem in Berlin?​ What are the challenges and the opportunities the ecosystem is facing?

Berlin’s startup ecosystem has matured a lot over the past decade. We’ve gone from a bootstrapping hub to a city with unicorns, top-tier VCs, and strong government support. But with maturity come new challenges.

• DeepTech & AI: With strong universities and talent, Berlin could be a European leader in AI and deep tech. But we need better pathways to turn research into businesses.
  
• Female founders & diverse teams: More investors are waking up to the ROI of diverse teams. If we build stronger funding and support structures, Berlin could set the standard for inclusive entrepreneurship.
  
• Bureaucracy: Germany’s regulatory landscape is slow, complex, and, at times, sometimes outright hostile to migrant founders and employees. If we don’t fix this, we risk losing out on top global talent.
  

Thank you very much for sharing your story and insights. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

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