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The pivot that saved Vinted

In his first-ever podcast interview, VCEO Adam Jay explains how a single counterintuitive decision turned a failing start-up into a €8bn powerhouse

Vinted wasn't an overnight success. The game-changing decision that saved it from failure? Making selling completely free. Adam Jay, CEO of Vinted's Marketplace arm, talks to Sir Richard Harpin about how he helped perfect the Vinted playbook and rolled it out into 26 markets worldwide – France was the first success story.

Adam reveals the mistakes made along the way, the pivots that mattered, and the leadership lessons every founder and CEO needs to hear. Drawing on his experience at Boston Consulting Group and Expedia, he breaks down how Vinted transformed from a struggling startup into a profitable, fast-scaling platform now valued at €8bn.

Themes include:

  • Why removing seller fees was the turning point for Vinted's growth
  • How to scale a marketplace business across multiple international markets
  • What CEOs can learn from failure, pivoting, and resilience
  • Why joining an external board of directors can sharpen your leadership
  • Vinted's mission to make second-hand items the first choice globally

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