Roxanne Varza is currently the startup lead for Microsoft in France, running both Microsoft Ventures Paris and Bizspark. Prior to Microsoft, Roxanne was Editor of TechCrunch France and has been a guest author for the likes of The Telegraph and Business Insider. Roxanne is also the Co-Founder of Tech.eu, one of the few publications to cover the European tech industry as a whole, with the brilliant Robin Wauters. If that wasn't enough Roxanne is also the Co-Founder of Girls In Tech both in Paris and London, which aims to raise the visibility of women in technology,entrepreneurship and innovation though monthly events, leadership programmes and much more. Roxanne has won a range of accolade including Top 30 Women Under 30 In Tech, Coolest 25 Women in Tech and 10 Women Shaking Up Tech In Their 30s.  P.S. If you are looking for an amazing new podcast on the Tech Scene in Europe, check out Tech.eu's new show here: Tech.eu Podcast #4   In Today's Episode You Will Learn: How Roxanne made her move into the tech industry and then made the move from TechCrunch to running Microsoft's Accelerator in Paris? What would Roxanne recommend to people in tech contemplating moving countries? What are the best and most effective ways to learn code from scratch? What is the mission at Microsoft Ventures? What is the deal? What are the benefits? In the 10 minute pitch to Roxanne, what does Microsoft want to hear? How does Microsoft determine product-market fit? What does the increase in US funds entering the European market suggest? What are the benefits for startups of having global investors? What can startups do to increase their media exposure in the sea of new startups? What do journalists look for in emails from founders? How can founders be successful through submitting guest posts? What are the best and most effective ways to learn code from scratch?   Items Mentioned in Today's Show: Roxanne's Fave Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Roxanne's Reading Material: News.me: Digg Fred Wilson: Investing In Startups In Europe Microsoft Ventures Alumni: Zocdoc: Find a Doctor, Xobni: Your Smarter Address Book Is Waiting As always you can follow Harry, The Twenty Minute VC and Roxanne on Twitter right here!

Mike Jones is the Founder and CEO at Science Inc. a disruptive media, marketing and commerce company that creates, invests, acquires and scales successful digital businesses. Their incredible portfolio includes the likes of Medium, DollarShaveClub and DogVacay and their leadership is responsible for an astonishing 12 acquisitions and over $1bn in exits. Prior to Science Inc, Mike was the CEO at Myspace, where he was responsible for the relaunch, one of the most high-profile turn-around challenges in the industry, before selling MySpace to SpecificMedia on behalf of NewsCorp. Mike is also an active early stage investor having personally invested in over 30 startup businesses including Klout, Betterworks, Formspring, ShoeDazzle to name a few. In Today's Episode You Will Learn: 1.) How Mike began his entrepreneurial career, how MySpace came about then how Mike made the move to Science Inc? 2.) What is the mission at Science, what does Science provide and how do they differ from the likes of YC and Techstars? 3.) Science have a specific methodology to identify the best startups and the best sectors. What is involved in this methodology? Has it changed since the start of Science? 4.) What can a startup founder do or show you to impress you? Are there any real red flags for you when meeting startup founders? What are the commonalities of the great founders? 5.) What is Science's involvement with the companies, what are their key value adds at Science? 6.) On Twist Mike said ‘growth is the most important thing, without growth there is no money’? So what at Science how do they approach growth and what are the challenges posed by this need for growth? Items Mentioned in Todays Episode: Mike's Fave Book: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do by Chris Duhigg Mike's Fave News Source: FlipBoard