Dash Markova is a seasoned founder and the visionary behind Klimatic Group. Her journey is a masterclass in professional evolution – transitioning from the corporate world to being among the first to shape the coworking movement with Space Shack, and now focusing on the industrial deployment of climate technologies.

In this conversation, we explore her “Dash Too Much” philosophy, the radical humanism of the European startup scene, and why she believes the current macroeconomic shift in Berlin is paving the way for a “stealth wave” of resilient new founders. Join us as we dive into why agency, customer empathy, and getting back to revenue basics are the keys to surviving the current market.

• Hi Dash, thank you for agreeing to do the interview. Could you please let us know how you first got connected to the startup world?
  

It started in 2014. After a few years in the corporate world, I began encountering startup founders during my MBA studies. They would come in as guest speakers or project partners, and I was immediately struck by their passion. It was a refreshing contrast to the status-oriented mindset I’d seen in large organizations.

At the time, I didn’t think I could be a founder myself, but I wanted that energy to rub off on me. I started a small coworking space that eventually grew into Space Shack. Suddenly, the transformation was complete: I wasn’t just surrounded by founders; I was one. A few founding projects and over 1,000 founders later, here I am.

• You’re the Founder of Klimatic Group, which helps climate technologies scale, beyond R&D and into real deployment. Tell us about your mission.

Before Klimatic Group, I built accelerators and venture studios. I noticed that deeply innovative, high-impact startups don’t struggle with training; they struggle with access to capital: both investor money and customer money. While Leapfunder focuses on the former, Klimatic Group focuses on the latter.

One of the core issues in climate tech is the “green premium”—a classic chicken-and-egg problem where new, better solutions cost more because they haven’t reached scale, but they can’t reach scale because they cost more. We aim to break that cycle by helping startups convert and retain B2B clients, providing the market credibility they need to cross the “valley of death.”

• You also coach and train founders and intrapreneurs on scaling impact. Tell us more. What is it about entrepreneurship that particularly attracts you?

Before Klimatic Group, I built my personal brand around the name “Dash Too Much,” and that phrase actually captures what I love about entrepreneurship. It’s a bit too much: too ambitious, too obsessed, too unwilling to accept the status quo. It attracts people with a rare combination of passion and the drive to execute. Entrepreneurs have a unique level of agency. They pair high-impact action with a genuine curiosity toward real needs. 

What gives me the most hope right now is European founders. There’s a purpose-driven humanism here; a desire to build things that make the world better, not just richer. In an era of political cynicism, that feels like a radical act.

• Please share three pieces of advice for founders that are vital for a startup’s survival.

First: don’t overcomplicate. You only need to do three things: sell, build, and get resources (funding and team). In exactly that order.

Second: Love your customer, not just your product. Many purpose-driven founders think, “They should care about our green cement!” But customers care about their KPIs and how they look to their boss. You have to understand the human on the other side of the desk.

Third: qualify your customers. Don’t waste time on people who don’t have the budget or a real need. Become a detective, figure out whether someone is a genuine match before you invest hours trying to convince them.

• Tell us about the Berlin ecosystem. What are the opportunities? What are the challenges? What do you predict for the near future?

The current landscape is defined more by macroeconomic shifts than city-specific hurdles. As corporates freeze budgets and consumers enter a “waiting mode,” the resulting uncertainty is compounded by fluctuating energy prices and a decline in public funding. However, this pressure has created a unique opportunity: a sudden influx of top-tier talent is now available to build high-performance teams. As traditional sectors like real estate and energy “feel the heat,” there is a massive opening for founders who can offer tangible modernization.

Looking ahead, we are entering a “back-to-basics” era where AI hype will settle into a practical toolset rather than a silver bullet. A “stealth wave” of new ventures is already emerging from 2025 restructurings, as experienced professionals pivot toward entrepreneurship. This shift marks the end of valuations based on vague promises; the focus has returned to the fundamentals of revenue, sales, and real customers. As the market corrects, fantasy multiples will take a backseat to sustainable, revenue-driven growth.

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

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