In 2010, I launched Cogiteo with one conviction: in tech, success doesn’t just depend on the algorithm or patent, but above all on the men and women driving the project. Today, after supporting 1,600 entrepreneurs and teams (with a satisfaction rate of 4.78/5), I realize just how right that intuition was. Here are 5 key lessons from these years in the field, and why people remain the true lever of innovation.
1️⃣ Communication: the #1 fatal risk for a startup
95% of the failures I observe don’t stem from technical bugs, but from misunderstandings, unsaid things, or conflicts between co-founders, investors, or teams. A startup can have the world’s best technology: if its members don’t talk, don’t listen, or don’t manage their disagreements, the project collapses. Concrete example: An AI scale-up almost went under due to a latent conflict between two co-founders about product vision – resolved just in time through targeted mediation work.
👉 Question to ask yourself: What topics are you avoiding discussing as a team?
2️⃣ Leadership: charisma doesn’t make a good captain
Successful founders aren’t necessarily the most eloquent or visible. They’re the ones who: ✅ Clarify their vision (and make it understandable to all) ✅ Delegate without losing direction (knowing how to let go without losing control) ✅ Communicate with authenticity (even when it’s uncomfortable) Case study: An introverted but highly structured CEO led his DeepTech to a €50M raise in 3 years… thanks to radical transparency and clear decision-making processes.
3️⃣ Team cohesion: values before résumés
I’ve seen teams of geniuses self-destruct for lack of shared values, and “average” profiles on paper create unicorns because they shared a strong “why.” Example: A Biotech with junior profiles outperformed better-funded competitors, simply because everyone knew why they got up in the morning.
💡 Tip: Organize a workshop to define 3 non-negotiable values and align all your processes around them.
4️⃣ Preventive mediation > crisis management
The best teams integrate feedback rituals (e.g., monthly retrospectives) and treat tensions as warning signals, not problems. Result: Less turnover, more agility, and bulletproof resilience.
📌 Tested tools: “Emotional check-ins” in meetings, or a dedicated Slack channel for “sensitive topics.”
5️⃣ The founder: first client of their own coaching
Impossible to lead a team if you don’t master your emotions, stress, or biases. Self-work (mentoring, therapy, meditation…) isn’t a luxury: it’s a business investment. Key figure: 80% of the founders I support identify their own stress management as their main performance lever.
The paradox of technological innovation
The more complex the tech (DeepTech, BioTech, MedTech…), the more critical human issues become. Why? Because transforming a discovery into a high-performing organization requires:
🔹 Absolute trust between members
🔹 Ability to manage collective uncertainty
🔹 Constant alignment on the mission
“In tech startups, people are both the most valuable asset… and the most fragile.”
What about you?
What human challenges are you facing in your projects? Share your experiences in the comments. 🔍 Cogiteo – European Commission Accredited (EIC Accelerator) – Tech Startup Coaching Specialist #HumanInnovation #StartupCoaching #TechLeadership #DeepTech #Management #TeamCohesion #Communication