What a Serial Entrepreneur Learned About Living Longer | Tomaž Erjavec

What does it mean to truly succeed? For Tomaž Erjavec, the answer is simple: "Success is being alive and present."

In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, Jam and Dylan Pathirana sit down with Tomaž Erjavec, a Slovenian serial entrepreneur who has spent his career building at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and longevity. From spotting his first business opportunity at age 11, to creating entirely new markets in European health tech, to exploring what it takes to live a longer, healthier, more meaningful life, Tomaž brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial depth and genuine self-awareness to the conversation.

Tomaž shares the founding stories behind Doctrina and Oculus, the lessons learned from bootstrapping versus raising venture capital, and the cultural challenges of scaling startups across Europe. He opens up about the exit of Doctrina, his pivot into robotics and hospital disinfection, and what drew him into the world of longevity and health span. He also reflects on burnout, meditation retreats, the Harvard Business School experience, and why community is one of the most underrated drivers of a long life.
This is a conversation about building businesses, yes, but more than that it is about building a life worth living.

What we cover:
Early childhood influences and the first sparks of entrepreneurship
Creating markets where none existed in European healthcare
Bootstrapping vs. venture capital: the real tradeoffs
Scaling challenges and cultural differences across Europe
AI, robotics, and the future of healthcare innovation
Longevity, health span, and the lifestyle habits that matter most
Why community is crucial for long-term health
Lessons from Harvard Business School
Avoiding burnout and finding balance
Self-discovery through meditation and introspection
What Tomaž wants to be remembered for

Connect with Tomaž Erjavec:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomaze/

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Tomaž Erjavec
01:36 Defining success and personal fulfilment
02:42 Early influences and childhood in Slovenia
04:12 Early signs of entrepreneurship at age 11
05:06 First business ideas and family influence
07:31 Transition from nursing to business studies
08:30 Starting in healthcare with Doctrina
09:18 Identifying gaps in healthcare access
11:00 Creating markets in healthcare technology
12:47 Lessons from building Oculus and market creation
14:13 Fundraising journey: bootstrapping vs. venture capital
17:18 Scaling challenges and cultural differences in Europe
23:17 Understanding the business model of Doctrina
24:31 Leadership lessons and team management
28:41 The exit of Doctrina and subsequent ventures
29:44 Innovations in hospital disinfection with robotics
30:58 Evaluating new business opportunities
35:54 Getting into longevity and health span
37:40 Key lifestyle habits for longevity
40:24 The role of community in health and longevity
41:15 Exciting developments in AI and healthcare
43:17 Opportunities for innovation in health tech
44:17 Lessons from Harvard Business School
45:08 Avoiding burnout and maintaining balance
47:54 Self-discovery through meditation retreats
50:03 Values to instil in children
52:11 Reflections on his journey and success
56:11 Current focus: family, mentoring, and giving back
58:51 Advice for young entrepreneurs and risk-taking
59:09 What Tomaž wants to be remembered for
01:00:21 Involvement in diplomatic services
01:01:03 Hobbies and personal interests
01:01:59 Feeling successful and grateful
01:03:17 Traits of a successful life: learning, introspection, giving back
01:05:10 Final thoughts and gratitude

#QuestForSuccess #TomazErjavec #Entrepreneurship #Healthcare #Longevity #Leadership #Innovation #Slovenia #HealthTech #StartupJourney #SuccessMindset #PersonalGrowth #AIInHealthcare #BusinessPodcast #Inspiration

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