In a world where artificial intelligence, automation, and technological innovation set the pace, investing in startups has become a mix of vision, risk, and human connection.

Carles Reina, the first investor in ElevenLabs—one of the most promising voice AI startups valued at €3.3 billion—makes it clear in his conversation with Jon Hernández: the deciding factor is not just the idea, the product, or even the market.
It’s the team.

“It has to be a very technical team, with a lot of energy, and above all, the mental flexibility to change direction at any moment and to accept other people’s opinions.”

The quote may seem simple, but it holds one of the most important truths in the startup ecosystem: a startup is, above all, a bet on people—on their ability to learn fast, adapt, and stay humble without losing ambition.

🤝 Investment with Commitment

Another key point Reina highlights is the active involvement of the investor. Far from the image of the business angel who provides funding and vanishes, he advocates for a role of support, guidance, and proximity:

“It’s not just about investing money; it’s about getting involved. Helping however you can, staying close, adding value. Not just waiting from the sidelines for the company to succeed.”

This vision humanizes the investment world and turns it into a partnership, rather than a mere transaction.

🔍 Instinct, Context, and Purpose

Investing in early stages also requires a lot of instinct, Reina admits. Startups often lack solid metrics or past performance data. That’s why the market context, the state of the world, and—above all—the conviction of the team weigh more than any spreadsheet.

And that opens up an important question for every founder:

Are you building something that makes sense not only on paper but in the world we live in?

🎯 Final Reflection

In times where ideas are abundant but solid teams are rare, Reina’s message is a clear compass:
energy, technique, humility, flexibility… and people.

Because in the end, as he bluntly puts it:

“I invest in teams. Everything else can change, but if the team is good, they’ll know how to navigate it.”

🌱 At Talent Paradise…

At Talent Paradise, we also believe that everything starts (and is sustained) with people. We don’t work with “resources”—we work with real teams, with energy, technical skills and, above all, the mental flexibility Carles Reina speaks about: the ability to adapt, listen, and learn.

We support the people within startups, scaleups, and established companies in that internal journey that doesn’t always show up in the pitch deck:
📍 developing leadership
📍 building the culture that holds the vision
📍 defining the structure that gives clarity to growth
📍 and creating feedback loops that turn mistakes into value.

Investing in talent isn’t just about hiring it.
It’s about nurturing it, developing it, and keeping it awake.

And that’s exactly where we come in.