Thomas Plantenga on taking Vinted from near bankruptcy to a €5 billion valuation

Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Thomas Plantenga, the CEO of Vinted – Europe’s largest secondhand marketplace and Lithuania’s first-ever unicorn. 

What started as a small Lithuanian startup in 2008 has evolved into a fast-growth business with millions of users, 2,000+ employees and a €5 billion valuation. 

In today’s conversation, Thomas shares the ins and outs of his journey with Vinted, how it became such a global success, the biggest leadership lessons he learnt along the way and what’s next for the business with the launch of Vinted Ventures. 

If you’re a founder or operator navigating scaleup challenges, this episode is a masterclass in turnaround strategy, culture building and leading with humility.