40 Minute Mentor

Episode 302

October 29, 2025

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.

“You need to lead with transparency and empathy; it saves you so much trouble and makes life easier for everyone around you.”

Thomas Plantenga

Tune in to discover

➡️ Early years & the call that changed everything [07:30]

➡️ Realising Vinted was in trouble [16:00]

➡️ Spotting the first signs of growth [20:00]

➡️ The hardest leadership lessons [23:00]

➡️ The art of hiring at scale & psychological safety [27:00]

➡️ Launching Vinted Ventures [36:40]

Listen on

Helpful links

🔍 Find out more:

✨ Connect with Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-p-19651414/?originalSubdomain=lt

✨ More about Vinted: https://www.vinted.co.uk/

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