This millennial AI CEO works with Ebay and has just raised millions for her start-up—unlike tech bros she doesn’t use futuristic gadgets calling them mostly ‘useless’
Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, broad responsibilities, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today we meet the co-founder and CEO of Faircado, Evolena de Wilde.
The 31-year-old entrepreneur based out of Berlin got her start in the high-energy startup world, working at burgeoning tech companies for five years before starting her own venture. She’s held professional stints at airline passenger compensation company Airhelp, and community-centric skincare brand HelloBody.
In 2022, she launched AI-powered second-hand shopping assistant Faircado with her friend Ali Nezamolmaleki. The advanced tech scans product images to connect users with the best second-hand purchasing options, aggregating information from different online marketplaces. It was voted the Product of the Day on Black Friday in 2023, and in 2024 the company closed a €3 million funding round led by World Fund, Europe’s leading climate VC.
Faircado has since become one the largest second-hand shopping tools in Europe through its partnerships with eBay, Vestiaire Collective, Sellpy, Back Market, and more. The AI function now aggregates more than 100 million offers across electronics, books, fashion, and more. De Wilde’s value of sustainability comes into practice at Faircado, too—she says users have saved millions of dollars and tons of CO2 by purchasing used goods through the digital add-on. Most recently, Faircado expanded into the UK with the launch of its browser plug-in.
De Wilde was able to connect her passion for sustainability with her professional background in Berlin’s startup scene. And she practices what she preaches in her own life—from where she buys her coffee and indoor decor, to how she celebrates her career ‘wins.’
“I’ve always tried to furnish anywhere I’ve lived sustainably,” she tells Fortune. “In fact, it’s at the heart of why I started Faircado.”
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
A flat in Brussels, where I’m from. I bought it 2 years ago, and it has been a profitable investment since day one, as the rent covers more than my mortgage. I’ve done some renovations to make it more energy efficient so the value has increased already, and it will probably continue to rise as it’s well located. It was quite a bit of work, but I really like to build stuff made to last.
And the worst?
Nothing yet. I’ve been lucky.
What are your living arrangements like: Swanky apartment in the city or suburban sprawling?
I live in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. It’s considered a calm, fancy, family-friendly neighborhood, with a lot of small cafés and yoga studios. My flat is filled with art and Scandinavian vintage furniture. I’ve always tried to furnish anywhere I’ve lived sustainably. In fact, it’s at the heart of why I started Faircado.
Back in 2021, when I moved into this unfurnished flat during the pandemic, I couldn’t just go out to a shop and buy second-hand furniture. So I started doing it online and realised how clunky and time consuming the experience was. Same for clothes, books and electronics.
How do you commute to work?
By bike! I bike at least an hour a day. It keeps me fit and refreshes my mind. I don’t own a car (and hope I never will need to).
Do you carry a wallet?
I rarely have cash. My favourite bank is Tomorrow, a sustainable bank that invests my money into social and environmental projects. Plus, their cards are really beautiful.
Do you invest in shares?
I’ve played around with Trade Republic a bit. I invested in renewable energy companies that are doing really well at the moment, for instance. Also, eBay, because I truly believe that second-hand is the future, and Spotify, because it’s one of those products that just makes life nicer.
I’m not going to give anyone advice on the topic, but I would say it’s a good tool to promote businesses you understand and believe belong in the future of our economy.
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Save 20% to 50% of your salary. Move it directly to a savings account on the day you get paid. Make sure your spendings don’t increase at the same rate as your earnings.
Buy less but better—and second-hand. Focus on high-quality things that will really bring you long-lasting joy and utility.
Never save on experiences and learnings. The things that make you grow are always a good investment (including therapy and trips to the mountains).
Be generous with the people and associations you love.
Buy a house or a flat as soon as you can. You can then either live in it (and invest your rent into something that will be yours in 20 years), or rent it out and let the mortgage pay itself. It’s a great investment (except if you’re really unlucky, or living in an unstable country), and if sh-t hits the fan you will always have a place to live.
Where’s your go-to wristwatch from?
I still wear the one I bought 15 years ago with the salary from my first student job. I’ve heard it doesn’t fit with my vintage Chanel necklace, but I don’t care.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
No capsules. I fully boycott Nespresso and Starbucks. But I’m a fan of all ethical coffee brands. The ones who actually pay the farmers behind the coffee beans. I get mine from Coffee Circle, in Berlin. I have a very simple Bialetti Moka machine at home, and we have a proper DeLonghi Dedica Arte espresso machine in the office (second-hand, of course), with a milk foamer for our daily doses of Oatly cappuccinos. Very Berlin Startup vibe.
“Never save on experiences and learnings. The things that make you grow are always a good investment.”
What about eating on the go?
I go out every day, usually with some team members or investors. Berlin offers amazing lunch options for 5 to 12 euros, and as I hate to cook, I don’t see a reason not to eat out. I usually go for a salad, falafel, Italian pizza, or sushi. I don’t need fancy expensive food, just quality ingredients and good vegetarian options to be happy.
Where do you buy groceries?
At the local organic farmers market, on Saturday mornings.
How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home?
It used to be 4-5 days of eating out for dinner, but now we have HelloFresh which delivers great healthy recipes at home. So we cook more.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
I buy most of my wardrobe second-hand and only stuff that I need, so I’m shopping on resale platforms (mainly Faircado) and finding unique pieces that way. I wear second-hand Céline, Maje, Comme des Garçons, Chloé, Sézane, Samsøe Samsøe, Acne Studios, etc. The fabric being the most important thing: I almost only wear wool and cotton.
When I buy new stuff (it’s rare) it would be to support small designer labels of fair fashion, ideally produced in Europe.
What would be a typical work outfit for you?
Navy blue T-shirt, wide jeans, Chloé boots/Birkenstock Boston.
Are you the proud owner of any futuristic gadgets?
No. I find most gadgets useless. The only futuristic thing I’ve bought is my Cube Nuroad gravel bike, in smokylilac’n’black. But I would say it’s more of a piece of art. A very beautiful and useful piece of art.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
My weekly therapy, journaling, a good run, a yoga class, a drawing class, a dinner with my partner and/or with friends.
“I find most gadgets useless.”
How do you treat yourself when you get a promotion?
I try not to buy things for the sake of it. If I have something to celebrate, I do things that bring me joy: go dancing with my friends, go eating in a nice restaurant, going to a concert or a festival.
How many days of annual leave do you take a year?
I don’t know. I’m never fully off and travel quite a lot for work, so it’s difficult to say.
I did spend one month in Rwanda (traveling around the national parks and working from the amazing Norrsken House of Kigali) to escape the greyness of Berlin this winter. What struck me was that the people here seem a lot happier than back home. A great reminder of what we actually need: water, some food, a roof, strong communities, a lot of dancing, singing and laughing, and a beautifully preserved environment. That seems to be the best recipe for happiness.
Here at The Good Life you don’t have to imagine what life at the top looks like anymore: Get real-life inspiration for how the most successful live life.
Fortune wants to hear from business leaders on what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: emma.burleigh@fortune.com
While the crypto markets continued to take a beating over the weekend, one coin is actually gaining ground. TON, which is associated with messaging app Bitcoin stayed flat.
“As you may have heard, I’ve returned to Dubai after spending several months in France due to an investigation related to the activity of criminals on Telegram,” Durov wrote on Telegram. “The process is ongoing, it feels great to be home.”
Durov will be required to return to France by Apr. 7.
Telegram began to develop TON—also known as The Open Network—in 2017, to allow its rapidly growing user base to quickly process transactions in the app using blockchain technology. It is now an integral part of the platform, used to pay for games, advertisements and transaction fees. It has amassed a market cap of over $8 billion.
Telegram and alleged criminal activities
Durov had been banned from leaving France since August after he was arrested near Paris last year.
Telegram has attracted nearly one billion global users since it was founded in 2013 through its emphasis on privacy and security. It was the company’s policy to not comply with government requests for user information until September when Durov reversed this policy in the wake of his arrest. French authorities say the app has been used for the distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud and other criminal activities.
Telegram previously said it was “absurd” to hold Durov responsible for criminal activities that occur on Telegram in a X post following his arrest. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” the company wrote, adding that its moderation practices are “within industry standards and constantly improving.” The company did not immediately respond to Fortune‘s request for comment.
Durov’s arrest prompted backlash from the likes of Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin and U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden, who said the move was a politically-motivated attack on freedom of speech.
Durov has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, writing on Telegram on Monday: “When it comes to moderation, cooperation, and fighting crime, for years Telegram not only met but exceeded its legal obligations.”
For the 8th successive year, Finland ranks no.1 on the annual World Happiness Report. The report, published on the UN’s International Day of Happiness, is based on analysis of how the residents of over 140 countries rate their quality of life. With 10 meaning someone is currently living the best possible life they can imagine, Finns came in first with an average score of 7.74.
“They’re wealthy, they’re healthy, have social connections, social support, [and] a connection with nature,” Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics at the University of Oxford, leader of the Wellbeing Research Center and editor of The World Happiness Report, tells Fortune. “They’re not happy, joyful, dancing in the streets type people, but they’re very content with their lives.”
Finland was followed by Denmark (no.2), Iceland (no.3), Sweden (no.4), and the Netherlands (no.5). While Mexico (no.10) and Costa Rica (no.6) joined the top 10 for the first time in the list’s history, the U.S. dropped to its lowest ranking at no. 24. Last year, the U.S. dropped out of the top 20 for the first time since the 2012 inaugural list.
The Nordic countries, historically at the top, are getting happier while the U.S. is getting less happy. While GDP per capita is relatively similar across the Nordic countries, the U.S., Australia, and the UK, the distribution of wealth sets them apart.
“In these Nordic Scandinavian countries, a rising tide lifts all boats, so the levels of economic inequality are much less, and that reflects in well-being as well,” De Neve says. “In Finland, most people will rate themselves as seven or an eight, whereas if you look at the distribution of well-being in the States, there’s a lot of 10s out there, but there’s a lot of ones as well.”
While the rankings factored in a country’s GDP per capita, wealth distribution, and life expectancy, they found social trust and connection help determine happiness more than people may think.
This year, the researchers found a strong correlation between someone believing in the kindness of others and their own perceived happiness. Across the board, too often, people underestimate the kindness of others, like, say, if someone will return a lost wallet. It affects well-being. Wallets are returned to their owner at almost twice the rate people assume. However, compared to the U.S., more people in Nordic countries believe a lost wallet will be returned (and more people are likely to return it).
Maintaining a strong sense of community with acts such as regularly dining with others, for example, improves social trust and happiness, the report found. “The more you believe in the kindness of others, or in other words, are socially trusting, the higher your individual well-being and the higher collective well-being,” De Neve says. “The Nordic countries, the Scandinavian countries, do better, both in the belief in others’ kindness and in the actual wallet drop.”
As for Mexico and Costa Rica joining the top 10 for the first in the list’s history, De Neve points to the strength of the countries’ social fabrics. Latin American countries reported the highest number of shared meals and ranked high on social connectedness and trust. It helps explain why their rankings dipped more dramatically in the COVID-19 isolation years (De Neve says that 13 out of 14 meals shared across seven days correlated to the highest well-being measure).
“It is not because of high GDP and the highest life expectancy,” De Neve says about these two countries. “They do spend time dining and lunching with others, having friends, and it’s not all cannibalized by social media, and so we picked this up in the data.”
The report is published yearly by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, alongside partners, including Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an editorial board that analyzes the findings pro bono.
As De Neve dug into why Finland kept its reign, something else came to light that helped them stand out even from their Nordic counterparts.
“They’re content with less,” he says. “They had less, and they’re more content with less. So they’re happier with what they’ve got.”
Here are the world’s 25 happiest countries
Finland
Denmark
Iceland
Sweden
Netherlands
Costa Rica
Norway
Israel
Luxembourg
Mexico
For more on happiness:
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