Podcast
In dialogue about success, entrepreneurship & courage
How do you build a multi-million dollar company – and do it at such a young age? In this episode of KINTZEL MINDSET, Jörg welcomes the impressive entrepreneur Jerome Evans. At just 15, Jerome laid the foundation for his first company with a computer his grandmother gave him. Today, he heads firstcolo, a company that operates state-of-the-art data centers and has projects with an investment volume of €250 million in the pipeline. Jerome explains why, as a young founder, he slept in a bunk bed in the office with his business partner, why he dropped out of his business studies after three semesters, and what motivates him today to stay calm and focused. The two discuss scarce resources in the tech world, venture capital, and why it's often easier to find investors abroad. But success is more than just profits for Jerome: He gives back and talks about projects in Ghana, where he supports schools and hospitals. Look forward to an inspiring journey through entrepreneurship, innovation, and social engagement!
Jerome Evans is our guest. Entrepreneur, visionary, and doer. He knew early on that he wanted to build his own business: At 13, he got his first PC, and at 15, he founded his first company. His entrepreneurial journey truly began with firstcolo. Today, his company has around 80 employees and stands for innovative data center services that go far beyond IT infrastructure. His current biggest goal is to build the most modern and sustainable AI data center in Germany for more than €200 million.
Episode from 22.09.2025: Data center Frankfurt: GDPR-compliant
Cloud instead of US access
Reicht ein deutsches Rechenzentrum für DSGVO-Sicherheit?AWS & Microsoft in Deutschland – DSGVO-konform oder Trugschluss?…darüber sprechen wir in diesem Interview. Wo speichert dein Unternehmen seine Daten? Viele Firmen glauben: Ein deutsches Rechenzentrum reicht aus, um DSGVO-sicher zu sein. Doch der US CLOUD Act macht deutlich, dass dies ein Trugschluss ist. In dieser Episode spricht Holger Winkler mit Jerome Evans, Gründer und CEO von firstcolo, über echte digitale Souveränität, DSGVO-konforme Cloud-Lösungen und die Vorteile unabhängiger Rechenzentren in Frankfurt. Warum sollten Sie dieses Interview nicht verpassen? Sie erfahren, warum US-Hyperscaler trotz Standort Deutschland keinen vollständigen Datenschutz bieten. Sie lernen, wie Unternehmen echte Datenhoheit und Compliance sicherstellen können. Sie hören, welche Vorteile unabhängige europäische Rechenzentren für Cloud- und Hybrid-Setups haben. Sie verstehen, wie Nachhaltigkeit und Zukunftsfähigkeit bei modernen Rechenzentren umgesetzt werden. Sie erhalten konkrete Einblicke in ein Praxisbeispiel aus der Finanzbranche. Takeaways aus dem Interview: Ein Rechenzentrum in Deutschland allein garantiert keine DSGVO-Konformität. Der US CLOUD Act ermöglicht weiterhin Zugriffe auf Daten von US-Anbietern. Digitale Souveränität erfordert unabhängige europäische Infrastruktur. firstcolo kombiniert Rechenzentren und Cloud-Dienste am Standort Frankfurt. Hohe Compliance-Anforderungen (z. B. BaFin, PCI-DSS) können zuverlässig erfüllt werden. Hybride Setups profitieren von niedriger Latenz und hoher Bandbreite. Nachhaltigkeit spielt bei neuen Rechenzentrumsprojekten eine zentrale Rolle.
INFO
For me, podcasts are the perfect space for real conversations. Here, I can share my experiences as an entrepreneur, delve deeper into topics related to technology, investments, and business growth, and spark new perspectives. I value the open exchange, the pace, and the opportunity to provide valuable input in a short space of time, with an impact that extends far beyond the episode.
MY EPISODE
I've been a guest on many podcasts – from business formats to innovation and leadership shows. There, I speak openly about my journey as an entrepreneur, multi-million dollar projects, and what it really takes to turn ideas into results.
MY RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Willingness to take risks, perseverance and the will to self-determination – values that
have shaped me since my childhood.
Current podcast episodes with Jerome
THE LATEST PODCAST EPISODE
My current largest project costs more than 200 million euros
