Going all in: Rose Thattil Candeth’s founder journey

Rose Thattil Candeth, co-founder and CEO of LeaseryT, built a digital procurement platform connecting corporates, leasing companies, dealers and internal stakeholders in one place. This enables organisations to compare supplier offers on a like-for-like basis, strengthen governance and make confident purchasing decisions resulting in greater transparency, improved compliance and better operational efficiencies.

Driven by Luxembourg’s supportive startup ecosystem and a clear ambition to build something of her own, Ms Thattil Candeth decided to leave her corporate career and step into entrepreneurship. The move was carefully considered rather than impulsive. She emphasises preparation: “Make sure you have a very strong safety net before you take the dive,” she says, underlining the importance of calculated risk when leaving a stable job.

Why early market validation matters for startups

The company’s direction was not fixed from the start. Ms Thattil Candeth initially explored an idea in the decarbonisation space, but early market testing revealed limited interest. Instead of persisting, she listened. “You should be able to pivot very quickly based on what you hear from your customers,” she says.

Early conversations with corporate fleet managers changed everything and set the company on a completely new path. The real challenge was not decarbonisation but the complexity of managing leased fleet acquisition. Manual processes and non-standardised offers from suppliers made objective comparisons difficult and increased the risk of hidden costs, inconsistent purchasing decisions and policy non-compliance. 

I built what mattered to the market.” 
Rose Thattil Candeth, LeaseryT

“You are losing money when you do not buy right,” she notes, pointing to the often-overlooked impact of inefficient decision-making.

Startup success starts with the right team

From the outset, Ms Thattil Candeth prioritised building the right team. A co-founder with complementary expertise proved indispensable. “Having a strong co-founder is crucial,” she explains. “You gain a sparring partner with strengths that complement your own.”

This extends beyond roles and responsibilities. Within the team, open and sometimes intense discussions are encouraged. “Respectful challenging of each other is super important,” she says, even if it may appear confrontational from the outside. The goal is clear: better decisions for the business. 

She also brings complete commitment to the venture with no fallback plan. “I am all in. I have burnt all my boats,” she says, underscoring her belief in removing any path back in order to move forward with conviction, a mindset she worked hard to achieve.

From market validation to startup growth

Early recognition came with the Fleet & Mobility Innovation Award of the Year at the 2025 Link2fleet Forum & Awards in Belgium, providing independent validation that the industry recognised both the scale of the problem and a possible solution. Yet the more transformative milestone was participating in and graduating from Fit 4 Start # 16, Luxembourg’s leading startup accelerator. 

“Fit 4 Start gives you a very strong foundation,” she says. Through structured mentoring and rigorous reviews, the team refined key aspects of the business, including pricing, compliance and the go to market strategy, and strengthened their overall positioning. Most importantly, it accelerated learning. “You do not have to go through the trial and error,” she adds, describing the value of tapping into collective experience.

Women in tech: a focus on performance

For Ms Thattil Candeth, discussions about women in tech come back to a simple principle:

Do your very best, then it does not matter if you are a man or a woman.” 
Rose Thattil Candeth, LeaseryT

She also highlights the importance of networking, an area where she sees room for improvement. “Women do not network enough, we should do more of it,” she says, emphasising that connections are key to validating ideas and opening doors.

In Luxembourg’s startup ecosystem, this approach pays off. As she points out, entrepreneurship here is a collaborative experience. “It is not a lonely journey; people want you to succeed.”

The call for applications to Fit 4 Start #17 is open until 10 July. If you are an ambitious founder looking to scale your venture with expert support, funding and access to a strong ecosystem, this is your opportunity to take the next step.