Partao’s founders apply AI to solve real problems for their customers, turning field insights into smarter, more responsive tech solutions.
Startup Luxembourg
Virginia Strong, co-founder of Partao, is no stranger to high-stakes leadership. With a career spanning global giants like Amazon and HelloFresh, she traded corporate stability for the unpredictable rhythm of startup life. “I was the COO of a multi-billion-dollar business,” she says, “but I wasn’t getting my hands dirty solving real problems.”
Partao, her latest venture, is a B2B marketplace for agricultural parts – a €250 billion industry that has barely touched e-commerce. “The major e-commerce marketplaces don’t even have agricultural sections,” Ms Strong points out. “We’re solving a real problem for farmers, dealers and mechanics.”
Her journey into entrepreneurship was not impulsive. “It’s just another box,” she explains. “You go from analyst to manager, maybe do an MBA – founding a company is another box to tick, but hopefully a very big one.”
Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged early. “I grew up doing lemonade stands and building from the ground up,” Ms Strong laughs, “and I have been lucky to have lived all over the world.” What set her apart, even then, was a deep-rooted affinity for data – an advantage she says enables her to tackle almost any role, “except for the very creative ones.”
As a single mother of two, Ms Strong is candid about the challenges. “There’s no maternity leave when you’re a founder. School holidays – you’re still working.” Yet she sees motherhood as a strength, not a setback.
Being an entrepreneurial parent is a great thing to show my kids. They see that they can do anything they want to. - Virginia Strong
She also believes being a woman in tech is an advantage at the moment. “You’re more unique. You’re given a voice – you just have to take it.”
Partao’s growth has been rapid. From closing a pre-seed round to launching sites in English and German, the company has hit key milestones. “We celebrate micro wins every week,” she says. “Fixing latency, sending our first campaign in Ireland – they all add up.”
The Fit 4 Start programme, Luxembourg’s leading startup accelerator providing coaching, mentoring, equity-free funding and networking opportunities, played a pivotal role. “The advice, the connections, the camaraderie – it was invaluable,” she says. “One judge connected us with a vendor. A coach helped us shape our investment strategy. It’s great to have experts where it’s not your wheelhouse.”
Partao is AI-driven from day one, giving it a competitive edge. “We didn’t have to convert from legacy systems. We started AI-first,” Ms Strong explains. The team shares discoveries in a dedicated Slack channel, constantly lifting each other’s knowledge. “We’ve built three or four in-house GPTs already. If you’re not continuously learning, you’ll fall behind.”
“I think it is great to have people around you that you can learn from,” she adds, highlighting the value of collaboration. For Ms Strong, launching a startup in Luxembourg is not just a bold move – it’s a smart one. “Founding your own company lets you control your next moves – where and when you spend your time.”
Her advice to aspiring female founders is clear: “Do not be afraid. Write down your worst-case scenario. If it doesn’t sound too bad, go for it.” To her, the regret of not having tried is far worse. She also champions the value of co-founders. “The burden is heavy. Having a partner in crime makes it more fun and manageable.”
Above all, she urges founders to listen. “Your customers are your most important asset. Even if they don’t know what they want yet, you have to listen.”
