Energy Trading Isn’t a Lottery: How to Scale? | Time2Talk #205: Eszter & Paul Pontenagel

Welcome to this episode of Time2Talk, where we talk about interesting developments in the energy industry. In today's episode, join Eszter Pontenagel and Paul Pontenagel from Time2Market, as they discuss: 
 
👉  Is your biggest bottleneck really the regulator, or your internal setup?
👉  Why is market mapping as much about knowing where not to go?
👉  Are you scaling intentionally or reacting to panic?
👉  Is your setup too rigid to adapt or too loose to scale?
👉  What’s the fastest way to delay your market entry by 6 months? 
 
If you would like to be the next guest on Time2Talk, please do not hesitate to contact Time2Market. If you have an interesting guest in mind, leave their name in the comments, and we will get in touch. 
 
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𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 

00:00 – Introduction
00:49 – Welcome to the episode: looking back and ahead
01:56 – Traders are like NFL players
03:47 – Beyond tech and market access
04:44 – Readiness, risk appetite, and scaling with intention
06:06 – Getting internal buy-in: the overlooked barrier
07:36 – Mapping Europe: market entry isn’t one-size-fits-all
08:34 – Unknown unknowns: the hidden costs of misaligned setups
09:27 – Connecting the dots across market bubbles
10:55 – Industry bubbles: Denmark, Germany, and local blind spots
11:44 – Networks, not just markets: the people we meet
13:02 – Trading houses are IT companies, but human ones
14:03 – Reflecting on Time2Talk Season 2
15:48 – Why the energy sector never gets boring
16:14 – E-world vs weddings: why it’s easier to talk energy than small talk
17:55 – Most memorable cases of the year (so far)
20:17 – What slows you down? Misjudging regulator expectations
21:58 – Delivering value is about speed and trust
23:00 – Enabling success
23:46 – Poland vs the US: Market access pain levels compared
24:27 – Going offline: summer pause and what’s next
25:15 – Looking ahead: 2026 is the year to move

Legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered business or legal advice. Time2Market is not responsible for the completeness, accuracy, and actuality of the information provided. 
 
Time2Market's website: www.time2market.net
 
Time2Market's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/time2market-market-management-services