Liviu Tanase shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Liviu, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
A couple of years ago, I would’ve said I get straight to work. But since I became a dad, my mornings look different. I still check my email and messages right away and respond to everything urgent. But then I spend time with my son. I didn’t realize how much calmer I’d feel starting the day this way. It sets the tone for everything else.
And yes, there’s coffee. My go-to is Don Francisco Vanilla Nut with three spoons of sugar. Don’t judge — it works.
Although our U.S. team is fully remote, I kept our Santa Barbara office for myself. Working from home was too distracting, so I head to the office several days a week, sometimes even Saturdays. On deep-work days, I’ll take a quick shower, skip breakfast (it just slows me down), and I’m out the door in under 20 minutes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Liviu Tanase, founder and CEO of ZeroBounce. I’ve been building tech companies for a long time, but ZeroBounce has been the most rewarding. We started out solving what felt like a simple problem — helping businesses clean up their email lists so their messages actually land in the inbox. It turns out, that “simple problem” impacts everything from revenue to reputation, and we’ve grown into a platform used by more than 500,000 customers worldwide.
What makes ZeroBounce different is that we don’t just validate email addresses; we give businesses the tools to protect and grow their most valuable channel.
Accuracy has always been our north star — our email validation service runs at 99.6% accuracy — and now with ZeroBounce ONE we’ve taken it a step further. It’s a full suite that combines validation, deliverability, email finding, scoring, and even email warmup in one place.
What keeps it interesting for me is the mix of technological innovation and the human side of email. Email is still a place where people connect. In business, it’s where deals close and communities form around newsletters. Knowing we play a part in making that happen, and hearing customers say our tools saved their campaigns, is what fuels me to continue to improve.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
For me, it was realizing I didn’t have to follow the path that was expected. I could actually built my own. That’s when I made the choice to go after freedom — the freedom to create, to take risks, to fail and then try again. Over time, that turned into building things that could make a difference. That shift changed the way I see the world.
Instead of waiting for opportunities, I learned to make them. And when you build something that helps others — whether it’s creating jobs, solving a problem, or, in ZeroBounce’s case, making email a more reliable channel for millions of people — you see that your work can ripple out far beyond you.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell him to never give up. There were so many times when things didn’t go the way I expected — a product failed, or a business just took way longer to get off the ground. In those moments, it feels easier to walk away.
But here’s what I wish I’d known earlier: persistence really does pay off. Of course, if you’re clearly on the wrong track, you have to adjust. But if you truly believe in what you’re building, you’ve got to stick with it. Keep going.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d probably say I care about progress. I’ve always had this restless need to move forward. Sometimes that means working on myself, sometimes it’s about growing a company, and other times it’s just chasing an idea to see how far it can go. I don’t really sit still. I’m always thinking about what’s next and how to make it better.
At the same time, my friends would tell you I work hard. And if you ask them off the record, they’d probably add that I can’t turn my brain off — even at dinner I’ll catch myself talking about the “next big idea.”
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My family. Titles and things may not last, but the people who walk beside you do. My wife and I have been together for many years, and we’ve been through everything side by side. Becoming parents has made that bond even stronger. Some of my favorite moments are simple — taking a walk on the beach with my wife and son, talking about our day, and eating something delicious together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zerobounce.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zerobounce/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zerobounce-net
- Twitter: https://x.com/zerobounce1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zerobounce/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgtYUvzaIabFdEXAKxDVjYg/featured
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Liviu Tanase.
