Swisspreneur Show EP #508 - Victoria Ransom: Building a Startup Culture That Lasts
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Jul 16, 2025 
Victoria Ransom, co-founder of Wildfire and Prisma, shares her insights on building a lasting startup culture. She emphasizes the careful hiring of the first 15-25 employees to set a strong foundation. Ransom discusses the importance of company culture over mere ideas and how incentives should enhance, not replace, culture. She draws comparisons between Swiss and American entrepreneurial approaches, encouraging Swiss founders to embrace ambition and avoid excessive humility. Her experiences underline the strategic significance of values in successful startups.
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Hire First Employees Carefully
- Hire your first 15 to 20 employees very carefully for cultural fit.
- These early hires set company norms and influence future recruitment and leadership.
Enforce Culture Through Firing & Reward
- Fire employees quickly if they don't fit the culture to send a serious message.
- Constantly reward and recognize people to reinforce company culture authentically.
Use Referrals and Team Activities
- Incentivize employee referrals with bonuses and fun rewards to ensure cultural fit.
- Use team activities and interviews to deeply understand candidates' fit and teamwork skills.