The Pursuit of Scrappiness

Kristel Kruustük is the co-founder of Testlio - holistic software testing solutions provider. Inc magazine has selected her among the top 100 women entrepreneurs globally just recently next to such celebrities as Cameron Diaz and Michelle Pfeiffer. The same Inc also named her company as one of the best workplaces globally. She’s been part of Techstars, speaker in Nordic Business Forum and is publishing awesome content on Linkedin and Tiktok that other tech founders can relate with.In this episode we talk about:3 principles that helped Kristel to rank among top100 global female foundersNot giving up vs. continuing hopeless projectsInvesting in your personal brand with social mediaPrioritising and saying noThis episode is is Part 2 of a 2-part series of our conversation with Kristel, check out Part 1 here > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/92-93-kristel-kruustuk ===Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Kristel Kruustük is the co-founder of Testlio - holistic software testing solutions provider. Inc magazine has selected her among the top 100 women entrepreneurs globally just recently next to such celebrities as Cameron Diaz and Michelle Pfeiffer. The same Inc also named her company as one of the best workplaces globally. She’s been part of Techstars, speaker in Nordic Business Forum and is publishing awesome content on Linkedin and Tiktok that other tech founders can relate with.In this episode we talk about:Principles for building a globally renowned employer brandThe value of building a diverse companyStarting a company with your spouseClosing global enterprise level customers/hiring expensive sales people abroadWhy purpose of the organisation truly mattersHow to build a great company cultureThis episode is is Part 1 of a 2-part series of our conversation with Kristel, check out Part 2 here > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/92-93-kristel-===Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Taavi Kotka is the CEO & co-founder of Koos - a company building a new form of ownership that recently raised 4mUSD seed round led by Plural foundation. Taavi is also a serial entrepreneur and one of the angel investors in Wise as well as one of the top experts on digital governance and known for leading the Estonian e-residency project which earned global recognition.In this episode we talk about:The Estonian E-residency programHow does a digital society functionHolding elections onlinePrivacy, data hoarding, government overreach and hacking risksThis episode is is Part 2 of a two-part series of our conversation with Taavi KotkaMake sure you check out Part 1 here > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/90-91-taavi-kotkaSupport for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Taavi Kotka is the CEO & co-founder of Koos - a company building a new form of ownership that recently raised 4mUSD seed round led by Plural foundation. Taavi is also a serial entrepreneur and one of the angel investors in Wise as well as one of the top experts on digital governance and known for leading the Estonian e-residency project which earned global recognition.In this episode we talk about:New model for aligning stakeholder incentivesSharing success with community and helpers (no free lunches)Cure for founders amnesiaThis episode is is Part 1 of a two-part series of our conversation with Taavi KotkaMake sure you check out Part 2 here > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/90-91-taavi-kotkaSupport for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Lisett Luik, co-founder of Arbonics, discusses pursuing a global education, returning to Estonia, business culture differences, choosing the right problem as a founder, making good decisions, investing time in people, and finding time to disconnect through reading.

Jone Vaituleviciute and Marijus Andrijauskas are partners at Firstpick - early stage venture capital fund backing the best tech founders across the Baltics. Jone and Marijus have spent the last couple of years together working with Startupwiseguys where they invested in such companies as kevin, Ondato, GoRamp, InRento, Jeff, HeavyFinance, Vsight, Watalook & Kernolab and many others.As we enter the muddy waters of a looming recession, we wanted to take a helicopter look over the industry from people who see lots of companies and the challenges they are facing.In this episode we talk about:Is it a good time to start a company right now?Funding options for early stage companiesBootstrappingVC market slowdown in 2022This episode is is Part 2 of a 2 part series on fundraising and managing startup during a recession.Make sure you check out Part 1 here > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/87-88-jone-marijus-firstpick More about Firstpick here===Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Jone Vaituleviciute and Marijus Andrijauskas are partners at Firstpick - early stage venture capital fund backing the best tech founders across the Baltics. Jone and Marijus have spent the last couple of years together working with Startupwiseguys where they invested in such companies as kevin, Ondato, GoRamp, InRento, Jeff, HeavyFinance, Vsight, Watalook & Kernolab and many others.As we enter the muddy waters of a looming recession, we wanted to take a helicopter look over the industry from people who see lots of companies and the challenges they are facing.In this episode we talk about:The current state of mind of companiesHow to work with product and pricing in a recessionWhat investors focus on when investing in these conditionsDealing with wage growth in times of growth uncertaintyThis episode is is Part 1 of a 2 part series on fundraising and managing startup during a recession.More about Firstpick here ===Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

We bring you a new format today - an uncensored banter about current events:Central bank money printing and InflationGlobal currency dynamicsEuropean energy crisisFreedom and BitcoinPossibility of government without fiat currenciesPolitical extremism in Europe and the USThe role of US and NATO in global securityThe information warJoining Janis & Uldis today is Matthew Mezinskis the host of the Crypto Voices Podcast - podcast about Bitcoin, economics, privacy and more. He also does research on global central bank monetary policy, which he publishes through his Porkopolis economics platform. A finance professional by training and trade, Matthew combines his passion for Bitcoin and deep understanding of macroeconomics to provide valuable insights on past and current politics and economics processes. Plus he brings the sexiest voice ever recorded on this show!https://porkopolis.io/ - for Matthew’s researchhttps://porkopolis.io/podcast - for Matthew’s podcastFor the book on US-USSR settlement in Europe at the end of the cold war discussed in the episode - https://www.amazon.com/Not-One-Inch-Post-Cold-Stalemate/dp/030025993X==2 ways how you can support Ukraine:Support the war effort and/or humanitarian aid > war.ukraine.uaChoose Ukrainian products and services >  https://spendwithukraine.com/==Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Sten Tamkivi is one of the co-founders of Plural platform - an investment platform to support building European early stage companies into legendary, GDP-level impact businesses. Sten is also a Stanford graduate, a co-founder of NFTPort, Partner at Taavet+Sten, Founder of Teleport, ex-EIR at A16Z, multiple key role holder at Skype and a multitude of other tech related engagements.This episode is brought to you in cooperation with sTARTUp day where Sten was also one of the keynote speakers. Make sure you check them out and get your pass to the next event March 15-17 2023 here https://www.startupday.ee/In this episode we talk about:Making the time to focus on what mattersEvolving the founder - investor relationship to co-foundersManaging your time and balancing business and familyWhat Entrepreneur-in-residence at A16Z meansHow our region ecosystem compares to the USTaking a long paternity leave for business leadersMake sure you check out also Part 1 of this conversation > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/84-85-sten-tamkivi ---Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show

Sten Tamkivi is one of the co-founders of Plural platform - an investment platform to support building European early stage companies into legendary, GDP-level impact businesses. Sten is also a Stanford graduate, a co-founder of NFTPort, Partner at Taavet+Sten, Founder of Teleport, ex-EIR at A16Z, multiple key role holder at Skype and a multitude of other tech related engagements. This episode is brought to you in cooperation with sTARTUp day where Sten was also one of the keynote speakers. Make sure you check them out and get your pass to the next event March 15-17 2023 here https://www.startupday.ee/In this episode we talk about:Creating a GDP-level impact as an investorEvolving angel investing into Plural fundWhat Plural investors and Sten is interested in investing currently Learnings from running companies that Sten applies as an investorMake sure you check out also Part 2 of this conversation > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/84-85-sten-tamkivi ---Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Find other episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA ===Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Support the show