The Pursuit of Scrappiness

Martins Benkitis is a Co-Founder at Gravity Team - a startup balancing the supply and demand across crypto markets worldwide. Martins and his team account for close to 1% of the global spot trading in crypto and have reached $100 billion cumulative trading volume.In this episode we talk about:Pros and cons of building a business in cryptoWhat’s happening in the markets currentlyCrypto price cycles and dealing with new exotic productsGravity Team’s Venture arm The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:02:00 - Introduction and the origins of Gravity Team04:40 - Is there a specific background needed to start in crypto06:20 - How does working in crypto differ from other industries08:50 - Is the global nature of crypto an advantage for building a business12:10 - Challenges of running a crypto business18:05 - How companies should prepare for market downturns21:10 - Dealing with innovations in crypto26:30 - On Gravity Venture arm development31:30 - Crypto market outlook and long term view on money To reach out to Martins please use:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martins-benkitis/?originalSubdomain=th  Find over 70 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Nick Lahoika is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vocal Image - a speech training and voice therapy app. After relocating to Estonia from Belarus with his family and team, Nick is building a world class product (300,000 + users) to solve an issue that is very pressing for many people - strong sounding voice and clear speech. You might have already heard about Nick and Vocal Image from multiple recent startup pitch competitions they have won.In this episode we talk about:The importance of voice and voice mediaThe product of Vocal ImageCustomer acquisition tips and tricksHow to improve your startup pitch The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:02:40 - The importance of our voice 05:00 - From speech therapy specific product to mass market app08:25 - The subscription business model13:20 - What voice based technology applications can we expect16:15 - How Nick’s team got 300k users in the first year of Vocal Image18:50 - How to acquire customers in the US22:30 - How to pitch your startup efficiently24:50 - How to maximize value of startup conferences27:00 - Nick’s and his teams relocation story via Estonian business visa To reach out to Nick please use:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-lahoika/  Find over 70 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Atis Hermanis and Reinholds Pīrāgs are the CEO and CCO of Hackmotion - wrist sensor for amateur sports precision improvement. They are on a mission to help amateur golfers to fix their game with a unique technology that is used by elite level PGA (golf) coaches worldwide. Their sensors are also on the radar of other North American professional sports leagues such as NBA and MLB (baseball).In this episode we talk aboutDeveloping Hackmotion sensorsMarketing strategies for sports consumer devicesFuture of sports wearable techThe topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:20 - Introduction to Hackmotion smart devices03:15 - Go-to-market strategy starting with professional athletes in USA07:00 - Do amateur athletes trust smart devices or prefer coaches?08:00 - Marketing strategies for sports consumer devices12:50 - How the Hackmotion technology was developed14:00 - Scaling production and managing supply chain17:00 - Selling products in US market without physical presence there18:30 - Future of sports wearables To reach out to Atis and Reinholds please use:Website: hackmotion.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackmotion/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hackmotion Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness  Support the show

Mathias Eklöf is a serial entrepreneur and investor with multiple startup exits. He is currently running his own investment company Hype Ventures. With extensive entrepreneurship experience, especially in Russia and Ukraine, Mathias is one of the leading early stage investors actively focusing on Ukrainian startups despite the war. He also has a background from the Swedish military and enjoys giving direct opinions making Mathias a perfect guest for conversation about the investment climate and geopolitical trends in the region.In this episode we talk about:Hype Ventures and Mathias’s entrepreneurship journeyHow Ukrainian startups have adapted to the warHow investors look at UkraineRegional outlook in the context of warThe episode was recorded on June 10, 2022The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:45 - Introduction and how Mathias became an investor in Ukrainian startups07:50 - How have Ukrainian startups reacted to the war environment10:50 - Mathias’s first reaction to the war in the first week after February 24th14:50 - How do Ukrainian founders look at working in Ukraine in the medium to long term18:20 - How other western investors look at investing in Ukraine22:00 - What are the key reasons for investing in Ukraine today26:30 - How has the war impacted investment attractiveness for the Baltics?31:00 - On the regional security outlook in the context of the warTo reach out to Mathias please use:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-eklof-glorytoukraine/Website: https://hypeventures.io/ Support Ukraine: https://spendwithukraine.com/ Find over 60 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Akim Arhipov and Tim Vaino introduces Fund Fellow Founders (fff.vc) - a fund/angel syndicate to bring more smart money to regional founders and increase investing activity among C-level executives from the tech industry. They also run a cool podcast (link below)In this episode we talk aboutHow FFF works for investors and for startupsHow the fund is built and its community governanceWhat founders should expect from working with FFFThe topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:30 - Introduction and the origins of Fund Fellow Founders04:55 - How FFF works for investors08:05 - How FFF works for startups12:10 - The fund commercial structure19:20 - Expansion plans24:50 - What founders should expect from the investment process To reach out to Akim & Tim please use:Website: https://fff.vcCheck out FFF’s Podcast hereSupport for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Helery Pops is a co-founder at Honey Badger Capital - angel investor friends office out of Estonia. Helery brings 5+ years operating experience in product and sales in such companies as Pipedrive and Ampler Bikes. Together with her partners - three Pipedrive co-founders, Helery is looking for ambitious and relentless founders in the regions, Ukraine and beyond.In this episode we talk aboutThe mission of Honey Badger CapitalInvesting in Ukraine during warHow early stage investors can help foundersInvesting in the competitive Estonian ecosystemThe topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:20 - Introduction and the mission of Honey Badger Capital03:55 - Investing in Ukraine in current circumstances06:35 - How much can an early investor help a company08:25 - Investing in the competitive Estonian ecosystem10:55 - How to catch Helery’s attention with your startup13:30 - What’s cooking in hot sustainability startups? To reach out to Helery please use:Email: pops@badger.ee  Find out over 60 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Jan Kastory is the Founding partner of astorya.vc - the first independent purely Insurtech focused VC in Europe focusing on early-stage startups. With hands-on operator experience from Euler Hermes, Jan and his team brings unique insights into the insurance market.In this episode we talk about:Astorya VC and the promise of InsurTech investmentsInsuring cyber threatsThe business models of InsurTech companiesPersonal data sharing to improve deals and get prevention assistance The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:02:00 - The potential of Insurance Technology startups04:05 - The key InsurTech markets and how CEE startups can make a mark07:45 - Insurtech investment landscape in 2022 after record year in 202109:35 - What the VCs are looking for10:30 - Observing how startups die14:50 - Companies and applications to watch21:50 - Insurance for cyber threats27:10 - Do Insurtech companies take on risk themselves34:40 - Data sharing to personalize insurance deals To reach out to Jan please use:Email: jan@astorya.vc  Find over 60 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Robin Saluoks is CEO and Co-founder of eAgronom - a farming based carbon credits platform. Robin and his team are fighting climate change by providing financial incentives for farmers to sequester more carbon and investors to invest into sustainability.In this episode we talk aboutFighting climate change with financial incentives in agricultureHow to distinguish between real environment protection companies and hottest companies to follow in the spaceThe impact of the war and global warming on global food production and pricesThe topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:20 - Fighting climate change through agriculture03:00 - Creating financial incentives for farmers to sequester carbon06:40 - How to distinguish truly valuable initiatives from green-PR seekers10:35 - Lessening the impact of the war on global food production and fertiliser market14:00 - Is the world on the brink of a global famine?15:45 - Hottest climate tech startups to follow To reach out to Robin please use:Website: eagronom.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-saluoks-097487a7/ Find out over 60 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Anna Andersone is the Chief Empowerment Officer at Riga TechGirls - educating and inspiring girls & women about technology. Anna is a serial entrepreneur and currently running her own clothing company be-with.In this episode we talk about:Female representation in techEducation and reeducation for tech rolesDiscrimination in fundraising and decision-making The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:35 - Introduction, Riga Tech Girls and  female proportion trends in tech04:50 - Funding raised by female founders vs. male08:05 - Technical education trends for females09:40 - How has overall female participation in the startup world changed over time12:25 - Retraining of women to get into tech16:30 - Discrimination in fundraising20:50 - The proven negative bias in questions that women get from investors24:00 - how does Baltics compare to Europe in equalityTo reach out to Anna please use:Website: http://rigatechgirls.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annalebedoka/ Find out over 60 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show

Andreas Helbig is a Principal at Atomico - one of the most well-known European VC firms. Andreas is responsible for the Nordic&Baltic region and is currently overlooking investments in such Baltic companies as Pipedrive, Katana and Pactum. In this episode we talk about:- Atomico’s strategy and view on the Baltics- Potential slowdown in VC markets- Ease of doing business in Baltics vs Western Europe- What founder characteristics are VCs looking for The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps:01:10 - What is Atomico’s strategy and how they perceive the Baltics06:15 - On ease of doing business in different places in Europe08:50 - Are there any signs of slowing down in VC10:15 - What is Atomico looking for in founders14:50 - How prevalent are Baltic cases in Atomico’s dealflow17:10 - How to catch VCs attention19:40 - How has the pandemic and remote culture affected VC/Founder connections To reach out to Andreas please use:Email: andreas@atomico.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashelbig/ Find out over 60 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA Support the show