
The Pursuit of Scrappiness
Whether you are building a business, running a team or just starting out in your career we are here to bring you scrappy and actionable insights to help you become more productive.
Latest episodes

Mar 22, 2022 • 41min
#53 Investing in Baltics, Fintech trends, from entrepreneur to VC and insights into building an investment team with Adam Niewinski 🇵🇱 (OTB Ventures)
Adam Niewinski is the Co-founder and General partner at OTB Ventures - a leading venture capital firm operating in CEE out of Warsaw. Adam is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur and with OTB has invested in several Baltic companies already, including Kevin, Ondato and Fractory.In this episode we talk about the evolution of the Polish VC/startup ecosystem, investing in the Baltics and sharing lessons for investing from business executive experience. We also talk about global VC trends, OTB strategy and making a good first impression to a VC. Finally we discuss building a strong VC team.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[02:55] - ON POLISH VC/STARTUP ECOSYSTEMHistorical gaming industryStartup ecosystem accelerating last 5 yearsMid-size country trap EU funds impactUnicorn inspirational effect[07:20] - ON INVESTING IN THE BALTICSSubstantial part of the portfolio in Baltics and huge potentialCooperation with local funds[09:40] - ON LESSONS FOR INVESTING FROM OWN BUSINESS EXPERIENCEConfident vs. arrogant foundersHave strong opinions, but be ready to change them fastThe strength of the right peopleInvestor can’t run the company for the founderInvesting as art+scienceF2F vs. zoom investing[18:50] - ON GLOBAL VC TRENDSCorrection on the stock markets healthyIrrelevance of current market situation for long term investmentsHistorical context for venture investmentsInnovation transfer from corporations to startups[24:50] - ON FINTECH TRENDSBringing own financial sector experience to the tableHands-on track recordCEE countries strengths for building fintech companiesGlobal fintech trends[32:50] - ON BUILDING A VC TEAMFounding story of OTB VenturesComplementing skills of partnersDiversity with a common goalHiring drivers not passengersManaging reputationTo reach out to Adam use: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-niewinski-07b7931/Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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

Mar 15, 2022 • 39min
#52 Augmented Reality, career path from an engineer to CEO and beating billion dollar startups in global MedTech space with Madara Kalnina-Kalnmale (Lightspace Labs)
Madara Kalniņa-Kalnmale is the CEO of Lightspace - optical reality headset manufacturer for high-end medical operations. They've raised $14M USD in total funding to date. An electrical engineer by training, Madara is now leading the company to bring a revolutionary augmented reality (AR) product to the market after several years of R&D. In this episode we talk about the Lightspace and usage of AR in medicine as well as funding, developing and building a deeptech product. We also discuss the overall VR/AR industry with its successes and failures. Finally we talk about turning an engineering career into a business executive role, motivating your team and dealing with challenges acquiring engineering talent.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[02:30] - ON LIGHTSPACE LABS AND USING AR IN MEDICINEAbility to show AR images from tip of the nose tip to infinityClose distance visualization for doctorsSci-fi-like applications of seeing through patients skin in realtimeNext level applications of the technology[08:05] - ON THE CHOICE OF MEDICINE AS THE FIRST APPLICATION FOR AR TECHReadiness of the industryPrice-sensitivity aspectsBecoming smaller and cheaper over time to meet consumer needsEase of doing business in healthcare industryGo to market strategy for MedTech[14:55] - ON GLOBAL AR/VR ADOPTION AND DEVELOPMENTNo broad usage stillLots of hype and not so many successful products and applicationsApple, Microsoft, Magic Leap strugglesShortcomings of current technologyHow affordable AR technology isPrivacy concerns[24:20] - ON BECOMING CEODeveloping a corporate spinoffEngineer turns CEOApplying technical knowledge to run a businessSelling and communicating for engineers[31:30] - PRINCIPLES FOR MOTIVATING YOUR TEAMTeam always firstBuilding relationshipsWomen in deeptech and engineering[34:55] - STUDYING ENGINEERING AND STUDENTS OUTLOOKScarce students resourcesBig competition for talentClose collaboration with universities to get talent earlyCheck out the awesome tech Lightspace is building: https://lightspace3d.com/ To reach out to Madara use: ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/madara-kalnina-kalnmale/ Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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

Feb 22, 2022 • 44min
#51 How to learn coding with no background, classes or tuition. The story of Kood/Jõhvi, inside look at the life of the students and what it means to make a 180° career change
Kood/Jõhvi is a coding school in northeast Estonia which was established by several Estonian startup founders, including Martin Villig and Taavet Hinrikus. Today we are joined by it’s Co-director Karin Künnapas as well as two students - Gunta Klava and Georgi Suikanen.In this episode we talk about the history and reasons behind the establishment of the school, the practicalities of getting admitted, student life, professional growth as well as the future of the school and its funding model. We also talk a lot about making the leap into coding at different points in our careers.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[03:20] - THE ORIGINS OF KOOD/JOHVI SCHOOL8 Estonian founders set out to solve lack of tech talentSchool with no teachers and no classesThe learning methodologyRemote vs. on-site studyingChoice of school locationHow the school is defined[09:45] - STUDENTS SHARE WHY THEY DECIDED TO JOINCoding school vs. university for high school graduatesJumping into coding from a different careerCombining Kood with full-time job[15:40] - LEARNING TO CODE CAN BE A CAREER CHANGEVarious backgrounds and previous experiencesAll ages welcome above 18Multiple coding languages and platformsSpeed of studies[19:05] - LIFE OF A STUDENT AT KOODTeacherless studiesReal-life like study processMatching of flexible schedules between studentsCampus atmosphere[23:45] - HOW TO GET INTO KOODFirst step - game/testSecond step - 3 weeks selection springPersonality fitDemand for women and international students[28:45] - WHY THE SCHOOL IS FREESchool is free for studentsStudents pay for food and accommodation40+partners pay the school to hire students at graduationPossible to work also not for the partnersExpected salary for graduates[32:50] - HOW SOON CAN YOU CODE SOMETHINGGetting to practical tasks from day 1Main mission and side questsEncouragement for other studentsReinventing yourself during increasing length of careers[39:00] - FUTURE OF KOOD AND ROLE OF ITS FOUNDERSExpanding in size and geographyContinuous support for regional developmentHow Karin got to become Co-Head of KoodFounder engagement - heart project[44:15] - PRACTICAL DETAILS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO APPLYWebsite: https://kood.techTo reach out to Karin use: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kunnapas/Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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

Feb 15, 2022 • 42min
#50 The hidden side of fundraising, how to succeed as a young founder in an old industry, routines for wellbeing and value of mentorships with Martin Vares (Fractory)
Martin Vares is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fractory - a smart marketplace for metal fabrication. Martin is a mechanical engineer by training and has turned his passion for engineering and saving time on admin tasks into a thriving business.In this episode we talk about Fractory and how hard it is to enter such an old and complicated industry as manufacturing. We also talk about relentless fundraising and more importantly getting your life balance back after intensive periods of work. Finally, we explore the value of mentoring.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[03:10] - INTRODUCTION AND THE ORIGINS OF FRACTORYTurning a passion for engineering into relevant educationSpending too much time on admin tasks as engineerTurning this pain point into a businessThe business model of Fractory[08:30] - LAUNCHING A BUSINESS IN A VERY OLD AND COMPLICATED INDUSTRYAcknowledging the complexities of the industryEasier to go from engineering to anything else rather than vice versaBuilding a “smart marketplace”Acquiring customers with digital marketing[11:50] - GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS OF RUNNING THIS BUSINESSChallenges to scaling and localisationDoing business in the UKEntry barriers[13:15] - THE FOUNDER JOURNEY - FUNDRAISINGFundraising as first-time foundersRaising series A for almost 2 years during the pandemicRaising with a big emphasis on R&DInvestors with industry experience vs. inexperiencedResilience with tiny investor conversionKnowing when/how to say no to investorsDealing with the self-administered pressure[22:10] - THE FOUNDER JOURNEY - GETTING LIFE BACK AFTER INTENSE FUNDRAISINGProject of going back to “normal” life againDon’t read notifications if you can’t react on them anywayCompany’s role in taking care of team’s healthSpecific activities companies can do to promote healthy lifestyle[33:15] - ON RAPID TEAM GROWTHImportance of culture and focusing on it early onHiring for scaleBalancing values with hard decisions[37:10] - VALUE OF MENTORING OTHER FOUNDERS/TEAMSTrying to be a better mentor than some encounteredThe same as going to a therapistBuild a network before you can find a mentorWhat makes a good mentorTo reach out to Martin use: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-vares-69332b86/ Website: https://fractory.com/ ===Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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

Feb 8, 2022 • 45min
#49 How to make hard decisions, reality of being a startup CEO, opportunities & risks of Latin America, and the importance of transparency with Rain Sepp (askRobin)
Rain Sepp is the Founder and CEO of askRobin - a financial education and inclusion platform operating in Mexico and other LatAm countries. Rain is a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned consumer finance expert. After building a customer base of more than 2 million users for askRobin and raising more than 1.5mEUR, Rain recently announced the winding down of the company.In this episode we talk about the story of askRobin, building a sizeable customer base in Mexico and the risks of doing business in emerging markets. We also go in depth into the decision to shut down the business, how to make that decision, how to deal with investors and other stakeholders. Finally, we talk about some of the less known realities of being a CEO/Founder.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[03:00] - INTRODUCTION AND THE ORIGINS OF ASKROBINStarting a business in finance with no background in financeGoing to radically different LatAm marketsThe initial business model and first traction[07:05] - CUSTOMER ACQUISITION AND OPPORTUNITIES IN LATAM MARKETSHuge markets and huge demand for financial servicesMatching demand with ability to serveOnline vs. offlineWeb vs. mobileUnderserved markets in many waysOpen culture[13:25] - THE RISKS OF DOING BUSINESS IN LATAM MARKETSCapital controlsPhysical securityLanguage and cultural barriers[17:05] - THE DECISION TO CLOSE DOWN ASK ROBINThe Pandemic effectDrifting away from the missionMission vs. excelPurpose - market fit[32:30] - HOW TO DEAL WITH HAVING TO SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPANYHave a planFocus on things you can affectTake ownershipBe honest with yourselfBe transparent with your investors from the beginningBeing a CEO is a lonely job[36:50] - WHAT PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE ABOUT BEING A CEO/FOUNDERPlans vs. realityGetting beaten upNot forgetting to celebrate small successesNot having answersEntrepreneurship as a drugTo reach out to Rain use: LinkedinTwitter: @rainseppFind out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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 The full interview with Rain is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness The full interview with Rain is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts Support the show

Feb 1, 2022 • 45min
#48 Building products for Metaverse, partnering with global brands & entertainers, Zuckerberg’s big bet and opportunities of the decentralized world with Timmu Tõke (Ready Player Me)
Timmu Tõke is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ready Player Me - the cross-game avatar platform for the metaverse. Timmu has been working on 3D design, virtual reality and the metaverse for more than 8 years becoming a true pioneer in avatars for the metaverse, a space that exploded in 2021.In this episode we talk all things metaverse, the unique positioning of Ready Player Me in it. We also talk about user experience, business models, global brands and opportunities in the metaverse. Finally we talk centralised vs. decentralised approaches to the metaverse and the current and potential role of Meta.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[02:50] - INTRODUCTION AND THE METAVERSECreating transferable avatars across 1000s of metaverse worldsGetting married on the metaverseHow people choose what to look like on the metaverseAccessibility of the metaverseConnectivity of the gaming worldWhat skills do you need to build something on the metaverse[12:25] - META AND ZUCK’S INFLUENCE ON THE METAVERSE ADOPTIONTrying to be THE metaverseClosed vs. open metaverseWinning the hardware game[14:25] - ON USER EXPERIENCE IN THE METAVERSEIncreasing importance of immersive devices (AR/VR)Building open worlds for interconnectivityConnecting different games and different blockchains - the challenge[17:00] - ON THE BUSINESS USE CASES OF THE METAVERSEBuying digital items for your avatar and using across gamesProductivity and meetings apps as a big marketRunning virtual education activitiesThe value of VR business meetings[20:35] - THE ORIGINS AND BUSINESS MODEL OF READY PLAYER MEStarting from hardware and 3D printingBusiness model of Readyplayer.mePay to win vs. pay to flexSocial aspect of gaming for the kids[27:40] - GETTING DEALS WITH GLOBAL BRANDS AND SCALINGBeing overwhelmed with demandFocus on onboarding developersEarly to the gameThe more self-service the betterWorking with blockchain projectsMaking a difficult problem simple[31:20] - ON MAINTAINING EDGE OVER COMPETITORSYears of practical experienceHigh network effectOpen platformsOwning the end-user[36:30] - BRANDS TO FOLLOW AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE METAVERSENike+ArtifactAdidasPeople are building metaverse from anywhere - decentralizationMeta and who will win the platform race To reach out to Timmu use: LinkedinWebsite: https://readyplayer.me/Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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 The full interview with Timmu is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts Support the show

Jan 25, 2022 • 42min
#47 How to improve your life quality with Health Tech, similarities of running a business & ultra marathon, and principles of user centric design with Ignas Survila (Tyler.Health)
Ignas Survila is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tyler.Health - a health tracking app that allows you to manage your nutrition the most accurate way. An endurance sports athlete and serial entrepreneur also having worked with Kilo.Health, Ignas is a proponent of user-centric design for building products.In this episode we talk about the challenges of healthcare and health monitoring industries and how Tyler attempts to solve them. We also talk about using health monitoring data to improve your lifestyle and sports performance. Finally we discuss user-centric design and what mistakes teams make when building products.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[03:15] - INTRODUCTION AND THE PROBLEM IN HEALTHCAREPro-active vs. re-active medicineMass adoption of health-tech productsHow Tyler worksImpact of blood sugar monitoringMotivation to track healthProviding actionable insights vs. dry dataBuilding a seamless, user-centric experience[09:25] - TESTING YOUR PRODUCT WHILE RUNNING 100 KMPlanning your fuelJoining team calls while runningMeasuring data post run[12:00] - PRACTICAL ADVICE ENERGY MANAGEMENT ADVICE FOR OFFICE PEOPLEMeal timing and compositionWalk after big lunchesMeasure blood sugar to determine personalised routine[14:05] - ON HANDLING SENSITIVE CUSTOMER DATAConsumers happy to share dataHelping product builders and community by sharing sensitive health dataImpact of sex on blood sugar[18:05] - ON THE LEARNINGS FROM THE THERANOS CASE[19:20] - BUILDING A HEALTH TRACKING MEGA APPComplex health tracking insightsPreventive medicine[21:45] - ON THE HEALTH TECH INDUSTRYProducts rocking the market todayBook to read Matthew Walker - Why we sleepThe rapid technological growth since first wearablesThe importance of habits data precisionFocusing on athletes vs. general population[26:40] - PERSONAL STORY THAT LEAD TO BUILDING A BUSINESSClear vision to do health data monitoring and insightsBuilding something truly valuable for the worldUsing personal life experience as inspiration[30:00] - COMBINING RUNNING A STARTUP AND RUNNING ULTRA MARATHONSSimilarities between running a marathon and running a startupThe balancing effects of a physically active lifestyle[33:10] - ON USER-CENTRIC PRODUCT DESIGNRejection of unnecessary partsDieter Rams’ 10 principles of good designReal-life example of a failed MVP testThe market-product fit vs. product-market fitThe opposite of user-centric product designAdding some jazz to the design processManaging your ego when designing productsOther common design mistakes besides ego To reach out to Ignas use: LinkedinWebsite: https://tyler.health/Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===See the video content exclusively on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappinessSupport the show

Jan 18, 2022 • 38min
#46 Ins & Outs of starting a hardware business and using subscription pricing to disrupt the package delivery industry with Andres Sampka (Parcelsea)
Andres Sampka is the CEO and Co-Founder of Parcelsea, an Estonian last-mile delivery startup developing smart mailboxes that accept and deliver your packages in a secure and contact-free way, without you even being home.In this episode we unpack what goes into starting a hardware intensive business (in a garage), the subscription pricing model for hardware tech, building an MVP, adding innovative services to your (not so ordinary) mailbox, as well as how you can protect your IP from the likes of Jeff Bezos.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[03:10] - INTRODUCTION AND DEMOCRATIZING THE PACKAGE DELIVERY INDUSTRYThe Parcelsea productThe problems in the package delivery industry we all faceThe growth of the e-GDP from the pandemicSaving the world while saving time&money[09:15] - ON THE BUSINESS MODEL AND SCALABILITY The Parcelsea business modelMulti-user sharingScaling the business in different countriesUsing previous hardware experience to solve for scalability[14:34] - ON BUILDING A USER FRIENDLY HARDWARE PRODUCTComing up with the first version/MVPTrade-offs between customer requests and cost efficiencyThe innovator’s dilemmaPowerpoint as first MVPMake or buy trade offsEducating the users[22:00] - ON FACTORS TO HELP LAUNCH FASTTeam with previous experience togetherKnowing what to do prior to startingBeing leanValidating with users early[25:40] - ON JOB TO BE DONE FRAMEWORK AND AN ACTUAL GARAGEStarting a hardware business in the garageUsing Clayton Christensen Job to Be Done Framework[27:50] - ON SUBSCRIPTION PRICING FOR HARDWARE Pricing a new conceptRemoving entry barriersCreating a platform vs selling a piece of hardware[30:55] - ON PROTECTING YOUR IP/BUSINESSAvoiding getting killed by Jeff Bezos and/or Elon MuskSpeed and tractionSticky business modelScaling the productionManaging funding To reach out to Andres use:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andressampka/Website: https://parcelsea.com/etFind out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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 The full interview with Andres is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts Support the show

Jan 11, 2022 • 45min
#45 The importance of values & rituals, how to build trust in multi-national teams, and lessons from scaling Europe's fastest unicorn with Aiste Juknaite (Gorillas, ex-Uber)
Aiste Juknaite is the Director of Growth at Gorillas - Europe’s fastest unicorn and an instant grocery delivery giant out of Berlin. Before Gorillas, Aiste held several growth and customer service related roles at Uber.In this episode we talk about Aiste's journey working for global unicorn companies, with a focus on scaling global teams, building trust, implementing values and rituals. Finally we talk about what challenges first-time managers of global teams face as well as the workload and work-life balance management.The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[01:35] - INTRODUCTION AND AISTE’S JOURNEY IN GLOBAL TECHPushing into global tech companies from the BalticsLeveraging Linkedin to push your careerWorking within a truly global team at Uber[07:25] - ON JOINING GORILLAS AND SCALING FAST GROWING ORGANIZATIONSJumping into the Gorillas rocketshipScaling cultureImportance of company valuesBuilding a team remotely[13:10] - ON VALUES AND RITUALS IN DAILY BUSINESSBuilding team spirit remotely with ritualsWorking as a sole remote team memberHomogeneous vs. diverse teamsIntroducing sub-team valuesAssuming others have positive-intent by default[23:45] - ON BUILDING TRUST WITHIN TEAMSBuilding trust fastAuthenticity, logic and empathyResponsibility of people managers to build trust between their team membersThe importance of 1:1 with ample time allocationTeam personality tests togetherStart building trust from hiring[32:10] - ON CHALLENGES FOR A FIRST-TIME MANAGER OF A GLOBAL TEAMGetting used to people being in control of when they respondCultural differences between countries and nations worldwide[37:55] - ON UNICORN WORKLOAD & SETTING PERSONAL BOUNDARIESNo illusions on 9-to-5, working more intensely by choicePassion for building a businessSetting boundaries when physically possibleSetting strict personal life requirementsDistinguishing between manager days and maker daysPrioritise things you truly care about, sacrifice everything elseTo reach out to Aiste use: LinkedinFind out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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 The full interview with Aiste is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts Support the show

Jan 4, 2022 • 53min
#44 Martin Villig 🇪🇪 (Bolt) on building a global mobility Unicorn, challenges of scaling, ability to do more with less & making social impact with kood/Jõhvi coding school
Martin Villig is a Co-Founder of Bolt, one of the most widely known Estonian unicorns valued at $4.75 Bn during the last investment round. Martin has been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years and is an integral part of the Estonian startup community. In recent years, he has been especially active in social impact projects with such initiatives as coding school kood/Johvi and the Good Deed Education Fund for solving acute problems in the education sector.In this episode we talk about Martin’s entrepreneurship journey including its biggest highlight - Bolt - from origins to philosophy and culture to strategic decisions, scaling and attracting investments. We also discuss what role philanthropy and social impact plays in Martin’s life and why and when other people should engage in such activities. Finally we talk about the Estonian tight-knit startup founders community and how it propels the next unicorn formation. The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps[01:15] - MARTIN’s BUSINESS JOURNEY BEFORE BOLTStarting up in the ninetiesThe Skype touchTesting co-founders for vision, work ethic and risk tolerance[04:35] - ON THE ORIGINS OF BOLTStarting a company with your brotherLaunching in a space with big established playersInnovating in an age old industryRetaining the team[12:10] - ON DOING MORE WITH LESS & CULTURE OF FRUGALITYStruggling for investments early onDecision to expand in the Baltics before other countries abroadThe upside of not raising a lot initially - frugal cultureFrugal culture even post raising several hundred million[18:15] - ON UNDERESTIMATED CHALLENGES OF SCALINGIt’s a marathon not a sprintOn the quality of hiring and peopleRemaining customer-centricKeeping the product simple[21:50] - ON THE DIDI INVESTMENTThe benefits of a strategic investorWorking with a Chinese investor[25:00] - ON THE SUPER APP QUESTSeparating Bolt FoodProbability of Bolt becoming a super-app[29:00] - ON SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS & KOOD/JOHVIThe right time to start Projects Martin is involved inOn the mission of coding school kood/JohviHow soon you can learn coding and make an impact[40:40] – ON THE VALUE OF THE ESTONIAN STARTUP COMMUNITYWhat went right initiallyImpact of the Founders societyHiring from abroad vs. poaching from other founders[47:00] - ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELFA few pieces of practical advice for young foundersImportance of bringing value to BalticsJoining the Founders pledgeTo reach out to Martin use:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waldec/ Website: https://martinvillig.com/ Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/Support for this episode comes from Venetor > https://www.venetor.co/ ===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 The full interview with Martin is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts Support the show