Founders Weekly

In this episode of Founders Weekly, we dive into the remarkable story of Hymera, a Ukrainian startup that emerged from an extreme war situation to revolutionize military radio technology. The conversation with co-founder Misha Rudominski reveals how his team transformed a crisis into an opportunity, developing battlefield-tested encrypted radios that outperform competitors at a fraction of the cost. Through the lens of wartime entrepreneurship, we explore how Hymera went from zero experience to delivering over 6,000 units and securing significant funding, all while maintaining their commitment to rapid innovation and user-centered design. The episode showcases the power of speed and continuous iteration in startup success, with Hymera's journey from prototype to mass production in just one year serving as a testament to their "learn and execute faster than anybody else" philosophy.Host:Heini ZachariassenLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/Co-Host:Hassan BazziLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/habazzi/Guest:Misha RudominskiLinkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudominski/Himera: https://himeratech.com/Founders Weekly on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@foundersweeklyRaw Startup Social Mediahttps://youtube.com/rawstartuphttps://twitter.com/rawstartupshowhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rawstartup/https://www.facebook.com/rawstartup/https://www.tiktok.com/@rawstartuphttps://www.instagram.com/rawstartup/

Hassan Bazzi, a startup founder and developer, shares his insights from building Just Release in just four days alongside co-host Heini Zachariassen. They delve into managing team dynamics, overcoming challenges in a hackathon setting, and the necessity of effective communication. The duo highlights clever marketing strategies, such as utilizing Reddit and creating a waitlist, to build momentum. Reflecting on their rapid journey, they discuss the importance of product validation and maintaining a positive team atmosphere while securing their first paying customers.

Hassan Bazzi, a key member of the JustRelease team, shares insights from an intense startup challenge in Barcelona. The team faces and overcomes complex technical hurdles, particularly with YouTube integration. They discuss innovative marketing strategies and effective community engagement on platforms like Reddit. The conversation highlights the importance of brand identity and tools for creators, revealing their rapid growth to 85 potential users and securing their first customer. Tune in for a fascinating look at hackathon-style startup development!

Join developer Hassan Bazzi, who played a pivotal role in an ambitious four-day challenge to create an AI-powered content generation tool in Barcelona. They faced intense coding nights and technical hurdles, from data mishaps to refining user experience. Learn about the team's innovative strategies for content creators and how they validated their concept with real-time user feedback from podcaster Stoyan. The process isn't just about building tech; it's about navigating the crowded market and finding unique ways to engage diverse audiences.

In this episode of Founders Weekly, hosts Heini and Courtney tackle the crucial topic of burnout, with a focus on founders and professionals. They explore the signs and symptoms of burnout, the differences between stress and burnout, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The conversation features a personal account from guest Oscar Werner, who opens up about his own journey through burnout, the emotional impact it had on him, and the lessons he learned in the process of recovery. Oscar discusses how burnout affected both his professional and personal relationships, the transformative changes he made in his leadership style, and the importance of self-care and mindfulness. The episode also introduces the concept of the "emotional bank account" in relationships, and touches on the challenges of balancing the drive to keep pushing with the need for rest and recovery. Oscar shares practical advice for founders on how to prevent burnout and maintain long-term well-being in both their work and personal lives. Host: Heini Zachariassen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/ Co-Host: Courtney Quattrini LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyquattrini/ Guest: Oscar Werner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-werner-248612/ Sinch: https://sinch.com/ Gilion: https://www.gilion.com/ Raw Startup Social Media https://youtube.com/rawstartup https://twitter.com/rawstartupshow https://www.linkedin.com/company/rawstartup/ https://www.facebook.com/rawstartup/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rawstartup https://www.instagram.com/rawstartup/

Pat Walls, founder of Starter Story, shares his solopreneur journey and the unique challenges that come with building a business alone. He discusses the delicate balance between autonomy and isolation, revealing how motivation and discipline play vital roles in success. The conversation also highlights the dilemma of choosing between going solo and finding the right co-founder, emphasizing the importance of aligned goals. Additionally, they touch on how AI helps streamline decision-making and improve efficiency in business.

In this episode of Founders Weekly, Heini and Theis explore the challenges founders face in choosing which startup ideas to pursue, focusing on the concept of spin-outs—transforming strong ideas into independent companies. Guest Ola Sars, founder of Soundtrack Technology, offers insights from his journey spinning Soundtrack Technology out from Spotify, discussing the importance of maintaining focus, securing funding, and navigating platform dependency risks. The conversation also covers the complexities of licensing in the music industry, the benefits of being an agile company, and the necessity of achieving product market fit. Sars highlights the significance of discipline, knowing when to pivot, and addressing emerging trends in the B2B music sector. Host: Heini Zachariassen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/ Co-Host: Theis Søndergaard LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/theissondergaard Guest: Ola Sars LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ola-sars Soundtrack Technology: https://www.soundtrackyourbrand.com/ Raw Startup Social Media https://youtube.com/rawstartup https://twitter.com/rawstartupshow https://www.linkedin.com/company/rawstartup/ https://www.facebook.com/rawstartup/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rawstartup https://www.instagram.com/rawstartup/

In this episode, Heini and Theis are joined by Brant Cebulla, co-founder of Scalero, to discuss their experiences with global teams and outsourcing. They highlight the necessity of these practices, exploring benefits like cost efficiency and quick hiring, while also addressing challenges such as cultural differences and communication styles. The conversation covers effective hiring strategies, the importance of building trust and communication in remote teams, and managing productivity and accountability. They share insights on overcoming time zone challenges and adapting communication methods, ultimately reflecting on the joys of working in diverse environments. Host: Heini Zachariassen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/ Co-Host: Theis Søndergaard LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/theissondergaard Guest: Brant Cebulla LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brantcebulla/ Scalero: https://scalero.io/ Raw Startup Social Media https://youtube.com/rawstartup https://twitter.com/rawstartupshow https://www.linkedin.com/company/rawstartup/ https://www.facebook.com/rawstartup/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rawstartup https://www.instagram.com/rawstartup/

In this episode of Founders Weekly, the hosts tackle the contentious issue of whether AI could replace technical co-founders in startups. They discuss the current capabilities and limitations of AI tools, emphasizing their role in assisting with MVP development while highlighting the need for technical understanding. The conversation also covers Klarna's bold move to integrate AI solutions instead of traditional software, the evolving roles of product management and engineering, and the potential for AI to enhance game development. The hosts advocate for founders to leverage AI for testing hypotheses and building prototypes, while noting the enduring importance of data as a critical asset in this AI-driven future. Fast Track Your MVP with AI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxmbamH7vuU Host: Heini Zachariassen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/ Co-Host: Hassan Bazzi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habazzi/ Co-Host: Theis Søndergaard LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/theissondergaard Raw Startup Social Media https://youtube.com/rawstartup https://twitter.com/rawstartupshow https://www.linkedin.com/company/rawstartup/ https://www.facebook.com/rawstartup/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rawstartup https://www.instagram.com/rawstartup/

In this episode, the hosts explore the vital role of product-market fit (PMF) and how to find it using the Product-Market fit score. They discuss the importance of aligning products with market demand and gathering feedback from the right users. The conversation emphasizes identifying an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) for effective targeting and introduces the idea of sticky users—those who engage consistently with a product. Guest Herbert Bay shares insights on EarKick, a self-care app, detailing its growth and PMF evaluation. He highlights the need for repeated user engagement, examines survey methodologies, and identifies key features for enhancing retention. The episode also compares the Product Market Fit Score with the Net Promoter Score (NPS), stressing their significance in product development and user satisfaction. Founders! Please fill in the 2-minute survey on Growth: https://forms.gle/JYaBcrpvfcgLXqqw5 Product Market Fit Score in short: https://youtu.be/gEiK-bDOADg?si=_yZtQwplkXY4nM_B Host: Heini Zachariassen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/ Co-Host: Theis Søndergaard LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/theissondergaard Guest: Herbert Bay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herbertbay Earkick: https://earkick.com/ Raw Startup Social Media https://youtube.com/rawstartup https://twitter.com/rawstartupshow https://www.linkedin.com/company/rawstartup/ https://www.facebook.com/rawstartup/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rawstartup https://www.instagram.com/rawstartup/