baltics

In today's episode, we discuss the types of agreements that are allowed in managerial contracts in the Baltics, including recommended provisions for employers and more. Subscribe to our podcast today to stay up to date on employment issues from law experts worldwide.

Host: Philippe Durand (email) (August Debouzy / France)

Guest Speakers: Hanna Pahk (email) (Ellex Raidla / Estonia), Iveta Ceple (email) (Ellex Klavins / Latvia) & Rimantas Stanevičius (email) (Ellex Valiunas / Lithuania)

Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.

Listen in as we discuss the most impactful employment law regulations of 2023 and forecast what employers can expect in the current year. Subscribe to our podcast today to stay up to date on employment issues from law experts worldwide.

Host: Philippe Durand (email) (August Debouzy / France)

Guest Speakers: Hanna Pahk (email) (Ellex Raidla / Estonia), Iveta Ceple (email) (Ellex Klavins / Latvia) & Rimantas Stanevičius (email) (Ellex Valiunas / Lithuania)

Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.

This episode is for all foodies and science enthusiasts. Our guest is Kristine Majore, a Latvian Ph.D. researcher from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Kristine's research is all about the dairy industry and ways to manage waste while creating new products.  She conducted her BAFF internship at California Polytech University and is now a Senior Analyst at the Latvian Environment, Geology, and Meteorology Center. In this episode we discuss:

• The fascinating world of food science and how little it has to do with the kitchen.
• The ins and outs of shelf-stable milk and milk powder.
• The latest and most popular trends in the field of food science.
• And the surprising twist when Kristine’s roommate turned out to be a professor at the same university.

We all know the food we eat can have a major impact on the environment. Join us for another journey Beyond BAFF to learn more about food science and how researchers like Kristine are revolutionizing the industry.

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Episode 6 is for all you startup and entrepreneurship enthusiasts! Our guest is BAFF Alumnus Kalev Kaarna – a scientist turned entrepreneur from Estonia. Kalev participated in the BAFF Research Sholar program in 2015 when he spent a year at Arizona State University, researching how to enhance the impact of entrepreneurship programs and courses in universities. But that was only the beginning. Kalev immersed himself fully into business, entrepreneurship, and startup field and is now an investor and start-up coach at Superangel, an early stage Venture Capital Fund. How very suiting, as Kalev titles himself a superfan of all tech startup founders. In this episode we discuss:

• How he got into science and how he decided to leave it behind?
• Why can’t we afford Estonian entrepreneurs to burn out?
• What does the Estonian giving-back mentality mean?
• What is the most frequently asked question that Kalev gets about venture capital?
• What is the power law in startup investing?

 So, if you're curious about the world of entrepreneurship and want to hear some valuable insights from a seasoned pro, tune in to this journey Beyond BAFF! 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Tune in for another episode of Beyond BAFF podcast, where we continue to highlight remarkable scientists from the BAFF alumni community. Our guest is Regina Soobard - an Estonian researcher focused on science education toward sustainable development. Regina participated in BAFF’s Research Scholar Program in 2019 when she conducted her research at Michigan State University, seeking a more extensive understanding of using ‘big ideas’ and design-based modeling in science education. In this episode we find out

• What is scientific literacy and why it matters?
•  How to monitor meaningful learning?
•  Why is it important to understand interdisciplinarity?
•  Where are science and science education heading?
•  How does coaching training help to be a better educator?

Regina shares insights from her experience in the U.S. as well as her current work at the University of Tartu as an Associate professor of Science Teaching and the program director for Secondary School Science teachers. 

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Listen in as we discuss the most impactful employment law regulations of 2022 and forecast what employers can expect in the current year. Subscribe to our podcast today to stay up to date on employment issues from law experts worldwide.

Host: Kato Aerts (email) (Lydian / Belgium)

Guest Speakers: Hanna Pahk (email) (Ellex Raidla / Estonia), Iveta Ceple (email) (Ellex Klavins / Latvia) & Rimantas Stanevičius (email) (Ellex Valiunas / Lithuania)

Register on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.

Rev up your engines and join us for an electrifying episode of Beyond BAFF podcast featuring the brilliant Raivo Sell! As a professor of robotics and head of the Autonomous Vehicles research group at TalTech, Raivo is no stranger to cutting-edge technologies and future innovations. In this episode we discuss:

• What inspired him to start developing Autonomous Vehicle Shuttles, which is thefirstEstonian self-driving vehicle?
• How implementing technology is a step-by-step process, not an overnight thing.
• Ways he has continued his collaboration with contacts he made in the US.
• How does Raivo see the future of autonomous vehicles?
• The surprising thing about South Carolina?

So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride filled with knowledge, and technological advancements. And just to get your motor running, here's a joke: Why did the robot go on a diet? To reduce his circuit size! (we'll let Raivo take it from here with the real tech talk).

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Welcome to the first episode of Beyond BAFF, the podcast that explores the experiences and stories of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation's alumni. Our guest today is Justinas Kilpys, a Lithuanian researcher who participated in the program in 2019.

During his internship, Justinas worked on applications of the random forest algorithm for snowfall detection using satellite passive microwave sensors. In this episode, we delve into:

• His day-to-day work as a snowfall detection researcher in the U.S. & the challenges he faced when he moved there with his family.
• Justinas' insights on climate change and sustainable development issues from his perspective as a hydrometeorologist.
• His experiences working as a Data Scientist for Climate Risk at Danske Bank in Lithuania.
• What kind of weather changes does he foresee for the Baltic countries in the future?
• The connection between financial risks and weather risks.
• And why did Justinas sometimes have team meetings in Mandarin during his internship?

Tune in and join us on this journey Beyond BAFF!

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Even the day before I left Manchester Airport, Russia was threatening Lithuania. Many people may have cancelled travel plans, but for reasons of travel addiction, I chose to visit.
This country needs to be left alone to enjoy their freedom and way of life.
Steeped in history and eccentricity, Vilnius deserves a visit, especially the area of the "Old Town."
Outdoor cafes and restaurants are in abundance and there are many great sights to see.
Vilnius Cathedral, Hill of Crosses, Hill of Three Crosses, Gediminas Castle, St. Anne's Church, Museum of Illusions, KGB Museum, and plenty more.
Walk everywhere, providing it is not the depth of winter. Listen to this podcast for a few ideas.
The city is clean, very safe, welcoming, with an atmosphere of sophistication.
I walked several miles a day, and occasionally stopping for a coffee or a beer if late in the afternoon.
Fly up to the Baltics whether by SAS or Air Baltic. It is a short journey.
Check out my Instagram post for a video clip showing a few highlights,

https://www.facebook.com/TravelingAddict
https://www.instagram.com/englshguy/
https://www.malcolmjteasdale.com/
https://www.travelingenglishman.com/

http://www.malcolmteasdale.com

Vadim Rogovskiy is the CEO & Co-founder of Ukrainian startup 3DLOOK. Upon the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vadim’s team has partially relocated to Western Ukraine, Poland and the US and continues to operate close to pre-war operational level.

In this episode we talk:

• 3DLOOK & its business operations before the war
• Team response to crisis
• What happens to contracts during war
• Crisis management tips for CEOs
• War impact on clients, partners and investors
• The outlook for Ukrainian startups

The episode was recorded on April 26, 2022

The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps

[01:30] - Vadim's business before and during the war

[06:10] - Not believing the war will actually start, but getting ready nevertheless

[09:30] - Team's readiness to evacuate together with the company

[11:55] - How all this affected productivity of the team

[14:00] - Was everyone able to leave the country?

[17:15] - What happens to contracts during war?

[19:00] - Key crisis management tips for CEOs

[22:40] - Should companies have an emergency plan to evacuate?

[29:00] - Impact of the war in eyes of Western clients, partners, investors

[31:15] - The future for company future in Ukraine

[34:15] - How startups help the war effort and how foreigners can help Ukrainian startups

[37:30] - Vadim's outlook on how/when this ends

To reach out to Vadim use: 

Email: vadim@3dlook.me

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vadim-rogovskiy 

Support Ukraine via https://spendwithukraine.com/

 

Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/

Watch full-length conversation on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA 

Find out over 50 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ 

===

See the videos from interviews on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ 

Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness 

This episode is brought to you in cooperation with TechChill

Join us in Riga on April 27-29, 2022

• 100+ speakers (including the guest of this episode)
• 200 top US and European investors
• 300 Startups

Listen to the episode intro to find a special PROMO CODE for Pursuit of Scrappiness listeners and get 20% OFF 

Get your pass NOW on https://techchill.co/ 

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Michael Haase is the Founder and CEO of Plantjammer - Learn new easy dishes and fit them to individual health goals, availability and taste. With a background from McKinsey and Merill Lynch, Michael is on a mission to help you decrease food waste while unplugging and having fun cooking.

In this episode we talk about Plant Jammer and its mission to decrease food waste. We also cover the hottest trends in foodtech and using cooking to unplug and recharge. Finally we discuss breaking user habits, scaling of sustainability culture and user acquisition.

The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps

[03:00] - HOW PLANT JAMMER HELPS PEOPLE COOK AND DECREASE FOOD WASTE

[06:30] - ON HOTTEST TRENDS IN FOOD TECH

[09:40] - BUILDING A BUSINESS MODEL ON BIG DATA

[13:10] - APPLYING AI TO CREATE THE PLANT JAMMER RECIPE GENERATOR

[17:20] - BREAKING USER HABITS AND SCALING ACROSS COUNTRIES

[26:45] - ON USER ACQUISITION

[33:15] - ON THE VALUE OF COOKING FOR CREATIVITY AND HEALTH

Check out Plant Jammer here 

To reach out to Michael use: 

Email: michael@plantjammer.com

Linkedin: Linkedin

Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ 

Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/

===

See the videos from interviews 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 

This episode is brought to you in cooperation with TechChill

Join us in Riga on April 27-29, 2022

• 100+ speakers (including the guest of this episode)
• 200 top US and European investors
• 300 Startups

Listen to the episode intro to find a special PROMO CODE for Pursuit of Scrappiness listeners and get 20% OFF 

Get your pass NOW on https://techchill.co/ 

===

Yoram Wijngaarde is the Founder and CEO of Dealroom - Global data platform for intelligence on startups, innovation, high-growth companies, ecosystems and investment strategies. With a prior career in investment banking, Yoram has in-depth knowledge of the financial markets.

In this episode we talk about Dealroom, its origins and business model as well as building a data intelligence company as such. We also discuss what data points investors mostly care about and which industries are currently hottest. Finally we talk about macro view on VC in Europe as well as the state of global funding markets.

The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps

[02:30] - HOW DEALROOM AGGREGATES STARTUP DATA

[08:40] - ON BUILDING A DATA INTELLIGENCE COMPANY

[12:05] - HOW DEALROOM CAN BE USED BY STARTUPS

[14:30]- ON WHAT DATA INVESTORS LOOK FOR IN STARTUPS

[21:15] - ON HOTTEST INDUSTRIES IN STARTUPLAND

[24:40] - ON THE BALTIC&NORDIC REGION THROUGH THE EYES OF DEALROOM

[27:30] - ON THE FUTURE AVAILABILITY OF STARTUP FUNDING

[30:10] - YORAM'S EXPERIENCE WORKING AT LEHMAN BROTHERS DURING FINANCIAL CRISIS

[34:45] - ON THE FUTURE OF DEALROOM

To reach out to Yoram use: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoramdw/ 

Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ 

Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/

===

See the videos from interviews 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 

This episode is brought to you in cooperation with TechChill

Join us in Riga on April 27-29, 2022

• 100+ speakers (including the guest of this episode)
• 200 top US and European investors
• 300 Startups

Listen to the episode intro to find a special PROMO CODE for Pursuit of Scrappiness listeners and get 20% OFF 

Get your pass NOW on https://techchill.co/ 

===

Rytis Vitkauskas is a Partner at the global VC powerhouse Lightspeed Ventures. Holding an MBA from Harvard Business School, Rytis has also founded and exited startups as well as made tech investments for more than 10 years.

In this episode we talk about Rytis’s journey to become a VC with Lightspeed, and getting an MBA from Harvard. We also discuss the strategy of Lightspeed and category defining companies. Finally, we compare how Baltic startups match up on the European level and talk about the role of the local VC.

The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps

[02:40] - INTRODUCTION AND RYTIS’S JOURNEY TO VC AND LIGHTSPEED

[06:00] - ON BALTIC ECOSYSTEM NOW AND 10-15 YEARS AGO

[11:15] - ON THE HBS EXPERIENCE AND ROI FROM TOP EDUCATION

[20:00] - ON LIGHTSPEED STRATEGY IN EUROPE AND THE BALTICS

[23:50] - ON CATEGORY DEFINING COMPANIES

[36:00] - HOW BALTIC COMPANIES MATCH UP WITH WESTERN EUROPEANS

[44:30] - ON EXPECTATIONS FROM LOCAL BALTIC VCs

To reach out to Rytis use email: rytis@lsvp.com 

Find out more on https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ 

Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/

===

See the videos from interviews 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 

David Holahan is a former US Defense Attache to Latvia. He is also a retired US Marine Lt. Col. a 21-year veteran of the US Marine Corps. Having served in conflicts in Iraq and Somalia.

David spent over 10 years living in Baltics which gives him a unique viewpoint on the defense and security matters of our region both from local as well as US policy maker and NATO perspective.

This episode is first in a series of special episodes on how the Russian invasion of Ukraine affects us in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. 

It was recorded on March 29 and we bring you full-length unedited conversation. 

NEW! Watch full-length video conversation on YouTube > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsoM_RGae2E 

Remember to support Ukraine > https://war.ukraine.ua/ 

The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps

[01:45] - David’s background in military and US Diplomatic Service

[07:30] - Was Russia’s invasion a surprise

[10:50] - NATO was designed to keep the Germans down and the Russians out

[14:30] - Russia hate when the Baltics flip them off 

[19:30] - What are the implications for the the Baltics

[20:20] - The Baltics were always going to be next

[26:00] - The Baltic countries are not working closely enough together on their defense

[33:00] - How might the current war in Ukraine end?

[36:10] - The nuke is a huge bluff 

[39:10] - The battlefield is unpredictable, Russian army can disintegrate

[40:15] - Suggestions from David’s military experience on how to deal with stress

NEW! Watch this conversation in full-length on YouTube >  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA 

Listen to our previous episode with David > https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/episode-10-interview-david-holahan 

Find out over 50 other full length podcast episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/ 

Support for this episode comes from Nexpay > https://paynexpay.com/

===

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/ 

Questions/suggestions? Join our Telegram group > https://t.me/pursuitofscrappiness 

Confused about just what's going on in Ukraine and just how we got here? This is the Episode of AJSTW to listen to! We talk about America's gas crisis, and how the Biden Administration has only done half of what needs to be done regarding our imports of oil from Russia.  Andrew talks about how you can't make science bend to politics, especially when it comes to chemistry and physics, and he revisits the VW Diesel Engine scandal.  Then they take a listen to what Vice President Kamala Harris had to say in Poland, and speculate on whether she was trying to signal for her teleprompter to move more quickly.

Then they're joined by Professor Paul Poast from the University of Chicago, a recognized expert in international law and politics. They take a deep dive into the problems in Central and Eastern Europe, figuring out just how we got to this point in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine - talking about the history of NATO and how NATO is perceived by Russia.  What is Putin's mindset in all of this, and what are the factors that are driving him?  Just how should the US be supporting Ukraine?  Should we send jets from/through Poland?  What is the danger of a nuclear conflict, and is Vladimir Putin willing to use nuclear weapons?  Why is Russia a member of the UN Security Council?  Is it fair to ask Ukraine to remain "neutral", and are any of Russia's other "peace" proposals at all workable? And we talk about the work of Professor John Mearshimer, as well as mention other notable academics, like Dr. Robert Jervis from Columbia University!

How does this all end?   Listen and find out!

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 SCHOOL

• 8 Estonian founders set out to solve lack of tech talent
• School with no teachers and no classes
• The learning methodology
• Remote vs. on-site studying
• Choice of school location
• How the school is defined

[09:45] - STUDENTS SHARE WHY THEY DECIDED TO JOIN

• Coding school vs. university for high school graduates
• Jumping into coding from a different career
• Combining Kood with full-time job

[15:40] - LEARNING TO CODE CAN BE A CAREER CHANGE

• Various backgrounds and previous experiences
• All ages welcome above 18
• Multiple coding languages and platforms
• Speed of studies

[19:05] -  LIFE OF A STUDENT AT KOOD

• Teacherless studies
• Real-life like study process
• Matching of flexible schedules between students
• Campus atmosphere

[23:45] - HOW TO GET INTO KOOD

• First step - game/test
• Second step - 3 weeks selection spring
• Personality fit
• Demand for women and international students

[28:45] - WHY THE SCHOOL IS FREE

• School is free for students
• Students pay for food and accommodation
• 40+partners pay the school to hire students at graduation
• Possible to work also not for the partners
• Expected salary for graduates

[32:50] - HOW SOON CAN YOU CODE SOMETHING

• Getting to practical tasks from day 1
• Main mission and side quests
• Encouragement for other students
• Reinventing yourself during increasing length of careers

[39:00] - FUTURE OF KOOD AND ROLE OF ITS FOUNDERS

• Expanding in size and geography
• Continuous support for regional development
• How Karin got to become Co-Head of Kood
• Founder engagement - heart project

[44:15] - PRACTICAL DETAILS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO APPLY

Website: https://kood.tech

To 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 

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 HEALTHCARE

• Pro-active vs. re-active medicine
• Mass adoption of health-tech products
• How Tyler works
• Impact of blood sugar monitoring
• Motivation to track health
• Providing actionable insights vs. dry data
• Building a seamless, user-centric experience

[09:25] - TESTING YOUR PRODUCT WHILE RUNNING 100 KM

• Planning your fuel
• Joining team calls while running
• Measuring data post run

[12:00] - PRACTICAL ADVICE ENERGY MANAGEMENT ADVICE FOR OFFICE PEOPLE

• Meal timing and composition
• Walk after big lunches
• Measure blood sugar to determine personalised routine

[14:05] -  ON HANDLING SENSITIVE CUSTOMER DATA

• Consumers happy to share data
• Helping product builders and community by sharing sensitive health data
• Impact of sex on blood sugar

[18:05] -  ON THE LEARNINGS FROM THE THERANOS CASE

[19:20] - BUILDING A HEALTH TRACKING MEGA APP

• Complex health tracking insights
• Preventive medicine

[21:45] - ON THE HEALTH TECH INDUSTRY

• Products  rocking the market today
• Book to read Matthew Walker - Why we sleep
• The rapid technological growth since first wearables
• The importance of habits data precision
• Focusing on athletes vs. general population

[26:40] - PERSONAL STORY THAT LEAD TO BUILDING A BUSINESS

• Clear vision to do health data monitoring and insights
• Building something truly valuable for the world
• Using personal life experience as inspiration

[30:00] - COMBINING RUNNING A STARTUP AND RUNNING ULTRA MARATHONS

• Similarities between running a marathon and running a startup
• The balancing effects of a physically active lifestyle

[33:10] - ON USER-CENTRIC PRODUCT DESIGN

• Rejection of unnecessary parts
• Dieter Rams’ 10 principles of good design
• Real-life example of a failed MVP test
• The market-product fit vs. product-market fit
• The opposite of user-centric product design
• Adding some jazz to the design process
• Managing your ego when designing products
• Other common design mistakes besides ego

To reach out to Ignas use: Linkedin

Website: 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/pursuitofscrappiness

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 INDUSTRY

• The Parcelsea product
• The problems in the package delivery industry we all face
• The growth of the e-GDP from the pandemic
• Saving the world while saving time&money

[09:15] - ON THE BUSINESS MODEL AND SCALABILITY 

• The Parcelsea business model
• Multi-user sharing
• Scaling the business in different countries
• Using previous hardware experience to solve for scalability

[14:34] - ON BUILDING A USER FRIENDLY HARDWARE PRODUCT

• Coming up with the first version/MVP
• Trade-offs between customer requests and cost efficiency
• The innovator’s dilemma
• Powerpoint as first MVP
• Make or buy trade offs
• Educating the users

[22:00] - ON FACTORS TO HELP LAUNCH FAST

• Team with previous experience together
• Knowing what to do prior to starting
• Being lean
• Validating with users early

[25:40] - ON JOB TO BE DONE FRAMEWORK AND AN ACTUAL GARAGE

• Starting a hardware business in the garage
• Using Clayton Christensen Job to Be Done Framework

[27:50] -  ON SUBSCRIPTION PRICING FOR HARDWARE 

• Pricing a new concept
• Removing entry barriers
• Creating a platform vs selling a piece of hardware

[30:55] -  ON PROTECTING YOUR IP/BUSINESS

• Avoiding getting killed by Jeff Bezos and/or Elon Musk
• Speed and traction
• Sticky business model
• Scaling the production
• Managing funding

To reach out to Andres use:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andressampka/

Website: https://parcelsea.com/et

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 Andres is available NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts  

Welcome to the 2nd  part of the Pursuit of Scrappiness 2 episode Christmas Special. Janis and Uldis are joined by previous star guests Toms Niparts from Jeff app (full interview in Episode #1), Eerik Oja from Planet42 (Episode #3) and Jone Vaituleviciute from Startup Wise Guys (Episode #20) to discuss the events in 2021 and make predictions about 2022.

In this episode we talk about the relationship between governments, politicians and the startup ecosystem - what has been done right and what is still lacking? We also look into the crystal ball and try to see what the Baltic startup world looks like in 2022. 

The topics covered in this episode with Timestamps

[02:30] - GOVERNMENT vs TECH, BEST & WORST FROM LV, LT AND EE

• What Estonian govt has done right in tech support policy
• Importance of immigration laws
• Lithuanian government relationship with the startup ecosystem
• Latvian government relationship with the startup ecosystem
• How to get governments more involved in supporting startups
• How easy is it to bring foreigners to the Baltics to work at your startup

[25:00] - PREDICTIONS FOR 2022

• Challenges for startups - inflation and talent shortages
• Lithuanian IPO
• New Estonian unicorns
• End of he pandemic?

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