From Klarna to Brite Payments, Lena Hackelöer has built fintechs that thrive across 27 markets—without blowing the budget. In this episode, she shares battle-tested strategies for international expansion, hiring senior talent at the right moment, and balancing growth with financial discipline. Whether you're entering a new market or navigating leadership hires, Lena breaks down what actually works—and what doesn't.
You’ll learn:
How to break into new markets with no local team
Why vertical-first selling beats regional scaling (until it doesn’t)
What founders get wrong about hiring senior leaders
When to prioritize profitability vs. growth
How to stay lean without limiting ambition
Lena’s approach to building a capital-efficient, scalable business is a must-hear for any founder aiming to do more with less—and stay sane doing it.
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