Starting a company is thrilling, but also daunting. But what happens if you try building a company in a place where you may or may not have the community and the network to support you in your efforts? I want to ask foreign founders why they decided to take the leap and build their company in a specific location. With this podcast we are exploring ideas, listening to founder challenges, and discovering why foreign founders are the most optimistic group of people I've encountered.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Starting a company is thrilling, but also daunting. But what happens if you try building a company in a place where you may or may not have the community and the network to support you in your efforts? I want to ask foreign founders why they decided to take the leap and build their company in a specific location. With this podcast we are exploring ideas, listening to founder challenges, and discovering why foreign founders are the most optimistic group of people I've encountered.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anna Ratala went from running major tech events in Singapore to building Zvook, a venture-backed podcast advertising platform that she ultimately had to shut down after 4+ years. In this deeply honest conversation, she shares the emotional journey of letting go, rebuilding her identity beyond "founder," and finding her next chapter at a former competitor.
What You'll Learn:
⏰ KEY TIMESTAMPS:
02:30 - From Finland to Singapore: Running Slush Singapore
12:00 - Content Strategy: Using Founder Stories as Marketing
15:30 - The Complexity of Scaling Host-Read Advertising
18:45 - Running Out of Money: The Final Year Struggles
24:15 - The Hard Decision: Shutting Down After 4+ Years
30:45 - Identity Crisis: Who Am I Without Being a Founder?
36:20 - Joining Red Circle: Working for a Former Competitor
39:15 - Leaving Ego at the Door: Transitioning to Employee
42:30 - Current Role: Marketing Director at Red Circle
49:30 - Optimistic Outlook: Seeing Opportunities, Not Obstacles
Connect with Anna:
Anna's story is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn't just about the successes - it's about resilience, learning from failure, and finding new ways to contribute to the industries you're passionate about.
Subscribe for more immigrant founder stories and startup insights!
#Entrepreneurship #StartupFailure #PodcastAdvertising #ImmigrantFounders #StartupStories
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You can find us here: https://linktr.ee/foreignfounders
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.