What does it take to build a thriving business from scratch while navigating the challenges of bootstrapping? In this episode, I sit down with Pavlo Pedenko, founder of Mathema.me, one of the biggest STEM tutoring marketplaces in the CEE region, serving families across 62 countries. Pavlo shares his inspiring journey of creating a platform that prioritizes both tutors and families, emphasizing the importance of solving real problems, focusing on customer needs, and staying adaptable. We explore the key lessons Pavlo learned while scaling a startup without external funding, managing growth pains, and building a sustainable, impactful business model. From prioritizing tutors' success to experimenting with creative marketing strategies, this episode is packed with insights on how to grow a business rooted in value and resilience.   In this episode, you will learn about: The art of bootstrapping and how Pavlo and his team scaled Mathema.me to serve families in 62 countries how prioritizing the needs of tutors helped build a thriving platform with loyal users why early-stage businesses should embrace manual processes before scaling with tech the challenges of balancing growth with team-building and accountability how to decide whether external funding is right for your business journey Stay safe and #standwithukraine, Anna   Resources: Find out more about Mathema.me: https://mathema.me  Connect with Pavlo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlo-pedenko-7a02061b/?originalSubdomain=uk  Join the free yoga classes I teach every Monday and Thursday: https://annaliebel.as.me/lytmorning Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall  Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/