Simone Roznowicz’s Post

Your tech isn’t just your CTO’s problem. Most CEOs aren’t the tech expert in their company. In my two CEO roles, there’s always been people much more expert than me. But technology is a vital part of driving a company. Tech drives efficiency, allows us to be more competitive, and gives insights into what’s working. Almost all companies these days are tech-enabled. But as a CEO, not understanding the technical decisions being made in your company, leaves you vulnerable. You need to be able to investigate the decisions being made and how money’s being spent. If your CTO says “this is hard, we need to hire more developers”, do you understand why and are you certain that’s the only solution? A CEO colleague I spoke to recently told me, 🗣️ “I don’t really know what’s going on in the tech org”. He’d inherited an org with a CTO and ~60 developers, but he had little visibility on their impact. He: 👉 is completely dependent on his CTO’s decisions, and 👉 has no technical grounding to question what’s happening or have constructive conversations to see if it’s the right thing. He’s stuck. An overreaction to this would be to start micro-managing everything, and I’m not advocating for that. I believe it’s useful for a CEO to be a step removed - so what are some options for staying in control without getting overly-involved? 1️⃣ Learn. I’ve never been an expert, but I’ve been lucky to spend time with technical orgs before becoming a CEO. I have a data background and I’ve learnt to code a little, allowing me to dive in a bit more and see what’s going on. I also have strong trusted relationships with my technical co-founders, who’ve repeatedly taken the time to bring me along and make sure I understand what’s going on without needing to be too in the detail. If you have the time, start learning now. If you’re thinking of becoming a CEO one day, understanding your technology is non-negotiable in my opinion. 2️⃣ Build your stack on technologies that help you stay in control by surfacing some of this detail for you. Modern low-code and no-code technology is increasingly making it possible for non-technical folks to get involved and see where it’s possible to invest differently. Products like #Supabase make it possible to build a backend with less engineering time than was previously possible. No-code products like #Retool help quickly release secure and efficient internal tools. 💡 Of course, Keel does both. We realised that most companies want to spend less time re-inventing the wheel, and want to empower more people with the right data and tools to do their work. I recognise that CEOs want to feel in control without micro-managing their colleagues. A good part of Keel is off-the-shelf, helping to reduce those technical burdens up front. And the rest is fully customisable, so your engineering teams can have it work exactly how they want. ❓CEOs - how do you make sure you know enough about your tech investment without disempowering your CTO?

Three months after we launched Empiric, I moved from Denver to Lisbon. With our team already spread out across the country, I figured the biggest change would be my time zone (and much better seafood than in Denver). Lisbon's a hub for digital nomads, with a growing tech scene and enough co-working spaces for everyone. I was ready. Gear packed, #foundermode engaged, and a solid plan approved by friends and coworkers. Spoiler alert; moving continents isn't straightforward, especially when you're building a company from scratch. The transition was harder than I expected. We've since made it work—even found the benefits, like effectively covering 16 hours a day due to our time zone difference—but it came with a lot of lessons. The funny part? I did exactly what we help our clients avoid. I picked a new market that looked good, built a "foolproof plan" in my head, didn't talk to any unbiased sources, and took the leap. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still move in a heartbeat. But I'd also talk to a few people who had done it before. It would have saved me a lot of hard lessons. Startups die when they spend faster than they learn. I managed to adjust after a lot of trial and error, but for companies, the stakes are much higher, and the transition is far more challenging. If you're moving into a new market, you're going to have to adjust—but how many of those lessons can you afford to learn the hard way? Learn from others and make the jump wisely. Thinking about moving to Portugal? Feel free to reach out—I’ve got a Notion full of recommendations and would love to help. 

From the Autobahn to the Fjords: My Insights on the European Tech Landscape 🇩🇪 🇳🇴 🇨🇭 As a tech recruiter who's spent years navigating the dynamic world of European software development, mainly in Germany, I've recently had the privilege of expanding my reach beyond Germany's bustling tech scene. Norway and Switzerland have opened their doors to me (thanks to TMS Technology), and let me tell you, the tech landscapes there are as unique as the stunning scenery! Intrigued by the possibilities across Europe? Let's dive in and explore the differences that I have learnt... Market Nuances: 🧐 - Norway: Think thriving FinTech and CleanTech fuelled by their oil wealth and focus on sustainability. - Germany: They are a powerhouse of industrial giants and a booming B2B software scene. - Switzerland: Here, precision meets innovation with a focus on high-tech manufacturing, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Popular Tech Topics: 📖 - Norway: With a tech-savvy population and a focus on remote working, Cloud solutions and DevOps are hot topics. - Germany: Industry 4.0 (smart manufacturing) and Artificial Intelligence are driving the German scene. - Switzerland: Blockchain technology and cybersecurity are in high demand due to their focus on data privacy and security. Tech Stack Stars: 💻 - Norway: Java and Python reign supreme, with a growing interest in mobile development frameworks like Flutter and React Native. - Germany: Similar to Norway, Java and Python are dominant, with C++ still holding strong in the industrial sector. - Switzerland: Here, you'll find a wider variety in the tech stack, with Java, Python, C++, and Go all fighting for dominance. Bonus Fact: Did you know that Norway boasts the highest mobile penetration rate in Europe, making it a prime market for mobile app development? 📱 Each European tech hub offers a unique blend of culture, opportunity, and cutting-edge projects. So, consider your tech skills and career goals - are you a sustainability champion drawn to Norway's fjords, or an industrial innovator itching to tackle complex problems in Germany? #EuropeanTech #SoftwareDevelopment #CareerGoals

Normally, I stay far from politics, but this one time, I want to share a quick reflection on something bigger than marketing – the power of big tech and ultimately our freedom. Every November, for a couple of days, Lisbon becomes the capital of nerds and innovators. This year, almost 72,000 people and 3,000 startups came to #WebSummit – some to find financing, some for networking and partnerships, some to hire, and some, like me almost every year, to reflect on changing ways to connect with consumers and seek inspiration from absolute A-players presenting topics ranging from how to engage with fandom to how to build a quantum computer. Every year, it’s an overwhelming (it’s so crowded there!) but exciting and incomparable experience. Although I could write pages about the fantastic performances I experienced (my top one being Max Tegmark from MIT and the Future of Life Institute), I have increasingly concerning thoughts regarding the evolution of the biggest tech companies. I have a strange and rather unpleasant feeling that big techs are no longer interested in developing the next generation of cool products as they used to. Instead, they seem to be focusing on “boring” stuff – infrastructure and general-purpose technologies that are the necessary foundation for other services and products. This approach is increasingly rooted in their business models, and as an ordinary member of society, I see a problem with this. Infrastructure, usually understood as physical objects like electrical grids, pipelines, or currency, typically creates a kind of monopoly that is widely accepted because it is provided and controlled by public institutions accountable to society. However, the new type of digital infrastructure is private, profit-driven, and aims to monopolize entire ecosystems in particular areas of human activity. Once you play this role, you don’t even have to produce anything – you just allow others to use your domain, define prices and rules, and act as a gatekeeper. It’s not difficult to find an analogy to feudal history – once you own a village, you operate with a similar model. So, what can potentially go wrong? Julia Navalny and Leopoldo Lopez (another great speech) mentioned that almost 70% of the world’s population currently lives in autocracies. But autocracy might not only be political; it potentially can also be a more subtle digital form when a critical domain is monopolized by companies controlled by mighty individuals and not by society. I’ll just leave this for you to think over the weekend 😊 #websummit #freedom #bigtech

Exciting Times for Local Software Development in the UK! As the tech landscape continues to evolve, the UK is rapidly becoming a powerhouse for innovative software development. From dynamic startups to established tech giants, the local software scene is thriving like never before. Cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh are bustling with tech hubs and innovation centres that foster creativity and collaboration. The UK boasts a highly skilled workforce, with top-tier universities producing world-class software engineers and developers. Initiatives and funding from the UK government are driving growth and encouraging entrepreneurship within the tech sector. UK-based companies are not just making waves locally but also on the global stage, delivering cutting-edge solutions across various industries. There's also a strong focus on creating software that not only meets today's needs but also contributes to a sustainable future. Let's celebrate the achievements and look forward to the future of software development in the UK! If you're a developer, entrepreneur, or tech enthusiast, this is the perfect time to get involved and make an impact. 💡 #SoftwareDevelopment #UKTech #Innovation #LocalTalent #TechHubs #FutureOfTech #SustainableDevelopment #Entrepreneurship --- Feel free to share your thoughts or reach out if you're interested in collaborating or learning more about the vibrant software development scene in the UK!

Your 5 mins European tech weekly wrap up is here 💫 🔍 Here's this week's digest: 🌱 **Compensation trends & 26% gender pay gap in European tech**: Discover Ravio's report on hiring and compensation trends, revealing a 26% gender pay gap and insights on the impact of the EU Transparency Directive. 🪂 **Top startups in Hungary, Ireland, Italy & Latvia**: EU-Startups highlighted the top 10 early-stage startups across these rising ecosystems. 💰 **Europe’s largest fund of funds allocated €1bn into 4 growth funds**: The European Investment Fund has invested over €1bn across four European growth funds, contributing to the European Tech Champions Initiative. 🧮 **Templates for SaaS financial models**: Impress your investors with business plans and financial forecasts using a variety of templates. 💎 **How will software take over traditional industries?**: Explore the potential of tech to transform industries like healthcare, logistics, construction, and manufacturing. 💜 **Opportunities** for female founders & aspiring founders: Access grants, programs, and events tailored for female entrepreneurs. This week's edition was powered by Attio, Amela's favorite CRM. Find a freebie on our newsletter and scale your company to the next level. https://lnkd.in/ecddXf4M — Thank you for reading! If you found this interesting: ♻️ Repost ✍️ Comment ➕ Follow me, Anais Cisneros, to join 7,000+ interested in startups & venture capital.

🌋 The Tech Landscape Just Shifted (And It's Good News for Non-Tech Founders) Remember when building enterprise-grade software required massive development teams and deep pockets? That world is vanishing before our eyes. I'm watching something remarkable unfold: Small teams with the right technical leadership are now matching what used to require hundreds of developers. And they're doing it at 1/10th the cost. The secret isn't just throwing AI tools at the problem (everyone's doing that). It's about having the right technical vision to: 1. Navigate the new AI-accelerated development landscape 2. Avoid the legacy system traps that are holding big companies back 3. Turn limited resources into an advantage Here's what's fascinating: The enterprise advantage is crumbling. Their massive teams and complex processes have become anchors, not assets. But there's a catch: You still need product-market fit. You still need to solve real problems. And most importantly, you need the right technical leadership to seize this moment. 🎯 For non-technical founders, this is your window. With the right technical partner, you can build things today that would have been impossible (or impossibly expensive) just 6 months ago. The ground is moving. The opportunities are real. But this window won't stay open forever. What challenges are you facing in building your tech solution? Let's connect below 👇 #StartupStrategy #TechLeadership #Innovation #DigitalTransformation

https://lnkd.in/da7V-tiE "Forget the controversy. America’s tech capital is building the future "Whenever a global economic transformation takes place, a single city usually drives it forward. Ghent, in modern-day Belgium, was at the core of the burgeoning global wool trade in the 13th century. The first initial public offering took place in Amsterdam in 1602. London was the financial centre of the first wave of globalisation during the 19th century. And today the city is San Francisco. "California’s commercial capital (San Francisco) has no serious rival in generative artificial intelligence (ai), a breakthrough technology that has caused a bull market in American stocks and which, many economists hope, will power a global productivity surge. Almost all big ai startups are based in the Bay Area, which comprises the city of San Francisco and Silicon Valley (largely based in Santa Clara county, to the south). "

Boston Tech Update: Why the U.S. Is a Magnet for Those Who Crave Freedom and Innovation? Just 10 weeks here, and it's already clear: the U.S. is built for those who want freedom to choose, to move, to build. I’ve seen it firsthand, from Boston to New York, Seattle to Florida. The difference? One language, one market, and a mindset that says go where you want, create what you want. The U.S. isn’t just a country - it’s a powerful network of regions, each with its own edge: - #SiliconValley: still king for startups - #Boston: deep in AI and biotech - #NewYork: media, finance, and tech - #Seattle: the tech giants’ playground - #Denver: tech with a lifestyle focus - #Durham/Raleigh: a growing hub for research and health tech - #Florida: emerging opportunities and warm weather Need a change of pace or a different focus? Just move. No penalties, no borders. It’s all open, making it easy to pivot, follow growth, or find the perfect mix of lifestyle and industry. In Europe, our ambitions are often shaped - and limited - by layers of regulation, fragmented markets, and taxes that weigh down even our best ideas. We’re a collection of mini-ecosystems, each with a little of everything but missing the bold profiles you see here. Imagine a Europe where people could move freely without exit taxes, where unified capital market laws drive major investments, and where flexible labor policies let companies scale at speed. Living here in Boston, I see firsthand how these freedoms fuel innovation and growth every day. If Europe embraced a similar mindset, we’d open doors to new levels of opportunity - not only for investors but for families too.

Tech trends come at us in waves, rising & roaring before they crest and then fall off. There's always something new to learn. That constant change is never more true than in the world of developers building the software that runs our daily lives. Wave 1: Git itself. Since the spring of 2005, development as a team sport became plausible, then possible, then necessary. The notion of global teams "chasing the sun", peer programing, and truly building "better together" was in reach. Wave 2: Platform fragmentation (huh?). For the 1st decade of the century, you needed to have a great website as the backbone of your digital experience. Maybe some commerce capabilities, and just don't crash. The 2nd decade saw mulitiple mobile platforms, responsive web, then location-aware, social, streaming & IoT. And it all has to work flawlessly. Every time. Wave 3: Distributed teams. The pandemic sped it along, but the chase for special talent + drive made it inevitable that, in the future, software teams wouldn't have the luxury of sitting in the same room, overhearing lunchtime conversations, or pulling their chairs up to the whiteboard. And when those teams span time zones, languages & holiday calendars, the usual coordination hiccups or communication lags turn minor delays into major disruptions. That's not just an inconvenience. It’s a productivity & growth killer. It's also part of why we mere mortals (aka those who don't code or build) often don't fully appreciate that engineers don't spend their days just churning out code as though they're bringing us our meal, precisely as we ordered it. Devs need to gather context, understand requirements, align on the priorities & trade-offs, to coordinate with their co-builders. And that gets orders of magnitude harder when: 1. Dev is a true team sport with even more dependencies than in product, sales, marketing, accounting or other disciplines. 2. Every property, API and service you build has to work. Every time. In every use case. Bonus points if you can see around corners and predict the future. 3. Now do it with people that you're in the same room with twice a year. Once per year. Or never met them. I'll have more to say on this, but this is chapter 1 of a series that plagues CEOs, CMO's, CXO's and investors called "WHY DOES IT TAKE SO MUCH LONGER TO BUILD THAN (I THINK) IT SHOULD?!? #DistributedTeams #DistributedDevs #DevEx #Tech #RemoteWork