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Connecting the Dots… That was our Summer Offsite theme this year. 🤩 At awork, we have many great things going for us, as well as some challenges and opportunities ahead. Realizing what those are, where we want to go, and how we can best utilize our team’s strengths to unlock the next level of growth is what we spent the last week on. We kicked off with a keynote by Tobi that provided a high-level overview of these dots and the strategic direction. We then had Frederik Fleck join us remotely to share his invaluable insights into the startup funding situation from an investor perspective. Bernadette Hamann and Marvin Müller from OMR Reviews made their way up from Hamburg to talk about their perspective on the SaaS market and how companies are purchasing software at the moment. Julia Glöckner and Lucas Bauche shared strategic updates on a more focused customer profile as well as some ideas for what awork could look like in the future. After all these input sessions, it was finally time for the team to connect the dots. We set out and defined the projects we need to work on next quarter to reach the goals we’ve set for ourselves. We put up boards with the big topics we need to work on, then gave the team time to add ideas, questions, and thoughts to every project. In smaller groups, we then evaluated and prioritized all the ideas on the boards, worked on more concrete project plans for the next three months, and presented them to the rest of the team. What really impressed me: 👉 The number and level of questions from the team to our external speakers. 👉 The participation and motivation of every team member throughout those intense days. 👉 How well the agenda worked out, from high-level strategy to concrete projects, with everyone being involved in every step. 👉 How smoothly and hassle-free we managed to pull everything off. Therefore, I wanted to give big kudos to the entire team. 😍 Our offsites are a big part of our culture, and at the same time, they only work out so well because of this awesome culture we’re creating together. Can’t wait for next year! #offsite #team #joyofwork #teamevent

🚀 Hy everyone, check out this awesome news! 🚀 So, guess what? There's a new player in town shaking things up in the IT world, and I couldn't be more excited to spill the beans! Two big-shot German companies just teamed up, and trust me, it's a game-changer for all of us - our teams and clients are all winning big time! In today's digital jungle, keeping up means diving headfirst into innovation and all things modern. Don't stress! Staying hip to the latest tech trends doesn't have to feel like climbing Mount Everest. All you have to do is pick the right software squad that can hook you up with the slickest solutions out there. Say hello to "Hyand" - the brainchild of a recent mashup between MT and GOD. These guys come packing some serious punch with years of experience wrangling colossal projects, a solid dedication to German quality, and a lineup of cutting-edge tech that'll knock your socks off. Just how huge are we talking? Well, in 2023, GOD and MT pulled in over a jaw-dropping 115 million euros in combined annual turnover. Now, as "Hyand," we're strutting our stuff among Germany's top fifteen IT honchos. With a whopping 16 branches spread across Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and India, plus a dream team of over 900 pros, we're set to dish out top-notch solutions to clients far and wide. So, who's ready to hop aboard this wild ride with us? Let's blaze trails in the IT universe together! Hit us up today and let's chat about how "Hyand" can turbocharge your biz for success in this digital age. #Hyand #codeofchange #GODtoHyand #ITRockstars #InnovationNation #TechTales #MergerMadness #GermanGurus #TechSavvySquad 🚀🔥

When brilliant minds meet Low Country hospitality, extraordinary things happen. Last week, Propexo held its annual company offsite in the oh-so-beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina. It was a remarkable week for so many reasons - collected below are a few musings: 1 - In-person connection is irreplaceable. Our team lives and works all across the US. The offsite is a rare occasion for us all to spend time together. These shared, communal experiences are a source of joy and camaraderie. I still believe in the power of remote work, but certain things can't be replicated on Zoom. A moment that drove this home for me was working with the engineering team to strategize a new feature. Physical proximity enhanced the back-and-forth discussion and live problem-solving. 2 - When a focused team eliminates distractions, a week feels like a quarter. We came into the offsite week with some lofty goals. And I wasn't quite sure we could achieve them. But in five short days, we were able to: - Build and launch a brand new integration into a new category of systems (rental CRMs). Big announcement coming soon... - Setup AI-powered marketing & sales automation to support an account-based GTM motion - Create months-worth of product video content - Launch a press page - Launch a startup discount program Our output blew me away. The key to making this happen was providing focus to the team. We shelved all ongoing work during the offsite week so everyone could put their total effort into the special projects. We also made it fun, gamifying the experience, setting up a competition between engineers and non-technical folks, and giving out prizes to the winning group at the end of the week.  3 - How does anyone get work done in Charleston? The weather was gorgeous all week. The food was so delicious, and we got to experience a mix of barbecue, seafood, fried stuff, and more haute cuisine. I wanted to do nothing more than eat and laze about outside. This was my first time in Charleston, but certainly not my last. Next time, I'll bring a bit more vacation energy so I can properly soak up the vibes and relax. A big shoutout to the team for an amazing week of focus & fun in the sun! Ben Keller Nickolas Johnson Brett Clark Ian Benton Maxwell Cohn #proptech #offsite #startup #founder

👋 Hallo DACH! Tons of inspirational people and discussions under one roof. That was the Stammtisch Wien event organized by Paul G. Putz and Peter Helesic from Danube Angels. Our Martina Pokorna introduced ARTIN to the representatives of Austrian startup tech companies, innovators, and investors. We are glad that our services resonated with the audience and that we had a chance to connect with bright minds such as Scott Galvao from circuly. It is a widespread stereotype (among many others) that nearshoring software development is suitable for big companies only. It doesn’t matter whether you have 5 IT employees, or 50 or 200. It is more about the right timing. Nearshoring whole projects or even just a part of your software development is always a good idea if: 🔸 you need additional hands but hiring new employees and their onboarding would be too time-consuming, 🔸 you are searching for developers with specific skills that are difficult to find on the market, 🔸 you need to speed up development to reach milestones in time, 🔸 you have reached a dead end and need guidance through the whole software development process. Why do we think so? Let’s talk! Write a comment below or contact our 🇩🇪 German-speaking Anna Budinska directly. #DACHregion #Nearshoring #SoftwareDevelopment

Starting our 2nd founder retreat of the year with Arnaud Renoux. Here's what we're up to: When we started The Scalelab 4 years ago, we were both in separate cities. Arnaud in Singapore. Myself in Hong Kong. Covid hit and both of us were forced into working remotely. The first time we met in person was only 2 years after having started The Scalelab. While I think there a great benefits in being remote, I also believe that there are things a phone/video call can't achieve. Since then we decided to retreat more often. And from 2024, at least once a quarter. Our concept of a founder retreat is to work on: - Strategy - Vision - How to materialise it The point being to adjust our course and to see a lot farther. So last February, Arnaud and I met for our first founder retreat. And it was one of the most productive 10 days we ever spent. What we got out of it: 1/ For The Scalelab (our Agency) - Refined Ideal Customer Profile - Better product and better service delivery - Which means more leads for our clients - And in terms of sales for us: 3x the sales pipeline of the previous quarter 2/ For Scalelist (our SaaS) - Updated features for better delivery - New content strategy - 2x the revenue And overall, clarity around our vision and how we can materialise it. So this time the topics we're looking at are: - Doubling revenue for The Scalelab, and Scalelist - What do we want our personal brands to be in 10 years - Who we want to achieve this with It's primarily the question of how and where should we want to invest our time. And the least I can say is that I'm super excited about where we are headed to. Comment anything if you want to be kept posted on the frameworks we will implement to get there. Happy Sunday, happy Scaling. Youssef (and Arnaud), from Uluwatu, Bali.

Around once a year, Rockerbox hosts Rockertreat, our company in-person retreat. Our most recent iteration is the 5th one I’ve had the privilege to plan and experience. It never ceases to amaze me how much enthusiasm, energy, and camaraderie exists amongst this crew who work remotely throughout the year. In particular this year, I noticed a handful of threads throughout the retreat - about what Rockerboxers care about and how they operate. Here’s what I want to share: 1️⃣ Integrity: Rockerboxers state things as they are - the good, the bad, and the ugly. This mentality makes us faster because we don’t spend time dealing with a distorted sense of what’s going on.  2️⃣ Humility: Rockerboxers don’t know all the answers but they’re eager to find them and to improve as a result. 3️⃣ Collaboration: Rockerboxers work better together - not just when challenged to simulate a mountain survival experience, but every day.  4️⃣ Drive for excellence: across the board, in every conversation I was a part of, Rockerboxers had ideas and plans to make things better. Even during our highlights celebrating the team’s accomplishments, there’s always someone excited to iterate and improve. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not all super serious and work-related! Everybody also brought their good cheer and sense of humor, so there were many a laugh throughout the event. Bottom line is, this is an excellent crew to be on the startup journey with!

Ever stumbled upon a SaaS tool and thought, "Where have you been all my work-life?" That's me. I’m constantly on the hunt for the next best thing in company culture. And oh boy, do I have a couple of gems for you 💎 : 1. Propulsion - Now, let me get a little hometown proud on you. Propulsion comes straight out of Québec, Canada – yep, my own backyard. 😏 It's weaving sports into the fabric of team dynamics, proving that a little competitive spirit does wonders. The team behind it? Absolute wizards. They're showing the world how Québec's tech brilliance is about innovation that packs a punch. 2. Matter - This is not your ordinary pat-on-the-back machine. We're talking about Matter.app, a place where feedback is dressed to impress and positivity reigns supreme. 🤩 It's like having a workplace fairy godmother, making sure everyone gets their moment in the spotlight. Trust me, it's a game-changer. We've embraced it at Jameo for the last two years, and it's been an absolute joy! These aren't just tools; they are the secret sauce to a workplace vibe that's as vibrant as a Montréal summer festival. ☀️ I hope you all find these tools incredibly useful! #WorkplaceVibes #SaaSMagic #QuebecTech

Building a business requires more than just strategy—it often means growing your team or even relocating to places like #Estonia. But what’s the reality behind these moves for #founders and #employees? Join us on Wednesday, 25 September at 14:00 (Central European Summertime) for a #discussion on the ups and downs of team growth and relocation. We’ll be sharing insights and experiences from those who have been there, done that. Be part of the conversation and get inspired! #entrepreneurship #teambuilding #relocationjourney #growthstrategy #experienceexchange

#BuildingBelong: Celebrating the Team That Makes It All Happen At Belong, every milestone we reach is a collective effort. Whether it’s building a feature, improving our infrastructure, or driving customer trust, it all comes down to one thing: our people. Behind the scenes, every team plays a crucial role in building Belong into what it is today and taking it forward everyday. • Our DevOps team ensures that our infrastructure is not only robust but also cost-effective and scalable. From managing deployments across ARM and AMD architectures to fine-tuning our auto-scaling setups, their work keeps everything running smoothly. • The Finance team have been instrumental in balancing growth with financial discipline. • The Marketing team has been spreading the word about Belong, crafting narratives that connect with our audience and building awareness about what we stand for. • The Founder’s Office has been the glue, keeping all the moving parts aligned, whether it’s setting strategy, solving cross-functional challenges, or simply ensuring every voice is heard. • And of course, our product and engineering teams, who bring all the ideas to life with their relentless drive and innovation. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, but it’s important to pause and appreciate the people who make it all possible. Building Belong isn’t just about creating a product or hitting milestones—it’s about creating an environment where every team member feels empowered to contribute and knows their work truly matters. Here’s to the amazing team at Belong. Every step forward is because of you. #BuildingBelong #Teamwork #StartupLife #Fintech

🧡 Celebrating Milestones and Reflecting on my Journey at Time2Staff 🧡 As I sat on the rooftop overlooking the beautiful Bergen with many restaurants, bars, hotels and cafes that happily use Time2Staff app, I’m filled with sense of pride and gratitude. Wearing our vibrant orange, I celebrated Time2Staff's success. After 2.5 years of hard work, our sales and revenue growth have exceeded our wildest dreams. What started as a small venture in Norway has now expanded into Sweden and Denmark, allowing us to help hundreds of people earn a decent income every day. 🚀 198% Increase in sales comparing last year 🌍 Expanded market reach to the whole of Scandinavia 💼 Shaped a diverse community of 34000 folks from every corner of the world Becoming the COO of such a fast-growing startup at 26 is a testament to the countless nights I chose work over sleep, the parties I skipped, and the vacations I postponed. Every sacrifice has been worth it, knowing that we are making a tangible difference in folks' lives. While I’m incredibly proud of our achievements, I remain humbled by the journey. I know that continuous smart work and dedication are key to sustaining this success. I am committed to staying focused and working even harder to achieve our future goals. To everyone who has supported me and Time2Staff, tusen takk from the bottom of my heart. Let’s continue to push boundaries and achieve new heights together. If you’re interested in collaborating or learning more about our journey, let’s connect! Here’s to many more milestones ahead! Cheers to hard work, perseverance, and the amazing team that makes it all possible 🧡 #Time2Staff #StartupSuccess #SalesGrowth #MarketExpansion #HardWorkPaysOff #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #StayHumble #Norway #Sweden #Denmark #Diversity