People Under the RAIN.global Umbrella

People Under the RAIN.global Umbrella

Welcome to a special journey where we take a dive into the essence of RAIN.global's exceptional team members. Today we interview our COO, Jarne Atsar.

Jarne, what is it that you do?

I've taken on various roles, but my primary one is to be a backseat driver in RAIN.global, supporting Henri Kivioja 's great passion. This involves tasks like taking out the trash, buying coffee for the office and handling boring paperwork. Most importantly, though, it's about being part of the team, striving to make everyone feel comfortable and at ease.?

Startup Journey: Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to co-found our startup?

I had been at Ericsson for 32 years and had a chance to be involved with new product development multiple times: NMT900, GSM, PDC, M-MGw, IoT, Cloud. I cherished every one of those experiences, but then I received a request that would have set me back 10 years, prompting my decision to step away.

What was the initial inspiration and vision behind starting this company??

Henri and I had been working on non-telecom related new business development, and we seemed to think alike. When the choice was either going back 10 years or something outside of the firewall, I had no other option.?

How have your responsibilities evolved since the early days of the company??

Not much has changed; I'm still involved in everything but increasingly focused on customer-facing cases.?

Startup Leadership: What leadership qualities do you think are crucial in the fast-paced world of startups??

Staying away from corporate traps, recognizing that innovation is everything and knowing your team so well that you can sense all the nuances of each team member.?

How do you lead and motivate a team in a startup environment??

Be yourself, show your own weaknesses and maintain transparency.?

Challenges and Lessons Learned: What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered in building a startup, and how have you navigated them??

The lack of resources has been a major challenge, but in the startup world, it's different from corporations. Challenges come in bursts and you have to deal with them on your own; you can't call the human resources department to fix them.?

Can you share a valuable lesson you’ve learned on your startup journey??

Recruitment is everything; don't delegate this responsibility to anyone else. You can seek advice, but ultimately, you should make the hiring decisions yourself.?

Startup Growth and Milestones: What milestones or achievements are you most proud of as our startup has grown??

Our first real customer case in 2019 was a significant achievement. Another proud moment was when Covid-19 led to one customer ending our team's work and we managed to find a new customer within half a day. We're also proud that we can continue doing business.?

Can you discuss any strategies that have helped us gain a competitive edge??

Our background knowledge has been our greatest asset; we understand the landscape and its pitfalls, enabling us to navigate effectively.?

Can you share an example of a project or initiative that exemplifies our startup’s collaborative spirit??

One situation that showcased our collaborative spirit was when we had to reorganize our team roles due to a customer shutting down one team. We managed to make these changes with almost zero impact on the progress of ongoing projects.?

Startup Tips: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own company or join a startup team??

Be prepared to do whatever is needed or required. Don't ask for job descriptions, and don't create them.?

Are there any specific challenges or opportunities unique to startups that you’d like to highlight??

Find a great accountant from day one.?

Are there any exciting developments or growth plans you can share?

I have personal ones which I don't share publicly. RAIN's growth will be remarkable and the growth path might differ from what we envision today, but the results will be outstanding in any case.?

Balancing Startup Life: How do you manage work-life balance in the demanding world of startups???

I'm a poor example of work-life balance as I've been wholeheartedly committed to my work for many years. I've always loved challenges. If you want a nine-to-five job, it's better to choose something outside of startups.?

Is there a personal motto or approach that keeps you motivated during the startup journey?

I've followed a personal motto, 'se on lopusta pois,' for many years. There's no direct Finnish-to-English translation, but it's about not rushing into things too early, as it might lead to suboptimal results.

And finally a bonus question: What is your favorite band that you enjoy listening to??

As a romantic person I do love music from the Eagles.