Why we started Scalio: Because every founder journey doesn’t have to be this tough (or lonely).

I’ve spent the last 20 years building companies. That’s two decades of wearing all the hats, making all the mistakes, and learning all the lessons - the hard way. Most recently, as the founder of VIBBIO, I lived the rollercoaster of scaling a tech startup. And let me tell you, there’s no thrill quite like trying to build something from the ground up, but there’s also nothing quite as exhausting.

For those who haven’t been there, the founder’s journey looks a lot like this: you’re constantly juggling. Product development, fundraising, hiring, marketing - oh, and don’t forget trying to maintain some semblance of a personal life (spoiler: that last one usually loses out). Every day, you’re faced with decisions that could make or break your business, and often, you’re doing it with no one to (really) lean on for advice.

It’s lonely. It’s stressful. And, quite frankly, it’s unnecessarily difficult.

Now, I’m no stranger to tough calls or sleepless nights, but what struck me - especially while navigating the Norwegian startup ecosystem - was that there was a lack of on-hand tailored support for founders. Yes, there are great advisors out there, but finding people who understand the trenches, who can be both a sounding board and a guide? That’s more rare, or at least not so visibly available.

It’s that gap that inspired us to start Scalio.

There are a lot of traps we founders seem to keep stepping into – and if you’re reading this, I’m betting you’ve seen or fallen into a few of these yourself.?

I certainly face-planted into most of these (and others) at some point;?

????♀? Chasing "perfection": We pour everything into building the perfect product, fine-tuning every detail. It’s that cycle of constant tweaking, where the finish line keeps moving because it’s never quite “ready.” And here’s the thing, by the time we’re ready to show it off, the world might have already moved on, or worse, we find out our “perfect” product doesn’t solve a real problem... That’s a tough pill to swallow. We’ve spent all that time polishing something no one needed, when what we really needed was feedback from day one.

?? Not knowing our audience: We think our product can serve everyone, but in trying to be everything to everyone, we end up connecting with no one. The market isn’t biting, and it’s because we haven’t truly figured out who we’re speaking to. Our target is too broad, too undefined. The truth is, nailing down who our audience is - and who they aren’t - is half the battle..

?? Cash flow blindness: The silent killer of startups: running out of cash. We’re so focused on growth, on building the product, on hiring the right people, that we forget to keep an eye on the bank account. And then one day, we look up, and suddenly, there’s not enough cash left to keep the lights on. It happens faster than we think, and it’s usually not because we’ve made a single big mistake. It’s the accumulation of little oversights - spending too much on marketing, hiring too early, or underestimating costs. And when we realize it? Sometimes it’s already too late to course-correct.

?? Scaling too fast: We all want growth - that’s the dream, right? We start getting traction, and it feels amazing. The team expands, revenue starts ticking upwards, and for a moment, we’re riding high. But then, just as quickly, the wheels start to wobble. The structure we’ve built isn’t strong enough to support the weight of the growth. We’ve scaled too fast, and suddenly, everything feels chaotic. The processes break down, the team can’t keep up, and things start slipping through the cracks. Growth is exhilarating, but when it’s rushed, it can turn into a nightmare of its own. The very thing we were chasing becomes the thing that nearly breaks us.

?? The pains of funding: And then there’s fundraising.. It’s a necessary evil for so many of us, but it’s also draining beyond belief. Pitching, networking, and proving your vision - it feels like a full-time job on its own. And meanwhile, you’re still trying to run the day-to-day operations of the business. When you’re in the thick of it, landing that funding round feels like the light at the end of the tunnel. But once you get there, it’s not the magic solution we thought it would be. Sure, it’s a relief, but with the funding comes more pressure, more expectations, and often, less control. Suddenly, there’s dilution to think about, and the money? It never stretches as far as you hoped. Instead of a finish line, it’s more like the start of a new race -one that comes with even higher stakes.

These aren’t just theoretical challenges - they’re the kind of issues that sneak up on you and can seriously derail even the best ideas. And when you’re in the middle of it, it can feel like you’re the only one who hasn’t figured it all out.

And so the important thing to share is: that none of us have it all figured out (!) - But learning how to learn (test, iterate & validate) is the key.?

Scalio was born out of my desire to help founders avoid some of these common traps and to make sure they don’t have to figure it all out alone. It’s about providing hands-on, real-world support from people who’ve been in the trenches - because I know how big a difference it makes when you’ve got someone in your corner who gets it - and provides a safe space to be honest and insecure in.

The big picture here isn’t just about individual founders. It’s also about the ecosystem as a whole. Norway’s startup scene is still young, and not yet completely thriving the way it could be. We have incredible potential and lots of super smart, gutsy entrepreneurs, but we’re still in the early stages of figuring out how to leverage that raw talent into producing long-term success stories.

The truth is, success rarely happens on the first try. It often takes several rounds, many stumbles, and a lot of learning before a company or a founder really finds sure footing. And that’s more than okay. In fact, that’s normal and expected!?

What we need is an ecosystem where we openly share real-life experiences - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly - along with actionable insights that give founders a practical toolbox to help navigate their journey.

It’s about ensuring that more founders get far enough to learn the really important lessons, and that way, not just survive - but become primed to thrive.

If we truly want to see Norway’s startup community grow and produce more strong companies (and great employers), we need to foster greater collaboration, transparency, and knowledge-sharing. By paying forward the lessons we’ve learned, we can create a culture where founders become attuned to testing, learning, and strengthening that “resilience muscle,” so they’re better equipped to navigate and push through the tough, unavoidable chapters of building a business.

Now, we cannot ignore the fact that our current government has thrown some highly problematic spanners in the works. Recent policy shifts and a total lack of long-term vision for supporting startups have created obstacles that we, as a community, are left to try to navigate and also advise on. These changes have added friction to an already challenging journey, making it (all the more) important for us all to work resiliently together. At least a likely change should come with the next election, though a year can feel a long time away when your house is on fire..

So, here’s my takeaway on this rainy October weekend - whether you’re a founder, an investor, or someone else involved in our startup ecosystem: The real solution to enabling more success stories isn’t just in individual hustle - it’s in making learning and experience-sharing much more accessible. We need to collaborate, share openly, and build an environment where founders don’t feel like they have to reinvent the wheel with every step.

Entrepreneurship is always going to be hard—but it doesn’t have to be this hard.