How do you find the right person to start a company with? For Gisela Lejonqvist, it all began with a visit to Venture Arena last year. There, she discovered the LEAD company Scenora—an encounter that eventually led to her becoming a co-founder.
Finding the right talent is one of the most important challenges for a startup. But it’s not just about experience and having the right qualifications on paper.
“It’s just as important to find someone who shares our vision, complements the team, and wants to be part of building the company for real,” says Oskar Paluyan, CEO and founder of the LEAD company Scenora, which pitched at last year’s Venture Arena.
Gisela started talking to Oskar during the event, and it turned out that their experiences and motivations were a good fit.
A shared interest in security was the starting point
Gisela Lejonqvist has a background in market economics and systems science and most recently worked at a cybersecurity startup. She also runs her own business in agriculture and forestry.
When Gisela was reading up on the companies that were going to pitch at Venture Arena, she was impressed by several of their business ideas, not least Scenora.
“The business idea felt very timely and was something I had been thinking about myself,” Gisela says.
Scenora is developing an AI-based platform that allows organizations to create realistic training scenarios for crisis and business continuity management. The goal is to make security training more accessible and contribute to stronger crisis preparedness within organizations.
For Oskar Paluyan, who was looking for someone to help him grow the company in the area of business development and as a co-founder, the meeting with Gisela went well.
After getting to know each other for a while, they both felt they wanted to take the next step, and Gisela eventually began working full-time at the company.
“It’s one thing to come on board as a partner—as I’ve done before at other companies—and quite another to become a co-founder. For me, it’s become very important to feel that the company is also my baby,” says Gisela.
Understanding What Is Required
Oskar emphasizes the importance of being clear about what it means to work at an early-stage startup. Entrepreneurship can involve uncertainty, a great deal of responsibility, and a long road to stable revenue.
“You need to get a clear picture of what’s required so you don’t have false expectations about what entrepreneurship entails. Many people think it’s something you can do in the evenings, but it’s often much more demanding than that,” he says.
For anyone interested in starting a career at a startup, Gisela has some clear advice: be open to opportunities and don’t be afraid to reach out.
“Finding the right company isn’t always about applying for an advertised position. Sometimes it starts with a conversation, a pitch, or an idea that sparks curiosity,” she says.
Oskar agrees and encourages both entrepreneurs and potential startup employees to take advantage of opportunities to meet.
– The more people you meet, the better your chances of finding the right person.
Are you curious about the world of startups? On November 5, it’s time for this year’s Venture Arena, where startups will have the opportunity to pitch their companies and meet people who want to help build the businesses of the future. Register here.
