Scandinavian Product Podcast

About Scandinavian Product Podcast

Exploring how to build great products, grow them, and fund the future. For Product People, Growth nerds, and VCs. afonsofranco.substack.com (https://afonsofranco.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Afonso Franco

Category

business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Mar 2024

Latest episode

8 May 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 May 2026

   #36 Thinking big from day 1 to Unicorn | Pål Næss (Gelato, a Norwegian Unicorn)

   Most startups don’t fail because of their product. They fail because they think too small. Gelato became a Norwegian Unicorn by doing the exact opposite. In this episode, I sit down with Pål Næss (employee #2) to unpack what it really takes to build globally from day one - and why most founders never get there. Pål has seen hundreds of startups and is a well-known voice in the Scandinavian ecosystem - currently advising several CEOs and sitting on various Boards. In our conversation, we go deep into Gelato’s journey, but also explore generally: * Why thinking globally from day one changes everything * The hidden cost of starting “local first” * What separates ambitious founders from the rest * What does hands-on Leadership execution looks like * How to scale across markets without losing focus * Pål’s lessons learned from his journey and from meeting great Founders * Dealing with investors * And more Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit afonsofranco.substack.com (https://afonsofranco.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   2 May 2026

   #35 Lessons learned from a 2x Unicorn Founder (Uri Levine, Founder & ex-CEO at Waze and Moovit)

   In this episode, I sit down with Uri Levine - serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Waze, one of the most successful navigation apps ever built. Uri has spent the last two decades building and investing in startups, and in this conversation, he shares the hard truths behind startup success and failure. We explore what it really means to fall in love with the problem rather than the solution, why product-market fit is the single most important milestone in a startup’s life, and why most startups fail long before anyone ever hears about them. Uri also shares his perspective on how founders should think about focus, iteration, failure, fundraising, storytelling, and team building. Along the way, he offers very candid advice about how startups actually work - and why so many founders waste time chasing ideas instead of solving meaningful problems. This conversation is both practical and brutally honest, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset and discipline required to build a successful company. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit afonsofranco.substack.com (https://afonsofranco.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   29 May 2025

   #34 What it takes to continuously reinvent yourself and innovate | Alexander Osterwalder (Inventor of the Business Model Canvas, 5x best-selling author, Founder & CEO at Strategyzer)

   Alexander Osterwalder discusses Strategyzer's transformation into a SaaS platform, explores the balance between exploration and execution, and emphasizes the CEO's role in driving innovation, in an interview with the host.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

14,063

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

52

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

68

Contact Scandinavian Product Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.