Safara’s Post

This week, as I caught up with our incredible team at SOUTHWORKS, I found myself pausing for a moment of reflection... 🌐 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝟏𝟎 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬? Though I'm aware of this, every time I think about it, I can't help but swell with pride. Our nearshore Fireteams are working magic from the corners of the globe - think Argentina 🇦🇷, Colombia 🇨🇴, Uruguay 🇺🇾, the USA 🇺🇸, the UK 🇬🇧, Spain 🇪🇸, Italy 🇮🇹, and beyond! Isn't that something? 💫 Being a remote-first business is in our DNA, and frankly, we've been pioneering the distributed team model since the early 2000s, way before it became the new normal. Seeing our team evolve and watching the SOUTHIE map expand, I feel a deep sense of pride and gratitude. Alejandro G. Jack and I couldn't have dreamed of a better outcome when we decided to build SOUTHWORKS on a globally distributed structure. It's brought such a rich diversity of thought and an exhilarating global perspective to our team, connecting me with incredible people I'd never have met otherwise. For me, it's remote-first all the way. Here's to pushing boundaries and expanding our horizons together. ✌️🌐 #SOUTHWORKS #RemoteWork #GlobalTeam #DiversityInTech #BornGlobal #TechLeadership #RemoteFirst #GlobalOutlook #TeamCulture

Building a startup without a physical office? Remote work is the future, and it’s more than just a cost-saving strategy. Discover how a remote-first approach can help your startup grow faster, boost employee satisfaction, and improve mental health. Learn why employees love remote work and how to create a thriving remote team. Read more here: https://wix.to/2VLMO09

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐢𝐩: 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘵 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: Balancing Flexibility with Collaboration Last week we spoke about the talent crunch and how startups are now moving back into some type of hybrid situation. This week I wanted to break down how startups we are working with are solving for this. The remote work revolution has opened doors for many, but it's also presented a challenge for startups: fostering a strong company culture and collaboration when teams are scattered across locations. Finding the right balance between flexibility and in-person interaction is key to a successful hybrid work model. New York City is all about finding the perfect balance. NYC tech companies are taking that same approach to their hybrid work model, and it seems to be a recipe for success! ▪ 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧-𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬: Fosters collaboration by having everyone in the office Tuesdays through Thursdays. This allows for spontaneous brainstorming sessions and strengthens team bonds. ▪ 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Employees enjoy the freedom to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays, maintaining a healthy work-life balance. ▪ 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Clear communication practices keep everyone aligned and informed, even when working remotely. This includes regular meetings, training, and feedback loops. ▪ 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Create a fun and productive office environment with perks like free daily meals and company-sponsored outings. This makes coming into the office an enjoyable experience. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲: A hybrid work model demonstrates that flexibility and collaboration can co-exist. By strategically designating in-office days, prioritizing communication, and investing in the employee experience, startups can create a hybrid work environment that attracts top talent and fuels success. #startup #talent #tech #hybridwork #worklifebalance #remotework #inperson #companyculture #NYC #founders #techtalent #seed #vc

I never imagined I’d help run a tech company based in Vermont (the small state where I grew up). There is something different about building innovative products away from major tech hubs. I gotta say...I've been inspired. Here’s what I've noticed so far: 1️⃣ Collaboration Runs Deep: Growing up in a small VT town (population: <1,000!) cooperation was essential. Neighbors relied on each other for everything from plowing roads to organizing community events. We had to rely on each other, and you have to get along, even if you don’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. I’m seeing this ethos in the "tech scene" too. Other local companies are more willing to work together and are generous with insights and support. 2️⃣ More Drive, Less Ego: Being based in a small state means we don’t have a vast local ecosystem of startups to lean on. We’re working harder to make our mark and to get our name out there. This makes us a flexible, scrappy team that’s deeply invested in delivering a standout product. 3️⃣ Remote-Ready by Nature: In Vermont, we are used to making connections over a long distance. Friends and family often live entire mountain ranges away, and when the snow starts falling or when our fifth season (IYKYK) rolls in, we might find ourselves stuck at home for days at a time, connecting with friends and family over long phone/video calls instead of face-to-face. It is just part of life. At Faraday, I’ve seen this translate into a healthy remote culture, where people are skilled at communicating over distances. If you lead or work at a company based in towns, cities, or states that are “off the beaten track”, I want to compare notes!

This topic is inspired by the global shift to remote work, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and further accelerated by advancements in technology. Many businesses have realized the benefits of remote teams, including access to a broader talent pool and cost efficiency. However, the shift presents unique challenges, such as maintaining communication, collaboration, and company culture. With my experience managing globally distributed teams at AppsGenii Technologies, GharPar Technologies Private Limited , Aventrio, BlackHoleStudio, NexosTechnologies, CodeWorking.Co, BoxesGen and other ventures, I have seen firsthand the critical strategies that ensure remote teams are productive, scalable, and aligned with business goals.

Being a fully remote company offers many benefits to our business and employees such as: 🤝 Access to a more diverse talent pool 💲 Lower business costs, which are passed onto consumers 💪 A more flexible environment for workers, leading to better staff retention 🎉 More exciting interactions with coworkers Read our CEO and Founder Nigel Lombard's interview with TechBlast UK about why we decided to have a fully remote team from day one and the benefits we've seen. Link in comments. #remotework #startup

Remote work & startups are my 2 passions in life 🔥 So, today’s post is about leveraging each other to grow. Are you truly harnessing the power of remote work in your startup? 🚀 Remote work isn't just a trend; it's a revolution reshaping the future of how startups innovate and scale. The transition to virtual environments has shown that distributed teams can not only match but often exceed the productivity and creativity of traditional office settings. This shift demands a reevaluation of our strategies around team dynamics, communication, and company culture to unlock unprecedented growth opportunities. Embracing remote work means more than just providing tools for online collaboration; it requires a fundamental change in mindset towards trust, autonomy, and inclusion. Startups that successfully navigate this change will find themselves at the forefront of innovation, attracting top global talent and fostering an environment where creativity knows no bounds. The journey toward effective remote work is ongoing. By continuously experimenting with new tools, practices, and modes of communication, we are paving the way for a more flexible, resilient, and happy workforce. Let's share insights, challenges, and successes as we navigate this journey together. How is your startup adapting to make remote work not just feasible but advantageous? #RemoteWork #Startups #Innovation #DigitalNomads #CompanyCulture

🗞 This week-end, RoadCo had the honour to be featured in L'Echo, with an article written by Marc Lambrechts himself! The article provides a nice glimpse of the genesis of our project and the journey we embarked on as a team to bring this vision to life. Each co-founder coming from a unique background that has fueled their passion for providing innovative solutions in today's evolving work landscape. Go read the french version online, here is a brief english summary: RoadCo, a young startup, is dedicated to offering innovative solutions to guide companies through the changing dynamics of work, particularly focusing on enhancing collaboration, taking into account remote work dynamics. Founded in 2022 by three friends, our aim is to assist predominantly scaling-up enterprises in shaping their ideal work models. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work, yet the transition back to in-person work post-pandemic has presented challenges. This shift underscores the importance of technological integration, international team diversification, and asynchronous work. While some companies now mandate partial office attendance, many are still navigating the balance between performance and employee flexibility, crucial for attracting and retaining young talent. One of the founders, Diego de Lichtervelde, experienced firsthand the benefits of remote work during the pandemic. This inspired him, along with his co-founders Laurent Wibaut and Lina Benmehrez, to establish RoadCo. Lina, renowned for her insights on the future of work in L'Echo, emphasizes the irreversible trend toward greater flexibility in work arrangements. Targeting "scale-ups," companies that have moved beyond the startup phase, RoadCo offers tailored audits to evaluate and optimize work organization, remote work feasibility, and collaboration strategies. Additionally, we provide a network of coworking spaces in picturesque locations, welcoming to "Road-Collars" – future lifestyle employees who value autonomy and flexibility in their work arrangements. Our approach symbolizes a departure from traditional work routines, signaling a cultural shift towards more flexible and autonomous work practices. We're excited to continue partnering with companies to help them thrive in today's ever-changing work landscape! #Collaboration #FutureOfWork #RoadCo #Flexibility #Innovation https://lnkd.in/es3USExE

Beyond the Commute: Talent Acquisition and Retention in the New Tech Landscape For tech startups like E42, the primary challenges revolve around talent acquisition, retention, and maintaining customer focus. Finding individuals with rapidly evolving technical skills, strong logical thinking, and the ability to adapt on the job is crucial. Retaining such talent is equally challenging, given the fact that experience at a deep tech startup opens numerous avenues for growth. The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to the remote and hybrid work dynamic carving out an opportunity for companies to hire talent from anywhere and allow them to work from a location of their choice, incentivizing continuous learning and team loyalty. Additionally, transparent development tools enable techies to showcase their contributions efficiently, saving time and keeping them relevant in the fast-paced tech landscape. For those with the right skills and a growth mindset, this environment offers an ideal platform to demonstrate their capabilities and contribute meaningfully to the world. However, it can be challenging for teams lacking focus and cohesion. While some organizations are transitioning back to the office after remote work necessitated by the pandemic, many tech enterprises thrive in this distributed environment, with employees spending more time at client locations than in the office. At E42, despite the benefits of remote work, we recognize the importance of soft communication and team bonding. Therefore, we ensure that every team gathers for a full week in the office. Here, we work, stay, eat, and play together, fostering memorable experiences that strengthen our collective commitment to our shared goals. #RemoteWork #TechStartups #hybridwork #talentretention #talentacquisition

We’re a 40-person fully remote team, and I now get why most startups are going back to the office. Here’s the truth: I’ve been on the road non-stop these past few weeks: New York, Rome, Barcelona. And one realization keeps hitting me over and over: “Work from everywhere” sounds amazing, but it’s taxing productivity big time. It’s not just about missing my ultra-wide screen (though, yeah, I miss that too). But constantly changing environments burns mental energy on the small stuff. → finding outlets → fighting with slow wifi → scouting for new places to eat Trivial? Maybe. But this stuff adds up fast. It drains energy that’s not going into work. Which is why it makes sense that most startups are returning to the office. In the end it’s about finding the ideal work setup for yourself. Maybe that’s in an office, maybe that’s at home. But it’s probably not being on the road 24/7.