Urška Sršen talks life as an entrepreneur

Since winning the Pioneers Startup challenge in 2013, Urška Sršen’s life has taken a dramatic turn. The co-founder of Bellabeat has been able to raise over 4.5 million dollars in funding and currently has operations on three continents. The Red Bulletin caught up with the entrepreneur at the 2014 Pioneers Festival to talk about life under pressure, dealing with stress, and how to network.

THE RED BULLETIN: How has the Pioneers Festival changed since last year?

Urška Sršen: I think there are more people here this year. It has been quite hard to move around the venue this time. I have definitely seen a lot more people. The event is really connecting people, and it is really encouraging to see so many participants coming to network and to learn.

How different do you think this festival is in comparison to festivals in America?

I think the biggest difference is the venue. The Imperial Palace (in Vienna) gives it such character, a specific stamp that leaves a certain positive feeling that you can’t forget. It is very similar to events in the States, because it is so relaxed and easy to network; much more so than other events in Europe. That is what I really like about it, it is like a rock concert basically. You’re not afraid to talk to people at a rock concert right?

Can you explain how networking goes on at an event like this?

Last year’s Pioneers was a game changer for us, because we met Michael Seibel, who is a partner at Y Combinator. He was the judge at the startup competition last year, so we met him, and it helped us get into YC and bridge over to the States. So just having this one connection completely changed everything. We also met a lot of people who we are still in contact with, or are actually working with. When you’re networking it mostly just looks like you’re exchanging a couple of business cards, but in fact you might be holding a game changer in your hands and you don’t even know it yet. It is really important that this network is more than just a word, but that you really pursue it. Exchange contacts and keep in touch, and see how you can help each other.

So the key is to follow up?

Of course. If you just take business cards and do nothing with them then what is the point? But even just taking them is a step in the right direction, because you may see them again in the future or at other events and they become more approachable because you feel like you already know them. Things become much easier after this, in contrast to everything being really scary at the beginning when you don’t know anyone.

What do you think is the most important thing to consider when networking? 

I would say the most important thing is to be respectful at all times, and don’t jump on people straight away. But then on the other hand, people are expecting to be jumped on at events like this, and this is why we are all here. At events in Europe we have to learn to have the confidence to just approach someone and be like “Hey, can we talk”.

As a startup, you should always have your pitch ready. It is very important that you practice your pitch in advance so that you develop a certain language, a way of describing what you and your company does in an understandable manner. The biggest mistake made by young founders is that they over-complicate their explanations, because they are so over-excited about what they are working on. If you want to present yourself to a person then he has to get a good impression, and he has to know exactly what you are doing in ten seconds. So practice your own language of explaining things in a way that is understandable for others.

So if we were networking now, how would describe Bellabeat?

Right so, Bellabeat is a company developing self-tracking tools for women with a special focus on pre-natal care. So we’re trying to change the pre-natal care by introducing wearables (wearable computing) for women.

There is a great emphasis on design with your products. Where did you get the inspiration for your designs?

Before working on a startup I was a sculptor, but I mainly worked with wood. Nature is a big inspiration for us.

So what did you sculpt?

I mostly worked on conceptual work in wood and stone, my sculpting career was actually quite short-lived though, as I founded Bellabeat in my last year of uni!

So the idea just came along from one day to the next?

Yeah, I have always lived my life like this. I was actually enrolled in med school first, and then I dropped out to study sculpture and then I founded Bellabeat. I have always been someone that believes in just following your instincts. You should always try to do what you like, and love what you do. I think having this mindset, as a startup, is really important because it is a very unpredictable career, so you have to adapt really quickly. You constantly find yourself out of your comfort zone, and when you start getting comfortable you know that you are doing something wrong, because then your company is basically stagnating.

What does a normal day look like when you are not at a convention?

Actually now it is starting to become a little more normal than people would think. But when you’re a small startup you’re probably working from home, so that means you don’t leave the house or get dressed out of your pajamas for weeks. The only time you get dressed is for a few meetings or something. You basically wake up and start working until you go to bed. It is still the same now, but at least I change my clothes daily because I have to go to the office with other people! You work every second that you are awake, and living and breathing so everything else is on hold right now.

So no work-life balance at the moment?

Having a startup is like being an artist; it is such a personal thing, and personal type of work. The process is very creative. Your work and your hobbies and everything else merges together into one mission, into one project. That is why I think people lose this work-life balance because it is not needed, for a while at least, because this is your life, and it is your work at the same time.

Do you have a way of relaxing?

I usually escape for a couple of minutes when I am doing a bit of research like stalking on other companies or reading TechCrunch, so that is my get away right now, and it is also connected to work.

What about turning off your phone at night?

No way, no chance! Our customers and investors are in the States, we are in Europe and have part of the manufacturing in Asia, so we’re basically working through three different time zones. So when things get really intense then it is around the clock. I wake up at 3 to have a Skype call with China, go to bed for an hour or two, then wake up, work with my team in the office and then have a nap again and then wake up and have calls with the States. And it goes on and on like this.

What does a normal day look like when you are not at a convention?

Actually now it is starting to become a little more normal than people would think. But when you’re a small startup you’re probably working from home, so that means you don’t leave the house or get dressed out of your pajamas for weeks. The only time you get dressed is for a few meetings or something. You basically wake up and start working until you go to bed. It is still the same now, but at least I change my clothes daily because I have to go to the office with other people! You work every second that you are awake, and living and breathing so everything else is on hold right now.

So no work-life balance at the moment?

Having a startup is like being an artist; it is such a personal thing, and personal type of work. The process is very creative. Your work and your hobbies and everything else merges together into one mission, into one project. That is why I think people lose this work-life balance because it is not needed, for a while at least, because this is your life, and it is your work at the same time.

Do you have a way of relaxing?

I usually escape for a couple of minutes when I am doing a bit of research like stalking on other companies or reading TechCrunch, so that is my get away right now, and it is also connected to work.

What about turning off your phone at night?

No way, no chance! Our customers and investors are in the States, we are in Europe and have part of the manufacturing in Asia, so we’re basically working through three different time zones. So when things get really intense then it is around the clock. I wake up at 3 to have a Skype call with China, go to bed for an hour or two, then wake up, work with my team in the office and then have a nap again and then wake up and have calls with the States. And it goes on and on like this.

Written by Andrew Swann