This podcast and newsletter focus on clear conversations about technology, security, and modern software. Experts share insights on DevOps tips, open source projects, cybersecurity, and Europe's move toward its own cloud services. You will hear about continuous integration, airplane hacking, and new laws that affect the tech industry. Each show explores real problems and fresh solutions in the digital world. By subscribing, you will keep up with the latest trends in software, gain helpful advice from pros, and stay current in a fast-changing environment. We also talk about supply chain security, IoT, and the details of building strong systems. This blend of technical ideas with real-world viewpoints is a great resource if you want to grow your skills, learn about new technology, and connect with others who love all things tech.
Insights from Startup Studio Trailblazers
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Hi Reader, Why does this matter?Last year I launched Viktopia Studio, my tiny one-man-army startup studio that runs on an open-core plan. I have loved the studio idea ever since Kevin Rose tried it with Milk. I even played with this model back in 2009. My co-founder and I built WireLoad as a software lab that could spin out many products. We scored some early hits with Blotter, once a top-10 productivity app for macOS, and YippieMove, an email-migration tool. Both later faded, but Screenly stayed strong and soon swallowed WireLoad. Back then building software was slow and costly, and we were bootstrapping. Gen-AI tools have changed the game. Now anyone can test new ideas fast and cheap. I am not alone in chasing this. My friend Thor has pushed the studio playbook much further and built what looks like a clear path to success. Why now?Tech moves faster than ever. Gen-AI, low-code, and low-cost cloud shave startup costs to the bone. Big VCs have cooled, and founders want leaner ways to grow. A micro studio fits today. We can ship products, prove real demand, then invite users (and maybe investors when the time is right). Small, focused teams win in this new cycle. Episode SummaryIn this episode I chat with my friend Thor Rønje about how venture studios pick ideas, fund early growth, and codify playbooks so each new team moves quicker than the last. We break down the “Purple Ocean” filter, talk about selling the first 100 units, and explain why family offices often back studios before classic VCs. We swap wins and misses from Idealab, Milk, and our own journeys, then share the tools that help us jump from zero to one. “What we're actually trying to do is de-risk all the way up to Series A, but in two months.”
- Thorbjørn Rønje
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Nerding Out with Viktor
This podcast and newsletter focus on clear conversations about technology, security, and modern software. Experts share insights on DevOps tips, open source projects, cybersecurity, and Europe's move toward its own cloud services. You will hear about continuous integration, airplane hacking, and new laws that affect the tech industry. Each show explores real problems and fresh solutions in the digital world. By subscribing, you will keep up with the latest trends in software, gain helpful advice from pros, and stay current in a fast-changing environment. We also talk about supply chain security, IoT, and the details of building strong systems. This blend of technical ideas with real-world viewpoints is a great resource if you want to grow your skills, learn about new technology, and connect with others who love all things tech.
Hi Reader, In this episode, I sit down with Carl Richell from System76 to talk all things Linux. Carl is the guy that Michael Dell called for advice when Dell ventured into the Linux on the desktop world. They've done Linux on the desktop longer than anyone (and they are our new hardware vendor for Screenly). Why does this matter? I want kids, teachers, makers, and pros to have computers they can trust and fix. Carl Richell, the founder of System76, shows how open firmware and open hardware...
Hi Reader, This week we talk about remote work and how it has shaped the world in a post-COVID world. As someone who as worked remotely for over 15 years, I just can't imagine commuting into an office every day. And I'm not alone. COVID was the catalyst that to normalized remote work for the masses. Why does this matter? Big names just doubled down on office life. Amazon and Dell now want folks at their desks five days a week. (reuters.com, reuters.com) Remote roles are scarce but hot. Only...
Hi Reader, My new episode of Nerding Out with Viktor just dropped, and it is a good one. I sat down with engineer and Web3 builder Vlad Trifa to cut through the hype and talk about what crypto, blockchain, and the Internet of Things really mean for us right now. Why does this matter? Trust you can check. Vlad says blockchains are “finger pointing as a service,” a shared ledger where everyone can see who did what and when. That keeps companies honest and data clean. Real-world use. From...