Ep. 1 — Why figuring it out as you go is part of the process with Blanka & Helmi

What if finding your place in the startup ecosystem isn’t about fitting a mold, but slowly building your own?   In this relaunch episode of Founder Frequency, Caitie sits down with wednesday.’s 2026 co-leads, Blanka Bartfai and Helmi Peipinen, to kick off a new chapter of the podcast and the community. Together, they share what wednesday. is today, why they chose to step into leadership, and what it looks like to take on responsibility for a growing, mission-driven community.   This conversation moves between the practical and the personal — from navigating the startup ecosystem without a clear roadmap to learning how to trust your intuition over time. They talk about what it means to care deeply about your work, how to hold that responsibility with intention (without burning out), and why feeling like you don’t quite “fit” can actually be the starting point for something meaningful.     In this episode, we talk about: What wednesday. is and the role it plays in the ecosystem today Why Blanka and Helmi chose to step into co-lead roles Hosting events, building community, and what’s been happening behind the scenes Learning to prioritize when everything feels important Navigating responsibility while staying grounded The pressure of always having a “never-ending” to-do list Building a relationship with your intuition over time Carving a path into the startup ecosystem without a clear blueprint Letting yourself grow into spaces you once felt outside of Why passion and sustainability need to co-exist   Where to find us! Keep up to date on Instagram: @wednesday.community Explore the wednesday. database! Connect with wednesday. on LinkedIn Blanka on LinkedIn Helmi on LinkedIn Connect with Caitie on LinkedIn     ✨ Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review!✨     About Founder Frequency   Founder Frequency is the official podcast of wednesday. Hosted by Caitie Santo, we explore the real stories and perspectives shaping the founder ecosystem. In each episode, we talk about what it’s actually like to be part of this space—the decisions, lessons, and identity shifts that come with it, and how we can shape a more inclusive future for women and non-binary founders.