Doing it For the Next Generation - Twice Commerce

I had a great conversation with Tuomo Laine, founder and CEO of Twice Commerce, formerly known as Rentle. Additionally we met during our side event at Slush in Maria 01 last week.

The Twice Commerce platform simplifies the process for businesses to manage rental, resale, and refurbishing operations. It facilitates the circular economy by helping companies extend the lifecycles of their products.

Here are some key takeaways from our insightful discussion:

* Passion is a great servant, but a poor master. It should fuel you, not drive you. And remember - no number gets better on its own. Someone, somewhere is working very hard for every improvement you see.

* During tough times, remember that you are not working just for yourself, but for others and future generations. It's like the saying - we don't truly own the land, we borrow it from our children.

* Fundraising is hard work, as it should be. The more ambitious the idea, the more VCs you'll need to meet - maybe 50 or 100. Difficulty ensures proper vetting. If money falls into your lap too easily, question why. The work required is healthy, not rejection.

Tuomo sees both new startups and large brands adopting circular models like rentals and resale. Software companies like Twice Commerce will remove friction through digital infrastructure.

Specialized operators will handle tricky logistics like refurbishment. It's a collaborative dance between software and operations. Change will happen as software enables new business models and experts handle complex logistics.

Passion is a great servant, but a poor master. It should fuel you, not drive you. And remember - no number gets better on its own. Someone, somewhere is working very hard for every improvement you see. Stay grounded and keep your passion in check, while appreciating how much effort it takes to build something great. —Tuomo Laine