Before The Lights Go On

Andrei Ratcu

Before the Lights Go On is a podcast about people in motion - builders, thinkers, and everyday entrepreneurs before recognition, clarity, or success arrives. These are honest conversations about starting without certainty, learning in public, adapting along the way, and navigating the quiet chaos before things “make sense.” No polished success stories. No hindsight shortcuts. Just real conversations, curiosity, and the courage to begin. Hosted by Andrei Ratcu.

  1. Jul 12

    Why Healthcare Technology Is Failing Doctors

    Healthcare does not need more software. It needs technology that gives doctors, nurses, and practitioners more time to care for people. In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, I sit down with Charlotta Tönsgård, a multi-time healthcare CEO and founder who has spent more than a decade building companies at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and human impact. We discuss why so much healthcare technology is built from the top down, how administrative systems are taking practitioners away from patients, and what it would take to make healthcare technology genuinely useful again. Charlotta also opens up about failure, leadership, motherhood, the importance of choosing the right partner, and why meaningful companies should aim for both impact and commercial success. In this conversationWhy healthcare technology often creates more workBuilding technology around practitioners, not institutionsWhat Charlotta learned from being firedThe difference between professional failure and personal failureWhy work-life balance may be an illusionThe role of partnership in building an ambitious careerHow to understand why a company is succeedingThe three qualities founders needWhy impact and commercial success are not oppositesAbout Charlotta TönsgårdCharlotta has a background in engineering and business and more than a decade of experience leading product-driven companies across technology and healthcare. She began her career in telecom, spending four years in Seoul with The Astonishing Tribe, where she signed the company’s first enterprise customers in China and Japan. Following its acquisition by BlackBerry, she joined the company’s global M&A team before moving into startups as a founder and multi-time CEO. At Min Doktor, Charlotta helped scale the company into what was, at the time, Europe’s largest telehealth platform. During her leadership, the company raised €10 million, increased revenue by 500%, grew volume by 1,000%, and expanded its team from 12 to more than 70 people. She later founded Kind, a healthcare SaaS platform designed to improve communication between healthcare teams. Kind was selected as a Nordic Showcase company at Slush 2021 and served teams across Europe, Mexico, and Brazil. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background 01:24 Early Career and Education 07:06 Transition to Entrepreneurship 09:30 Defining Success 11:18 Navigating Failure and Resilience 15:03 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 17:13 Family Perspectives on Career Choices 20:03 Lessons from Experience 22:28 Understanding Success and Failure 24:37 Passion for Healthcare Innovation 27:23 The Future of Healthcare Technology 30:12 Skills for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 32:34 The Importance of Impact in Business 34:28 The Person Behind the Entrepreneur Connect with CharlottaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotta-tonsgard/ Before the Lights Go OnBefore the Lights Go On explores the moments before success looks clean: the uncertainty, failures, decisions, and human stories behind people building meaningful things. Subscribe for more conversations with founders, builders, and people shaping what comes next.

  2. Jul 7

    The Startup Turning Coconut Waste Into Homes

    What if coconut waste could become something people live in? In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, I speak with Charmaine Cu-Unjieng from NaturLoop about building a startup that turns coconut waste into sustainable building materials — and why this work is about more than innovation. It is about waste becoming value. Local materials becoming opportunity. And communities being part of the solution. We talk about the journey behind Cocoboard, the challenges of building in the sustainability space, and what it really takes to turn a bold idea into something useful for people, homes, and communities. If you are interested in startups, sustainability, circular economy, social impact, or the messy reality behind building something meaningful, this conversation is for you. Before the Lights Go On is a podcast about founders, builders, and creators before success looks clean. Subscribe for more honest conversations with people building before the world fully sees it. Chapters 00:39 Introduction to Charmaine's Journey 01:59 Transition from Public Health to Entrepreneurship 04:01 Embracing Challenges and Learning 05:22 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 07:18 The Importance of Purpose in Business 09:30 Navigating Family Dynamics in Entrepreneurship 09:42 Understanding Nature Loop's Mission 10:42 Challenges in Manufacturing and Funding 12:38 Global Supply Chain Management 14:01 Defining Success as a Founder 16:10 Engaging with Governments and Communities 17:46 Cultural Differences in Business 18:37 Personal Life and Advocacy Charmaine Cu-Unjieng is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of NaturLoop, the Swiss green-tech company behind CocoBoard — a bio-based board made from coconut husk waste and natural adhesives. Before NaturLoop, Charmaine spent over 25 years working across global health, international development, and social impact with organisations including the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations. Her work connects circular innovation with real community impact, especially in places where coconut waste can become both a material solution and an economic opportunity. Connect with Charmaine on LinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/in/charmaine-cuunjieng

  3. Jun 7

    Changing Careers Is Scary. Staying Stuck Is Worse

    Maria got rejected from a job. But instead of feeling disappointed, she felt relieved. That moment made her question everything. In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, Maria shares how she went from working as a translator and content creator to starting her own studio after a long, frustrating job search. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Maria's Journey 01:54 From Translator to Entrepreneur 02:47 The Challenges of Freelancing 04:46 Balancing Family and Business 06:49 Redefining Success 08:15 The Role of Failure in Growth 10:09 Finding Your Niche 12:05 Creating Value for Clients 14:05 Pricing Strategies and Client Relationships 14:55 Skills for Entrepreneurial Success 16:22 Looking Ahead: The Future of Work This episode is for founders, freelancers, solopreneurs, job seekers, introverts, parents, and anyone trying to build something while carrying doubt in the background. About Maria: Maria is the founder of Vocaturo World Studio, where she helps B2B founders and solopreneurs clarify their messaging and become more visible online. Linkedin Maria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-vocaturo/ Website: https://www.vocaturowordstudio.com/ Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories from before the lights go on. Know someone that has a story to share about the entrepreneurial journey, write the name in the comments section!

  4. May 31

    People Asked to Buy Before He Had a Business

    Most builders try to force demand. Theo discovered it by listening. He made sauces for himself at work. People tasted them. Then they asked to buy. That was the beginning. — In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why real demand starts before selling • How to validate a product without overthinking • Why customer feedback matters more than ego • How to balance a side hustle with real life • Why slow growth can be stronger than startup hype • The 3 skills every builder needs: ask for help, do the math, communicate — Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Theo's Journey 06:10 The Path to Culinary Passion 10:26 Overcoming Challenges and Finding Purpose 18:09 The Birth of a Side Hustle 22:16 Defining Success in Business 27:02 Product Development and Customer Focus 31:41 Balancing Business and Family Responsibilities 35:46 Future Aspirations and Long-Term Goals 37:48 Essential Skills for Entrepreneurs This episode is for: • Side hustlers • Early-stage founders • Food creators • Builders who feel pressure to scale too fast • Anyone turning a personal obsession into something real — Theo brings together food, research, customer service, IT, and lived experience. His sauces didn’t start as a brand. They started because he wanted better food. Then people kept asking for more. — Watch the full conversation. Connect with Theo & get a taste of his amazing hand made sauces: Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/thevakorn-lauritsen-73005113b/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thevakorn/

  5. Apr 28

    Burnout Wasn’t the Problem. This Was.

    Burnout is not the problem. It’s the signal you ignored for years. — In this episode, we break down: • What burnout actually reveals • Why pushing through can make it worse • The hidden cost of “being strong” • How pain forces clarity • The moment everything starts to shift Chapters: 00:00 Early Aspirations and Diverse Interests 03:33 The Entrepreneurial Spark 05:53 Navigating Career Challenges 08:33 Life Lessons from Loss and Burnout 10:41 The Journey of Self-Discovery 12:36 Embracing Change and Courage 15:15 Navigating Vulnerability and Trust 17:23 Finding Purpose and Perspective 19:30 The Value of Energy Exchange 22:44 Self-Worth and Integrity 25:05 Understanding Self-Worth and Value 27:34 Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship 30:26 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Business 32:47 Mastering Personal Growth and Self-Love This is for: • Builders who feel stuck but keep going • Founders pushing through without questioning • Anyone who knows something isn’t working — About the guest: Louise Olsson is the founder of Crystalline Consulting AB, where she helps leaders and teams gain clarity, shift perspective, and navigate complex personal and professional challenges. With over 20 years of experience in business, combined with deep work in psychology, self-leadership, and personal transformation, Louise focuses on helping people reconnect with themselves — not just perform better, but operate from a place of alignment and truth. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, emotional intelligence, and inner development — guiding individuals through burnout, identity shifts, and the deeper questions that often come before real success. Connect with Louise LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiseolsson78/ — If this resonates, subscribe. More real conversations coming

  6. Apr 22

    Why Most Founders Are Wasting Time Right Now | on OpenClaw, AI Hype, and Real Building

    Most people are drowning in AI noise. This episode is about what actually matters. In this conversation with Emad, we break down what founders, builders, and curious operators are getting wrong right now — and how to think more clearly in the middle of the chaos. In this episode: Why chasing every new AI tool is a mistake Why the OpenAI vs Anthropic drama may be mostly noise What Emad learned from building, failing, and starting again Why the right co-founder matters more than people admit Why human connection becomes more important, not less The 3 skills builders need in the AI era Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Early Life 04:19 Entrepreneurial Journey and Lessons Learned 09:38 Current Projects and AI Innovations 12:53 The Future of AI and Its Implications 17:26 Human Connections in a Tech-Driven World 22:16 Skills for Future Founders 26:53 Personal Reflections and Identity This is for: founders operators startup builders creators trying to stay sharp in the AI wave Why listen to Emad: He has built across startups, tech, AI communities, and live events. He speaks from experience, not theory. Watch the full episode. Then go build. ClawCon Copenhagen 27th April 2026: https://luma.com/clawconcopenhagen Reach Emad: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emadgnia/ X: https://x.com/emadgnia?s=21 Website: maize.dk ClawCon: https://luma.com/clawcon

  7. Apr 19

    I Still Doubt Myself as a Freelancer

    Most people think freelancing is about skill. It’s not. It’s about positioning, pricing, and owning your voice. Chapters: 00:00 The Journey to Entrepreneurship 02:46 Navigating Personal and Professional Identity 04:47 Embracing Quirkiness and Uniqueness 07:16 The Catalyst of Change: Becoming a Parent 09:34 Taking Responsibility and Accountability 11:57 Redefining Success 14:15 Family Dynamics and Entrepreneurship 16:48 Overcoming Doubt and Fear 19:10 The Challenge of Self-Promotion 22:02 Adding Value in a Competitive Market 24:14 Learning from Mistakes 27:04 The Future of Content Creation In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why most freelancers underprice themselves • How to get clients without chasing them • Why showing your work beats talking about it • How to turn doubt into an advantage • What AI actually changes (and what it doesn’t) — This is for: • Freelancers stuck at low-paying clients • Creators trying to stand out • Builders figuring out their path — Simone Engbo Hansen is a content strategist and solopreneur who built her business from scratch, navigated uncertainty, and redefined success on her own terms. Connect with Simone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-engbo/ — Watch the full episode. Then go build.

  8. Apr 9

    The Energy Startup Built on Sand | The story of Solstice

    Most founders chase ideas. This one chased a problem. And it changed everything. In this episode: • Why understanding is more important than execution early on • How co-founders are chosen before the startup exists • The real problem in energy nobody talks about • Why combining old tech beats inventing new • What building in the “messy phase” actually looks like This is for: • Builders early in the journey • Engineers thinking about startups • Anyone tired of surface-level startup advice Hampus is building a solar-powered thermal battery that stores energy in sand targeting one of the biggest hidden problems in Europe’s energy system. How to find Hampus: Hampus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hampushammarback/ Solstice: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solstice-storage/

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About

Before the Lights Go On is a podcast about people in motion - builders, thinkers, and everyday entrepreneurs before recognition, clarity, or success arrives. These are honest conversations about starting without certainty, learning in public, adapting along the way, and navigating the quiet chaos before things “make sense.” No polished success stories. No hindsight shortcuts. Just real conversations, curiosity, and the courage to begin. Hosted by Andrei Ratcu.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrei Ratcu
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Andrei Ratcu
  • Show Website
    Before The Lights Go On