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. 1 DAY AGO

    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/

    21 min

  2. 1 APR

    She Lost Everything, Then Built a Company for 1 Billion Women

    She didn’t start a company for money. She started it because nothing made sense anymore. After losing her job… and her mother… Jacqueline had to rebuild from zero. This episode breaks what “success” actually looks like. What you’ll learn: • Why success can destroy your health • How pain can force clarity • Why entrepreneurship is harder than corporate • The truth about women’s health no one talks about • How to build something that actually matters Why Jacqueline matters: She’s worked at senior levels in Fortune 500 companies Now building an AI health solution for women Solving a problem most systems ignore If you’re building something — or questioning everything — this one is for you. How to reach Jacqueline: Linkedin:   / jnuwame   Minimal App: https://www.minimalapp.co/

    20 min

  3. 25 MAR

    What Ambitious People Get Wrong About Success

    Most people talk about success like it is a straight line. It is not. During the day, Trim works as an innovation advisor at Almi helping startups secure funding through grants, loans, and venture capital. But that’s only part of the story. In this episode, we go deeper into what ambition actually looks like when identity, migration, creativity, and business collide. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • Why innovation usually starts with discomfort • Why most people chase money before understanding value • How curiosity shapes better entrepreneurs • What “home” really means when you’ve lived in multiple worlds • Why success changes the moment you reach it This episode is for: • founders • builders • students figuring out their path • anyone building a life across cultures Why listen to Trim: Polyglot. *5+ Innovation advisor at Almi. Helps startups unlock funding and growth. BSc in International Business + MSc in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Lund University. Football during the day. DJ at night. And someone who built his path while helping his family move to Sweden. This is not a conversation about success. It’s about what happens before it makes sense. Before it looks clean. Before the lights go on. Watch now. And tell me what stayed with you. How to connect with Trim: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trimbiba/ Almi: https://www.almi.se/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCEBUoRGChgjQcSzVQ2Z5Ttg

    51 min

  4. 22 MAR

    She Quit Research to Learn to Code From Zero

    She had two master's degrees in medical science. Then she walked away from it to learn to code from scratch. Most people would call that a mistake. Sorana calls it the most important decision she's ever made. In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, Sorana breaks down the story nobody sees: what it actually costs to rebuild your career from zero, why academic thinking almost killed her startup, and what she'd do differently if she started over today. What you'll learn: Why being comfortable in a career is sometimes the biggest red flag The real reason entrepreneurship is lonely — and why no one warns you The 3 skills Sorana says every founder needs before they raise a single euro How she validated her AI tool with 30 experts before writing a line of pitch deck What "success" actually means when performance is taken off the table About Sorana: Sorana is a researcher-turned-AI builder working at the intersection of medical science and artificial intelligence. She studied at Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences and now runs workshops, builds tools, and advocates for interdisciplinary thinking in the AI space. Subscribe to Before the Lights Go On for honest conversations about the story behind the story — before the lights go on.

    31 min

  5. 14 MAR

    She Came to Denmark Without English — Now She’s Building 2 Companies

    Most people only see the moment when something works. They don’t see the part before. In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, Mariana shares the early story behind her entrepreneurial journey — from arriving in Denmark without speaking English to building two startups. Before the success, there were small experiments, uncertainty, and a lot of learning along the way. We talk about: • learning a language while studying abroad • starting a bakery without knowing how to cook • selling pastries on the streets of Copenhagen to test demand • the pressure and responsibility of building something from scratch • why Mariana says entrepreneurship is organized anxiety Today Mariana is building two ventures: Natuga – bringing authentic Portuguese Pastel de Nata to Denmark https://natuga.lovable.app/ Fusee – a platform designed to connect skills inside companies and help colleagues learn from each other https://www.linkedin.com/company/fuseeapp/ This conversation is about the part of entrepreneurship most people never see. The uncertainty. The messy beginnings. The moment before the lights go on. 🎙 About the podcast Before the Lights Go On is a podcast about the early stages of building — before success becomes visible. Founders, builders, and creators share the part of their journey that usually stays behind the scenes. Subscribe if you enjoy real stories about building things from zero.

    22 min

  6. 8 MAR

    From Zero Network to NISS: Building the Nordic–India Startup Bridge

    From zero network in Copenhagen to leading the Nordic India Startup Summit (NISS) at TechBBQ — this is the story behind the bridge. In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, Harsha shares what it actually looked like when he landed in Denmark in June 2023 and couldn’t get a single meeting for three months — despite two decades of experience in financial services and cross-border work (US–India and UK–India). We talk about the real obstacle: it wasn’t his script, it wasn’t his positioning — it was perception. The “Why India?” question exposed a gap between two mature startup ecosystems that barely interacted. Harsha then backed it with data, turned the gap into a mission, and started building awareness first — then density. You’ll hear: • What “starting from zero” feels like in a new ecosystem • The perception gap between the Nordics and India — and how it blocks opportunities • The data points that revealed the cross-border gap in VC activity • Why perseverance matters when most doors stay closed • Painkiller vs. vitamin: why most startups fail • Why team + timing matter more than people admit • Why there’s no founder playbook — only curiosity and adaptation If you’re an immigrant, a founder, or someone trying to bridge markets and communities, this conversation will hit. Watch the full episode, and subscribe for more founder stories before the lights go on.

    14 min

  7. 2 MAR

    From Car to AI: The Price of Building From Zero

    Arlon moved to Sweden with no “path” — no personal number, no apartment, no safety net. First a car. Then a basement. Now he’s building an AI company with one rule: make AI boring and profitable. In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, we talk about what it really costs to rebuild from zero, why winners and losers can have the same goals, and how to use AI without falling for hype. What you’ll hear in this conversation: • Moving countries as an entrepreneurial act • The Catch-22 of bureaucracy (and how he broke it) • Car → basement → apartment: the invisible stages • Why failure hurts most when you blame others • “Make AI boring and profitable” (where to actually start) • The square wheel vs round wheel problem (adoption is the real battle) • Why humans must stay in the loop with AI • Family, community, and the real “safe space” for builders #beforethelightsgoon #entrepreneurship #AI #startupjourney

    16 min

  8. 21 FEB

    Would My 13-Year-Old Self Be Proud? | Redefining Success & Letting Go of Proving Yourself

    “I sometimes sit down and ask myself… would my 13-year-old self be proud?” In this episode of Before the Lights Go On, Mari shares her journey from leaving her small hometown in Poland, chasing a career in animation, burning out in a competitive creative industry — and rebuilding her identity beyond one label. We talk about: – The pressure to prove yourself – Creative burnout – Moving abroad alone – Letting go of old definitions of success – Separating passion from career – Growing beyond expectations Sometimes growth isn’t about achieving more. Sometimes it’s about realizing you don’t have to prove anything anymore. This is a conversation about identity, ambition, and growing up — before the lights go on. Projects Mari Mentions & Supports: – Monkey Ranch (independent animated series funded by the community) – Creators from the Vinesauce community If you enjoy independent animation and community-driven creative projects, consider supporting them.

    16 min
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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
    2k
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Andrei Ratcu
  • Show Website
    Before The Lights Go On