Sofia Franzen, Swedish Travel Entrepreneur  

Sofia Franzen is the Swedish founder and CEO of Owegoo, a travel startup where people can explore amazing destinations all over the world based on activities that interest them most. Sofia and I met on my first trip to Malmo, Sweden in November 2013; she is part of the vibrant, dynamic startup eco-system in Malmo. She contributes to its expansion by collaborating on the weekly podcast Entreprenörspodden and the  Women Founders Breakfast, which connects Swedish women in tech and startups.

In 2014 Sofia was recognized as one of Sweden’s top ”30 under 30” in tech. Here’s hoping our travel paths cross soon, Sofia!

Define “entrepreneur.”
Someone who can take an idea and turn it into a fully feathered product and build a company around it.

Who are your heroes?
My mom is my biggest hero. She teaches me, again and again, that I am in charge of my life and that I can create the life I want. She always says that it is not about what happens to you in life, it’s all about how you react to the things that happen to you and around you.

What is your current challenge?
At the moment my startup is growing, and with more people at the office I’m partially changing roles, from being “a doer” to someone who leads people. I love it, but on days I spend only with co-workers and don’t have any time to sit by my computer and crunch tasks, I have a hard time feeling like I’ve accomplished anything myself!

Your greatest achievement?
That I stopped doing what would be “good for me” and started doing the things I wanted to do.

What is your motto?
I love what Pippi Longstocking says about trying new things: ”I’ve never tried that before, so I bet I will definitely be able to do that!”

Why are you an entrepreneur?
I had this idea, this problem I wanted to solve. And my whole life it has been all about getting ideas and creating ways to see them take shape and become a reality. As a teenager, this meant organizing concerts and music festivals.  Nowadays, my biggest passions in life are travel and technology, so it’s natural for me that the outcome is a startup instead of a festival, but really I feel like I’m doing pretty much the same thing as I’ve been doing my whole life.

What problem are you solving?
With the search tool for destinations that we’ve created, you can simply type in what you want to experience, and you will immediately find places that could be your dream destination.

What problem would you like solved?
Can someone please soon invent teleportation?! I love traveling (as in being in new places) but the part of actually getting from A to B, especially when it’s about flying, I’m not very fond of that part…!

What mobile device do you presently use?
iPhone.

Essential app(s)?
Instagram, Pinterest, Gmail, [guided meditation blog] HeadSpace, Spotify, Podcast, Twitter, Facebook, [physical activity tracker] Moves, and Dropbox.

Which productivity tools (app/software/office supplies) do you use most often?
I love working with scrum boards, whether it be with apps like Trello or Post-its on the wall.

Best discovery?
That I don’t have to care about following a certain pattern or doing things in the order that most people do stuff in life. Now I know that if I enjoy doing something, it really doesn’t matter if it leads to something else, like the next step in the carrier, or not.

Best pat on the back you’ve ever received?
When a friend told me that I make people believe in themselves and what they can accomplish.

Your pitch in 140 characters?
I’m a curious travel maniac who loves life & feeling alive. I create things, work hard, enjoy good relationships and love dancing all night long — and I break rules, like not keeping it to 140 characters.  🙂

Your bio in 6 words?
Curious, Happy, Social, Hardworking Dreamer

Are you on Twitter?
Yes, though I mostly tweet in Swedish, people can follow me on @sofiafranzen.

What’s your hashtag?
#yey! Simply cause I think all good things should be highlighted.

Biggest misconception about being an entrepreneur?
That they are driven by earning a lot of money. Money is an essential part of running a company, and getting rich is of course something that many entrepreneurs are thinking about, but I believe that for many, it is rather things like pursuing a dream or being a part of changing an industry that drives you.

What are you reading?
I’m always reading three books at the same time. At the moment one crime novel, one historical novel and one about productivity — a fairly typical mix.

If I wanted to do what you’re doing…what’s your advice?
Just start! The first step is always the toughest one, at least in your head, but as long as you do just that. Oh, and get rid of pride! If you surround yourself with great people, and pride is not stopping you from asking for help, you will learn a lot!

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Ice cream. The world would be amazing if Ice cream were as healthy as broccoli!

Short cut, long route, or road less traveled? What’s your roadmap?
I want it all! I want to experience and explore the roads less traveled, I want to enjoy the long route, and I want to take as many shortcuts I can to reach my goals!

The memories of a chef are tastes and smells; what would you say are the memories of an entrepreneur?
A public launch of a product, the day an investment round got closed, or when the first large partner contacts you and wants to work with you.

Who or what inspires you?
One of the things I love the most is sitting in a café in a city where I’ve never been before, listening to people chatting and watching people pass by. The times I’m there by myself with only a pen and a notebook, it’s like my head and heart are full of ideas, and I get the feeling that all of them are possible to fulfill.

What’s the most important startup/entrepreneurship lesson you’ve learned?
That running a business is not an art project. Some days I just wish it was, that I could spend days just developing new features and making my product look amazing. But running a startup is about constantly trying to figure out what the best is for the company, and sometimes that means that I have to stop doing my the things I love the most, and focus only on things that take the company forward.

Favorite gadget?
I love gadgets, but it’s only one that I’m really addicted to and it’s my iPhone. Running out of battery is the most stressful feeling ever!

Your Ferris Bueller moment: if you could goof-off/skip out for a day, what would you do?
I would do something that I’ve only seen on movies: I would go to the airport with only a friend and a passport, take the first flight, and see where I would end up.

Part of the trick to staying focused?
To make active decisions about what you do. There is such a huge difference in doing good stuff and doing the great and most important stuff. When I stop for a minute to think before just starting work, I’ll know that I’m doing the right thing, which gets me more motivated, and focus is so much easier.

Oh, and sleep. To focus when you’re tired is insanely hard!

You take a three-hour ocean tour and get stranded…what three items do you have with you?
Computer and a solar-charged battery. And a knife.

One last thing: what’s the question I should be asking you?
”What gives you goosebumps?”