Dialogue:
Sh** Happens, Still Glowing - Real survival stories from the startup ups & downs

What happens when the shine fades?
When growth stalls, funding tightens, or external shocks rewrite the rules overnight?

Tiina Ruuska and Pasi Rantanen know that entrepreneurship is not a straight line toward success — it’s a series of pivots, pressure tests and personal reckonings.

As founders of Ikigaia, they work at the heart of growth journeys: mentoring leaders, scaling companies, and helping entrepreneurs navigate complexity with clarity and courage. Between them, they carry decades of hands-on experience in building, leading and reinventing businesses — not just in moments of momentum, but especially in moments of uncertainty.

At SOHJO 2026, Tiina and Pasi take the stage in an authentic, dialog-driven session that dives into the rarely polished side of startup life. This is not a highlight reel of unicorn glory. It’s a luminous conversation about the “valley of death,” cash flow anxiety, unexpected crises — and the inner drive that keeps founders moving when everything feels stuck.

Together, they explore what it truly takes to rebuild after setbacks, how creativity becomes survival strategy, and why the future belongs not only to the bold — but to the resilient.

Because sometimes growth isn’t about shining brighter.
It’s about learning how to glow again.

We’re thrilled to welcome Tiina and Pasi to SOHJO Business Event as part of the Ikigaia x SOHJO partnership!