I still remember the scrappy early days of Fienta. There was no office to unlock in the morning, there weren’t even salaries to draw. There were just two of us, an idea, and all the determination we could muster. Those lean beginnings taught me a lesson I still live by: if you’re playing the long game, build on trust before you build anything else.
From the outset I envisioned Fienta as borderless. Geography, I decided, shouldn’t place a ceiling on talent or ambition. Today that vision is reality: seven teammates scattered across Estonia and sometimes beyond, working where life feels right for them.
People often ask what remote work gives and what it costs. My answer is always the same. It grants freedom, flexibility, and deep focus, but only if you invest deliberately in human connection.
Because we can’t bump into each other in a kitchen, we create those moments on purpose. Every Monday we gather online simply to swap stories from the weekend. We laugh, show photos, linger over small details. If the call runs long, even better. Every couple of months we meet in person to try something unfamiliar such as golf, snowmobiles, or electric scooters. These shared adventures forge real bonds.
Yet trust is the true foundation. Each morning we greet one another on Slack, share progress throughout the day, and own our outcomes. I trust everyone to manage both their work and their lives. If someone takes amid day hike, great. If they prefer to wrap up a task after dinner, that’s their choice. Work and life aren’t adversaries; they are partners in the same rhythm.
What I’ve learned is simple: people blossom when they’re trusted. A fulfilled, self directed teammate is the greatest asset a company can possess. Done thoughtfully, remote work doesn’t dilute culture, it reveals it.
As Fienta grows, we’re building far more than software. We’re shaping a way of working that I hope will inspire others, one where location never limits potential and where every person brings their whole self to the mission. That’s the future I believe in, and I’m proud that we’re already living it.
