Dear hustlers, founders, operators and visionaries,

Building a hypergrowth company is never easy. Doing it across borders, with hardware, compliance, and fierce competition is next-level. Today’s guest has done just that. We often hear about startup success stories, but rarely do we get a behind-the-scenes look at the grit, speed, and near-burnout it takes to scale globally.

This week, we sat down with Petter Made, one of the founding team behind SumUp. From assembling a founding crew of WHU grads to launching in Brazil with a playbook built for speed, he shares what it really takes to go from zero to global. Exclusively for our newsletter subscribers, Petter has shared additional insights below.

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🫶🏼 Melanie & Christian

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How to hire, scale and stay sane while in hypergrowth

What you will get out of this episode

In our conversation, Petter shares:

• How to build for global scale from day one, with the right mindset and systems

• Why hiring founder-quality early team members sets the foundation for hypergrowth

• How to know when you're truly ready to scale, and what metrics matter most

• Why managing your energy and sleep is just as important as managing your team

• and much more!

Our main take away’s

1. Think globally from day one: Petter and the SumUp team avoided the common DACH-market trap by designing systems and a market expansion playbook with international scalability in mind - starting with regulatory prep and local managing directors who could execute fast.

2. Hire founder-quality early team members: The first 10 hires at SumUp were not just competent. They were entrepreneurial A-players who later grew into C-level roles. This early culture of ownership helped the company move with startup speed while building for scale.

3. Build before you raise: Scaling wasn’t tied to fundraising milestones—it was driven by clear traction, ideal customer alignment, and a repeatable go-to-market. Petter emphasized proving value with paying customers before trading equity for speed.

4. Protect your energy to sustain growth: High-velocity execution came close to burning the team out multiple times. Petter now advocates for better sleep, self-awareness, and recovery routines - not just to stay sane, but to make better decisions under pressure.

Additional material on the topic

• Founder’s Agreement Masterclass - Question you should ask yourself before committing to a 10+ years journey with your co-founders

• Why we sleep: Unlocking the power of sleep and dreams - Matthew Walker

• Don’t Die - Netflix documentary about Bryan Johnson and the article “Biohacker Bryan Johnson: ‘The enemy is no longer each other. The enemy is death’“

How to reach out to Petter

• LinkedIn

• Apply for the EWOR Fellowship

Exclusive from Petter

What needs to be true before a startup is ready to raise money and scale?

There is no point in raising money if you don’t know what you are going to spend it on. The checkpoints that need to be achieved are PMF, ICP, traction to prove both and a working GTM. Then you are in a position to accelerate and scale. You have to be super lean and figure out your value proposition before it’s time to scale. Raising money is trading equity in your company for speed of execution and scalability. Make sure you are ready for it!

What is success for you?

Solving a problem where the solution creates value and satisfaction for customers.

What books, podcasts, articles inspired you?

Books: The Medici Effect - Frans Johansson 

Podcast: The Tim Ferriss Show

Articles: Anything by Marc Andreesen

What’s one advice, founders should actually ignore?

”Your idea will never work because ”insert standard reason” - do the research, talk to potential customers and work it out.

What are habits, activities or rituals that keep you sane (while scaling your business)?

I am older and wiser today than when I was building SumUp. Habitually going for walks, listening to podcasts, working out regularly, get enough sleep, keep your relationships close to your heart and take better care of yourself. A sound mind in a strong body - This is the way…

What’s one habit or mindset that’s had a lasting impact on your growth?

Putting out positive vibes into the universe and giving value unselfishly to those you meet will compound and create more opportunities over time.