Beginnings & Beyond

Episode 3: Sink or Swim: Mikael Hugg on Embracing Failure, Burnout, and the True Grit of Entrepreneurship


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In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Mikael Hugg, a founder who knows the highs, lows, and everything in between. Mikael shares his raw insights on building a company from scratch—from the hopeful beginnings and tough early years to experiencing failures, burnouts, and eventually finding success.


With over 15 years as an entrepreneur, Mikael speaks about the grit it takes to stay in the game, even when everything is crumbling. He recounts his pivotal decision to commit fully to the entrepreneurial path, the resilience built through a bankruptcy experience, and why he believes founders need to cross their own limits to understand true success.

Mikael’s story is both sobering and inspiring: he talks about the importance of embracing failure, losing the safety net, and learning to “swim” against the current. He also shares his unique perspective on celebrating the small wins, finding growth in unlikely places, and why he’d still be doing this even if he didn’t make a cent. This is an unfiltered look at what it means to be an entrepreneur, with valuable lessons on perseverance, passion, and finding joy in the journey.

Tune in if you’re ready for an honest, humorous, and motivational conversation that proves you don’t have to be fearless—you just have to take the leap.

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Beginnings & BeyondBy Aleksi Lehtola