Aflevering From Hospitality To Tech: Rita’S Startup Story – Kasa Connect Ep:7

Rita Kastrati isthe founder of Pioneering People, a socially responsible fintech platform shaking up the temporary staffing space. Rita’s journey took her from working hospitality jobs to launching a platform connecting companies with temp staff, all while championing fair pay, inclusivity, and founder wellbeing. Her story is packed with lessons on building a business with purpose, storytelling without a marketing budget, and navigating the realities of burnout, fundraising, and leadership as a young female founder. ?? In this episode: • Why founder-led marketing and storytelling matter • How to embed social good into your business model • The reality of burnout and how to avoid it • When passion drives success—and when it’s not enough • Finding co-founders, mentors, and resilience as a first-time founder (00:00) – Intro & Rita’s mission (00:29) – From hostess to founder (01:01) – First job in hospitality (01:42) – Learning resilience (02:53) – Pioneering People explained (03:55) – Building the founding team (04:44) – Meeting co-founders on LinkedIn (05:35) – Entrepreneurial beginnings (06:32) – Lessons from 20+ jobs (07:24) – Earning respect as a young founder (08:06) – Finding mentors on LinkedIn (09:00) – Standing out in a competitive market (10:08) – Fundraising & attracting female investors (11:03) – Building the team (11:40) – Leadership & tough conversations (13:12) – Red flag or green flag segment (15:28) – UN Women delegate experience (17:04) – Embedding social good in business (18:06) – Expansion beyond hospitality (18:42) – Founder-led marketing & storytelling (21:02) – Paying interns & avoiding burnout (22:03) – Managing burnout & balance (24:08) – Is passion essential in business? (24:37) – Defining success with Ikigai (26:04) – Mindset shifts & networking (27:28) – Women leaders & resilience (28:27) – Knowing when to quit (30:20) – Bootstrapping, quitting & impact stories (31:22) – Building community & supper clubs (33:07) – Celebrating wins & vulnerability (35:03) – Coffee break & staying connected (36:11) – Best advice not taken (38:05) – Wrap up & farewell