Operating executive and investor.
Owners and investors bring me in to lead and grow their companies for 12 to 24 months, and longer when it fits both sides. I build the systems and the team, so the company keeps running without me.
Where I help
What owners bring me in for: a set goal, a set time.
Growth & New Markets
Build or fix the marketing, sales and growth engine: recruiting, pipeline, pricing and follow-up.
Open a new product, business line or country, and build the team that runs it.
Ready for the Next Owner
Get the company ready for investors, a buyer or the next generation.
Your equity story, numbers and data room, ready before the process starts.
Introductions from my network when you are ready.
Operating System & AI
Processes and one set of numbers for a company that has grown messy.
AI in daily operations: the automations with the biggest euro impact, built on your real data.
A leader, not only a founder
I led a 300-person, €10M sales organisation in 4 countries and was CEO for 13 years. I've owned companies, so I decide like an owner, and I know the owner sets the direction.
The track record:
Sales: started door-to-door on 100% commission at Lux International and went on to lead the Baltics, then Poland as General Director. My reps were consistently in the global top 25 out of 12,000, my leaders ranked at the top among 2,000+, and my organisation set the company's world record in sales management.
Digital: at 25 I bought a Canadian franchise and co-founded one of the region's first digital agencies. I was its CEO for 13 years, and the group was regularly ranked in the network's global top 20 (out of 1,000+). I later sold my stake and exited.
Growth: Chief Growth Officer at Funderbeam, a regulated fintech, leading sales, marketing and country teams in four countries.
New markets: (co-)founded 8 companies in 4 countries and built a 1,000-acre bamboo operation in Uganda.
Investor: 30+ startups, 7 lead rounds, €10M+ raised, 5 exits. President of the Estonian Business Angels Network, which also gave me its "Master of Exits" award.
AI: my companies run on an AI operating system I designed.
Global: lived and worked in 6 countries: Estonia, Poland, Spain, Thailand, Uganda and Mauritius.
Lessons: two frauds in the portfolio and a costly hire taught me as much as the wins.
How a mandate works
We agree the goal and the time with the owners. I build the systems and the team. Mandates run 12 to 24 months, and longer when it fits both sides, full-time and on site, in the Baltics and the Nordics.
Off the clock: sailing, golf, kitesurfing and hiking.
Raude Holdings
My holding company, run with a family-office mindset: I invest in founders, and I’m a supportive owner in the companies we operate. High-growth investments sit next to a preservation portfolio of real estate, public equities and fixed income.
ATOM Mobility: White-label software platform for launching and scaling shared mobility and ride-hailing businesses.
Fermi Energia: Developing next-generation Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants in Estonia.
Hawk Infinity: Investment holding company acquiring and permanently holding profitable, founder-led SMEs.
SpaceX: Designer, manufacturer, and launcher of advanced rockets and spacecraft.
SEVEN SUNDAYS: Swiss-engineered sleep technology delivering customizable systems for regeneration and health.
Ender Turing: AI-driven analytics and automation software for call center optimization.
Bikeep: Secure, smart bike parking infrastructure for urban environments.
Face by Greethel: Integrated beauty ecosystem combining manual therapies, proprietary skincare, and smart technology.
Adact: No-code marketing software enabling brands to create gamified engagement campaigns.
FleetFox: B2B fleet management platform automating washing, maintenance, and vehicle relocation.
VSight: Augmented Reality (AR) software for remote industrial assistance and digital work instructions.
Stebby: The largest corporate wellness marketplace and employee benefits platform in the Baltics.
Askly: Hybrid AI-human customer support platform for automating sales and communication.
Venturebeam: Global investment platform connecting impact-driven growth ventures with institutional investors.
Cleveron: Robotic click-and-collect solutions for automating last-mile retail delivery.
1MTN: Nature-based carbon removal developer focusing on bamboo restoration projects in Africa.
WSI: Global digital marketing agency network specializing in AI-driven growth strategies.
Ampler: Manufacturer of lightweight, design-focused electric bicycles for urban commuting.
Soundfr: AI sound recognition for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Strategic partner.
Sardiinia: Premium restaurant and event venue at Pirita harbour, Tallinn.
The Notebook
Thoughts and blueprints on business, startups, longevity, and lifestyle design.
Get in Touch
Have a goal and a deadline?
Tell me about it via the contact form or at kristjan (at) raude.eu, and I will get back to you soon. If now isn't the right time, let's stay connected on LinkedIn.
© 2026 Raude Holdings