Ahti Heinla has built category-defining tech in two completely different worlds. First, he helped architect Skype, making internet communication simple enough to spread like wildfire. Then he co-founded Starship Technologies, tackling the "last mile problem" with autonomous delivery robots that work in real streets, real weather, and with real world chaos.

Along the way, Ahti shares what Estonia got right with digital infrastructure, why "small beats slow", and why he's worried the world is drifting away from facts.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Estonia became a tech flywheel, and what secure digital infrastructure unlocks

• The early objections to Skype and why they were reasonable at the time

• How network effects helped Skype spread, fast

• What "last mile delivery" really is, and why it's the inefficient bit

• What makes autonomous delivery deep tech, not "just another app"

• Why Starship Technologies' robots are designed to be friendly but not human

• The biggest data challenge Ahti sees today: people ignoring data

• Why post-truth worries him, even with better tools than ever
  
  

Topics we cover:

• Estonia's digital ID, online voting, and startup culture

• Skype's origin story and early market timing

• Speed vs the establishment, network effects, culture challenges at scale

• Starship's view of logistics and automating the last mile

• Real world robotics constraints: weather, regulation, competition

• Data culture, machine learning, and decision-making

• Civic tech and environmental initiatives

• Post-truth, misinformation, and fact-based leadership
  
  

About the guest:
Ahti Heinla is the CEO and co-founder of Starship Technologies, the global leader in autonomous last mile delivery. He was also a founding engineer and Chief Technical Architect at Skype, having spent decades building software and systems that scale.

Links and resources mentioned:

• Starship Technologies website – https://www.starship.xyz

• The Let's Do It World! campaign – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Do_It!_World

• Citizen OS – https://citizenos.com

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