Outsourcing has always intrigued me. As a Dutch founder bootstrapping my startups, I know the intricacies of building something from scratch without external funding. When I came across Jeta Zagragja’s perspective on outsourcing in emerging markets, I immediately felt a connection, not just as a female entrepreneur, but as someone who understands the resilience required to tackle big ambitions with limited resources.
Jeta’s story sheds light on the potential hiding in regional tech hubs like Kosovo. With AnchorzUp, she’s proving how local talent can compete globally, offering both cost-effective solutions and high-quality results to international markets. Here’s why this matters, and what you can learn from her approach if you’re a founder in Europe.
What Makes Outsourcing a Smart Move in Emerging Markets?
For startups in emerging markets, outsourcing isn’t just a financial strategy; it’s access to new opportunities. Jeta explains that for economies like Kosovo, where venture capital is scarce and domestic markets are limited, outsourcing enables tech ecosystems to thrive. Companies secure stable income streams while tapping into international networks.
According to research, Kosovo ranks high in ease of doing business and offers a corporate tax rate as low as 10%. This makes it a favorable destination for outsourcing compared to established hubs like India or Eastern Europe.
When done right, outsourcing benefits both sides. For emerging markets, it retains skilled workers who might otherwise leave for better pay abroad. For clients, it’s a cost-efficient route to innovation.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs Exploring Outsourcing
As someone who’s built startups across multiple countries, I’ve seen outsourcing succeed, and fail, depending on how founders approach it. Here’s what I’ve learned, and how Jeta’s strategy lines up:
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Understand Local Talent Pools:
Kosovo’s young tech professionals bring energy, creativity, and adaptability. AnchorzUp capitalizes on this by offering specialized services in software development and design. Similarly, founders need to research local skills and align them with global client needs. -
Embrace Cultural Alignment:
Working with outsourced teams only works when communication flows seamlessly. Kosovo’s time zone and cultural compatibility with Western clients make project management smoother. Don’t underestimate the importance of cultural fit when choosing where to outsource. -
Choose Stability Over Flash:
Jeta’s focus has been on sustainable growth rather than chasing trends. For startups, outsourcing can’t just be about initial savings; it must fit into your long-term business strategy. Anchor teams around partners who can scale with you.
A Common Misstep: Grand Scaling Plans Without Strategy
Many founders rush into outsourcing, thinking savings equate to success. It’s not so simple. When startups hire without a solid understanding of their own workflows, outsourced teams won’t deliver. Jeta’s story emphasizes the importance of putting process ahead of scale. AnchorzUp didn’t start massive, they mastered delivery, refined operations, and grew organically. That’s what keeps quality intact.
Wrong moves often look like these:
- Hiring without clear goals or KPIs for the outsourced team.
- Prioritizing cheap rates over a measurable ROI.
- Ignoring how client feedback loops can improve service delivery.
Focus on detailed contracts, articulate expectations, and make room for constructive feedback.
How Female Entrepreneurs Can Lead in Outsourcing
Leadership is evolving with the increasing visibility of women in tech, Jeta included. For aspiring female founders, there’s much to learn from her approach:
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Be Visible: In the Balkans, women in STEM roles are common, yet leadership gaps persist. Jeta argues visibility makes the difference. I’ve followed this myself, by taking active roles in incubators and speaking at conferences, the network you build opens more doors.
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Say Yes, But Choose Wisely: Jeta admits she doesn’t say no to opportunities that help her voice her vision. While that’s bold, it’s equally important to balance this with decision-making that protects your energy for meaningful work.
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Use Tech Networks for Better Hiring: Founders today have access to incubators, accelerators, and platforms offering vetted specialists. Take advantage of these instead of hoping outsourcing partners meet random expectations.
Actionable Guide: Getting Started with Outsourcing
So, how do you approach outsourcing for the first time? Whether you’re a freelancer scaling an agency or an entrepreneur growing your startup, here’s your guide:
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Identify High-priority Tasks:
What needs delegation? For Jeta, it was tech development. For others, it might be marketing or simple admin tasks. -
Research Local Advantages:
Platforms like LinkedIn and ecosystem hubs (The Recursive) showcase regional expertise in Eastern Europe and beyond. -
Test Small Partnerships:
Before committing, run limited projects to evaluate the workflow and identify bottlenecks. -
Build Relationships:
Outsourcing isn’t transactional; long-term success comes from trust. Anchor your team in a collaborative mindset. -
Focus on Quality Over Price:
Cheap solutions often mean hidden costs. It’s better to pay slightly more for teams that align with your deliverables.
Let’s Recap: Outsourcing Amplifies Impact
Jeta Zagragja is transforming her region’s tech ecosystem, not through flashy product launches but by making outsourcing strategic. AnchorzUp bridges gaps between local talent and international opportunities while enabling businesses to scale without breaking budgets. Kosovo's rise as an outsourcing destination reminds us entrepreneurs of one valuable idea: working globally doesn’t mean overlooking local potential.
As female founders, we must lean into nuanced strategies like this, not just for our companies but for long-term ecosystem growth. Want to outsource smarter? Start small, build trust, and be intentional.
And remember: Following the footsteps of leaders like Jeta isn’t only inspiring, it’s actionable. Take the next step. Learn more about Kosovo’s startup ecosystem through platforms like The Recursive and explore opportunities. Networking starts here.
FAQ
1. Why is outsourcing considered a viable strategy in emerging markets like Kosovo?
Outsourcing provides financial stability and global networking opportunities for emerging markets. In Kosovo, it helps retain skilled workers and provides a cost-effective solution for international businesses. Learn more about outsourcing in Kosovo at The Recursive
2. What advantages make Kosovo a competitive outsourcing destination?
Kosovo offers fluent English-speaking engineers, cultural compatibility, competitive pricing, and a favorable business environment with a low corporate tax rate of 10%. Discover Kosovo's outsourcing potential at The Albanian Business Journal
3. Who is Jeta Zagragja, and what role does she play in Kosovo’s tech ecosystem?
Jeta Zagragja is the founder of AnchorzUp, a global outsourcing firm in Kosovo. She is a leader advocating for women in tech and is pivotal in showcasing Kosovo's potential in the tech outsourcing scene. Read about Jeta Zagragja on AnchorzUp’s website
4. How does AnchorzUp support tech development and outsourcing?
AnchorzUp specializes in providing international clients with quality tech talent for areas such as software development and UI/UX design, while promoting sustainable and strategic growth. Learn more about AnchorzUp
5. What lessons can entrepreneurs learn from Jeta’s approach to outsourcing?
Entrepreneurs can learn the importance of researching local talent, aligning cultural compatibility, focusing on long-term stability, and fostering collaborative relationships with outsourced teams. Explore Jeta's outsourcing strategy at The Recursive
6. Why is sustainable growth emphasized over rapid scaling in outsourcing?
Sustainable growth ensures quality remains high while avoiding the pitfalls of premature scaling, as demonstrated by AnchorzUp’s success in mastering delivery and refining operations before scaling. Check out details on sustainable outsourcing
7. How does Jeta Zagragja support women in tech and leadership in Kosovo?
Jeta actively engages in public speaking and mentorship, working to increase visibility for female role models in tech and address leadership gaps in the Balkans. Read more about her advocacy efforts at The Recursive
8. What is AnchorzUp’s long-term vision for outsourcing and product development?
AnchorzUp aims to maintain its culture and quality while developing its own tech products, leveraging knowledge gained from successful outsourcing for global clients. Learn about AnchorzUp’s vision at The Albanian Business Journal
9. How does AI influence outsourcing and tech talent development?
AI accelerates the learning curve for junior developers and shifts the focus of senior developers towards high-value problem-solving and strategic thinking. Discover Jeta’s thoughts on tech development and AI
10. How can female entrepreneurs enhance their presence in international markets?
Building visibility and tapping into tech networks, such as incubators and accelerators, is crucial. Jeta recommends saying yes to meaningful opportunities that align with one’s vision and goals. Find insights for female entrepreneurs at The Recursive
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
