Educational Media Reviews Online

While it is no secret that the road to a successful startup company can be a rough trek of grueling work hours, tight budgets, and failed pitches, less is said about the emotional toll it takes on entrepreneurs and their families. Silicon Valley, Baby addresses the topics of mental and emotional health through the intimate story of Finnish barista champion Kalle Freese, as he experiences the successes and failures of his startup, Sudden Coffee.

It is one thing be lectured on the challenges that come with entrepreneurship in the classroom or in a TED Talk, it's another to see the raw footage of the moments as they are happening. The film is mainly from Kalle’s girlfriend's (Director Erika Haavisto) perspective as she watches him navigate the challenges of securing venture funding and building a business from the ground up - all while slowly drifting away from her in the process. One scene in particular shows Kalle cancelling the couple’s date night yet again in favor of turning back to the potential customers he is speaking with. Erika watches him sadly, her voice over the camera asking, "Why do I feel like I'm losing him?"

Kalle’s admission at how hard it is to build a successful company is real and refreshing. Even with good people and money in the bank, the team continues “testing a business model that doesn't seem to work[.]" Additional conflicts come as pressure to exit mounts, imposter syndrome kicks in and disagreements with his co-founder, Josh, bubble to the surface. There are many moments where Kalle begins to lose the joy he once held. Partnered with overwork and doubt, the film does an excellent job of bringing the question of burnout and mental health of entrepreneurs sharply into focus.

Sprinkled among these conflicts are the business decisions it takes to maintain a thriving startup. Kalle had a product that he believed in and major successes in funding, but with this comes growing pains. He had no experience with business growth and is continually challenged by his subscription model and meeting targets for profitability. As he states: "Suddenly, I ended up from being a barista, to determining how to grow our volume by 20-fold in four months." Viewers get an inside look at discussions on operations, manufacturing, customer relations, pricing, packaging, and marketing but these topics seem secondary to the main theme of the film.

Kalle ultimately steps down from the company and experiences a temporary relief. Together, him and Erika drive off to enjoy camping, traveling and freedom before returning to Finland. It seems like a happy ending until Kalle grows restless, he and Erika divorce, and he returns to San Francisco seeking a new startup opportunity. The long road and ultimate outcome leaves an appropriately bittersweet feel to the final scenes.

This film would be a great addition to an entrepreneurship event or workshop. As an honest, raw look at the startup world, Silicon Valley, Baby is recommended for both academic audiences and the general public.