Rain Allikvee is a creator of realities and a visionary. His canvas is technology, and his passion is creating products that are enjoyable to use.

Rain, what kind of realities do you create?

“There is no definition for destination, and no one knows what the future brings. However, our choices, decisions, and actions shape our future. It is important to make choices that line with yourself. Self-awareness helps us understand what our values ​​are. We express them in our creation of reality.

“I’m constantly creating a world where I’d like to be.”

I choose the people with whom I want to create and spend time. It is important that what I do in my free time, with my family or at work, reflects my values.

When creating product concepts, I base it on what kind of experience I would like to have when using it. As a maximalist, I am very demanding regarding technical solutions. I research how others solve similar concerns. All products should be so simple that actions can be done within a few movements.

Beauty is not only visual but also an experience: simplicity, intuitiveness, and engagingness – the sun that shines when all the tasks are done. Beauty is not a shimmer on the surface – beauty is deep.”

Where does your self-awareness come from?

Rain Allikvee’s day starts early, at seven o’clock. Every morning, he does 60 push-ups, 60 ab crunches and exercises. A tea ceremony – morning meditation with tea drinking, follows this. Rain mixes the tea from different varieties of Pu’er and Lui Bao based on the character of the day. Here, his partner will join him until the children wake up.

Rain’s family has gradually grown to five members. In addition to him, the family includes his partner, Marilys, and three children.

“Children are my greatest teachers and mirrors. I’ve had to grow a lot to be the best example. “

Arriving at the office around nine o’clock, Rain makes sure that the room’s mood is right. We all spend about eight hours in the office, so the place should feel like a second home.

Over the past ten years, Rain has used various meditative practices to tune himself in and clear his energy. In the past, he practised meditation techniques such as mindfulness, OSHO, and other learning practices. Tea ceremonies and self-created meditation practices have been favourites in recent years.

How has cleaning your thoughts and energy affected your daily life and work?

“First of all, it has affected me as a creator. My mental state and energetic balance affect the world and the future I create. I am much more aware of what is happening in me, my surroundings, and the world I am creating, and because of this, relationships are of a higher quality. I realize that what I do to others, I also do to myself.”

How did you become an entrepreneur?

Today, Rain Allikvee is active in three Estonian-origin companies: Uku Viam OÜ, Artify OÜ and Krokodilli Kapital OÜ. How did it all start?

“I first saw entrepreneurship from my parents. My mother grew from an accountant to an entrepreneur and runs a successful accounting company called AR Tähelend today. That’s where the idea of being a business owner came from!”

As a schoolboy, Rain worked for his mother, where he saw how she, as an accountant, contributed to the success of other companies. This inspired him to become a supporter of the success of different businesses.

“I got more inspiration when I joined the newly opened IT college in 2000. Many tech enthusiasts in Estonia who had previously lacked a suitable school also joined, filling the year 2000 class with ultra-ambitious IT experts. In addition to those interested in technology, many people with an entrepreneurial spirit entered the school. We dreamed a lot together!”

To be a business owner or not to be?

Allikvee did not rush into the risky path of being an entrepreneur because he realized he still had much to learn. So, he worked as a regular wage worker and was involved in various smaller ventures. For example, he managed product design at Enefit, the most prevalent electricity package providor in Estonia, helped create many other enterprises.

All this raised Rain into the person who created the company Artify and the accounting practice management software Uku years later with his childhood friend and business partner Jaanus Lang. Jaanus and Rain’s parents were good friends, but their friendship got a fresh start when they studied together at the IT college.

An entrepreneurs journey into the hectic world of start-ups

In 2008, Sequoia Capital wanted to invest in the world of start-up companies, and they were accepted into Seedcamp in London. The company’s visionary stood down, but the inspiring experience gave the knowledge that Rain and Jaanus want full responsibility for their undertakings in the future. This is the only way to ensure the project moves forward at the desired pace.

In the early years of Artify, 2009-2014, the company was in the start-up phase. They focused on various projects or helped other Estonian start-ups.

Artify is now already 15 years old, and Uku is six. Over the years, in cooperation between Jaanus Lang and Rain Allikvee, 15 Estonian start-ups have gained a foothold, and the Artify team has built several applications and games. In recent years, the software-developing studio has focused on innovating the business processes of large companies such as Itella, one of Northern Europe’s most popular postal services.

“Out of all the projects, Artify has grown me the most as an entrepreneur.”

“I’ve learned how to build an excellent product for reasonable money because I can’t stand being wasteful. I want every employee’s hour to be productive and get them closer to the goal. I have also learned that a perfect result sometimes requires a significantly larger investment.”

Having full responsibility for your endeavours

“Uku’s vision is big, and we have development plans for years to come. Here, we focus first and foremost on creating a great product. Now that I’m an investor, I can invest more in the user experience.”

Rain has not seriously considered working for someone else again. Although the life of a business owner is risky, with it comes the freedom to create your reality. The Uku team consists primarily of senior-level professionals who could work anywhere if they want to. But now that they’re building something great with the team, it’s not easy to give it up.

“We dare to realize Uku’s vision,”

In addition to Uku and Artify, the man has several other exciting ventures. “My friends and I founded the investment company Krokodilli Kapital to invest in more projects. There is a great synergy between the editing of all three companies.”

The life of an entrepreneur on the edge of an economic crisis

In today’s complicated economic situation, the owners of Uku and Artify are not too worried. Warren Buffett’s quote always comes to mind when taking risks:

“Only when the tide goes out do you discover who has been swimming naked”.

The men are wearing trousers and are not embarrassed to stand on the beach at low tide and wait for the tide to rise.

However, some adaptations to the economic situation have been made in Uku. The number of team members has decreased, and compromises have also been necessary. “We are focusing on the near future, a few years away. Our canvas is technology; we have open minds, energy, will to do, and resources – all doors are open.

“We will definitely be successful.”

A rise follows every fall. “Today, we are doing internal work with the team. When the world turns, we are ready for the tide.” Rain plans to remain a product designer, visionary and mentor in the long term. Just being an owner or investor seems too dull when you can work with a great team.

How have you grown as an entrepreneur?

“Today, I can better see other people’s perspectives and put myself in their situation. However, I have received feedback that I am too soft. As a manager, I always want to be supportive. However, forgetting the company’s goals is not wise because an entrepreneur’s stagnation is unacceptable.”

Rain Allikvee has gained many life lessons over the years. “We have recruited good people who, unfortunately, do not fit the team. We have also allowed the company to the brink of bankruptcy several times. It has been an emotionally difficult time.”

“Looking at the world, everyone realizes that their little worries are insignificant.”

As an entrepreneur, Rain is always responsible for what’s happening, and it has cost him some money, but Artify doesn’t deliver just for money. Money is a tool, not a goal; like energy, money must flow. Those who have a lot of money also have a great responsibility to direct this energy correctly.