Sure. Starting a startup is an exciting journey.

But this very journey comes with several concerns to address. And two of them which most new ventures will find pressing are building a startup culture and reinforcing team communication. To understand how to deal with such concerns and start a new company on the right foot, Felicia turned to Valentina Agudelo Vargas.

Valentina Agudelo Vargas, winner of this year’s TechCrunch Disrupt and co-founder of Salva Health, understands this struggle all too well. In our recent podcast with her, She shared her journey of leading Salva Health, a health tech startup based in Colombia, through a phase of rapid growth.

She spoke at length about the complexities of managing two distinct teams in different cities and emphasized the importance of scaling startup culture, team communication, executive coaching cultural cohesion, and efficient cross-functional collaboration. Here’s what we learned from her insights.

The Salva Health Journey

Salva Health is on a mission to revolutionize early disease detection in underserved populations. Valentina shared that the company’s first device, Julieta, focuses on early detection of breast cancer, which is crucial in improving survival rates for women who lack access to traditional healthcare services.

She explained, “In August of last year, our team was composed of two co-founders and one full-time employee, and then we had four part-time employees. A year after that, in August of this year, we had one founder and 10 full-time employees. And as of now in November, we have one founder and 11 full-time employees divided into two different teams.”

Valentina stressed that this rapid growth brought about significant challenges in maintaining Team Alignment is crucial for any organization. It helps in breaking down business silos, fostering collaboration, and improving overall productivity.

Between teams located in Bogotá and Medellín. The administrative team operates out of Bogotá due to its business opportunities, while the tech team, led by the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), is based in Medellín to take advantage of research alliances. While this setup makes logistical sense, it has led to gaps in communication and cultural cohesion.

Diverging Cultures and Processes

When asked about the challenges of managing two teams in different cities, Valentina opined that the physical separation, coupled with remote work and hybrid arrangements, has made it difficult to unify the two teams. "Each team has developed its habits and values, which makes collaboration harder when we work on joint projects," she shared.

Valentina elaborated on how the subcultures of the two teams have diverged. She explained, “So we are based in Bogota, the CTO and his tech team are based in Medellin. That is basically what grows the challenges of unifying the culture. In that sense, our base in Bogota for the admin team is because the business opportunities are in Bogota and Medellín, the reason for that is because a research alliance is there.

She further added, “So it made sense for that team to grow and in terms of the challenges that we've been facing of course because there is different physical presence in two different cities and also remote work because we work a hybridly. There is communication and engagement amongst teams but not as much between both teams”

This lack of synchronization has created barriers to effective collaboration, especially during the company’s commercial launch preparations. She stressed the importance of aligning processes and expectations between the two teams to ensure smoother cross-functional collaboration and a more cohesive workflow.

The Communication Challenge

Communication has been a pressing need for Salva Health. Valentina revealed that the teams currently hold one weekly meeting involving the entire tech team, which she attends along with the Chief of Staff. However, she acknowledged that these meetings are not enough to address the communication gaps.

Valentina stressed that the issue lies in the fact that when engaging with customers, valuable insights about their needs are gathered. To address these needs effectively, seamless communication with the tech team is required. Without it, there is a risk of failing to implement the necessary adjustments in the product.

Valentina also pointed out that documentation and project management have been pain points. She shared that each team had developed its processes autonomously, which made collaboration challenging when they came together on projects. This lack of standardized documentation created unnecessary friction.

Developing Solutions for Team Alignment

To address these challenges, Valentina and her team have been exploring strategies to foster better alignment. One approach has been encouraging cross-functional collaboration. She emphasized that she along with her team is working on creating opportunities for both teams to collaborate on projects from start to finish. This will help bridge the gap between their different workflows and strengthen their understanding of each other’s priorities.”

Valentina also stressed the importance of clear communication channels

She mentioned that they were evaluating ways to improve the structure of their weekly meetings to make them more productive and inclusive for both teams.

Additionally, she highlighted the need for more frequent updates on technical developments to keep the administrative team informed and aligned.

Fostering a Unified Culture

Culture is the backbone of any organization, and Valentina is keenly aware of its importance in maintaining team morale and productivity. For Salva Health, it’s about ensuring that every team member, regardless of their location, feels connected to our mission and values.

To achieve this, Valentina and her leadership team have been working on initiatives to unify the company culture. This includes hosting virtual team-building activities, celebrating milestones together, and establishing shared rituals that reinforce the company’s values.

Lessons Learned and Advice for Other Startups

Reflecting on her journey, Valentina shared valuable advice for other startups facing similar challenges. She stressed the importance of proactive team communication and planning. She also emphasized the need to invest in tools and systems that facilitate collaboration. “Having the right tools in place can make a huge difference in how efficiently your teams work together,” she opined.

Finally, Valentina encouraged startup leaders to prioritize empathy and understanding. "Every team has its dynamics and challenges. Taking the time to understand these differences and finding ways to bridge them is crucial for building a cohesive organization," she stressed. Indeed, a very important lesson to learn when it comes to scaling startup culture and reinforcing team communication.

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