The Message That Changed the Future of Th3rd.

Not every startup success story is carefully planned. Sometimes, one bold move changes everything.

That’s exactly what happened to Esther Bisschop, an exited founder, investor, and business leader who has leveled up at every stage of her career. From employee to employer. From founder to investor. From nearly going bankrupt to selling her company, Th3rd, to Snap Inc.

In episode 93 of Women Disrupting Tech, Esther shared her biggest lessons. Here’s your exclusive 5-minute breakdown.

1️⃣ The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

Esther never saw herself as an entrepreneur until a colleague suggested she buy into Tinqwise, where she was working. That shift from employee to co-owner changed her perspective on leadership, risk, and opportunity.

💡 Takeaway: If you want to level up, start thinking like an owner before you are one.

2️⃣ The Bootstrapping Balancing Act

At Th3rd, survival meant constantly choosing between cash flow and innovation. At one point, Esther had to take on freelance work just to keep the company running. It was tough, but it kept them alive.

💡 Takeaway: If you are bootstrapping, make sure your short-term survival strategy supports your long-term vision.

3️⃣ The Power of One Bold Move

Th3rd wasn’t actively looking to sell when Esther reached out to Snap Inc. They were just hoping to start a conversation. But one carefully crafted LinkedIn message opened a door they didn’t expect—and led to an acquisition.

💡 Takeaway: Sometimes, the biggest opportunities come from one well-placed message. Send it.

Feeling inspired?

Try listening to the entire episode. You can find it on Spotify, Apple, YouTube and Amazon. And don’t forget to visit the show notes for Esther’s bio and links to connect to her.

What This Means for You

✅ Leveling up requires a shift in mindset before a change in title.
✅ Bootstrapping means balancing short-term survival with long-term vision.
✅ Bold outreach can change everything—be ready when opportunity knocks.

This is one of those stories that reminds us why persistence, adaptability, and the right mindset make all the difference.

Want more founder insights like this? Hit the subscribe button below.

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A Quote From The Episode

Besides her story as a founder, we also cover Esther’s views on the startup ecosystem and the need for more diversity. As a co-founder in a mixed team, she experienced how having diverse perspectives benefitted her business. And she also noticed this while working for Snap, later.

"If you want to build for everybody, you need everybody on board of you team to fill these gaps and perspectives." - Esther Bisschop

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What's coming up?

In episode 94, we continue hearing from role models in VC as Michelle Ter Laak is my guest to share her journey as a VC from passion to profession

When you're considering a career in VC, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

After that, we continue the journey to 100 episodes with more amazing female founders and investors. So stay tuned for more female role models in tech, and until we meet again in the next episode, keep being awesome.