In this compelling episode of From Angel to Exit, Bruce Eckfeldt interviews Vlada Lotkina, founder of ClassTag, an EdTech platform that transformed parent-teacher communication. From her entrepreneurial upbringing in Ukraine to a successful exit in the U.S., Vlada shares the challenges of monetizing in the K-12 sector, navigating a failed M&A, and rethinking her strategy for venture number two. Founder-CEOs will find inspiration and pragmatic lessons in her candid account of scaling a mission-driven business with resilience and clarity.

Key Takeaways

• Personal conviction helped validate the problem when initial feedback was discouraging.
  
• Early MVP failures taught resilience and forced creative pivots in product strategy.
  
• Growth came through teachers marketing to teachers—not parents.
  
• The business scaled with a unique media model, later bolstered by SaaS.
  
• A failed M&A taught the importance of running the business regardless of deal progress.
  
• Private equity deals often depend on external fund dynamics, not founder value.
  
• Exiting with minimal earn-out allowed smoother transition and founder relief.
  
• Future ventures are now guided by “following the money” and co-founder alignment.
  

Links & Resources

• Vlada Lotkina

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlada-lotkina/
  [email protected]
  https://www.elev8orlab.com/
  

• Subscribe to the Podcast:

  • Find From Angel to Exit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Be sure to hit “Subscribe” so you never miss an episode.

• Newsletter & Exclusive Content:

  • Sign up for the free newsletter at eckfeldt.com/podcast for episode transcripts, bonus insights, frameworks, and community updates.

• Connect with Bruce & the Community:

  • LinkedIn: Bruce Eckfeldt

  • Instagram: @bruce_eckfeldt

  • Email:

    • [email protected]

    • [email protected]