Meet Ville Houttu

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ville Houttu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ville below.

Ville, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience, for me, is rooted in the Finnish concept of Sisu. It’s a word that doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but it means a combination of white-knuckled courage, determination, and a never-give-up attitude. Growing up in Finland, these qualities are almost second nature.

I also resonate with the Vikings, who once wandered the Nordics. They lived through tough conditions, navigating challenges with a fearless spirit. That same spirit is something I carry with me whether I’m steering a company or navigating life’s ups and downs.
To me, relocating from the country under the Northern Star to build something new under Arizona’s wide-open skies is just another chapter in that tradition of resilience.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

In 2023, after years of building and scaling companies, I decided it was time for a break. I had just taken my previous company from $0 revenue to 8 figures, and the idea of a long sabbatical seemed like the perfect way to unwind. But for someone like me – who relocated from Finland to his country of dreams, and thrived on building companies with great people who drive to get things done – the reality of stepping away wasn’t as fulfilling as I’d hoped. Ironically, it got very boring very fast.

That’s when Chris Nations reached out with an idea. He pitched a software solution aimed at addressing a critical issue in capital project management. His insight was sharp: every capital project is shaped by thousands of decisions, yet so many of these decisions are based on misaligned communication and outdated information. Project managers are forced to use several segregated and outdated tools, which is not just tedious and inefficient but also highly error-prone. As a result, projects often run over budget, fall behind schedule, and struggle with compliance.

I did my own research and confirmed Chris’s observations. The problem was widespread and in need of a modern solution. That’s when we decided to create PRIVV.

PRIVV isn’t just another project management tool; it’s like having a personal project management guru who knows everything about your projects. We designed it to replace broken spreadsheets, outdated legacy systems, and cumbersome reporting processes. PRIVV empowers Owners to build with confidence, making collaboration and accountability automatic. It keeps projects on track, on budget, and in compliance, all while increasing efficiency across the board.

Since launching PRIVV, we’ve seen excitement and success. We’ve built a tool that’s transforming how educational institutions manage their capital projects. Coming back to the world of growth and innovation has reaffirmed my passion for solving real, pressing problems. In hindsight, I’m extremely glad the sabbatical wasn’t for me because the market truly needed the critical solution we’ve built.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Sisu: Embrace adversity as a chance to grow; the toughest moments always lead to smoother times.

Keep it scrappy: Don’t wait for perfect conditions – use what you have, start now, learn, improve, and repeat.

Sense of urgency: Treat time as your most valuable resource – act decisively, maintain momentum, and enjoy the journey.

How would you describe your ideal client?

We currently work with universities, healthcare institutions, and municipalities (and their owner’s reps) that are looking to streamline their project management processes and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.

We’ve already seen that PRIVV can make their work 2x more efficient and their projects 3x less likely to end up in disputes.

Our ideal client is an organization that manages complex capital projects, understands the importance of efficiency and risk reduction, and is committed to excellence. We are a good fit for those seeking a solution that not only keeps their projects on time and budget but also enhances collaboration and accountability across all teams, ensuring successful outcomes every time.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Christiana McCarthy

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