ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "336: Starting a Business During a Crisis with the founder of Alpha and Strata, Thor Ernstsson"
Episode Synopsis
Meet Thor Ernstsson.
The founder of global giants such as Alpha, Strata, and lead architect for Zygna responsible for Farmville, Ernstsson knows business and products.
In this interview, Nathan sits down with Ernstsson to discuss his journey from Zynga game developer, to creating a company that serves half of the Fortune 500. Honest and candid, Ernstsson reveals his decision-making processes behind some of the company's largest pivots, changes, and challenges.
While most people would shy away from the idea of launching a business during a global crisis, Ernstsson is perhaps living proof that not only is it a good decision, it’s the best business decision one can make. Key Takeaways
Thor Ernstsson discusses how he first began working at Zygna, and how he felt about the global success of Farmville
His next business ventures, including Alpha and Strata
Why he decided to pivot the company
The importance of “now”, and why starting a business during a crisis is a good idea
The decision to launch a business that aimed to connect people, while it was the start of the pandemic
How to change the world, and why you should always aim to solve a problem that won’t change
The importance of customers and why they need to be invested in your business’ success
The founder of global giants such as Alpha, Strata, and lead architect for Zygna responsible for Farmville, Ernstsson knows business and products.
In this interview, Nathan sits down with Ernstsson to discuss his journey from Zynga game developer, to creating a company that serves half of the Fortune 500. Honest and candid, Ernstsson reveals his decision-making processes behind some of the company's largest pivots, changes, and challenges.
While most people would shy away from the idea of launching a business during a global crisis, Ernstsson is perhaps living proof that not only is it a good decision, it’s the best business decision one can make. Key Takeaways
Thor Ernstsson discusses how he first began working at Zygna, and how he felt about the global success of Farmville
His next business ventures, including Alpha and Strata
Why he decided to pivot the company
The importance of “now”, and why starting a business during a crisis is a good idea
The decision to launch a business that aimed to connect people, while it was the start of the pandemic
How to change the world, and why you should always aim to solve a problem that won’t change
The importance of customers and why they need to be invested in your business’ success
More episodes of the podcast The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan
606: (Solo) The Week Before Black Friday: What Smart Ecommerce Founders Are Doing Differently
18/11/2025
605: He Bought an Airline for $0.30 (and made BILLIONS) | Tony Fernendes (Best of Foundr)
13/11/2025
In God we trust