The technology gap between traditional and modern businesses keeps widening. While digital transformation sits at the top of every CEO’s priority list, turning that vision into reality remains a persistent challenge. Miguel Heinonen, founder of Heinonen Ventures and Co-Founder of Whitefriar, has spent years guiding businesses through this evolution across major tech hubs. Drawing from his experience building B2B solutions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and London, he offers a practical blueprint for companies ready to make the leap into tech-driven operations.
The Technology Gap
Most business owners know they need to change, but they’re stuck at the starting line. Miguel sees this hesitation first-hand. “One of the biggest challenges I see today is traditional businesses are struggling to keep up with technology,” he says. “They know they need to evolve, but they don’t know where to start.”
Drawing from his experience transforming traditional companies, Miguel breaks down the essential steps to bridge this tech gap:
1. Breaking Free from the Efficiency Trap
The first stumbling block? Getting stuck in old patterns. Traditional companies often spin their wheels trying to perfect what they already do. Miguel pushes them to think bigger. “A lot of traditional businesses focus on efficiency, for example how to make existing processes better,” he explains. “But to become a tech company, you need to shift from optimizing operations to innovating entirely new solutions.” This means asking tougher questions about your business. “What can be automated? What can be digitized? What friction points can technology solve?” Miguel points out that successful tech companies don’t just polish old methods – they flip the script on how things are done.
2. Building Your Digital Foundation
Change takes time, and Miguel knows rushing doesn’t work. “Traditional businesses are not going to become a tech company overnight,” he says. “But the foundation starts with having strong digital infrastructure and more importantly thinking ahead.” He’s seen this play out with his own company. “Look at Whitefriar,” Miguel shares. “We started with a basic dashboard. In a period of a year, we have built so much – of course, we build what our end-users needed. Now there’s a dashboard that manages tons of subscribers, is fully self-service, manages thought leadership media and content.” The secret? “The trick is to consistently build over time, reevaluate the solution, and not try everything all at once.”
3. Investing in Tech Talent
Many owners think tech transformation means outsourcing everything. Miguel disagrees. “Many first-time founders think they need to outsource all their tech needs,” he says. “But if you want to become a tech company, you need to invest in tech talent.” This doesn’t mean hiring an army of developers on day one. Start small but smart. “It means bringing in the right people – developers from Upwork or Fiverr, or data analysts – who understand how to productize and display data,” Miguel explains. For those not ready to build an in-house team, he suggests working with venture studios or tech advisors to bridge the gap.
4. Speed, Testing, and Adaptation
Old-school business moves cautiously. In contrast, tech moves fast. Miguel pushes companies to pick up the pace: “Tech companies move fast, test often, and pivot when necessary. Traditional businesses tend to be risk-averse, but if you want to evolve, you must embrace multiple iterations.” He advocates starting small but starting now. “Start with an MVP (or commonly referred Minimum Viable Product) rather than trying to perfect something before launch,” he advises. “Test, get customer feedback, refine, and scale.” Success, he believes, follows those willing to adapt: “The companies that will succeed are the ones that are willing to adapt and evolve continuously.”
For Miguel, tech transformation runs deeper than software updates. “Transforming a traditional business into a tech company isn’t just about adding software – it’s about changing the way you think, operate, and grow,” he explains. Success comes from embracing innovation, building solid foundations, bringing in the right talent, and moving quickly. His message to businesses facing this challenge carries both urgency and optimism. “The future belongs to those who are willing to reinvent, adapt, and lead,” he says. It’s a future he’s helping shape, one company at a time.
Follow Miguel Heinonen on LinkedIn to learn more about transforming traditional businesses into tech-driven companies and to stay updated on his latest ventures in the B2B technology space.
