Meet Tobias Törnros, a tech enthusiast with an exceptional journey. He’s not only a former elite hockey player and startup founder but also passionate about aligning long-term vision and deliverables. We’ll dive into his journey from his early days of coding to becoming a key player at QA.tech.
Tell us about yourself, Tobias.
I’m Tobias Törnros, 33 years old, from Stockholm, Sweden, where I live with my wife, Moa, and our two children. Since a young age, my life has revolved around two major passions: technology and ice hockey. Growing up, I was heavily involved in ice hockey, which led to a brief but intense elite career. After that, technology took center stage. I started coding at the age of 11. My early projects involved helping others craft and optimize their profiles on platforms like Lunarstorm, which gradually evolved into more web development and design work. The emergence of 3G technology in Sweden, and the rise of companies like Ericsson and Nokia, sparked my interest in mobile technology. This, in turn, led me to initiate and develop forums dedicated to this field for several years before my consulting career took off.
Can you shed a light on your background and how it shaped your current function at QA.tech?
To complement my interests and practical experience, I pursued a degree in system engineering and data science at the university, with a strong emphasis on design and development. During my university days, I was already consulting, but it became more formalized in 2014. Then, in 2018, I founded Vinden.com, a company specializing in full-service storage solutions. While I’m still the owner today, my role shifted when I left as CTO to join TV4 Play, and ultimately, QA.tech. My diverse background as a former elite hockey player, start-up founder and CTO, has equipped me with the skills needed to thrive in the fast-paced tech world, where trust and ownership within the team are very important.
What is the primary challenge in your work?
I would say balancing long-term and short-term considerations. Decision-making is crucial to align the long-term vision with short-term product delivery. In our case, we are aiming for momentum in delivering features like reliable tests.
Another challenge is navigating the ever-evolving landscape of AI development. The field is highly dynamic, encompassing various elements like open source and open AI, making it essential to stay on top of new developments.
Why did you decide to join QA.tech?
Albin and I have been friends for several years. While we hadn’t formally collaborated before, we often exchanged ideas and assisted each other. Albin introduced me to QA.tech, which instantly sparked my interest. The team is made up of exceptional individuals with a lot of experience and outstanding personalities. It felt like a perfect match to me, so the decision was easy.
Which task do you enjoy the most in your role?
As a developer, I want to either learn new things or release and deploy new features. For me it’s important to ensure continuous delivery and deployment without becoming entrenched in the construction phase. I love connecting different elements that allow seamless integration between systems and servers. It’s not just about coding; it’s about connecting the dots.
What are the most memorable elements since joining QA.tech?
Delving into AI and its fast-paced market developments has been quite a journey. It’s still a relatively uncharted territory, and there’s so much in motion. I’m also proud of my contribution to shaping the product we’re building. We’re in the early stages of development, and the lack of established procedures or systems, while challenging, is also incredibly exciting.
How would you describe the team?
We’re a tight-knit team, all working towards a common goal: building an excellent product. We all support each other, which creates a tremendous sense of momentum.
How would you describe the working environment at QA.tech?
It’s both fun and challenging. Joining the team during its early stages has been very interesting. We remain focused on the vision while breaking down the journey into smaller, achievable goals. Everyone is highly passionate about building a top-notch product, with a focus on delivering value to our customers rather than just embracing the start-up mentality.
What do you enjoy most outside of work?
I enjoy spending time in nature with my family, particularly skiing, and listening to Anjunadeep music.
What do you value most in leadership?
I value leadership built on trust, collaboration, and open communication. This allows small teams the freedom to adapt and innovate. Continuous learning has always been a fundamental aspect of my personal growth, which aligns perfectly with QA.tech’s mission of automation in QA.
Who inspires you?
Naval Ravikant and Elon Musk. In general, anyone who offers a clear and simple solution or path forward in the face of complex problems and ambitious goals.