Every year, PAYSTRAX gathers for its annual KickOff event where we have two days to step away from the daily routine, connect as a team, and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the coming year. This August, colleagues from all around the globe came to Klaipėda, Lithuania, to spend a few days together in what has become our strongest tradition.
This year’s theme was “Payfarer” – a twist on “seafarer,” inspired by our coastal setting and the parallels between sailing and payments. Just as sailors navigate shifting seas, we navigate a fast-moving payments industry. And our motto captured that mindset perfectly: “If you’re not moving, you’re sinking.”
Day 1: Conference
On Thursday morning we all gathered in the conference hall to kick things off face-to-face with colleagues we usually only see on Teams calls. Our CEO & Co-founder Jóhannes Ingi Kolbeinsson opened with a reminder of where PAYSTRAX is today and where we’re heading next.
For the first time, we hosted a Q&A session with our C-levels, giving colleagues the chance to ask questions directly and have open conversations about strategy, challenges, and opportunities. We had some fun questions as well – like which C-level another would trade places with for a week, and which role they’d never want to take (and why). The mix of transparency, dialogue and humour made this a standout session we’ll be carrying forward into future KickOffs.
Then came the “PAYSTRAX Quiz” which added a competitive edge, followed by the Internal Hurdles Hackathon led by our Head of Strategy Donatas Voveris. This one made us work in teams with different departments and think outside the box in order to brainstorm new ideas for PAYSTRAX, including coming up with a new slogan.
The day closed with an inspiring session led by Paulius Kovas, a CEO of various companies and a yacht captain who sailed all over the world in 2009 in the name of Lithuania and definitely knows what it means to steer through storms. His metaphors about sailing and managing a company as well as stories about teamwork and resilience connected perfectly with our Payfarer theme.
Day 2: Sailing and awards
Friday was about putting the theme into action. In the Curonian Lagoon, the team took to the water for sailing training. For many, it was a completely new experience, but one that quickly turned into teamwork. We sailed all the way from Klaipėda to Juodkrantė for lunch and then the training shifted into a sailing race. Even though the wind was gone, that didn’t stop us from enjoying the process and having fun with colleagues.
In the evening, we closed the KickOff with our Black & White themed celebration at a bar in Klaipėda. And this year, with another first: the PAYSTRAX Awards. In fun categories voted on by the whole team, colleagues were recognised not only for their skills but also for the quirks and contributions that make PAYSTRAX what it is.
Ready to take payments industry by storm
The 2025 KickOff was a reminder of how far we’ve come and a nice celebration of our team work. We return recharged for the season ahead, as well as reminded of our shared journey: navigating payments, building partnerships, and moving forward – because if you’re not moving, you’re sinking.
