The IKEA Sketchbook Moment
Every good project has an origin story. For PastForwardHub, it began with a coffee meeting at IKEA in Vienna (Austria), where two archaeologists met up.
The Meeting
In November 2024, Alexandra and Jona arranged to meet for coffee while both were (still) in Vienna. What started as a casual catch-up between colleagues quickly evolved into something much more exciting.
The Sketchbook Page
Over coffee and Swedish meatballs, the conversation turned to the shared frustrations they'd both experienced in their archaeological careers:
- Contract uncertainty and the constant search for the next opportunity
- Lack of clear career progression paths in archaeology
- Isolation experienced by many professionals in the field
- Scattered resources and missed connections
As they talked, Jona began sketching ideas on a notebook page. The rough drawings showed interconnected circles representing archaeologists, arrows indicating career paths, and boxes symbolizing resources and opportunities.
The "What If" Moment
The breakthrough came when Alexandra asked: "What if we could create a platform that addresses all of these problems at once?"
That simple question sparked hours of discussion about:
- Community building tools for archaeologists
- Career pathway mapping across different sectors
- Resource centralization and opportunity sharing
- Mentorship and support networks
From Notebook to Vision
By the end of the meeting, that notebook page contained the essential DNA of what would become PastForwardHub:
- A platform by archaeologists, for archaeologists
- Community-driven development and features
- Transparent and supportive rather than competitive
- Inclusive of all archaeological career paths
Historical Significance
That notebook page, now carefully preserved, represents more than just the start of a project. It symbolizes the power of bringing archaeologists together to imagine new possibilities for our field.
The IKEA meeting proved that sometimes the most important archaeological discoveries happen not in the field, but over coffee when passionate people decide to act on their shared vision for change.