26 de April de 2019
Xavier Sans, the CEO and Co-Founder of Orain Technologies, led this webinar entitled "Startup Creation Methodology" in which he has shared his personal experience as an entrepreneur. A Telecommunications Engineer with a Master in Networks and Telecommunications, Xavier describes himself as a "standard entrepreneur" because. On finishing his studies, he launched an entrepreneurial venture based on his own product (after having worked for a time in the professional world). However, even when he was a student, he had a clear idea of what he wanted: "I already knew that I was going to be an entrepreneur".
In Xavier's opinion, the support of a mentor has been essential. Thanks to this support, he got in contact with a company and later created his own technological startup in 2015. While it is crucial to have a good product, you also need it to be well-received on the market. Based on his own adventure, the CEO of Orain Technologies recommends getting this feedback and "identifying how much they are willing to pay for your product".
Giving the participants an overview of his company's evolution, Xavier Sans explained that modern businesses need new solutions and his platform (specializing in the vending sector) provides them. The first prototype originated on an open source platform. "When you move to the market, you need to do something more professional". "The ideal approach is to develop the best possible products (an MVP) and be agile enough agility to go out on the street, validate it and sell it, with a guarantee that nobody can copy you", advised Xavier. In short, he recommended creating a professional product with internal funding and, from that point, look for external financing.
Orain Technologies has made the international leap from Spain, where the company is well established on the market, to Italy, with the help of a strong local industrial partner. At Orain Technologies, they develop hardware and software on a single SAAS (BtoC). The company has been successful thanks to its commitment to disruption and innovation. The project was founded by three people and the company now has a team of 30 professionals. While it is important at the beginning to count on the support of a mentor who knows the entrepreneurial world, it is also essential to surround yourself with a team who make a contribution. "In my case, I discuss things with my Co-Founders, but I make the ultimate decision", explained the Founder of the startup.
Since the start of Orain Technologies, the CEO explained that he has evolved as an entrepreneur and as a person. "I have become very practical over the years. I try to give fast solutions and simplify things". He went on to add that entrepreneurial ventures are 100% absorbing (24/7). However, he cannot imagine working to a set timetable or for a long time in his role as company director, describing himself a "serial entrepreneur. I can see myself setting things up, creating new models related to innovation, without copying what people are doing in other countries".
In the short term, Xavier's main objective is to focus on the company and make it grow. With respect to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain, in his opinion, it is very conservative, which leads to most projects practically being replicas of other models that have worked and therefore been validated in other countries.
The Telecommunications Engineer then gave a series of recommendations for entrepreneurs: having a mentor who can support you at the start, finding partners who are well aligned, with the same energy and passion, and being resilient. On this point, he underlined the importance of a good partners' agreement and a confidentiality pact. Moreover, he advised focusing on the basic aspects and placing your trust in your team. "You have to trust your teams".
He was relatively unfamiliar with the world of investment and he has gradually learned about it on the go. "I have investor partners who have a great deal of knowledge and they have helped me a lot". When it comes to taking the leap and looking for an investor, Xavier recommends selecting well and choosing smart money, "people such as Business Angels, small investment funds or companies that not only contribute money, but which can also help you". In addition, he emphasized the importance of the transparency of information and metric analysis.
With respect to successful business models, Xavier highlighted SAAS (Software as a Service). He also sees opportunities in the IoT (Internet of Things) and really advocates participation in technological forums such as the Mobile World Congress.
Watch the full webinar via this link on EAE's YouTube channel.