Pablo Haas > www.paralelo54.com

Pablo Haas, CEO & Founder, Paralelo 54

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

Courage, Good ideas, Confidence and planning vision.

What did inspire you to start your business?

Passion for tourism.

How did you finance it?

Personal savings.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

Sure, we focus our business in a latin vision of our country.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

As long as we have good ideas and they are viable, we will keep betting on it.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

2008 Global Crisis, Airline strikes, H1N1 “paranoia”.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I would bet all of it into the Web.

What was your childhood ambition?

So many I couldn’t peak just one. Classic: Astronaut, firemen.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

My best friend and my brother, with their project www.implicate.org

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Dinner.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

If I can consider the actual situation as a success, I can say maybe the biggest sacrifice was letting go a good career at the travel agency I worked before.

What is your favorite quote?

“In a World of universal deceit… telling the truth is revolutionary”.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

Not our case… we found our target thinking different.

Biggest mistake made?

In the business aspect: Bet on Spain on 2008.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Yes in a lot of aspects. Because we focus on bringing new experiences to our passengers. We try to change the classic tour into a personal experience.

About the Company

Paralelo 54 was born out of the experience and union of ideas of three young entrepreneurs with a common goal: to personalize luxurious trips and show traditional destinations from inside and in new forms.

Weighing our experience and knowing every corner and secret of the country, we decided to be unique and idealistic. To share our landscapes and traditions is to share our passion and admiration for a country that has it all. Possessing all the climates and environments in one territory permits us to offer perfect tours for any traveller, especially the most demanding.

Our primary aim is to ensure a rich and profound experience of life for every visitor and to elaborate our proposals accordingly.

For that, we have established high standards of services based on the premise of genuine attention to all passengers.

We believe that, to offer first-class tailor-made trips as an intermediary, we need to have an intimate, personalized and reliable relationship with each of our fellow travelers.

Based on these ideals, we have fixed the following objectives:

- to create a cordial, polite, speedy and above all enthusiastic working atmosphere;

- to be attentive at all times and accept new ideas and ways to be unique;

- to search for constant change and excellence to meet the highest level of demands and new services, and to share them;

- to grow together with our distributors as promoters of an ecological and sustainable tourism.

Luis Iragorri > www.bannastrows.com

Luis Iragorri, Founder, BannaStrow’s

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

The first thing you need in order to be an entrepreneur is passion for what you do. You have to have passion and persistence in your efforts.

What did inspire you to start your business?

Coming from a difficult situation like my kidnapping in Colombia and having to migrate to this great country, emerged the idea of identifying a business similar to the ones I had in Colombia but also identifying one that had great potential in the US. That is how we came up with the idea for crepes.

How did you finance it?

When we started the concept I had a business partner whose group had the capital we needed to start the venture. It is through them that we financed the beginning of BannaStrow’s.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

Coming from a culture like ours (Hispanic culture), where resources are limited and we are used to a very fast return in investment, served us to make sure that the structure of the business was designed with low level of investment compared with similar concepts, thus achieving that more small investors have access to the concept.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

We try to use adversity as a way to learn and adapt. For example in the year 2008 facing the economic crisis, our business survived by adjusting the payroll and looking for alternative raw materials without sacrificing service or quality as a result we became more efficient.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

At the exit of initial investor group looking for partners with the same or more passion was a difficult task. But I can say I've been very lucky because out of a crisis situation we emerged strengthened again with the entrance of Mauricio Acevedo and Juan Estrada to the team (my new partners).

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

Probably there will be many things to change in the future, for now we've made some changes and the business is very adaptable to change and we always keep our mind open to continuous improvement.

What was your childhood ambition?

In a house with 10 brothers there are always lots of love but a lot of needs, from an early age I learned to use work as a way to meet any needs.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

Every day there is a new entrepreneur to admire and try to emulate, I always hear a lot of ordinary people doing good things and I always learn from them.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Personally I am an early riser and I like the business in the morning and evening with the family.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I would not called them sacrifices but to accept challenges, challenges that were slowly adding experience to build the concept Bannastrow's. For example, one of which was to personally operate for one year, opening and closing of the stores, 7 days a week, which allowed me to clearly identify the strengths and correct weaknesses.

What is your favorite quote?

"That's easy” not because things are easy but because it is always possible to do anything you set your mind to do if you have that way of looking at it.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

I really don’t know what being conventional is. I've always been unconventional!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Saying I am an innovator is too ambitious. I think what we have done is to identify opportunities, strengths and weaknesses and build from there a successful system, a different business model, dynamic, healthy, and above all cost effective. 

About the company

BannaStrow’s is a 23-unit franchise concept that focuses on an assorted menu of Crepes, Coffee and smoothies, was created after more than 14-years of expertise in the restaurant business. The creators of BannaStrow’s saw a tremendous potential in crepes as an outstanding food item for time-pressed shopping mall customers. Today the concept is starting to saturate the areas with proximity to food courts and high foot traffic in the U.S., with its development being led by CEO Mauricio Acevedo.

Mailet Lopez > www.ihadcancer.com

Mailet Lopez, Founder, I Had Cancer

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

Tough skin, passion and a strong work ethic. You need to believe in yourself, even when others don’t, and be willing to take risks. That’s where the best ideas come from.

What did inspire you to start your business?

I have been involved in two start-ups. The first is Squeaky Wheel Media, a thriving digital agency in NYC that I co-founded on the heels of the 9-11 attacks in NYC.

The second is IHadCancer.com.  While undergoing treatment for Type 2B breast cancer, I realized that there was a serious problem that accompanied dealing with cancer that even I – with my loving and devoted support network – couldn't escape: the feeling of isolation and confusion that accompanied the disease and treatment.

After surviving my battle with Cancer, I wanted to help the next person who was affected, so I leveraged that experience along with my many years in the digital space as technologist and digital pioneer to build I Had Cancer.

How did you finance it?

I Had Cancer was 100% financed by myself, my agency and a small group of colleagues.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?

Yes, it has taught me the value of hard work and courage. My family escaped from Cuba when I just a young girl as a part of the Mariel boatlift in 1980. I have seen firsthand what it means to fight for everything you have. My parents are a great example of that and have been an inspiration. I have definitely picked up on their amazing work ethic. 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

I was so lucky to have the support and love of my family and amazing friends while fighting cancer. I felt a great deal of gratitude and responsibility to pay it forward. I knew I had to make it so that nobody felt isolated or alone while dealing with this horrid disease. It was just a brilliant stroke of luck that I met someone who was around my age and had just gone through what I was about to embark on. Talking to this person made the process of dealing with cancer much easier for me. From hearing about what to expect to knowing that my symptoms were normal, connecting with someone who could relate to what I was going through made me feel less isolated and confused. That’s when I realized the power of connections and I knew that I had to make that available to others. I wanted to help people and that’s what kept me going.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

With very little funding for outreach, we are relying on word of mouth to start the movement. We have to manage our expectations for growth, which we recognize will happen over months, not days.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

To do a better job at making people recognize their story is truly important, no matter how trivial they may think it may be. It’s important for people to know that the sum totals of their stories will help turn our site into a movement.

What was your childhood ambition?

I’m living it right now. I always wanted to start my own company and help make the world a better place. As cliché as that sounds, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and living it is truly a blessing. Going forward I want to continue making a difference in people’s lives.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

The first is my business partner, Anthony DelMonte. I believed in him when he started Squeaky Wheel Media, and when it was my turn to incubate I Had Cancer; he was 110% behind it. He is passionate, hard working, extremely generous and also one of the most creative people I know.

The second is Steve Jobs. He has proven to invent and reinvent Apple from day one. He continues to be a leader in innovation, technology and human behavior. His company excelled with him at its helm and continues to do so while he battles illness.

Lastly, like a true Latina, the others would have to be my parents. They are not entrepreneurs in the full sense of the word, but they came to the US with nothing and built the American dream through hard work, determination and love.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

All of the above, but business lunches are best. We are fortunate enough to be located in New York City and we definitely take advantage of the awesome restaurant selection by our office. We also cook together pretty often (black beans, rice and tostones). We have a pretty well stocked kitchen in the office and the whole staff will sit down for a meal together a few times a month.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

Sometimes I had to give up having a personal life at all. The success I have achieved has taken a lot of hard work, but I’ve enjoyed every second of it! The sacrifices you make in running a company is time. It’s the one thing you cannot get back, so it’s important to do things you love to do and make them a part of your life. As such, I work with my best friends and enjoy the challenges of building a company with people who share the same dream.

What is your favorite quote?

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” William James

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

No! Especially if you’re Latina.

Biggest mistake made?

I wish I had thought of this idea sooner! 

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Most definitely, I do. I want to change the way that people in this world deal with cancer. I want to eliminate the stigma around the disease, open up conversation and find a solution to managing life before, during and after cancer.

About the company

I Had Cancer is a social support network with the mission of helping people deal more effectively with life before, during and after cancer. For more information visit www.ihadcancer.com

Martin Blanco > www.avealma.com

Martin Blanco, Founder, Sound Designer & Music Producer, Avealma Sound Delivery

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

You have to be creative. This will give you the main tool to face this amazing and challenging journey to complete independence.

What did inspire you to start your business?

After 10 years in the media business I started to feel like a robot doing the same work everyday in a factory. So I thought, wouldn't it be a great to work everyday on a different project with passion and love and earn money like that?

How did you finance it?

With my own resources. As I told you before, you need to be creative. In latin america it is not easy at all. At first I started with it as a side project, working 17hs everyday between my regular job and Avealma. After a year I could dedicate my entire day to this.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

For sure. Knowing our culture and learning a new one gives you a great advantage. Being bilingual opens you to many doors.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

Creativity is everything. Look for new markets, new kind of investments… the world is always changing and it is good to change with it.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Being known as a standalone service. The audio component is sometimes underestimated so you have to demonstrate what you can do and how you can improve the final product.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

Trying not to work the whole day, but I don’t know if it is possible. Running an online company with projects around the world makes you work for many time zones.

What was your childhood ambition?

Traveling around the world with no boundaries and being an astronaut.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

Steve jobs, my uncle and my dad.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Lunch works very well for me.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

Time! Being an entrepreneur means, at least at first, you have to work at anytime. Your family and friends will miss you a little.

What is your favorite quote?

Less is more.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

I love to be unconventional. Sometimes they pay me for that.

Biggest mistake made?

Trying to do everything no matter what or how.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Yes. When I started to think about Avealma I did it myself (not using google). So I didn’t copy others projects. Being one of the first is good and a risk at the same time.

About the company:

AVEALMA | sound delivery is a new concept in audio postproduction. We work via intenet and all over the world. We are a team of professionals with more than 10 years of expertise working around the clock in recording sessions, M&E creation and any and every type of sound production. TV spots and branding, commercials, radio spots, documentaries, etc. A 24/7, 365 day a year solution.

Adriana Rocha > www.ecglobal.com

Adriana Rocha, CEO and Co-Founder, eCGlobal

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

Courage not to be afraid of making mistakes, Vision to know where you want to go, Determination to stand-up when you fall, Passion to enchant other people and Leadership to guide your team.

What did inspire you to start your business?

The wish to change our Industry and to build something innovative and revolutionary that could impact positively the way companies understand and engage with their customers and consumers.

How did you finance it?

Personal finances.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

Definitely. The fact that I am Latin and come from a region with so much diversity and rich in history in terms of social, economical and cultural challenges, it made me feel stronger and better prepare to act in the most adverse situations. Like we say in our country, Brazil, to be successful in life you need to have “jogo de cintura” (be a good dribbler).

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

I am an extremely positive person. I always see obstacles and mistakes as opportunities for learning and growing. In times of trouble, I try to use intuition, have a positive attitude, analyze the situation from different angles, and always seek for solutions.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

I believe that our biggest challenge has been to build our “dream team”, creating a corporate culture that would attract the best talents and maintain them motivated, inspired and passionate for what they do, believing always that we can achieve our objectives.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I would invest even more in training and development of our team.

What was your childhood ambition?

My childhood dream was to be a doctor like my father and be able to help other people. I opted for another professional career in marketing and information technology but my dream of being able to do more and help other less privilege people always continues. I know I can do much more in that sense.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

Iván Casas, my associate and co-founder of the Company. Iván is a dreamer, idealist and visionary. It was him who gave me the inspiration and force that I needed to arrive at this stage.

Norberto Odebrecht, founder of the Construction Company Odebrecht that started in my home city in Salvador, Bahia, in the 1940s. In 1991, Odebrecht was the first Brazilian Company to conduct a public work in the USA and became one of the largest corporate groups in the world.

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Lunch

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

Many. One of the biggest is not having enough time to spend as much as I would like to with my three children.

What is your favorite quote?

Actually I love quotes, and this is one of my favorites: “When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself”. Paulo Coelho, Brazilian writer.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

For me is very easy and fun. I could never be a conventional person, following routines, and not stand out from the crowd, be different in what I do.

Biggest mistake made?

Trying to do many things at the same time and not been able to finish something well. Be able to define priorities and make things happen, step-by-step, within our own capabilities, was one of our great learning.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Yes. To innovate is to constantly look for ways to create something new, foment ideas, anticipate the future, and develop something different that causes a positive impact to our Clients. That’s what we do in our daily activities and that is why we have created a work environment conducive to foster innovation and ideas generation in each of our team members.

About the company:

eCGlobal is a company specialized in interactive solutions for consumer relationship and knowledge in Latin America and the US. We build technology platforms and social networks like eCglobal.com with more than 500,000 Hispanics and Latin Americans, who share their opinions, experiences and knowledge, helping enterprises around the world to make better decisions and develop better products and services.