Over the years, I’ve learned that the path of entrepreneurship is more about mistakes, adjustments, and resilience than about having the right business idea.
Entrepreneurship is about living with constant challenges, and that’s precisely what makes the process so valuable and fun—at least for those who enjoy it.
Early in my career, I faced many obstacles. I worked for over a decade at an international computer products distributor in Germany. After taking on various responsibilities, I was transferred to the Barcelona entity as General Manager. Despite an enriching experience, I realized I wanted to challenge myself as an entrepreneur.
I found an opportunity to co-found an internet telephony business and dove in headfirst. What seemed like a revolutionary bet ended up being a failure, but I learned what to avoid. When you understand what went wrong, it becomes clearer what should be done differently next time.
Around that same time, in mid-2005, my father asked me for help to market software he had developed to synchronize Outlook online via peer-to-peer networks.
Even with other projects underway, I created a company in Spain to distribute the product, which was excellent. We soon began offering it in Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries, but to expand in Brazil, I faced a major setback: payments.
At that time, most credit cards were not enabled for international purchases, and Brazilians wanted to pay with local solutions, such as “boleto” (bank slip). Since I couldn’t find a company that provided these services, I decided to create something from scratch to solve the problem.
That’s how PagBrasil came about, a Brazilian solution adapted to the needs of the local market, serving international companies. We started with a simple and partially manual model, adjusting according to customer needs, and only after observing the product gain traction did we decide to invest more.
After the official launch, it took us nine months to win our first customers, but what initially seemed like an “uncertainty” turned into a solution capable of revolutionizing the payments market in the country, adding immense value for our customers and impacting people’s lives.
If you believe in what you’re doing, be persistent, creative, and have the courage to move forward, even when things seem difficult or even impossible. The future will be shaped by those who dare to test, make mistakes, explore new possibilities, and, more importantly, learn from each step while venturing beyond their comfort zone.
And always keep in mind: if everything you do works out the first time, it’s because you’re not challenging yourself enough.
Now, I want to hear from you! What were the biggest challenges in your entrepreneurial journey? How did you turn frustrations into growth opportunities?
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