Maintaining organizational identity during the rapid growth of a company is one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs, according to Reginaldo Stocco, CEO of VHSYS. He participated in the Start Growth Talks, a podcast by Start Growth, a venture capital firm specialized in scaling technology businesses.
During the conversation, the guest shared the company’s journey and emphasized that culture is not something that is established with manuals or slides; it begins with the founder and strengthens in the day-to-day operations. “What drives the business is not just the product or the market, it’s the people and the customers. The culture is already present on the first day of the business. When the founder makes decisions, hires, fires, leads; all of this already shapes the company’s DNA,” explained Stocco during the episode.
VHSYS, founded over a decade ago, evolved from a small operation with two partners to a structure with about 190 employees and strategic participation from Stone. Reginaldo recounts that cultural consolidation occurred with the creation of an internal committee, led by an employee who originally worked in the human resources department. “She understood that what we were already living needed to be systematized, named. That’s how our culture committee was born,” he stated.
Climate is not culture
During the chat with hosts Carlos Castilho Jr. and Marilucia Silva Pertile, from Start Growth, Stocco emphasized the difference between climate, which is what you experience in your daily life, feedback, environment, and culture, something inspirational and what sustains the business in the long term. “We are not talking about catchy phrases in the hallways or perks like a ball pit and free beer. Strong culture is when everyone understands the purpose and feels part of it,” he explained.
VHSYS, which started as an ERP and now operates as a management platform with over 17,000 customers, celebrates its anniversary on the day it acquired its first paying customer, not on the date of its CNPJ registration. “This is our true Day One. Without a customer, there is no business,” he concluded.
Investment, maturity, and governance
When asked about the challenges with Stone’s entry as a shareholder, Reginaldo was direct. “Strategic investment requires maturity. It doesn’t change your essence, but it demands governance and execution with focus.” For him, the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is seeking investment solely out of financial desperation. “Money for money, banks also have. But the right investor brings knowledge, connections, and a future vision,” he pointed out.
Reginaldo advised entrepreneurs to seek capital only when they know precisely how to allocate it. “The company that sells well has no problems. The one that doesn’t sell, has them all,” he summarized.
Among the practical examples, the CEO mentioned the policy of celebrating goals with barbecues and parties, implementing rituals like team meetings and monthly gatherings with the entire team, in addition to partnering with an educational platform that provides courses, undergraduate, and MBA programs to all employees. “Today, 98% of the team uses the tool. We invest because we believe that knowledge is a legacy of life, not just the company,” he said.
This approach helped the company reduce turnover and increase a sense of belonging. “When you provide access to education, the employee doesn’t just think about the salary. They see that they are building something with purpose,” he stated.
Tips for those starting out
At the end of the episode, Reginaldo left two central recommendations: focus and resilience. “Start right. Separate the physical from the legal entity. Study the market. Have clarity on the problem you solve. And above all, seek help,” he emphasized. According to him, the biggest mistake was starting in a “rough” way, without proper preparation, which could have been resolved with a more active support and network of contacts.
“The entrepreneur has to study every day. And remember: without the right people and the right client, there is no company,” he concluded.
