CEO tips: leaders reveal 19 pieces of advice for those starting to undertake in Brazil

With 42 million entrepreneurs, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Brazil stands out as one of the countries with more people involved in the business universe. Undertaking ranks third in the list of the greatest desires of Brazilians, only behind traveling around the country and acquiring home ownership. However, turning this dream into reality is not a simple task. The challenges range from high tax burden and bureaucracy to obtaining credit, creating innovative proposals and developing management skills and professional training.

To support those who are starting their trajectory or seeking to give a new boost to the business, CEOs and cofounders of leading companies and startups in their segments share valuable recommendations. Check out the tips and learn from those who have already walked this path:

1. Validate your idea quickly

Diego Daminelli, founder and CEO of Branddi, a company specialized in combating unfair competition in the digital environment, lists its 2 pieces of advice, indicates that testing your idea as quickly as possible in the real market is critical to collecting feedbacks. “Do not wait for perfection. Learn from the first customers and adjust the product based on real needs.”

2. Be resilient

He also warns that undertaking involves constant challenges and the ability to adapt is a strategy that needs to be considered. “Develop the ability to adapt to obstacles and failures”, he says. 

Guilherme Maia, Co-Founder of EmCash fintech as a service specialized in corporate credit, it also reinforces the importance of resilience for those who are undertaking. “Do not give up in the face of difficulties. Adopt a positive and persistent mindset in everyday life, adjusting strategies whenever necessary”, he comments.

3. Know your market well

Maia also highlights as a tip the knowledge of the market.“It is essential to understand who your competitors are, your target audience and industry trends. Conduct research and be aware of market movements allows the entrepreneur to anticipate changes and adjust your strategy. Incorporate the practice of market analysis regularly to make informed decisions”.

Zhang Shuzong, CEO of Finvity, a platform that offers scalable and tailored solutions for financial, wealth and succession planning, also speaks of knowledge about the target audience as an essential pillar. “ Conducting research to identify needs and desires, whether through social networks and/or direct feedback, will help personalize offers and create a stronger connection with your” customers, says the executive.

4. Set clear, specific and achievable goals

For Zhang, “ter defined goals, within the reality of each business, helps direct efforts and measure its” progress. 

And setting goals in different deadlines can also make a lot of difference for those who are starting your business. Juliano Dias, founder and CEO of Meetz, Startup that offers end-to-end prospecting and sales engagement solutions for B2B businesses, explains that “knowing where you want to go is something complex to do safely, but be sure to think about it and put together a simple and adjustable plan. In parallel, draw up short-term action plans to achieve goals quickly, bearing in mind that each step taken should lead you towards the long-term goal. This balance allows you to keep the focus on the future while effectively managing daily operations.

5. Start Selling

The Meetz executive also points out that expecting perfection early on can not be a determining factor not to start your sales right away. “Do not expect everything to be perfect before launching your product or service. Start sales as soon as possible and understand that this serves to validate your idea in the real market, as well as giving you insights on how the customer really wants to receive what they bought, and how you generate value from it. With each sales and delivery cycle, learn and adjust your business to grow continuously. As I always say: if born ready, born late”, recommends Days.

6. Do not be afraid to make mistakes

Gustavo Costa, founder and CEO of LGL Case, marketing agency and event experience, also highlights the fear of making mistakes as something that should be left aside. “Iunderstanding that error is part of the growth process is fundamental for any entrepreneur. The difference is made in your attitude towards error. You can sit back and expect favorable winds, or roll up your sleeves and in an agile way, correct the sails of your ship. About working hard, this has always been my motto of life. Working hard means delivering more, exceeding expectations and fostering incredible experiences to our customers. The world is full of people note 10, but what you are content with is the example of entrepreneurs.

7. Continuous learning

Costa also points out the relevance of having a better team than you, who are undertaking. “Contract better people than you. However effective your management, there will always be specialists who can add different expertise and visions to your business. Find these talents. Motive. As prepare for days of joy, but also for those of war. Make your company fit for continuous learning processes. Foster innovation, allow yourself to new ideas. The world has never been so fast. Your company needs at least print a similar pace”.

8. The concept of the island

Eduardo Abichequer, founder and CEO of Yuool, a comfortable and sustainable tennis startup, says that undertaking is one of the most challenging activities that can be carried out, “especially in a country that often imposes more obstacles than it offers support to the entrepreneurs”. In this context, the executive firmly believes in the concept of “committing to an enterprise, one must “fit the boats”, ensuring that the only alternative is success. This mindset has been crucial throughout our journey, as, despite the challenges and recurring situations that sometimes seem impossible, the solution, the determination to find the solution.

9. No, I already have

Abichequer also reinforces that “pensar grande” is a good path for those who are starting. “I assume that “no” is already the guaranteed answer if there is no attempt. Therefore, I always seek to explore paths, however difficult they may be, where all parties involved can benefit from the success of the task. I believe that this approach not only increases the chances of success, but also fosters partnerships and opportunities that otherwise could go unnoticed”.

10. Focus on product

Fabio Napchan, founder and CEO of Quality24, healthtech that offers solutions to support hospital management in an integrated way, believes in two essential points for success, the first of them is to focus on the product. “My first tip is to focus, from the beginning, on the client. It is very common, at the beginning of the journey, the entrepreneur look only at the product, either by commercial inexperience or passion for the idea (being very important, but often, can“cegar” the entrepreneur. It is fundamental to prioritize the validation of your product or service with real clients, even if in simplified version of the monthly process (it allows for this to be crucial exercise based on a fundamental and adjustments on a daily basis of the company. touchpoints with customers, collecting feedback that helps refine the product or service”. 

11. Mentors are essential

The second is the support of more experienced people in the market. “The second tip is to cultivate a network of mentors and other entrepreneurs in your sector; this networking not only opens doors to great opportunities, but also offers precious learning through the experiences shared by those who have faced similar challenges. For this, it is important to participate in events of networking like fairs, symposia, etc podcasts and any other means of meeting and discussion related to your sector, in addition to being always open to helping other entrepreneurs who are facing challenges similar to their”, says Napchan.

The CEO and founder of Monest, Thiago Oliveira, also reinforces this tip, noting that finding the authorities in your niche is a great way to learn from the best. “ Surely they have already gone through several challenges that you will still go through and can help you in these first steps that are the most difficult. Probably the sector you are inserted in has a community with several professionals where you can find a lot of support”, highlights Oliveira.

12. Decide who your partners are

Still in this line of mentors, Alex Tabor, founder and CEO of Tuna, fintech that offers multiple combinations of payment and anti-fraud providers, customizing their services according to the needs of each client, indicates that the support of the product formation team is also relevant to the success of the business. “For those who are starting to undertake, there are two main objectives: to decide which products to create, and with whom to do. I like to decide with whom first, because with a strong team the probability of achieving success increases a lot, and with the team formed, you can define the products according to the ability of the team to return this product better than other teams, which would have a great team, which would be composed of three different characteristics, and that would be a great team, that would be a great team, that would be a great team, a great team, a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team, a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team, a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team, a great team that would be a great that would be a great team, a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team that would be a great team that would be a great that would be a great one, a team that would be a great one of three people, a team, a team that would be a great team, a team

13. When creating the product, think about the possible mistakes

He also reinforces that “since you have an idea of a product that may generate value, it is more agile to think about the reasons that may not work in practice and try to show, with tests, what would not work for certain reasons. For example, if you want to sell something on the internet, it may be that your product is not something that people look for online, which would make it difficult to attract customers. In this case, you can buy ads on Google for the words that have to do with the product. But if you see that you have a good volume of searches, this reason does not work has already been discarded. Then, move to the next test and repeat the test the result with the minimum.

14. Make technology an ally of your business

Fernanda Clarkson, Founding Partner and CMO of SuperFrete, a platform that drives the e-commerce ecosystem, by connecting entrepreneurs, through data and technology to the best freight, indicates technology as an ally. “Invista platforms that centralize their operations, from financial management to inventory control and logistics for e-commerce. These tools help save time, reduce costs and increase efficiency, freeing you to focus on growth strategies.”

15. Diversify your freight options

In addition, for those who work with e-commerce, Clarkson recommends “offering several freight and delivery options, such as express and economic freight is essential to meet different consumer profiles. This allows greater flexibility, improves the customer experience and can increase conversion rates on your site

16. Regional development

Ricardo Ferreira, CEO of Rethink, technology consulting, design and strategy focused on the development of digital services and products, reinforces that for those who are outside the Rio-Sao Paulo axis, it is important to value and invest in the local ecosystem.“The potential for innovation can arise anywhere, regardless of location. The support of the community in which we are inserted strengthens us and gives us new opportunities for expansion, especially in less explored markets. Today, I advise companies to invest in local connections, because growth can come from where it is least expected”. 

17. Seek knowledge constantly

Ferreira also recommends the constant search for new learning. “In my opinion, the main skill that a professional should seek, regardless of the area of expertise, is continuous learning. Through it, it is possible to adapt to new technologies, processes and working methods, as well as develop the ability to understand the other and relate well with peers, leaders and partners”. 

18. Take care of your physical and mental health

A successful business cannot exist if its leaders do not have a health that allows the investment of time and energy in the dedication to the company. Therefore, Henrique Flores, co-founder of Contractor recommends that new entrepreneurs exercise regularly and have a healthy diet. “Include a routine of mindfulness in your day, sleep 8 hours a day. Help others, because generosity improves mood, generates more disposition and increases confidence. Take good care of your physical and mental health, they will be fundamental for you to resist the countless obstacles that have come in a long marathon of building a business.”

19. Your venture demands your time

Linked to this, Rafael Teixeira, CEO of the City Clinic, warns that “entrepreneurship does not mean working less, quite the contrary. Their responsibilities and workload increase significantly. Therefore, it is essential to have a clear and strong purpose in what is invested time and money”.