2024-11-18 05:30:00
David Casellasgeneral manager and partner of the American company Borneo, which deals with data security, is a guest on the Girona Valley podcast created by Girona newspaper and the digital communications agency The Factoryto promote ideas, innovation, talent and businesses in the Girona regions. In chapter 45, the businessman and entrepreneur from Girona looks back on his career, his experiences at FC Barcelona, Red Points and Pridatect and his vision of the future from the field of entrepreneurship, technology and of piracy. And now also as a connector in the Girona Hub between entrepreneurs and companies to contribute to the territory and the ecosystem that, at the time. ”I hadn’t.”
Let’s start by talking about entrepreneurship and names relevant to the demarcation such as Dídac Lee and David Martín, partners of a very prestigious company such as Exchangeamong others, to evaluate the current technological moment and the opportunities that can be generated in this increasingly global world. With the Anglo-Saxon concept of “self-made man”, Casellas is clear: “The best thing about our world is that nothing is written. And the way to learn is to start, make mistakes and try to make as few mistakes as possible, to achieve success.”
And speaking of success, with the Red Points, in 2012, he achieved it after finishing his experience at Barça. The Blaugrana club admits it learned a lotbut as an entrepreneur he wanted to take the risk of confusing Red Points, an artificial intelligence platform that removes fakes, fake websites, social media profiles and pirated content. “Barça gave me the opportunity to have a large volume of products to sell on a large scale and that’s when I realized there was a huge problem with piracy and counterfeit products.” And this problem still exists and will exist in online sales and physical stores. Casellas remembers the beginning of 2011 and his spirit of helping Barça in identifying the missing products, but with the vision that he could also do it for other big brands. “Red Points was created to help well-known companies and I was lucky enough to participate in it for eight years,” he explains before leaving.
For advice, consider other entrepreneurs or business owners key “surround yourself with great people and then be very clear about what you want to do”. Red Points was a very innovative idea and had a final phase to, later, be one of the creators of the Pridatect company, created to simplify compliance with privacy and data protection, and which was purchased by Borneo in 2022. “Any entrepreneur hopes to sell his company, and we did,” he recalls. Another success and the confirmation of a sort of “American dream”, even if, he underlines, the most can be learned from mistakes. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I’ll make a lot more, but to be able to finish with successes.”
And since he is from Girona, he believes that the time has come to give back to the territory what it “gave me”. And thanks to his experience and knowledge, he wants to be involved in projects like the Girona Hub. “I want to contribute my part and help Girona so that there are more David Martins who create from the territory. Because at that time I lacked an ecosystem. Now, however, it is necessary to approach the entrepreneur who has already done business and with whom is starting.” And this is one of the main objectives of the Girona Hub, of which it is part. “We want it to be the cornerstone for all those who want to be there” and find a space to start a business or get in touch with investors and companies.
As ideas for improvement, Casellas believes that in Girona, despite the existing group of talents and the human quality that is there, “we have to believe much more and want to learn much more than others, and that is why we must open up a lot more. I always say from Girona to the world and from the world to Girona.”
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Time.news Interview: Conversations on Entrepreneurship and Innovation with David Casellas
Editor (E): Welcome to the Time.news podcast, where we explore industry insights and expertise. Today, we have a very special guest: David Casellas, the General Manager and partner of the American data security company Borneo. David has a rich background, including experiences at FC Barcelona and co-founding innovative tech companies like Red Points and Pridatect. Welcome, David!
David Casellas (DC): Thank you! It’s great to be here.
E: Let’s dive right in. You’ve had a diverse career in entrepreneurship, technology, and data security. Could you share a bit about what inspired you to embark on this journey?
DC: Absolutely. My journey began with a strong desire to innovate and address real-world problems. My time at FC Barcelona taught me the importance of teamwork and the scale of the challenges we face in various industries. It became clear to me that piracy and counterfeit products were significant issues in not just sports merchandise but across many sectors. That realization led me to found companies that tackle these problems head-on.
E: That’s fascinating! In our increasingly global world, what opportunities do you see for entrepreneurs, especially in technology?
DC: The opportunities are enormous! The best part about entrepreneurship today is that the playing field is leveler than ever. With technologies evolving rapidly, anyone can start a venture. The key is to be flexible. As I often say, ”the best thing about our world is that nothing is written.” Learning from mistakes and being persistent is crucial. Look at names like Dídac Lee and David Martín; they exemplify the mindset needed to succeed in our current technological climate.
E: Speaking of learning from mistakes, can you share a pivotal moment from your own entrepreneurial journey?
DC: Certainly. When I founded Red Points, it was a risk. After leaving FC Barcelona, I decided to invest in an area I was passionate about: creating an AI platform to combat online piracy. Initially, we faced many challenges, but with a fantastic team and a clear vision, we turned those challenges into stepping stones. The process instilled in me the importance of surrounding yourself with great people—it’s a key piece of advice I give to aspiring entrepreneurs.
E: Surrounding oneself with the right team is indeed essential. You also mentioned the concept of simplifying compliance with your recent venture, Pridatect. Can you elaborate on that?
DC: Yes, Pridatect was born out of a necessity to streamline compliance for businesses. Many companies struggle with navigating the complex landscape of regulations and industry standards, especially as the digital landscape evolves. We aim to provide tools that simplify this process so that businesses can focus on what they do best: innovating and serving their customers.
E: That’s a crucial service! With your experience in both the digital and physical realms of commerce, how do you foresee the future of data security evolving?
DC: Data security is only going to become more critical. As businesses digitize, the volume of data shared online is increasing, which unfortunately makes it a prime target for cybercriminals. Companies must not only adopt robust security measures but also prioritize educating their teams about potential threats. We need proactive strategies rather than reactive ones.
E: A proactive approach is definitely the way forward. Lastly, David, for those aspiring entrepreneurs listening to our podcast, what’s one takeaway you want them to remember?
DC: Entrepreneurship is an incredible journey filled with ups and downs. My biggest piece of advice is to take risks, embrace failures, and remain curious. Understanding that learning is a continuous process is key. Don’t hesitate to reach out, ask for advice, and most importantly—start somewhere. The future awaits those who dare to take the first step!
E: Thank you so much, David! Your insights are both inspiring and practical for anyone looking to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape. We appreciate your time today.
DC: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure.
