Getting
state funds to support your business sounds like a great plan, but the
consequences also have to be measured. In an interview with Bruno Simões, CEO
and owner of Kapta, an IT agency, he shared his views on state funds and how
companies can benefit from them without going bankrupt.
Bruno
Simões founded Kapta, an IT agency, two years ago in Albufeira. This
35-year-old software developer has built a solid business that employs 18
qualified staff in the Algarve. After the last article that came out in The Portugal News 1713 edition, where we came across the professional services Kapta provides to help
businesses get to the next level, we now share Bruno's views on a subject that
in Portugal is becoming important on business world - state funds.
Firstly,
there are essentially two types of entrepreneurs trying to get state funds -
those who want to start a new company and those who already have a solid business
and want to take advantage of these funds to expand.
Experience in the market
For
entrepreneurs who already have experience in the market a state fund can work
very well, for example, in the case of "entrepreneurs who have already had
five or six companies and already know how the world of money and financial
management works", because it is "necessary to know how money
flows".
A
completely different situation is to start a business with this kind of
support. "Starting with a fund or a loan is a mistake for me. If someone
has never had anything and doesn't know how to manage it, but suddenly €100,000
comes into their account, they don't know how to deal with it. They have a
plan, but will they stick with it?"
On
this subject, from the opinion of this entrepreneur, who in a short space of
time has given real proof of success by putting his skills at the service of
the business community, it is important before asking for these funds have some
real experience in management.
"Most
people just want support to do everything, but the real investors don't want
everyone's help and go into battle. It's as simple as that. If you believe in
your product enough to be able to do something for yourself, then do it,"
he said.
All
in all, “this is all about planning, if we have a pre-made plan it is much
easier to reach a goal. Opening something up just to see what happens is a
mistake. Either we really know what we're going to do and what our path is or
it's not really worth it," he added.
If
you would like to know more about Bruno’s IT agency, please visit https://www.kapta.pt/. From his new
office in Albufeira, Kapta provides software development, web design, branding,
iOS/Android Apps, social media, photography, and video.
Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252