The Business of Meetings 306: Bootstrapping, Breakthroughs, and Belief: Launching a Business in the Meetings & Events Industry with Andrew Coelho
We are delighted to welcome another incredible entrepreneur from our industry today.
Andrew Coehlo, co-founder of Monte & Coe, joins us to share the fantastic story of his journey into corporate gifting.
Stay tuned to hear about Andrew's entrepreneurial journey, his experiences, and the insight he has to share.
Andrew's Journey into Entrepreneurship
After beginning his career in corporate finance, Andrew realized the environment did not suit his creative nature. Bureaucracy, resistance to change, and working in isolation drained his energy. And then, a confidence issue with an unattractive gym bag sparked the idea that eventually became Monty & Coe. With his wife's support and inspired by entrepreneurs around him, Andrew left the corporate world at 30 to focus on his business.
High-quality Corporate Products
The brand began with the singular purpose of creating products that make people feel confident and proud. Early designs were rough, but the intent was genuine. They committed to excellent craftsmanship, using only high-quality, authentic, natural, and sustainable materials.
Crowdfunding
In 2015, the company launched a crowdfunding campaign, raising $80,000 while Andrew was still employed. The campaign validated both the product and people's willingness to buy premium goods online. It also taught their team how to market, sell, and distribute directly to customers.
Shifting to Corporate Gifting
Corporate interest emerged organically as companies began requesting gifts for executives and teams. Although he was initially hesitant, Andrew recognized how impersonal, generic, and disconnected from effort or achievement most corporate gifting felt. So his brand pivoted toward elevating corporate gifting into something meaningful and memorable.
Turning Gifting Into an Experience
The business evolved from selling products to selling experiences, focusing on personalization, choice, and emotional impact. They made gifting less about logos and more about how recipients felt, aligning perfectly with the brand's original mission of confidence and appreciation.
Taking the Leap
Andrew eventually left his corporate job. His decision was not impulsive as it was backed by savings, planning, and lifestyle adjustments.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship brought constant pressure for Andrew, even during the company's strongest years. Cash flow scares, late payments, and the responsibility of supporting a growing team created intense stress. His role as a founder became more about solving new problems every single day.
Why Cash Flow and Margins Matter More Than Revenue
Revenue alone does not sustain a business. Cash flow determines whether you survive, and margins determine how sustainably you can grow. Examining businesses across various industries, Andrew saw that smaller, higher-margin companies often outperform larger, volume-driven ones. Adopting systems like Profit First brought structure and discipline to his money management.
Community and Long-Term Perspective
The events and incentives industry proved far more supportive and relationship-driven than Andrew expected. Rather than being cutthroat, people were open, generous, and willing to collaborate. The company's long-term success was built on a foundation of trust, consistent service, and a commitment to delivering quality rather than chasing quick wins.
Bio:
Andrew Coelho is the co-founder of Monte & Coe, a luxury accessories brand redefining what corporate gifting can be. After years in the corporate world receiving forgettable, logo-first gifts, Andrew began questioning why gifting at scale felt so impersonal, wasteful, and disconnected from the people it was meant to recognize.
What started as a side hustle became a full-time pursuit after Andrew famously resigned from his corporate role on his honeymoon in Tokyo. Since then, he has focused on applying direct-to-consumer standards, craftsmanship, and intentional design to an industry that often prioritizes convenience and budget over meaning.
Andrew believes that gifting is not about products, but about moments, memories, and respect. His work challenges leaders to rethink how appreciation shows up in their organizations, shifting gifting from a transactional expense to a strategic signal of values.
Through Monte & Coe, Andrew helps companies move beyond generic swag and toward gifting experiences that people actually keep, use, and remember. His perspective sits at the intersection of brand, leadership, and human connection, making him a sought-after voice on modern workplace culture, thoughtful design, and the hidden impact of well-executed small decisions.
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