FT Start-Up Stories Episode 1 - The idea
Oct 26, 2015
Alberto Lopez, the founder of Alva, shares insights on crafting a corporate reputation management service, a journey sparked in the British Library. He stresses the necessity of domain knowledge and the vital role of execution over mere ideas in entrepreneurship. Alberto reflects on his entrepreneurial roots and how his family's influence propelled him toward his own business. He also discusses the transformative leap from corporate life to startup culture, highlighting the power of networking and the support from resources like the Business and IP Centre.
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Early Family Business Influence
- Alberto grew up in an entrepreneurial family and watched his father run a successful decorative lighting business.
- That early exposure taught him entrepreneurship is a lifestyle that requires hard work and involvement from a young age.
Execution Trumps The Brilliant Idea
- Alberto emphasises that 1% is the idea and 99% is execution, learned through his corporate career.
- He developed execution skills over 15 years in corporate roles before launching his startup.
Redundancy Sparked The Startup
- Alberto accepted redundancy in February 2009 and used the opportunity to explore starting his own company.
- He gave himself six months to test ideas, networked heavily, and created a routine of working from the British Library to stay focused.