YEC Member Spotlight: Ioannis Verdelis, Founder And COO, Syntellia
Having established himself as one of the most recognized people in Europe’s Real Estate market, Ioannis Verdelis recently relocated to San Francisco to work on his next startup, Syntellia. Follow him @ioanv.
Who is your hero?
Everyone who works for us is a hero.
What’s the single best piece of business advice that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?
Get the right people first. Whether they are employees, investors or advisors, pick the right supporters early on.
What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?
I once failed to appreciate the value of time. In business, and especially a young business, every second, every day, and every week counts. Make sure you are moving forward all the time — or others will.
What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?
First I check my calendar to be sure I have a good picture of what my day looks like. Then, I clear non-critical and less important emails quickly — especially the ones that are easy to respond to. This ensures that people don’t chase me for small tasks when I am dealing with important ones.
What’s your best financial or cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?
Plan hard, and plan your business for different scenarios. Check your plans backwards as well. Once you have done this, budget to overshoot each cost and undershoot each target. This will give you the opportunity to adjust your steer along the way.
Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level?
Stop reading, start doing.
What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?
I will succeed when our technology is being used by and useful to millions of people.
