QA with Carlos Silva, Co-Founder of Seedrs

QA with Carlos Silva, Co-Founder of Seedrs QA with Carlos Silva, Co-Founder of Seedrs IMAGE SOURCE: CARLOS SILVAWhen Carlos Silva set up Seedrs, along with Jeff Lynn, the mission of the company was to make it simple for investors to buy into the businesses they believed in and share in  their  success.Seedrs also allows all types of growth-focused businesses raise capital and business community in the  process. To achieve this Seedrs has a simple, professional, online process that protects and empowers investors while helping businesses grow and  generate  returns. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 11 Questions for Seedrs Co-Founder, Carlos SilvaCarlos agreed to clear some time in his busy schedule to answer AGENT’s questions about the story of his startup to date, including how he first got into business and the challenges he has faced. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 1. Briefly tell us how you first got into business, and describe your business goals.The first business I started from the ground up was Seedrs. I started working on it while doing my MBA in Oxford with the goal of making startup investing more accessible, democratic and cross boarder.2. What age were you when you realised you wanted to run your own business?That was at around 23 although it took me a while for all the planets to align and for I to actually run one. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 3. Who are your business icons and inspirations?That would be people like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Paul Graham. Actually got to meet and get business advice from two of them which I guess isnt too bad.4. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you surmount it?Launching a startup is a bit of a challenge every single day, but I guess that the biggest one is actually starting. Ive learned that most people dont start businesses simply because they dont take the first step. So, taking the first step and then going at it one step at a time really helps. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 5. Work -Life balance: is it possible? How do you achieve it?I hope it is. I think Im getting better at it and becoming a father really helps put things in perspective. But I dont think Ive achieved it yet.6. What is the first thing you do every day?I spend about 30m in the shower just thinking about what I want to accomplish that day and planning things a bit. I feel it really helps me to procrastinate slightly less. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 7. What screen saver picture is currently on your phone?Thats a photo of my wife and my daughter.8. What is the most important app on your mobile phone, and why?I guess its probably Outlook. Its great at helping me be on top of my mailboxes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 9. What is the last thing you googled?Startup Portugal.10. What item do you never leave the house without, and why?My iPhone. Feel that even if I forget everything else I can probably get by with my phone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoo gle || []).push({}); 11. What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in business?Pace yourself. A startup always feels like a sprint but everything else ends up taking a lot longer and if you dont pace yourself you wont get to the finish line.IMAGE SOURCE: CARLOS SILVA