Digitail: “Building startups is like swimming towards an unseen island”

The documentary "Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe", made by the start-up.ro team, spans across 33 years of history, from the first entrepreneurs in the transitional years to the initial technology company transactions that brought Romania into the international spotlight.

Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe - The Extended Series will present the people who built the Romanian ecosystem and who discussed with the VideoCorp and start-up.ro team for this documentary. In this series you will find the extensive interviews and find out the stories of those who built entrepreneurship in Romania.

We met Ruxandra Pui and Sebastian Gabor, the founders of Digitail, at the 2023 edition of How to Web and talked with them about their entrepreneurial journey, focusing on their startup’s evolution, its global ambitions, and the unique challenges faced along the way.

They recounted their initial experiences in the veterinary sector, highlighting inefficiencies in practice management systems witnessed during their time at a previous company. This led them to create a solution aimed at improving workflows within animal hospitals. Throughout our conversation, they shared insights into their motivations, the importance of community and networking, and the lessons learned from navigating the startup landscape.

Ceasul retro Atari pe care poți să joci jocuri clasice Atari

“Building startups is exactly like swimming, because you start swimming, you basically try to see if there's an island, you see the island and you start swimming again. You get your head up, calibrate and swim, swim, swim again and you do this until you get to the island. Initially, when we started, there was no island. We didn't see, we just knew directionally that there's an island somewhere”, Ruxandra and Sebastian told us during our conversation.

The two founders talked also about the significance of seeking mentorship, the value of grit, and the need to adapt to various market dynamics, especially in North America.

Although their primary markets are outside Romania, we’ve touched with them also the evolving Romanian startup ecosystem and the role of previous generations in laying the groundwork for future entrepreneurs.

Their journey from observing inefficiencies in veterinary practices to building a global startup is one that outlines the importance of innovation, adaptability, and resilience in navigating the complexities of the startup landscape. As they continue to expand their reach and refine their product, they remain committed to empowering both their team and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem in Romania and beyond.

Ceasuri inteligente noi, cu autonomie de 30 de zile, de la fondatorul Pebble

We’ve discussed at length with Ruxandra Pui and Sebastian Gabor for the Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe documentary.

• Identifying opportunities in inefficiency: The founders’ firsthand experience in observing the inefficiencies within veterinary practices propelled them to develop a solution that addresses these specific pain points. This highlights the importance of understanding the industry and its challenges before launching a product. Their commitment to improving workflows demonstrates a key entrepreneurial lesson: successful startups often emerge from identifying real-world problems.
• Diverse backgrounds foster innovation: Acknowledging their different backgrounds, the founders highlight how their experiences shaped their approach to entrepreneurship.

One founder, originally averse to risk, found inspiration in community events, while the other embraced curiosity and challenges. This diversity of thought is crucial in the startup ecosystem as it fosters creativity, adaptability, and a broader perspective on problem-solving.

• Learning from mistakes: The founders recognize that the startup journey is fraught with mistakes and challenges. They view these experiences as opportunities for growth rather than failures. This mindset is essential for entrepreneurs, as it encourages resilience and a willingness to iterate and improve continuously.
• Global ambitions from the start: With a vision for global impact from the very first day, Sebastian and Ruxandra built their initial product with an international audience in mind. This strategic decision allowed them to attract clients from various countries early on, laying the foundation for future expansion. Their approach underscores the importance of thinking globally, even in the early stages of a startup.

• Client-driven product development: Ruxandra and Sebastian emphasize the role of early adopters in shaping their product. By engaging with clients from different markets, they learned about diverse needs and preferences, which informed their development process. This insight highlights the necessity of listening to customers and adapting offerings to meet their demands.
• Bootstrapping and grit: Starting in Romania provided them with a unique advantage—the ability to operate in a scrappy, resourceful environment. This bootstrapping mentality fostered creativity and determination, qualities that are vital for overcoming challenges in the early stages of a startup. The founders attribute their resilience and problem-solving skills to their Romanian roots.
• Evolving ecosystem and mentorship: Both Ruxandra and Sebastian express optimism about the growth of Romania’s startup ecosystem, crediting previous successes for paving the way for future entrepreneurs. They recognize the importance of mentorship and knowledge transfer, emphasizing that the lessons learned by one generation can significantly impact the next. This cycle of support and growth is crucial for fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial community.

Roaring Tigers of Europe is a production by start-up.ro and Videocorp, part of the Romanian publishing company InternetCorp, active for almost 20 years on the market. The documentary was made with the support of partners BCR, Orange, and 2Performant. Community partners included Guran Consulting Global, How to Web, Launch, Impact Hub Bucharest, Flaviu Simihaian, Rubik Hub, SoftServe, and the Romanian-American University.

Watch the entire documentary in the video below: