Capicua launched in Uruguay in 2012. It grew from two professional designers: Ismael Larrosa and Mauricio Nicoletti. Further, it started with nothing but a small office and an idea. With this, they managed to establish a secure client base. Later, it evolved into a complete digital agency with its software division. At this stage, Yanick Tourn and Carlos Traibel joined as Head of Tech and COO, respectively. The result was, and is, a strong team that drives the company's continuous success.
He was the first to quit his day job and make Capicua a full-time pursuit. After various experiences, Ismael Larrosa realized he was ready to leap. Before, he worked for international corporations and led design projects for government agencies. With Capicua, he gained the company’s first retainer client in three weeks. Since then, he has been in charge of creating and managing customer relationships.
I haven’t yet! There's always the sense that everything can change. Thankfully, we've transcended many of our initial barriers. This allows us to not be in survival mode anymore. Now, we're in constant growth. So, we have to do that cleverly and sustainably.
You need to have a tolerance for frustration. This does not only means knowing how to lose. Also, it includes putting the good of the group ahead of your personal feelings. And, further, to maintain hope despite the bad things that come your way. Learning involves a certain amount of suffering. The most important thing, though, is to start. That’s a success. For me, it was never about money. I had to get past my fears—and worries about what people would think— and jump in.
That we did this by ourselves. People will say you need money or connections to start a business, but we were able to make it happen from nothing.
Going somewhere I don’t know anything about. It’s more of an adventure that way.
Mauricio had given co-founding a try a couple of times, but Capicua was the company that stuck. He was the first to join Ismael in the office. Starting as a designer, he moved into other roles, including administration and HR. As the company has grown, he’s been able to move back to his true passion and lead the design team.
I wanted to be my own boss. It’s funny because I’ve never had any bad bosses, big fights, or anything like that. I’ve always had a strong desire to do my own thing.
Frankly, in the beginning, it was Ismael. He’s put a lot of effort into the sales side of the business. In other ventures, we didn’t have such a good fit for that role. Now, I think that one of the things that make us stand out is our approach. How we integrate technology with UX design is very dynamic.
Being someone’s boss isn’t always comfortable. I’m another group member and don’t think I’m superior to anyone. I try hard to put myself in the place of the team members and help them out the best way I can, so I could never dump an assignment and say, “Have fun!”. It’s essential to ensure they’re all set up with what they need to succeed. This applies even before starting projects or processes.
To be on an island somewhere, alone. I have a one-year-old son at home, so my fantasy right now is to sleep!
Carlos is our point person, both with our team and clients. Intuitive and patient, he seems like a natural for the role. Yet the transition from designer to general manager hasn’t always been easy.
To get comfortable with being uncomfortable. As the business grows, you have to grow with it. In my case, I started as a designer, but the company required that I evolve into something else. So I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone. It’s stressful but rewarding. You’re consistently achieving things beyond what you thought possible.
The human factor is crucial in every equation; people are not machines. You need to make an effort to understand where each person is coming from and where they want to go. Then, you must help them reach their goals to keep them motivated. Common sense is not common, so what works for you doesn’t work for everyone else. You need to involve and get to know your people.
We’ve built a unique team, and it feels like working with friends. That’s not something I’ve often experienced in the past.
Prague. You can walk everywhere, and beer is cheaper than water. There’s no beach, but I guess I can live with that.
Capicua launched in Uruguay in 2012. It grew from two professional designers: Ismael Larrosa and Mauricio Nicoletti. Further, it started with nothing but a small office and an idea. With this, they managed to establish a secure client base. Later, it evolved into a complete digital agency with its software division. At this stage, Yanick Tourn and Carlos Traibel joined as Head of Tech and COO, respectively. The result was, and is, a strong team that drives the company's continuous success.
He was the first to quit his day job and make Capicua a full-time pursuit. After various experiences, Ismael Larrosa realized he was ready to leap. Before, he worked for international corporations and led design projects for government agencies. With Capicua, he gained the company’s first retainer client in three weeks. Since then, he has been in charge of creating and managing customer relationships.
I haven’t yet! There's always the sense that everything can change. Thankfully, we've transcended many of our initial barriers. This allows us to not be in survival mode anymore. Now, we're in constant growth. So, we have to do that cleverly and sustainably.
You need to have a tolerance for frustration. This does not only means knowing how to lose. Also, it includes putting the good of the group ahead of your personal feelings. And, further, to maintain hope despite the bad things that come your way. Learning involves a certain amount of suffering. The most important thing, though, is to start. That’s a success. For me, it was never about money. I had to get past my fears—and worries about what people would think— and jump in.
That we did this by ourselves. People will say you need money or connections to start a business, but we were able to make it happen from nothing.
Going somewhere I don’t know anything about. It’s more of an adventure that way.
Mauricio had given co-founding a try a couple of times, but Capicua was the company that stuck. He was the first to join Ismael in the office. Starting as a designer, he moved into other roles, including administration and HR. As the company has grown, he’s been able to move back to his true passion and lead the design team.
I wanted to be my own boss. It’s funny because I’ve never had any bad bosses, big fights, or anything like that. I’ve always had a strong desire to do my own thing.
Frankly, in the beginning, it was Ismael. He’s put a lot of effort into the sales side of the business. In other ventures, we didn’t have such a good fit for that role. Now, I think that one of the things that make us stand out is our approach. How we integrate technology with UX design is very dynamic.
Being someone’s boss isn’t always comfortable. I’m another group member and don’t think I’m superior to anyone. I try hard to put myself in the place of the team members and help them out the best way I can, so I could never dump an assignment and say, “Have fun!”. It’s essential to ensure they’re all set up with what they need to succeed. This applies even before starting projects or processes.
To be on an island somewhere, alone. I have a one-year-old son at home, so my fantasy right now is to sleep!
Carlos is our point person, both with our team and clients. Intuitive and patient, he seems like a natural for the role. Yet the transition from designer to general manager hasn’t always been easy.
To get comfortable with being uncomfortable. As the business grows, you have to grow with it. In my case, I started as a designer, but the company required that I evolve into something else. So I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone. It’s stressful but rewarding. You’re consistently achieving things beyond what you thought possible.
The human factor is crucial in every equation; people are not machines. You need to make an effort to understand where each person is coming from and where they want to go. Then, you must help them reach their goals to keep them motivated. Common sense is not common, so what works for you doesn’t work for everyone else. You need to involve and get to know your people.
We’ve built a unique team, and it feels like working with friends. That’s not something I’ve often experienced in the past.
Prague. You can walk everywhere, and beer is cheaper than water. There’s no beach, but I guess I can live with that.
