Best Startup - California
Otiniel Ribeiro of Roadr.
Tell us about yourself?
Founder and CEO of Roadr with 10 years of experience in technology. He regularly attends pitching competitions; grows his network by being useful to his peers, connecting dots and providing solutions; and is always researching, learning and looking ahead to stay on the cutting edge of technology.
These skills allow him to build thorough business models that stand the test of time. His eye for elegance, simplicity, efficiency, and quality give him the right lens to spot out business opportunities with disruptive and trendsetting potential.
A strong believer in the power of positive thinking in the workplace, synergy, and solution-driven problem solving, Otiniel regularly schedules brainstorming activities, individually and in teams, to encourage critical thinking, originality and teamwork.
All of this to provide customers with excellent service and satisfaction, investors with long lasting returns on their investments, and staff with positive morale, sense of duty, and everlasting world impact.
Otiniel’s background in Tech extends as far back as childhood, where he used to take computers apart, repair, and build them.
In Angola, as early as 14 years of age, he would sell everything he got his hands on: games, cellphones, computer parts, you name it.
In the United States, as an adult, he built and sold cryptocurrency mining rigs for several businesses His academic journey spans across 4 countries (Angola, Portugal, Norway and USA), where he attended primary school, middle school, high school and college, respectively.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from Texas Southern University.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
You can’t achieve anything without having a strong team. Startup Is the ultimate team sport because “Perfection is a team sport because, as humans, we are inherently imperfect; only the sum of our imperfections, makes it perfect.- Roadr”
What lessons has being an entrepreneur taught you?
Being comfortable with the uncomfortable a no is a step closer to a yes and you only have to be right once.
If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Enjoy the process rather than the product, because is a bumpy road and embrace every challenge as an opportunity.
A lot of entrepreneurs find it difficult to balance their work and personal lives. How have you found that?
Cultivating good habits as it compounds itself to great results and have a structure or system in place in order to find balance.
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
It all started by experiencing stressful scenarios on side of the road. So we decided to bring solutions into the roadside/automotive industry.
Our app mobile application is designed to offer on-demand roadside assistance at your fingertips.
it’s equipped with immediate pricing and geolocation, offers a quick selection of services such as full towing, tire change, on-site refueling, battery jump start, electric vehicle emergency charging and vehicle unlocking, enabling drivers to easily request specialist roadside services with a minimum waiting time.
What do you think is your magic sauce? What sets you apart from the competitors?
Insurance providers use an analog approach to solve the issue, which usually creates a more stressful narrative (time delay, tracking, etc.). Meanwhile, Roadr is placing your solution directly in your hands.
How have you found sales so far? Do you have any lessons you could pass on to other founders in the same market as you just starting out?
To focus the first two years on sales to achieve an exponential growth.
What do you consider are the main strengths of operating your business in California over other states in the US?
Roadr being a tech company and California the tech hub of the world.
It’s easier to connect with like-minded individuals in the space and acquire resources needed to successful launch and scale the product. further is also one of the states in most need of the service that we’re providing.
What (if any) are the weaknesses of operating your business within California?
Taxes and cost of living.
We are currently suffering through a cost of living crisis. With California already being one of the most expensive states to live in, how has this impacted your business?
It’s an additional challenge, so it affects everything. The cost of operation is higher than other states which is reflected in capital needed to raise and higher taxes.
It is no secret that California is the birthplace of innovation. But that also makes it incredibly competitive. How have you found the competitive environment of California?
Business is a 24/7 sport, as innovator the goal is to be solution driven while decreasing costs and differentiating yourself from the competition which leads to readjusting the market boundaries and creating more opportunities for all the players in the industry.
Have you considered moving your company to another state? If so, which state and why?
No, I have not. California is home.
Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?
International expansion and becoming one of the main players in the automotive industry. Taming the roads of the future by making it safer and more eco-friendly.
And finally, if people want to get involved and learn more about your business, how should they do that?
Contact: [email protected]
