How do you see the Health situation at the moment?
I don't know what the problem is, but the reality is that we have not returned to the situation before the pandemic. Primary Care Health remains stuck. I think we all used to call the doctor and get treated quickly, not now. Honestly, I don't know if it's a personal issue, salaries, holidays, leave... I don't know what the problem is, but we haven't returned. Therefore, the managers will have to find a solution to be able to return to the way it was. I think we were all proud of Basque Health, and now less and less.
What are your plans for the future at Ingevital?
Our plan for the future, as a business model, is to enter all the residences we can, and in the development of the house, then try to reach the pure and hard individuals, all without having to be through telesupport services. They present us with very diverse situations, which we have not yet tried, for children who have had a sudden death or for the monitoring of certain types of patients, not to mention the elderly, and also for this type of case, being able to market it at a private level, not only through institutions. And thinking about the future, reaching Europe. Don't be left without trying.
What is the best and worst thing about entrepreneurship?
The best thing about entrepreneurship, I always say that not having a boss is something that I have always loved. I prefer to organize myself. And to be able to set your goals, to be able to do everything possible to make an idea come true, to control everything around you... for me that's positive and good. You have to like it, you have to want to do it.
And the negative is a risk. You are not guaranteed stability like you are working for someone else, and risk, financial and personal, and hours and all, is something that exists. I think there are people who will like it and people who won't, and it's all respectable. The fact is that anyone who likes to do it and has the desire can do it, so that there are not so many obstacles.
Speaking of obstacles, what are the main ones?
Starting with the formalities to be done to create a company, it may seem stupid but it's not. You can't do it overnight. You must have a margin of two or three months for all the procedures, the cost that this may have, because in the end we come from another company and many expenses can be assumed or advanced by the main companies, but I understand that this is nothing for younger people; it's not that cheap. And then, the financing, who must believe in your project; you have to fight a lot. Thank God, there are grants, I don't know if they are enough or not, but at least you have a source of finance until you start selling. It is difficult to start a business and survive. That's the downside and it's complicated.
How would you encourage people to be entrepreneurs?
I think if you have that drive and that desire, you should try it, don't stay with the desire, because there are tools, the whole startup world, which has been new to me, I'm older now, but I didn't know because I come from a very traditional company. I think there are many opportunities based on accelerators, based on funding or investors, who believe in your project there, and you should try to go there. I would encourage you to try it, at least.
And how would you encourage the use of Ingevital?
I believe that the use of technology to improve the quality of life should be promoted, what technology should do, so that we can take care of ourselves more and more, but without consuming our time, mind or anything. I think that every time we talk about the project, someone sees that it gives a lot of peace to a person who lives alone, to know that at least the nights are going well and that they haven't had any incidents, before they are given a transfer to a place to live.
How do you see the development of technology in the field of health?
I think it is one of the future. Now they're talking about the silver economy, and I think they've hit the nail on the head. We get older and technology is for everyone and also to live better when we are older, and of course for our health. I think it's something that falls under its own weight. Now it's starting to get excited and people are starting to think, not only about how it's sold to another company, but how we can help take care of people, which in our case also gave us a lot of moral satisfaction. Until now, we were working and doing very well, but now we are doing something that is beneficial to society, which gives you a different kind of reward.
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