Takyon's Agile Approach: Selling the Solution First, Building Later.

Founders Espresso Shots: featuring shot-size inspiring stories, key lessons, and practical tips from Hidden Champion Founders to boost their entrepreneurial journey.

Founders Espresso

Nov 05, 2024

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🚀 Growth Hack

Iterate Fast and Keep it Engaging
Takyon’s approach to growth is rooted in rapid iteration. Rather than over-investing in perfecting an idea, the team strives to launch a test version of each concept within a couple of weeks, no matter how minimal. This allows them to gather real feedback quickly, refine the offering, and continuously adapt based on what works. Antonio remains closely involved in customer interactions, especially with small, independent hotels, to maintain a fresh, ground-level perspective on the product’s real-world impact.

Advice: Launch small, learn fast, and involve yourself directly in customer feedback to make swift, effective adjustments.

💡 Founder Spotlight

Antonio Picozzi’s Resilient Vision
From Amazon’s e-commerce landscape to blockchain innovation, Antonio co-founded Takyon to bring a new concept to travel: transferable bookings. His earlier travel-focused startup, Pot Pot (a travel-tech company that aims to simplify travelers' lives) had already connected him with the hospitality industry, but the pandemic forced him to pause and reconsider his path. Antonio used this downtime with his team as an opportunity to experiment with new ideas, laying the foundation for Takyon’s unique approach to booking ownership.

"If it hadn’t been for that pause, Takyon might not exist today. Sometimes, setbacks give you the space to rethink and reshape your vision."

Advice: Embrace interruptions as a chance to explore new possibilities that might redefine your business.

🗝 Founder Tips

Patience and Incremental Progress
If Antonio could offer his past self one piece of advice, it would be to avoid rushing and instead trust in steady, incremental improvement. Rather than obsessing over pivotal moments or upcoming meetings, he learned that real progress comes from consistent, daily effort.

"True progress isn’t in waiting for big breakthroughs; it’s in the slow, daily grind that builds something meaningful over time."

Advice: Focus on continuous improvement rather than quick wins. Patience and steady effort often lead to more sustainable success

🛠 Startup Tools

Structuring for Simplicity and Efficiency
To manage the complexity of building Takyon, Antonio relies heavily on ClickUp to keep his day structured and his priorities clear. By organizing tasks and deadlines in a single, streamlined tool, he ensures that nothing slips through the cracks—even as priorities shift. In his view, it’s essential to have a tool that captures tasks efficiently without complicating workflows.

"An organized agenda helps me stay focused, adapt as the day unfolds, and make sure the critical things get done."

Advice: Use tools that simplify your day-to-day operations. Prioritize what matters most and avoid overcomplicating workflows; simplicity often boosts productivity.

☕ Cup of Founders Wisdom

Building Demand Before Building the Product
When Takyon was still an idea, Antonio took an unconventional route: he started selling it to hotels before any product existed. By promoting Takyon’s concept on LinkedIn and reaching out directly to hotels, he tested market interest and secured early commitments. Only after seeing real engagement did he begin building Takyon’s platform.

"Seeing hotels sign contracts for a product that was still an idea gave us the validation and confidence to move forward."

Advice: Validate demand before you invest in building; early interest can guide and sustain your momentum through challenges.

🔋 Boost of Inspiration

Creating a Travel Legacy
Antonio aims to change the way people see travel by providing greater freedom and choice. His vision is to leave a legacy of innovative, traveler-centric solutions that reshape the industry.

Advice: Aim to leave a legacy, not just a successful product—building with impact in mind adds purpose to your journey.

💌Community Shoutout - We are over 100 People!💌

A huge thank you to the first subscribers of Founders Espresso, We have reached over 100 Subscribers!! 🙌 I am very very very very x120 times grateful to have you on board.