Jordi Vila Oliva, 62, founded UVE Solutions 19 years ago, turning it into a reference in data management based in Manresa. He recently sold a majority stake to the venture capital fund Keensight, although he retains a substantial part and remains president to lead the new phase of international growth.
“"Even if the company grows, the fear of making a mistake and losing everything is always there."
Vila Oliva started the project alone from his home attic, investing 100,000 euros and working two years without a salary. The success is based on his previous experience in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, detecting the need for companies, such as Codorniu or Font Vella, to obtain detailed sales data from distributors to optimize their commercial efforts. Today, the company has 215 employees and generates nearly 20 million euros in revenue.
The entrepreneur justifies the sale to Keensight by the need for financial muscle and a team to open foreign subsidiaries, a difficult step to take alone, especially at his age. Currently, UVE already has offices in New Jersey, Milan, and Paris, and 37% of its business comes from abroad.
“"There are no vehicles here to achieve this type of growth. Why doesn't the Generalitat create an investment fund like the one that has entered UVE?"
Vila Oliva, who started his venture at 41, highlights the importance of knowing the sector very well before launching and emphasizes the company's humanist vision, prioritizing the team and the immediate resolution of internal problems. His advice for new entrepreneurs is “to know very well the problem you want to solve, focus on it, think about the client, and persevere.”
