Sergi Ballester and Gemma Masferrer are the souls of the invention, which is already used in Glories shopping mall | Funding the “fronton” with bumping
A user using one of the loungers in the Glòries shopping mall. BB Energy Group
“I was a weekend off, I ran out of battery on the phone, going on a bike … and I thought ‘? What if I have an emergency,'” explains Sergi Ballester, a young entrepreneur from Rubí. A more common situation than today unleashed an intense brainstorming and eventually led to “a solar panel and a USB cable” sums. His idea was shared with her friend Gemma Masferrer, another young vallesana city, which did not hesitate to join the project. Thus they were born the sun loungers with USB connection that can recharge mobile devices, ebooks and tablets.
In summer and in late 2014 the idea arose that year produced the prototype, which has already patented. Then, an accident led the final push. “I heard on the radio that the City Council would become pedestrian side of Diagonal and Passeig de Gràcia on Sundays and Gemma told us to talk to them and we offered them our product,” says Ballester. Everything went very fast. In late May the renovated square of the Glories was equipped with four hammocks of this type.
“Now renegociate touch with the new council, with Trias in principle had to move on, but we missed this election period,” says Masferrer. The session of Ada Colau must give its approval to the investment: each copy of the current characteristics lounger cost the Barcelona City around 200 euros. They’re already talking to some vendors to expand the range of models with other styles.
The operation is very simple. Solar panels collect energy from the sun, which is channeled through the USB connection where the devices are recharged. The size of the plates, which in turn serve umbrella paradoxically, allow absorb the maximum power. “In a day or shine without a cloud, the mobile can be charged in about 60 minutes, provided it is 20% of battery. If you are exhausted, change,” says the inventor.
The ‘pediment’ funding
They leave plan for the resources needed and the two young entrepreneurs were itching doors banks. “We have gone to banks of all colors,” says Masferrer. The negative was the common factor. “A pediment” as Ballester said. “The guarantees are unaffordable asking us,” she added. Ruby City Council gave them support and helped them for example with business advice. They will also participate in financing a project through which will meet with local government shortly, although they admit that it does not have to translate into money. Calls also expect a loan from the Institut Català de Finances (ICF), which guarantee 70%. And not to depend only on large institutions, are about to launch a campaign of crowdfunding through FundedByMe website.
Your goal is to 30,000 euros, the figure calculated they need to cope with the rental of a local -now Sergi each unit prepares himself on the roof of her parents’ house and “paperwork” of a US patent . “It’s a potential market,” the Rubí.
Revert Rubí
His project has received positive feedback from several countries thanks to settle in the Glòries have called their doors companies in the hotel and tourism sector, but also want to bring the idea to ski resorts. The market in which to compete is global. However, they have very clear that production is one possible site: Rubí. Its purpose is to provide work for over 45 years in the municipality. “My father lost his job with 48 and had a hard time finding one again. If I can, I want someone to not have to go through that,” says Ballester.
However, this desire is linked to the support and funding. If they do not by any means, they do not rule out to take their chairs across the pond. “It is the plan B” admits Ballester. “The time is now risking” agrees his partner. They have hope, hope and confidence in your idea, fit perfectly with the definition of entrepreneurs and, despite “shock” as Gemma says both recommend the experience. Meanwhile they continue to work, he in his two jobs and she as a teacher, stealing hours a day to pursue this project and others already notified they have in mind.
Courtesy Avantgarde Limousine Barcelona
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EXECUTIVE CHAUFFEUR BARCELONA 