TB members call 98 | Marty Manent: “We manage over $4 billion in capital for our clients”
Martí Manent (Mataro, 1973), who began his professional career as a lawyer at Garrigues and later became president of the Spanish Association of Electronic Commerce, has established himself as a serial entrepreneur, business angel and startup mentor. And success. While Derecho.com and elAbogado have been his greatest triumphs to date, his latest project Sttok follows a similar path.
TB: What is the goal of your project?
MM: Sttok is a SaaS that allows companies to manage their “opportunities,” “phantom shares,” meetings, boards, and more, completely digitally and without errors.
TB: Where are you and where do you see yourself in two years?
MM: We have established ourselves as the reference software for managing incentive plans and captives. We are used by companies such as Factorial HR, PLD Space, Taxdown or Yaba, which allows us to manage over $4,000 million of our clients’ capital. We hope that in two years it will become an indispensable tool for companies in Spain and that we will expand to other markets.
TB: Good idea you have.
MM: Implement an extremely intuitive interface that will allow users, even without legal experience, to effectively and autonomously manage partner books, rounds, convertible notes or “phantoms”.
TB: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
MM: Professionally, as an entrepreneur, the biggest challenge was getting my companies to break-even (profitability threshold). The loneliness of an entrepreneur imposes on him a responsibility that, although you share with the team, you ultimately take on individually.
TB: Best advice you’ve ever been given.
MM: Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
TB: A professional guide that inspires you.
MM: I really like the philosophy of the Stoics, and therefore I am very inspired by reading Seneca or Marcus Aurelius. On a professional level, a good example of such a philosophy would be Naval Ravikant.
TB: Technology that will shape the future.
MM: While AI is the obvious answer, I would like to consider the use of drones. Drones in current military conflicts stand out for their low cost and high efficiency. Drones, as well as autonomous robots, will have a major impact in the coming years.
TB: In person or remotely?
MM: I don’t say what I think, I say what we do. I prefer a hybrid model that combines the best of both worlds: the flexibility of remote work with the collaboration and cohesion of in-person work.
TB: Startup or company.
MM: Open arms. It is not a company, but it has some very laudable goals and objectives. Their work is admirable, as is its impact.
TB: What do you do to switch off?
MM: I do sports and meditation – activities that help me maintain mental and physical balance. Besides my partner and children, whom I love and admire, I also surf.
TB: A book worth recommending.
MM: The Power of Kindness, Piero Ferrucci. Find out how kindness and compassion can change our lives and relationships. He emphasizes the importance of developing a positive attitude and the ability to see the good in others, even in difficult situations.
TB: The TV show, movie or song that defines your moment in life.
MM: I love Back to the Future for the message it champions: the future is unwritten.
TB: Recipe, restaurant.
MM: I love Italian cuisine. I recommend Le Cucine Mandarosso in Barcelona.
TB: A place in the world.
MM: We have the luxury of living in a magnificent part of the world thanks to the sea, the mountains, access to healthcare, security… Nowadays it is important to appreciate where we are, and Barcelona and its surroundings – a magnificent place to live.
TB: Where would you invest 100 thousand?
MM: In Stock.
TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…
MM: I would like to become an astronaut. I was actually going to start a career as a military pilot because that’s one of the ways to become an astronaut. Now, looking back, I think that in the coming years we will become space tourists.
TB: What does Tech Barcelona mean to you?
MM: Tech Barcelona is a vibrant ecosystem that strengthens the business and technology fabric by offering an invaluable network of resources, knowledge and collaboration opportunities.