Manuel Alejandro Castro Rangel, a 37-year-old entrepreneur, has carved a unique path from Colombia to international success. Born in Colombia and raised in Spain, he pursued a degree in Business Administration from the University of Alicante. His academic background laid the foundation for a dynamic career in the tech and creative industries.
Castro is the founder of several ventures, including Doovidoo.com, a digital magazine, Gourmet in New York, a food service connecting global cuisines, and One Musical Dream, a music publishing company that nurtures emerging artists and creatives in the industry. His ability to bridge diverse sectors, from technology to gastronomy and music, highlights his versatility as a businessman.
Castro’s global perspective, shaped by his Colombian roots and European upbringing, has given him a competitive edge in the entrepreneurial world. With ventures spanning multiple industries and continents, he exemplifies how innovation and passion can drive success across borders.
We had the opportunity to speak with Manuel Alejandro and get to know him better. During our recent visit to the magical city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, we met with the entrepreneur who, for 20 years, has opened doors to Latin American culture in Europe. He shared his entire career journey with us and gave us several tips on developing solid and profitable projects.
– What inspired you to start your first business?
Ans: What inspired me to start my first business was immigrating to Spain at 17 and noticing a lack of spaces promoting Latin music among Spaniards. There were Latin radio stations and established Latin entrepreneurs, but they focused on exploiting immigrants’ nostalgia without sharing Latin culture with the locals. I created forums and groups on social media, like Facebook and Twitter, to promote Latin artists in Europe. My first success was Tropicalurban, a website that made a record pool for DJs and radio hosts to share Latin music, helping organize some of Europe’s first Reggaeton, Bachata, Mambo, and Salsa concerts.
The biggest challenge I faced as an entrepreneur was the lack of knowledge about taxes
– Can you describe the biggest challenge you faced as an entrepreneur, and how you overcame it?
Ans: The biggest challenge I faced as an entrepreneur was the lack of knowledge about taxes. I hadn’t started university yet, but I was already required to pay large sums of money to the Spanish Tax Agency. I didn’t know what to do as I hadn’t established a business entity and had to pay taxes as an individual under the freelance model. This drained me financially until I gained more knowledge and incorporated the company in the UK, which gave me fiscal advantages and allowed me to expand to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
– How do you identify market opportunities for new ventures?
Ans: Opportunities are found where a need arises. Following trends is possible, but the most reliable approach is identifying what people or a specific industry needs and fulfilling that need. It’s about looking for gaps in any commercial or industrial process and creating a solution to fill that gap.
– What has been your most successful project, and why?
Ans: My most successful project was creating a digital music distribution platform called castromusic.com in 2014. I was among the first to support independent Latin artists, which allowed me to proliferate. I became the bridge between Latin America and companies like Vevo and Spotify, enabling me to generate net revenues of approximately USD 340,000 in the first year.
– How do you stay ahead of competitors in a rapidly changing industry?
Ans: I constantly study and update myself with new technologies to stay ahead of the competition. When there are rumors of new developments, I don’t hesitate to implement them. I’d rather make a mistake trying than regret not testing a new concept. I’m not very conservative.
– What’s your approach to building and leading a successful team?
Ans: The best approach is to find people with aligned ideals and goals. It’s essential for those you delegate responsibilities to understand what creating and managing a company means. Therefore, I don’t look for employees or people trained to be employees. I prefer to hire people with a purpose and entrepreneurial goals.
– How has your background influenced your entrepreneurial journey?
Ans: My beginnings were full of contrasts — a large, humble family with many successful members in different areas. From a young age, I saw both sides of the coin, which helped shape my character. I grew up surrounded by employees and entrepreneurs, rich and poor, good people and not-so-good people. That has been my most incredible fortune and the key to achieving my goals. I learned to value the good and the bad and to carefully choose my path to make the best decisions.
Innovation is everything
– What role does innovation play in your business strategy?
Ans: Innovation is everything. You have to stay updated to compete. The last 20 years have been the most transformative in human history. We’ve gone from monochrome Nokia phones to using artificial intelligence for daily marketing and HR tasks. Every day moves faster, so it’s crucial to innovate constantly for businesses to thrive.
– How do you balance short-term goals with long-term vision?
Ans: The long-term vision is very general and broad. I focus on short-term tasks and goals, orienting them toward a common long-term goal.
– What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from failure?
Ans: The most important lesson I’ve learned from failure is that time cannot be regained, so everything should be executed correctly the first time.
– How do you prioritize sustainability and ethics in your businesses?
Ans: I believe in balance in life, in good and evil. From a young age, my family taught me to care for others and to not do to others what I wouldn’t want done to me. All my businesses incorporate a moral factor in their activities, aiming to leave a clean legacy and an impeccable reputation. We don’t want our children to pay for our mistakes in the future, so we carefully study and evaluate each action to do things in the best possible way.
– What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs just starting out?
Ans: Create things that improve humanity and our quality of life. Don’t focus on financial gain; instead, strive to improve what’s wrong in our world.
– How do you stay motivated and avoid burnout in the demanding world of entrepreneurship?
Ans: This is the hardest part of it all. Entrepreneurs are like punching bags that take daily hits. I try to be a little better each day than the day before. I’m unsatisfied with current results and constantly look for ways to improve my projects, even in the most minor ways. When I achieve something, I spend time with my family and recharge for the next day.
– Can you share any upcoming projects or plans for your companies?
Ans: We are developing a construction services company to focus on rehabilitating and implementing more sustainable housing techniques. We’re not focused so much on ecology as on practicality and accessibility, given the significant global housing problem (high prices that make acquisition difficult and a supply shortage due to extended construction times).
– What legacy do you hope to leave as an entrepreneur?
Ans: As an entrepreneur, I want to leave a legacy of logical thinking and more effective business and political administration management tools.
The entrepreneurial trajectory of Manuel Alejandro Castro Rangel is a story of perseverance and invention. His cultural background and love of technology have allowed him to develop numerous successful businesses from Colombia to Spain, such as CastroMusic and Doovidoo.com. He is known as a global entrepreneur due to his focus on sustainability and long-term success, as well as his ability to span industries and markets. Castro’s strategy for leaving an indelible mark on the corporate and cultural worlds is based on a thirst for knowledge, a willingness to change with the times, and the satisfaction of unfulfilled demands.