EP106: From Corporate Banks to Croatian Bays: Ant Botica's Leap from Banker to Bucket-List Builder
This week on the ScaleHQ podcast, learn how Ant Botica transitioned from a corporate banker to creating unforgettable yacht experiences with Solamoré Events, offering practical guidance on building a lifestyle-aligned business and overcoming entrepreneurship challenges.
In this episode of the ScaleHQ podcast, I speak with Ant Botica, Founder of Solamoré Events, to hear his extraordinary journey from the corporate world of banking to becoming the "Superyacht Guy" known for creating exciting luxury yachts events.
Ant shares his story of perseverance, passion, and his quest to build a business that aligns with his lifestyle and values.
Here are the key points we covered:
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The Journey from Banking to Entrepreneurship
Ant recounts his decision to leave the banking industry after a life-changing visit to Croatia, which inspired him to pursue a more fulfilling and adventurous career path.
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Creating Solamoré
We dive into how Ant built Solamoré , a referral-based business that organises exceptional yacht events in multiple countries, emphasising the importance of creating unforgettable customer experiences. -
Challenges of Scaling
All Founders experience challenges, and Ant is no different.
He discusses the difficulties he faced in the early stages of his business, including financial struggles, the 2008 financial crisis, the impact of COVID-19, and how he overcame these obstacles. -
The Importance of Passion and Adaptability
Ant highlights the significance of loving what you do and being willing to adapt and pivot your business model as necessary to ensure long-term success.
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Leveraging Personal and Professional Networks:
Ant underscores the value of having mentors and a robust support network to navigate the complexities of scaling a business.
Tune in now to unlock your journey of successful scaling.
About Sean Steele
Sean has led several education businesses through various growth stages including 0-3m, 1-6m, 3-50m and 80m-120m. He's evaluated over 200 M&A deals and integrated or started 7 brands within larger structures since 2012. Sean's experience in building the foundations of organisations to enable scale uniquely positions him to host the ScaleUps podcast.
