Entrepreneurs around the globe: Emma Weisberg, CEO and co-founder of Blinkbuggy

"ESADE gave me the baseline knowledge needed to operate in the areas that I otherwise haven’t touched during my career."

Describe your start-up in three sentences.

Blinkbuggy is a technology that helps moms (and dads) by making it easy and fun to document all life's moments—both big and small—in one convenient place. Through simple and flexible privacy controls, only you decide what to share and with whom to share it. Blinkbuggy takes the spirit of the traditional baby book and modernizes it with the power of technology and the Internet.

What inspires you as an entrepreneur in New York?

New York has become a hotbed of innovation and tech entrepreneurship. The most inspiring part of being an entrepreneur here has been the ability to connect with and meet so many amazing entrepreneurs from across industries and backgrounds. The community is extremely supportive and everyone is open to collaborating and helping each other. 

What’s your greatest fear as a global entrepreneur?

Not succeeding in expanding in a meaningful way outside of English-speaking countries globally, due to technical or resource constraints.

What do you wish you had known before founding your company?

More people with money to invest! Just kidding. I wish I had had a deeper understanding of the online start-up ecosystem in New York City, how it operates, the standards and norms for technical development, etc. The area where I struggled the most initially was in understanding the technical requirements for the business and identifying the right people and resources to work with me on the tech side. I had a business background, not a technical one, therefore my technical knowledge base and certainly my network, were much weaker. It’s still a challenge today, but it’s also rewarding to see how far we’ve come on this front.

What systems have you set up in your business to help it grow?

The best system for growth is having the right people. We are working hard to build the right team with expertise across key functional areas and, most importantly, cultural fit.

What do you do on a daily basis to grow as a global entrepreneur?

Learn from others. Before making any major moves, I always try to identify a subject matter expert and ask them for advice, especially when it includes expansion into or operations in a foreign market. And I am always happy to lend advice when I can be helpful.

What should a global entrepreneur never forget?

Ask a local!

What impact has ESADE had on your career as a global entrepreneur?

A foundational understanding of all the business-side functions. As CEO I need to be conversant in all areas: marketing, finance, accounting, etc. ESADE gave me the baseline knowledge needed to operate in the areas that I otherwise haven’t touched during my career.

What makes being an entrepreneur worthwhile?

Everything! There is something very liberating about the level of responsibility and accountability. The fact that every decision really matters is very motivating. I want to be responsible for my own success or failure. It also provides me with a level of flexibility with my schedule that I didn’t previously enjoy. I work a lot, but it’s on my terms.