We were lucky to catch up with Gerardo Escudero Samara recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gerardo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Certainly! At Crystal Apple Media, we are not just a social media marketing agency; we are the social media marketing agency of the future. We specialize in harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence, CG Development, and Machine Learning to help small businesses succeed in the digital age.
Our mission is deeply rooted in our passion for empowering small businesses, many of which are family-owned enterprises. These businesses often lack the resources, tools, and expertise to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of digital marketing and technology trends. That’s where we step in.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
The story behind our mission is a personal one. As the founder and CEO of Crystal Apple Media, I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. I witnessed firsthand the challenges that small businesses face, especially in the era of the internet and social media. These are businesses that pour their hearts and souls into their work, and they deserve to thrive. However, I realized that many of them were struggling to keep up with the latest innovations and technological trends.
This realization fueled our determination to create a company that could bridge the gap between small businesses and cutting-edge digital marketing solutions. We believe that every small business should have access to the same level of technology and expertise that large corporations do. We want to level the playing field for them.
Our mission is meaningful to us because it’s not just about business success; it’s about making a positive impact on communities. When small businesses thrive, they create jobs, support local economies, and foster a sense of pride and resilience in their communities. Our work isn’t just about generating leads or increasing sales; it’s about contributing to the growth and prosperity of these small businesses and the people behind them.
At Crystal Apple Media, we are driven by the belief that technology should be a force for good, and we are committed to helping small businesses succeed because we know that their success ripples out and enriches the lives of many. This mission is not just a business strategy; it’s our way of giving back and making a difference in the world.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
So, every Startup needs fuel, and most of the time, that means money.
The first thing that entrepreneurs should do is know how to sell the business plan in just a few words. That is, an elevator pitch, a 3 minute pitch, and also a beautiful presentation that can create an impact, easily explain the business model, and a call to action.
There are many opportunities locally and globally that can help entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses through global competitions, fellowships, incubators, accelerators, etc. Some of them are: Youth Opportunities, Opportunity Desk, OYA Opportunities, Opportunities For Youth, amongst others. You can find all of those opportunities portals in every social media and web page.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
10 years ago, I created ChillOut Lounge, a high-technology restaurant that uses innovation and technology in order to differentiate and provide top notch experiences: https://vimeo.com/247463420.
ChillOut Lounge is the result of our formula of creativity, innovation, and the ability to IDENTIFY, ATTRACT, and CONVERT prospects into customers.
We transformed a 130 m2 venue with a capacity for 60 people into one of the most innovative, sought-after, and award-winning Bars Restaurants in Latin America.
It went from having only 10 clients on weekends to hosting 24 events per month, requiring reservations with a 2-week lead time to attend.
In just a few months, it was recognized as one of the top 20 businesses to franchise by the International Franchise Association (IFA) https://www.franchisefoundation.org/fransocial-login-ifa-foundation-announces-grand-prize-winners-2018-nextgen-franchising-global
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crystalapplemedia.com/
- Instagram: @gescude9
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerardo.e.samara/
- Linkedin: https://pa.linkedin.com/in/gerardo-escudero-samara-0a0860124
- Twitter: @gescude
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@gerardoescuderosamara?si=EAoXc6qnjDv7m4-N