KAPTÁR face – ANDOVAR team
We opened our new FIXIE space in June. From the new members, we’re happy to introduce the eclectic Andovar team. They built a global translation and localization company with 7 offices across the continents.
They provide turnkey services in localizing software, documentation, mobile games/apps, e-learning courses, websites, and broadcast media. Working in over 80 languages they serve clients such as Uber, Agoda, KPMG, Spotify, Hyatt, SONY, and 300+ others.
Their new Budapest office, here at KAPTÁR is staffed with Business Development, Project Management and Account Management teams to better serve European clients in their time zone.
We’re very happy to be able to welcome them at KAPTÁR:
ladies first from the left: Anna Teixidor, Vera Tanwongprasert, Hilda Veress, Khushboo Mathur, and the gentlemen: Russell Winterbotham, Conor Bracken, Tamás Sajó, Ivan Tutka and Dániel Bozsa.
KAPTÁR face – Valdemar Norsker
I’ve always felt very restless and never understood why or how people could accept the mundane life of, spending most of their time working a job they didn’t like and go home to a wife they didn’t care for. Recently I’ve discovered that my restlessness probably comes from ADHD, but I wouldn’t want to have it differently because it’s been fuel for some many amazing experiences.
For example, when I was younger I started working with a dating coach and travelled to Europe and the US with him for 10 months.
So now my focus is really on how I can work towards a future where my excitement for life is not compromised by my job or the people I hang around!
What excites you most about new challenges?
Proving to myself that I can do them, or even just the confidence gained by trying
What was most annoying about working at home?
The loneliness and restlessness from staring into the world an entire day
What are you most proud of in your life?
-The number of amazing people I’ve met from different places that I get to call friends
I chose Kaptar because I quite simply read that it was the best coworking space in Budapest. I then remembered messaging Aaron and getting a great impression from him. He seemed like a sincere guy, so I ended up choosing Kaptar without checking out any other coworking place, can’t say that I regret doing so!
Success Stories – Francisco Vera
The latest guest of KAPTÁR Success Stories is Francisco Javier Vera Gomez – the organizer of last spring’s KAPTÁR-Mexican Night and the CEO and Founder of Moradas.
Hi Francisco, thanks for accepting my invitation.
Hi Balint, thanks for having me!
Can you please summarize in a few sentences what you do?
Well, in a sentence, I help to improve people’s lives through software. I try to make things that can have a positive value in society and improve a way of doing things.
I have a software that improves security and transparency in Mexican closed communities and I also have several apps that help lawyers and doctors with their everyday work.
Wow, that’s huge! How did you start with this?
I first learned to code when I was 15. I wanted to create fun games and “impossible quizzes” about my classmates and friends with Flash. Then I learnt so much, I got to show a few tricks to my teacher.
You seem like a guy, who believes that one’s vision can be achieved with sheer force of will. Where does this motivation comes from? How do you maintain your inner balance?
The secret of maintaining my inner balance is easy: I meditate every single day!
As for my motivation, I’ve always had an endless thirst for new tech and love for applying it to everyday challenges, you know… This is my way to contribute to people’s happiness as much and simple as possible.
Sounds amazing! As far as I know, you’re from Mexico. Why did you move to Hungary for the first place and what made you stay?
I travelled to Europe in 2014 for 4 months while managing my company remotely. I had no idea what a ‘digital nomad’ was, but – as it turned out 2 years later – I was one of them already.
Later I continued travelling for some years – mostly around Europe. I’ve visited more than 50 cities/towns and Budapest was on my map too. I ended up staying here for the most.
After I’ve travelled a lot, I had a call to find a new, stable home somewhere in Europe. Budapest had all that I was looking for and I decided to move to this breathtaking city. The architecture, the nature, the vibe and the people called me to stay, but a few-found relationship made me sure to move there kind of permanently
Yeah, it’s always about the women… (laughing) What’s your life mostly about at the moment? What are your hobbies?
I’ve just finished a 3-month intensive Hungarian course. Now we’re working together once a week with a private teacher. I have homework for everyday and stuff like that. It’s funny to tap into a new, completely different language, but I’m passionate to learn, so I might understand the culture better.
Besides Hungarian, I just love walking around the city. I go out 3-4 times a week for a couple of hours. The architecture of the city is what I love the most here, but I also like hiking on the weekends.
Why are these the most important parts of your life? What value do they add?
They’re important because they ground me to what surrounds me. I love tech for solving challenges that we face or achieving goals faster, but in the end, I believe we need space to be and connect with our environment. Talking with experience, I’d not be able to do what I do without this.
You sound like a wise master! Let it be the final thought – thank you for the interview, Francisco!
Yeah, thank you too!
KAPTÁR faces – Zoltán Paksy
Ten years ago, I left my 18-year carrier of international advertising and managing director to work
for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) to promote sustainable forest management and the FSC
certification globally from Germany. A couple of years later, I moved back to Hungary and started
to work as interim marketing director and marketing consultant.
Currently, I’ve been focusing on three areas.
I spend a more considerable part of my time acting as a European Regional Director at MGI
Worldwide. MGI Worldwide is a global network of independent accounting, auditing and tax
advising firms. The real challenge in this position is to develop and run meetings and conferences
across Europe that goes beyond simple networking events, that is recognised as creative and
thought-provoking.
My second most significant challenge is the launch of my new services in the area of Design
Thinking, Innovation Management and Customer Experience Management. I spent the past two
years in studying and gaining practice of new tools and thinking.
What is your most important life lesson, since you became a freelancer?
Work in isolation makes you unhappy
What was most annoying about working at home?
I worked from home in the past. However loneliness spoiled my delivery. Therefore I spend
minimum one day per week in a coworking place to sustain my performance and working spirit.
What is the fastest way to ruin a business?
Not testing our assumptions.
KAPTÁR face – Ákos Hamar
Please introduce yourself in a few lines. What are you doing now?
Being an architect my work is focused around the digital transition of all processes and procedures of the construction industry that is usually referred to under the nickname BIM (Building Information Modeling). This topic is receiving huge attention in Hungary and worldwide as well. The core goal of my everyday work is the simplification of complex processes, execution of their successful adaptation and reaching optimal return of all efforts put into such digitalization.
What is the best part of your job?
Clearly the best part of my job is receiving the responses of satisfied clients after the closing of successful projects: when you manage to save USD 2 million in the construction process of a hospital in the US or the construction of a school in Sweden ends a month earlier than scheduled with the amount of building waste reduced significantly – due to the application of the necessary digital services and tools.
Can you please tell us why did you choose KAPTÁR?
Home office is a great opportunity I have, however being a fresh father it’s not always the simplest. And these are the days when you can find me by the KAPTÁR coffee machine or in a hidden corner where laptop monitors cover me so much that it took half a year to a coworker fellow of mine to realize on a KAPTÁR thematic party, that: “Hey!! You are Hungarian too??!”