Building Dreams in Tenerife: The Story of Our ‘Kids’ Company.
In July 2015, as we planned our move to Tenerife, an idea struck us: why not start a new company with young, enthusiastic professionals to create something unique?
Our goal was to build a mobile app platform for teachers and trainers to share their expertise through mobile devices – something that didn’t exist back then.
We aimed to recruit 10 youngsters from EU countries, each an expert in their field – game design, programming, graphic and UI design, copywriting, and marketing.
We also sought to benefit from the ZEC status, which offered tax benefits if we brought investment and employment to Tenerife.
The recruitment process was challenging.
Our exciting campaign attracted hundreds of applicants, and we interviewed dozens, assigning short-term projects to prove their abilities.
Just before our move, we assembled a team from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England, and Romania.
We rented a big office space near the harbor of Los Abrigos and a large AirBnB house for the first couple of months.
Training was rigorous, covering necessary skills, team-building, entrepreneurship and leadership skills.
As the team settled, they found cheap apartments, bought old convertibles, and balanced working hours with beach breaks.
Despite low salaries, they LOVED the low cost of living, the challenge, the island perks, and the new experiences.
We took the team on weekly hikes and hosted barbecue dinners every Friday evening.
One memorable hike to Cañadas Blancas involved a steep climb, jokingly dubbed the final elimination process.
Everyone made it back, of course.
The work environment was hectic, creative, and intense.
But despite our best efforts, the project turned into a financial disaster, costing us close to a quarter of a million euros.
After two years, we accepted the app wasn’t going to happen and dissolved the company.
However, we remained on good terms with most team members, some of whom stayed on the island and continued working with us on other projects.
The experience taught us valuable lessons.
We realized we should have focused on our strengths – marketing and content creation – instead of venturing into software development.
But despite the financial loss, it was an unforgettable journey that brought us closer to our dreams and aspirations.