CAPArticles
Building a strong team as an entrepreneur: The CAPStory
06 Nov 2024
Starting a business means facing numerous challenges and responsibilities, one of the most crucial being the ability to surround yourself with the right people. In this article, discover the story of CAPSolar and how Samy, CEO and founder, managed to build a solid and dedicated team, driving the company’s success.
Understanding and anticipating the needs of the business
When CAPSolar launched in 2020, Samy was still in the proof-of-concept phase and focused on understanding the market. It was in 2022, with the start of the Jean Drapeau project, that he realized he would need help. He decided to bring in two skilled and motivated people, Xavier and Chahine, to help make this first project a reality.
“Once our first commercial product succeeded and new projects began to emerge, I quickly understood we would need more than three people to go further” says Samy. So, in 2023, along with his first two teammates, he decided to grow the team by hiring key talent for the company’s expansion, particularly in business development, production, and R&D.
But hiring isn’t just about addressing immediate needs. Samy quickly realized he needed to anticipate CAPSolar's future growth stages. “We had to think not only about our current needs but also about tomorrow’s” he explains. For this reason, from the earliest hires, he focused on versatile profiles, people who could grow along with the company.
Surrounding yourself with talent who share the company’s vision and values
CAPSolar’s recruitment process has never been highly structured or based on numerous interviews or specific tests. For Samy, it wasn’t simply about finding skilled people but about recruiting motivated and responsible individuals who aligned with the company’s values. “What mattered most to me was finding people who believed in our mission, in CAPSolar” he says.
The CEO was looking for people who shared his enthusiasm for renewable energy, ready to commit to the company’s mission, while embracing the human values and team spirit that define CAPSolar. Xavier and Chahine, now head of production and head of engineering, are perfect examples of this. Initially hired as interns in 2022, they quickly proved their commitment and motivation. “Xavier and Chahine embodied exactly what I was looking for. They were passionate, motivated, and quickly took ownership of their projects” recalls Samy. During the Jean Drapeau project, the entire team collaborated. “It was a true test of cohesion, and we all learned to work together on this project” he remembers.
By July 2023, the company already had eight members, most of whom had applied spontaneously, demonstrating a strong motivation. “Spontaneous applications show a special enthusiasm for our mission and a strong commitment from the start” emphasizes the CEO. This sense of dedication is at the core of CAPSolar, helping maintain a motivated and self-driven team. By bringing on individuals naturally willing to invest themselves, the company has created an environment where everyone feels responsible for shared success.
Keeping a motivated and self-Driven team by empowering employees
“At CAPSolar, an intern isn’t here to make coffee. From day one, they contribute to projects with a significant impact on the company’s growth ” Samy states. CAPSolar firmly believes in internal development and empowering its team. “We’re looking for people who want to learn and commit to the company’s growth. Offering our employees the opportunity to grow within our company is a priority for us” he explains. This approach helps the company retain talent, maintain high motivation, and provide personal and professional growth opportunities.
Today, CAPSolar has reached a new milestone with a team of 14 people spread across various departments: sales and marketing, production, and R&D. “It’s a real source of pride to see how the team has grown, not only in size but also in responsibility and autonomy” says Samy. However, the company is still expanding, and this growth brings new challenges. “The challenge now is to preserve our values and collaborative atmosphere while continuing to grow” says the CEO.
The story of CAPSolar illustrates how building a strong team is essential to transforming an idea into a successful project. Beyond technical skills, it’s shared values, passion for a common mission, and trust that lay the foundation for building a sustainable company.
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