Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in music education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lison Compañy, Founder of Balad, located in Paris, France.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Balad is on a mission to empower adults who want to learn the piano from home. We provide them with a complete and guided online course of 450+ videos, where they can learn by practicing songs and pieces. All students are also welcomed into a community where they can share their doubts, progress, and accomplishments. Last but not least, every student sends a video of their performance every week so that they can be corrected by a real teacher!

Tell us about yourself

I was always passionate about piano and education. Actually, when I was little, I wanted to do exactly like my piano teacher! Life went otherwise, but when I started to build companies and the COVID crisis hit, I didn't hesitate to look at the online piano education market. I discovered that there were a lot of offers online, but no one was really addressing the problem people had: learning from home is utterly difficult without a teacher. What motivates me to do what I do is really the special relationship I have with my students and their clear progress from one week to another on the piano!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is my resilience through all the challenges that I've overcome since the launch of Balad, and in particular, the "false start" I had with my previous cofounder. I'm particularly grateful to my mentors, who helped me in this journey.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things is that the business owner is the one making all the decisions. Even if sometimes, I lack the data to be 100% sure about something, what I have learned is that it's better for the business to make a quick decision based on 80% data and 20% gut! Nothing is irreversible, so you just have to learn how to react quickly and move forward.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do something you love. We'll have to work hard on this business, so be convinced and passionate about what you're selling.
  2. Ask for mentors around you. Entrepreneurs love to help each other, and it will allow you to make fewer mistakes.
  3. Launch as soon as possible. Don't wait for the perfect product, the perfect pricing, or the perfect business. Iterate and learn from your customers.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.pianobalad.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianobalad
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianobalad/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pianobalad/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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