From the beginning of his professional career,  Gerard Cervelló (Tarragona, 1975), a telecommunications engineer by the UPC, was more inclined towards customer-oriented roles. In 2001, he co-founded Scytl, an electronic voting startup that, in 2014, ended up starring in one of the largest rounds ever received by a startup in Europe up to that time, with a significant contribution from the co-founder of Microsoft.

Over more than 25 years, Gerard has continued to accumulate experience in growing startups, serving as COO of Blueliv, CBO of Outpost24 and, since a year ago, also as CEO and co-founder of Secrets Vault, a startup that uses visual cryptography to protect data through images.

The startup has just closed its first round of pre-seed funding, worth €400,000 and led by Bcombinator VC II and business angels.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

GC: To establish Secrets Vault as a global standard for secure and easy access and management of digital information. Our goal is to simplify the way people protect and access sensitive information through an intuitive mechanism. Can you imagine being able to access a system, protect sensitive information and share it with your loved ones, using a simple image?

TB: Where are you at and where do you see it in two years?

GC: We are just taking our first steps after twelve months of life, but we are very happy with the product’s process and traction in the market. In two years, we already see it running, simplifying the lives of many users and organizations around the world.

TB: A good idea you’ve had.

GC: Changing companies after 15 years. New challenges, in new areas, enrich a lot.

TB: What is the biggest challenge you have faced?

GC: Being in charge of electoral processes in several countries, including Spain. Making everything run smoothly in record time, with huge and varied teams, makes the rest of the tasks seem easy.

TB: Best advice you’ve ever been given.

GC: If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go in good company.

TB: A role model.

GC: Not knowing him, but following him closely: Bill Gates. If I heard myself 25 years ago I wouldn’t believe it, but it’s really inspiring today to see all that he’s done and how he uses his influence to improve the world from multiple angles.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

GC: Cryptography, as it will become even more indispensable in this world of AI and automated interactions.

TB: Face-to-face or remote?

GC: Interestingly, until the pandemic I was a proponent of 100% face-to-face. Now I think the opposite.

TB: A startup or company.

GC: Minima Global. It powers a truly decentralized future.

TB: What makes you disconnect?

GC: Spending time with family and friends, and combining sports depending on the season, such as scuba diving, paddle tennis or cycling.

TB: A book to recommend.

GC: Too many, because I read about many subjects. On entrepreneurship, without a doubt ‘The hard things about the hard things’ by Ben Horowitz (yes, the ‘z’ in a16z).

TB: A series, movie or song that defines your moment in life.

GC: A startup is a roller coaster, so any song by Nach ZPU or Ambkor reflects my life state at any given moment.

TB: A recipe, a restaurant.

GC: The ‘confit d’ànec’ from Restaurant Masia Cervelló. And it has nothing to do with the fact that my cousin runs it 🙂

TB: A place in the world.

GC: Anywhere I can dive. Of the best ones I’ve been to, maybe Cozumel and the Red Sea.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

GC: As of today, in Secrets Vault.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur….

GC: I would be an explorer.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona for you?

GC: A community where you can exchange experiences with other roller coaster riders.