Startup Fortune, July 3, 2020: Italian entrepreneur Ludovico Cianchetta Vazquez had his business breakthrough at age 18. Via crowdfunding for his first successful startup, PowerMe, he raised $48,000 in a month, selling the product to 90 countries. He launched the BnB Academy, a program providing people with step-by-step guidance on how to run an Airbnb business. Today, in his early 20s, his ingenious marketing project is coupled with another one called Book Academy (partnering with Francesco Crema) that shares wisdom on how you can publish a book on Amazon.
When did you know you found the right idea?
I knew I was on the right path when I started making huge profits from Airbnb. I still had enough time to travel, which made my friends wonder how that was even possible. A long roster of delighted customers in the short-term rental market was the foundation for an example-setting business.
How did you capitalize on it?
I always regarded tourism as an exciting industry that appeals to a broad global market, and so I founded my BnB Academy to train others on how to start from zero. Expertise in the field makes me top the list of successful European Airbnb hosts. Through diversification, I honed various skills that soon pushed me ahead of the competition.
What businesses have you run before, and how early failures pushed you further?
At the age of 17, my first entrepreneurial effort Adappt involved an adapter that made any regular strap fit an Apple Watch. Unfortunately, the crowdfunding call fell short of its $50,000 goal, reaching only $34,000, which was both a lesson learned and impressive achievement that showed me the potential.
What is unique about your BnB Academy method?
Teaching my students how to enter this market without owning real estate is a core element of my approach. With proper guidance, anyone can successfully manage properties, receiving part of the profits from the owners. I started building my thriving business by acquiring properties and gradually scaling up. Today, I have a 6-figure annual income, with Forbes Italy proclaiming me as the ‘guru’ of short-term rental hospitality. I dedicate several lessons in shifting my students’ mindsets towards earning large amounts without working five days a week, thanks to automated systems.
To keep up with Ludovico Cianchetta Vazquez, check out his Instagram
BnB Academy and Book Academy websites.
