Puntodis, awarded by the Provincial Council with the Innovative Project award, has made the leap from design to manufacturing with the support of the Seed Capital Bizkaia seed fund
To the extent that everyone can visit a place, access a service or use an object, accessibility will be a real fact. That is the challenge of Puntodis: to turn environments into accessible places. All people are capable if the environment does not make it difficult. With that starting premise, and aware that there was a long way to go, Jon Ibarra Arza decides to undertake his innovative adventure alone.
Located at the Igeltzera industrial area, in Urduliz, the promoters of this company work on ethical signs to make life better for everyone. They have a 500 square meter pavilion where they are dedicated to the design, manufacture and implementation of products and systems that facilitate the understanding of this type of information to any person, regardless of whether or not they present functional limitations.
Innovative Project 2005
Only one year after the creation of Puntodis, in 2005, they received the Innovative Project award from the Provincial Council of Biscay. A recognition that helped them financially with a grant to defray the first investment costs that the project required. The starting point for its founder, Jon Ibarra, was quality. “In the Basque Country it is highly valued and, therefore, the first thing I do when I launch Puntodis is to obtain the quality certificate through the entrepreneur-oriented Premie program of the Provincial Council of Biscay and, in turn, the ISO quality management certificate”. In addition, he also certified the product. “When you bet everything, even your house, and you gamble so much, you have to stay one step ahead”.
One of his objectives was to publicize the Puntodis brand. For this reason, he participates in the technical standardization committees in Madrid and meets with senior officials from the world of disability to be informed, learn and publicize the company. “For me”, adds Jon, “the prescription was very important. That they know you, that they recognize us as a company that does things well”. A work of many years and being in permanent contact with the world of disability. “The money does not arrive in minute one. First, they know you and then the projects come. Afterwards, the problem is to find who sells them”.
All the opportunities are good and you have to know how to take advantage of them. Crossing borders is essential because the problem of accessibility can be found everywhere. “The Basque Country is a world level example of accessibility in sensory communication”. With the collaboration of Tecnalia, and through the ELAN program of the European Union, Puntodis was present as a speaker at a congress on innovation in Colombia. There, several contacts that will allow important ties of collaboration were established. About a month ago, the Colombian businessman Edilberto Rincón visited the Puntodis facilities in Urduliz. “It is key for us that they come to see us and see ‘in situ’ what we do and how we do it”.
From design to production
In the beginning, Puntodis put its knowledge in design, but not in manufacturing. In 2009 they decided to make a leap and, for this, they received the support of the Seed Capital Bizkaia seed fund. “We bet on production and venture capital helped us”.
But the crisis has also affected this sector. Sales fell considerably, almost 50% compared to 2012. “It is hard. Expectations were not met. We had to adjust and re-risk with a new capital increase. I have it clear: it is an opportunity and we are going to succeed. Information is a right for everyone and be aware of that is also everyone’s task and responsibility”.
They are optimistic about 2016. The challenge is to establish international contacts that will become future clients. The focus, at the moment, is in Colombia and the goal is that Puntodis consolidates itself as a referential company in design.
