Luka Pejcic - Pista
Tell us about your business.
Pista is the first social network for padel players. Our social and gamified approach to the sport offers users a unique way to connect, compete, and create.
Share the problem/need you are looking to address and how your business meets this need.
Pista helps padel players connect with each other. Where all other apps only facilitate bookings and focus on clubs, we make all our decisions through a player-first lens. Padel players are struggling to find other people on their level and once they do there is no way to explore that connection off-court so that’s where Pista steps in. A place where everyone’s padel journey lives and people are accessible.
What inspired your idea and business?
I liked the idea of playing padel but always struggled to get into it as I didn’t have anyone to play with. And I didn’t have the confidence to join open matches on the booking platforms due to my inability to play the sport. I felt like there was a barrier to entry into the sport which no one was addressing - confidence of individual players to constantly put themselves out there and actively seek new games and people to play with.
That is how Pista was born. If I could create an app where everyone would post about their padel experience, like they did on Insta or TikTok, then people like me could find like-minded players and ease into connections, therefore, finding a regular crew to play with.
What has been the best part of your entrepreneurial journey?
Variety. Being an entrepreneur requires one to wear a lot of different hats. Jumping around from tech support (even though I am bad at tech) to social media creator (even though I am quite shy) and to planner, modeling roadmaps and cashflow, etc. There is no repetition in the entrepreneur lifestyle and I love it.
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs just starting their journey?
Listen. Don’t pretend like you have all the answers. Meet as many people as possible and listen to all of them. Some of my biggest breakthrough ideas come from most unassuming conversations.
However, know what your values are and don’t let anyone’s opinion move you away from those. Strategy and roadmap might change based on what others have to say but you never should. At the end of the day, everything in your business will change but one thing - you! The entrepreneur is the only constant and you need to nurture the entrepreneur in you.
What support would be most beneficial for your business at this stage? What are you looking for help on?
People. I am looking for talented and ambitious people to join me on the journey of creating the largest padel community in the world. A love for padel is ideal but not necessary. A lot of people still haven't experienced the sport and I know that as soon as they do they will fall in love with it. The more I play it, the more I obsess about it.
So if you are interested in building something from zero, or you are an aspiring entrepreneur, reach out and let's have a chat.
Where can we find more information about your business?
Learn more about Pista online at pistasocial.com and on Instagram and TikTok.