Lou Schillaci, a seasoned entrepreneur, combines his business acumen and passion to drive success at Delloop.
The ups and downs of entrepreneurship with Lou Schillaci
Meet Lou Schillaci, the CEO of Delloop – a man of many talents. When he’s not spinning tunes as a veteran DJ or cruising around in his beloved Ferrari, he’s busy growing businesses from the ground up. With a wealth of experience in the technology industry, Lou has taken startups from Australia to the US and Europe, experiencing both the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. From a multi-million dollar exit to IBM to the success of Delloop, Lou has proven time and time again that he’s a force to be reckoned with in the business world.
When talking about the ups of his career, Lou mentions that one of his most rewarding experiences was working with a small group of Australian university students on an idea they had. He worked with them on every aspect of building the business, from branding and marketing to several rounds of fundraising, and ultimately negotiating the multi-million dollar sale. Along the way, they won international design, branding, and technology awards, and the students went on to lucrative careers in the US.
Despite his successes, Lou has also experienced shortcomings along the way. One of the biggest ones was an early blockchain venture, which failed due to the technology being too leading-edge and not having a compatible partner with different ideas about how to run the business. That led him to learn a lot too – he stresses the importance of being at the grass-roots level and also not being overly attached to your own vision. He believes that it is essential to grow some distance from the company and not get too emotionally invested, as this can lead to decisions that can go against the greater good.
As a leader, he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He challenges others to see things in new ways and loves mentoring young entrepreneurs to help them take logical steps towards their goals. Along with his wife and business partner, Claire, they work together seamlessly to manage Delloop and maintain a work-life balance. A powerful duo, they have been able to achieve success with Delloop due to their strong partnership.
When talking about the ups of his career, Lou mentions that one of his most rewarding experiences was working with a small group of Australian university students on an idea they had. He worked with them on every aspect of building the business, from branding and marketing to several rounds of fundraising, and ultimately negotiating the multi-million dollar sale. Along the way, they won international design, branding, and technology awards, and the students went on to lucrative careers in the US.
Despite his successes, Lou has also experienced shortcomings along the way. One of the biggest ones was an early blockchain venture, which failed due to the technology being too leading-edge and not having a compatible partner with different ideas about how to run the business. That led him to learn a lot too – he stresses the importance of being at the grass-roots level and also not being overly attached to your own vision. He believes that it is essential to grow some distance from the company and not get too emotionally invested, as this can lead to decisions that can go against the greater good.
As a leader, he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He challenges others to see things in new ways and loves mentoring young entrepreneurs to help them take logical steps towards their goals. Along with his wife and business partner, Claire, they work together seamlessly to manage Delloop and maintain a work-life balance. A powerful duo, they have been able to achieve success with Delloop due to their strong partnership.