TIJUANA.-Sometimes, the term "startup" can scare people. One imagines that it refers to something with tons of computers that only experts understand, but the reality is that "startup" refers to any entrepreneur that turns an idea into a business that will satisfy a need. Such is the case of Julian Varela and his startup "Contarte".

We sat down to discuss his startup at Mind Hub, one of the recent work spaces that has opened up in the city, and unites young entrepreneurs aiming to help new projects that are slowly transforming the city from "the Tijuana of maquiladoras" into "the Tijuana of ideas".

What is contarte? "It is a cloud-based accounting system for those who have no accounting skills but have a need to keep track of their business's processes and daily earnings" responds Julian. In three words, it is Super-Easy-Accounting.

Julian told us that the idea was born after he completed his studies in finances and started working for an accounting firm, and started thinking about creating something newer and at the forefront in accounting processes. He then met with a group of engineers that possessed experience in software development and ventured out to create a pilot test that worked well. "The idea is to make it easier to use than to explain; every two weeks we hold a training session and when a user's license is activated they receive a basic guide. Every screen in the program only has 4 buttons" said Julian.

After almost two years of work, the company had formalized with some fixed team-members and other external members; and although some of them are no longer part of the team they are still part of the family. The formal team of around 14 members, consists mostly of of programmers, vendors, marketers.

During this time, there have been changes, especially in terms of fiscal reform in the country, which made electronic receipts (called "facturas" obligatory. Companies large and small, and even independent contractors, have had to digitize their processes and concentrate them in the same place, and things like receipts, payroll, banks, suppliers need to practically be online. "The ideal user is a service-based business", said Julian Varela, who stated that people who can't afford an accountant or full-time administrator, or those wishing to improve communication with their current accountant are other characteristics of their users.

Contarte has not yet received financial support, and all funds used for the startup to get off the ground were contributed by members and customers who paid for the software upfront; this is something that the startup team believes is the "most important capital we have: user satisfaction".

There are many things that they plan on adding in the future, but for now their goal is to finalize this version of the program.

Just like all entrepreneurs, the Contarte team have experienced many bumps in the road, something that no startup is immune to. "We have had hurdles to go over ever day, and there have been countless things that would have justified our throwing in the towel; most of the problems have arisen in terms of the actual members, but instead of weakening us it has made us stronger" said Julian Varela.

For more information about Contarte,

visit their official website contarte.mx , their help line and their bi-monthly training sessions and via their social media pages.

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VIDEO : What is Contarte?

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Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

Photos : Elizabeth Rosales

borderzonie@gmail.com