Dario Vieira Pereira: Propdental
My name is Dario Vieira Pereira and I’m the medical director, implantologist and head of Clínicas Propdental in Barcelona. I have been working as a dentist in the city for 10 years. I studied Advanced Dentistry at the University of Barcelona, where I also did a Masters in Oral Surgery and Implantology. Apart for my work as a dentist, I have published various articles in international journals, and have taken part in national and international courses and congresses as a speaker. I am a specialist in dental implants, although in my clinics we carry out all types of dental treatment, such as orthodontics, dental crowns or any other treatment related to dental aesthetics.
1. Where did the original idea for your business come from? The truth is that after working for three years in other clinics and learning a lot from them all, I said to myself, why not create your own business? And that’s what I did. I have always been a very ambitious person, looking always for new challenges and goals, and I suppose that’s why I created the first Propdental clinic. Since then, we’ve grown non-stop.
2. How long did it take to set up your business? Between deciding to create it and opening the business, more or less eighteen months had passed. During this time, I was planning the detail of how I wanted my dental clinic to be, considering a new concept for oral health that we have now been offering for seven years to our clients. The idea is to combine dental health with a perfect look to achieve the best smile.
3. What do you wish you had known when you started? I would have liked to have known how to speak Catalan from the first day that I arrived in Barcelona. I think it would have helped me even more in my ambitious project, even though I have always felt very welcome here in Catalunya.
4. Was it easy to get financing for the business? In my case, yes. I found the right person, they understood my vision for the business and made it easy for me. If you have a good idea and a pathway set out, it’s easier to obtain the necessary funding.
5. Did you find the paperwork difficult? All the paperwork was managed by the ‘gestors’ who have been by my side ever since I had the original idea to create my own clinic. While it’s true that in Spain there is generally a lot of bureaucracy, in my case, I didn’t take care of it personally.
6. Did you receive any help from any official or other organisations (for example, chamber of commerce)? If you did, please describe. I didn’t receive any public help, but I didn’t spend much time finding out what was available. I was clear in my objective and I had the funding that I needed for it.
7. What is your business experience and qualifications? The Propdental Clinics are my first business. The fact that I had taken part in national and international publications and conferences helped me to meet other entrepreneurs like me with who I have shared ideas, but in general, I have learnt about business as I go along
8. What are the positive aspects about having a business here? The great majority are positive: to be able to develop knowledge acquired throughout my career, to be able to help people and put into practice all their dreams for achieving the best smile.
9. And the negative aspects? There aren’t any negative aspects, sometimes there are aspects that are different or surprising. The truth is that if I look back, I can’t complain about how everything has gone.
10. Are there any useful contacts, advice or information that you think would be useful for other foreign entrepreneurs in Barcelona? If so, please describe. I think that an entrepreneur has to know how to be active to be able to learn how the business world functions in each country. I think that this phase is also part of creating a business. You have to know how to be proactive.
See more about Propdental Clinics here.