‘Every day I’m setting new goals to achieve, and I won’t rest until we reach them’

On the Promoting Enterprise portal, we are talking to the entrepreneurs on the 33 Under 33 list. The Secrets of Success initiative aims to shine the spotlight on a selection of successful young entrepreneurs by documenting their stories and to inspire others to consider entrepreneurship as a career path. Today it is the turn of young Polish entrepreneur, Gabriel Dymowski.

Gabriel, from Poland, studied European Business at the University of Gdansk. His hero is American businessman, investor, blogger, and author Ben Horowitz. Gabriel’s entrepreneurial spirit comes from his father. Gabriel has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. His company, DoxyChain, which currently employs 22 people, operates in the software industry and offers a blockchain-based document management system.

Tell us about your business

DoxyChain is a document management system built on blockchain. We offer a bridge between web2 and web3 for companies who looking for more transparency, more ownership, who care about data protection and want to step into the future with us. These are exciting times, we are just on the precipice of change and I am sure DoxyChain will be a big player in the transformation.

Where did you get the idea from?

Quite spontaneously, everything happened… Piotr, Marcin and I attended the “Global Legal Hackathon” and offered a solution for lawyers; a digitalised and secure answer for legal documents (like POAs) and contracts. This was the birth of DoxyChain, but only later down the road we realised that we have a solution that many can benefit from. Now we are considering how this technology we are building can shift and change document management altogether.

How old were you when you first decided you would start your own business?

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, since I was a child I’ve always created and promoted business ideas. It’s obviously part of my character and how I define myself. I finished my studies, I worked in a few jobs… but I always had this feeling that I could offer more and do more. DoxyChain is my first real serious “adult” company, which I founded 3 years ago with my partners. It started when I was only 24 years old. I felt ready and mature enough to really do this. And today, looking back, it was the best decision for me. I learn every day, I move forward, I drive my business and I hope I create real impact for our customers and potential customers.

How did you get it off the ground?

Honestly, it was hard work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears as people say. But, in terms of really getting the ball rolling I need to thank my mentor - Jacek Bajorek. He was the first person to give us money (1 million PLN) like an angel, and take me under his wing. He helped me to be brave, to have confidence in myself and to perfect the craft as a young CEO in a new industry that’s rapidly growing and evolving. Staying humble, listening and benefiting from others is a great way to start a business and not make too many mistakes.

Who did you turn to for help?

My dad is a lawyer. He isn’t the sharpest or most successful entrepreneur, but he is a dedicated and hard worker who taught me to always be the best at what I do. To optimise my processes, to excel in every path I choose. And this has been good advice. Taking pride in my work is super important to me. I wake up every morning thinking what I can do better and how we can become the best.

Describe some of the obstacles you faced as a young person starting out in this business.

One of the biggest challenges is being young. A young entrepreneur who doesn’t have a lot of experience doesn’t convince inventors as much as a seasoned entrepreneur who has some experience both success and failure. I’m honest about who I am. I know my limits and I stay true to my north star. This helps me jump through the hoops and obstacles in my way, and I know that I am in good company with my team, my advisors and our investors. Some of the biggest success stories came from young and motivated entrepreneurs who had zero experience and zero help. I have one leg up because I am lucky enough to have help when I need it.

How do you define success?

This is an exciting question that some people really forget to ask themselves. Success for me is definitely not a huge villa to come home to, or a Porsche in the garage. Success is enjoying the ride. Being surrounded by motivated, bright people who believe in what we are doing and trying to achieve. We do our best to celebrate the small steps. We take one day at a time trying to conquer the DMS world. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I already feel accomplished with what we have done so far. Every day I’m setting new goals to achieve and I won’t rest until we reach them.

What was the most challenging aspect of setting up your business?

Setting a company from a legal perspective is a piece of cake when you have lawyers all around you. What has been the most challenging and most surprising to me is setting up roles and functions. It’s not enough to have the best people with you, you also need to understand each person’s potential and give them space and tools to succeed. Not everyone can do everything or even wants to. So sitting down, defining responsibilities, agreeing on workloads, equity distribution and keeping everyone motivated, feeling valued and taking ownership is hard work.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

100% the people. People who are crazy enough to follow me, to share my vision and put in the work are probably what makes me smile every morning and gives me peace at night. I appreciate their dedication, I try not to take it for granted and I make the most of the human resource we have. My success will be their success and I am not just saying that - I will actually do it.

What are the future goals of your business, and how will you go about achieving them?

We will be the 1st choice for DMS in web3. We will onboard early adopters and we will educate the whole market, step by step. Today it might seem like a high mountain to climb, but every day we will take a few steps and together we will reach it eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs out there?

Take care of yourself and your well-being. We all run on fuel, whether it’s food, social or shelter. So being healthy in body and mind makes you stronger and fitter for this long journey. Being an entrepreneur isn’t a sprint, it's a marathon. Don’t give up on the things that make you happy, fill you up and give you comfort. Lean on friends and family and offer them the same commitment they give you.

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