10/06/2026
He Built a Craigslist Competitor in Brazil | The Cataqui Story
What does it really take to build a successful startup without unlimited money, a famous name, or a rich uncle?
Pars Barghandan is a five-time tech founder with two exits, and his journey is anything but overnight success.
From building multiple technology companies to launching Cataqui, a marketplace designed to help people find local gigs and side hustles, Pars shares the failures, founder conflicts, market-testing lessons, guerrilla marketing strategies, and hard-earned insights behind building startups.
In this episode of the GLOVISOR Podcast, Pars explains why so many startups fail before they ever get the chance to succeed, and why founders should focus on finding the problem before building the solution.
He also reveals how he and his co-founder entered the Brazilian market with Cataqui using unconventional guerrilla marketing, including creative QR-code campaigns, local communities, WhatsApp, subway locations, and even a push-up competition.
Cataqui is designed as a marketplace where people can find gigs when they need extra income or want to work independently. Pars describes it as a "Tinder for gigs," where users can find opportunities, connect with the person posting the job, complete the work, and get paid.
You'll discover:
๐ฅ Why Pars says founder conflict was behind most of his startup failures
๐ก Why you should solve a problem before building a product
๐ How to test a startup idea without spending huge amounts of money
๐ฏ Why timing can matter as much as innovation
๐ฃ How guerrilla marketing can create momentum with limited resources
๐ง๐ท Why Pars chose Brazil as the first market for Cataqui
๐ฑ How WhatsApp became part of Cataqui's strategy
๐ฒ The unusual QR-code strategy that generated significant traffic
๐๏ธ How a push-up competition became a customer acquisition campaign
๐ How Cataqui solved the marketplace "chicken and egg" problem
๐ผ What Pars learned from building five technology companies
๐ How networking, timing, innovation, and PR contributed to two successful exits
๐ฐ Why you don't need a wealthy family or massive funding to start a business
โก Why persistence may be one of the most important traits of an entrepreneur
Pars also shares what Cataqui needed next as it prepared for a broader launch, including marketing talent, developers, operations, HR, and experienced executives who understand the Latin American market.
The central message is simple:
You don't need unlimited money to start. You need to learn, test, adapt, and keep going.
Whether you're a startup founder, entrepreneur, small-business owner, or someone thinking about launching your first business, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at what building companies really looks like.
๐ค CONNECT WITH PARS BARGHANDAN
๐ Cataqui: https://cataqui.com
๐ Website: https://parsbarghandan.com
๐ผ LinkedIn: Search "Pars Barghandan"
Mention Glovisor when reaching out ๐ค If you'd like a personal introduction or have questions about working with them, feel free to reach out to us, and we'd be happy to connect you.
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โฑ๏ธ CHAPTERS
00:00 The "Tinder for Gigs"
00:37 Meet Pars Barghandan
01:52 Why Startups Don't Become Google Overnight
03:54 Why Most Startups Fail
05:20 How to Test a Startup Idea
06:45 The Power of Guerrilla Marketing
07:27 How Pars Built Two Successful Exits
10:05 Inside Cataqui
11:57 The Challenge of Marketplace Payments
13:45 Why Cataqui Chose Brazil
16:14 Guerrilla Marketing in Brazil
20:00 Cataqui's Early Traction
23:03 Pars' Advice for Entrepreneurs
24:21 How to Connect With Pars