“Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning from it.”

Entrepreneur, coach and property business leader Alexi Pittalis shares how his family’s Cypriot roots shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, why failure became his greatest teacher, and what every aspiring founder should know before starting a business.

Q: Your entrepreneurial journey has strong family roots. Tell us where it all began.

It really started with my grandfather. He came to the UK from a small village in the Troodos Mountains with very little but a huge amount of ambition. He worked his way up from washing dishes to becoming a chartered accountant before building a successful property portfolio and later establishing businesses in Cyprus.

Growing up, he was my first example of what entrepreneurship looked like. His determination, work ethic and willingness to take risks inspired me from an early age. I didn’t particularly enjoy school and always felt I wanted to build something of my own rather than follow a traditional career path.

Alongside working in our family property business, I started my own ventures after university, simply because I wanted to learn through doing.

Q: What has been your biggest lesson as an entrepreneur?

Without question, shutting down my first businesses.

At the time it felt like failure, but looking back it was probably the most valuable experience I’ve had. I’d tied my identity to the success of those businesses, so when they didn’t work out, I felt as though I’d failed as a person.

Over time I realised entrepreneurship is full of rejection, setbacks and uncertainty. The founders who succeed aren’t the ones who avoid failure, they’re the ones who learn from it, adapt and keep moving forward. That shift in mindset changed everything for me.

Q: You now coach founders and entrepreneurs. What led you in that direction?

During that difficult period I asked myself a simple question: ‘When do I feel most alive?’

The answer wasn’t building products or chasing sales, it was having meaningful conversations with other entrepreneurs.

That led me to launch a podcast where I interviewed founders and high performers. One theme kept coming up: the impact coaching had made on their lives and businesses.

I realised I’d always enjoyed helping people think more clearly, so I trained as a coach. Five years later I genuinely love what I do, supporting ambitious founders as they navigate the challenges that come with building businesses.

Q: What’s the biggest misconception about entrepreneurship?

That it’s easy, or that success happens quickly.

Social media often celebrates the success stories, but rarely shows the years of uncertainty, sacrifice and resilience behind them.

Entrepreneurship can be incredibly rewarding, but it also demands patience, self-awareness and persistence. If you start a business purely to make money, you’ll probably struggle when things become difficult.

If you do it because you love solving problems, creating something meaningful and continually learning, you’re much more likely to enjoy the journey.

Q: What advice would you give someone with a great idea but limited resources?

Start.

People spend years waiting for the perfect time, the perfect funding or the perfect plan. The truth is you’ll learn far more by taking action than by thinking about it.

Find your first customer. Test your idea. Listen to feedback and keep improving.

Even if it doesn’t work, you’ll gain experience that no amount of planning can teach you.

Q: How important have mentors been throughout your career?

Incredibly important.

The best mentors don’t simply tell you what to do, they ask better questions. They help you think differently, challenge your assumptions and encourage you to find your own answers.

I’ve also learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people who understand the entrepreneurial journey. Building a business can feel lonely, but having a strong community makes an enormous difference.

Q: How has your Cypriot heritage influenced your outlook?

It’s given me an enormous appreciation for resilience and community.

The generation before us arrived with very little and built opportunities through hard work, determination and by helping one another. My grandfather never forgot where he came from, and people still tell me stories about how he quietly helped them when they first arrived in the UK.

That’s something I’ve always admired.

The Cypriot community has a wonderful tradition of sharing knowledge, supporting one another and celebrating each other’s success. I think there’s a lot we can all learn from that spirit.

Q: One piece of advice for the next generation of entrepreneurs?

Don’t be afraid of failure.

Every setback teaches you something about yourself. If you’re willing to keep learning, keep growing and stay true to what matters to you, failure becomes part of the journey, not the end of it.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.