When I started Holafly with Pedro, we weren’t aiming to disrupt an industry. We just wanted to solve a problem that kept getting in the way of our own adventures: staying connected while traveling. What began as a personal frustration has become a global solution: helping over 15 million people connect seamlessly in more than 200 destinations.
Pedro and I met when I was his Chinese teacher. We became friends, and not long after, decided to take a trip together. That’s when we encountered the same headache every time: confusing SIM card options, airport kiosks with fine print, and the dreaded roaming charges that arrived long after the trip ended. We realized the real problem wasn’t access, it was the experience. That moment planted the seed for what would later become Holafly.
Whether it was unreliable local SIM cards, airport kiosks with confusing offers, or the dreaded roaming bill that showed up once you got home, it always felt unnecessarily difficult and expensive. We realized the real problem wasn’t access. It was experience.
We launched Holafly in 2018 with a clear mission: make mobile data abroad easy, transparent, and traveler-first. No fine print, no physical SIM swapping, no guessing games.
In the early days, it was all hands on deck. We packed physical SIM cards ourselves, responded to customer emails, and juggled logistics from our living rooms. But when eSIM technology started gaining ground, we saw an opportunity — not just to improve the experience, but to make it more sustainable, scalable, and immediate. Travelers could now install an eSIM in seconds, and be online the moment they landed.
What started as a side project quickly became something bigger than we could have imagined. Of course, the journey was far from linear.
We wore every hat and made every mistake. But each challenge taught us something new, about technology, about leadership, and about people. Founding a startup means constantly learning, adapting, and doing the unglamorous work — often all in the same day.
What’s surprised me most is how fast the travel tech landscape evolves. To lead with purpose, we had to stay nimble while staying rooted in our mission. Holafly today is more than a digital product; it’s a global team working asynchronously, across time zones and cultures, united by one vision: making internet access seamless for anyone, anywhere.
As a co-founder, my role has shifted from problem-solver to culture-builder. My focus now is ensuring that as we grow, we remain human; empathetic, resilient, and curious. We’re proudly remote-first, and growing fast. Pedro and I’s role today looks very different from when we first started. It’s less about fixing problems and more about building a culture, setting a long-term vision, and making sure we grow without losing our human side.
Because ultimately, behind every data plan is a traveler with a story. And that’s what drives me. Travel is more than a destination, it’s a feeling. If Holafly can help someone feel safe, seen, and free to explore the world on their terms, then we’ve done our job.
