Gabriel Massuh Isaías is a Chilean-Ecuadorian businessman and founder of Bagno. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he arrived in Chile with a background shaped by agriculture, business education and the ability to identify opportunities in a market different from his own.
His journey offers a practical example of what it means to start a business abroad: adapting to new rules, building trust from zero and turning experience into long-term growth.
Table of Contents
1. Observe the market before trying to enter it
One of the first mistakes people make when starting a business abroad is assuming that a good idea is enough. An idea may be strong, but if it does not connect with the needs of the new market, it will be difficult to sustain over time.
Before moving forward, it is important to observe: what people consume, how they buy, what they value, what their habits are, which products are missing and which problems are still not being solved properly.
In the case of Gabriel Massuh Isaías, that reading of the market was essential. His experience in agriculture helped him identify a possible connection between Ecuador and Chile: products that had origin and production in one country, and constant demand in the other.
But the opportunity was not only about bringing something different to the market; it was about understanding how that product could become part of the daily life of Chilean consumers.
Starting a business in another country requires listening before acting. Sometimes, the market is already giving signals. The challenge is knowing how to read them.
2. Adapt your idea to the place where you want to grow
An idea that works in one country will not necessarily work the same way in another. Rules change, timing changes, customers change, sales channels change, expectations change and even the way trust is built can be different.
That is why starting a business outside your country of origin is not about copying a formula. It is about adapting it. You need to understand which part of the original idea should remain and which part needs to change in order to respond to a new context.
Massuh’s career reflects that ability to adapt. His perspective combined agricultural knowledge, business vision and an understanding of the Chilean market. That combination helped him turn an opportunity into an operation capable of lasting over time.
In other words, having a good proposal is not enough. That proposal also needs to make sense for the people, companies and customers in the country where you want to grow.
3. Build trust from the most basic actions
When you start a business in a new country, trust is not automatic. It has to be built from the ground up, and often through simple but consistent actions: keeping promises, responding on time, maintaining quality and showing seriousness at every stage.
In industries connected to supply and distribution, this becomes even more important. A client does not need only one good delivery; they need to know they can rely on the company again and again.
Gabriel Massuh Isaías has built his career in an industry where trust is proven through action. Every order, every coordination and every commercial relationship becomes part of a reputation that is not built overnight.
“When you build a business far from your home country, trust is not something you demand. It is something you earn every day, even through the details no one sees.”
That idea reflects one of the most important lessons for anyone who wants to start a business abroad: before asking for credibility, you have to prove it.
4. Surround yourself with people who understand the local market
No one builds a company alone, especially in a new market. Starting a business in another country requires building relationships with people who understand the local culture, processes, customers, suppliers and ways of operating.
A strong team, a reliable supplier or a client who shares practical knowledge can help avoid mistakes and open doors that are not always visible from the outside.
The story of Gabriel Massuh Isaías also speaks to the importance of that network. His business growth cannot be explained only through the figure of the founder, but also through the ability to work with producers, teams, distributors, clients and commercial partners.
When you arrive in a different country, surrounding yourself with the right people is not a minor detail. It is part of the strategy. A company may begin with a personal vision, but it only grows when it manages to bring others into the journey.
Prepare yourself for legal and cultural differences
Before launching a business in another country, it is important to understand that commercial success depends on more than identifying a good product or service.
Every market has its own legal requirements, tax obligations, employment regulations, import procedures and standards of operation. Ignoring these differences can create delays, unexpected costs or difficulties that could have been avoided with better preparation.
Cultural differences are equally important. The way people negotiate, make decisions, communicate and evaluate a business relationship may vary considerably from one country to another. A communication style that works well in the entrepreneur’s country of origin may not produce the same results in the new market. Learning to listen, asking questions and showing respect for local practices can make the process much easier.
For an entrepreneur arriving from abroad, professional advice can be extremely valuable. Accountants, lawyers, consultants and experienced local partners can help clarify responsibilities and reduce operational risks. Their support does not replace the founder’s vision, but it provides the practical knowledge necessary to turn that vision into a sustainable company.
Preparation also includes creating a realistic financial plan. Starting a business in another country may involve higher initial expenses, longer waiting periods and unexpected adjustments.
It is therefore essential to estimate not only the investment required to begin operations, but also the resources needed to survive while the business is building its customer base.
This additional preparation connects with the broader lessons of Gabriel Massuh Isaías’s experience. Adapting to a new country involves understanding its market, but also its institutions, culture and commercial expectations.
The more prepared an entrepreneur is, the greater the possibility of transforming uncertainty into a genuine opportunity.
5. Be patient: building in another country takes time
Starting a business outside your own country can be challenging because everything may take longer than expected. You have to learn how the market works, make mistakes, adjust, insist and start again when something does not go as planned.
In that context, patience is not passivity. It is the ability to sustain an idea while it adapts, improves and matures.
In Gabriel Massuh Isaías’s career, consistency appears as a central element. His story is a reminder that businesses that endure are not built only with initial enthusiasm, but with discipline, daily work and a long-term vision.
Every step matters when building in another country. A commercial relationship, a satisfied client, an improved process or a well-executed delivery may seem small at first, but over time those actions help build something much larger.
That same logic is part of what it means to build a successful business: understanding that growth is usually the result of many consistent decisions, not a single perfect moment.
Starting far from home can also become an advantage
The story of Gabriel Massuh Isaías shows that starting a business in another country does not mean starting without roots. On the contrary, it often means taking what was learned in the country of origin and applying it intelligently in a new market.
His experience connects two worlds: his early relationship with Ecuadorian agriculture and his business development in Chile. That combination allowed him to see opportunities from a different perspective and build a career marked by adaptation, trust and perseverance.
Starting a business outside your own country can be difficult, but it can also open a broader way of thinking. It forces you to observe more carefully, listen more, build stronger relationships and understand that a company does not grow simply by entering a new market. It grows when it learns how to become part of it.
