In the dynamic world of startups in social media, success hinges on more than just a good idea, it requires the right mindset, innovative technology, and meaningful connections with your audience. Gaston Corbala, founder of The Backpackster, shares invaluable insights that redefine advertising by blending passion, purpose, and cutting-edge tech. His journey from entrepreneurship at a young age to creating a revolutionary advertising platform offers lessons that every entrepreneur and business owner can learn from.
1. Embrace the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Acceptance and Adaptability
Gaston’s entrepreneurial journey began at the tender age of eight, driven by a simple observation: the nearest convenience store was miles away, so he created a small shop in his parents’ garage to serve his neighborhood. This early experience ignited his passion for solving problems and adapting to changing circumstances.
One of the most crucial lessons he highlights for surviving and thriving as a business owner is acceptance. Accepting the reality of your situation, especially when things don’t go as planned, allows you to discard rigid expectations and focus on finding solutions. Gaston says, “I’ve learned to change directions without affecting my mindset.” This adaptability is essential in the unpredictable landscape of startups in social media and beyond.
His father, who started selling candies and tortillas on the streets as a child, instilled in him a determination that is fundamental for any entrepreneur. Gaston reflects, “Fear is a price we have to pay for wisdom.” Embracing fear and change instead of resisting them opens the door to growth and new opportunities.
2. Defining Success Beyond Monetary Gains
Many equate success with financial achievements, but Gaston offers a refreshing perspective. To him, success is about accomplishing what seems impossible and creating positive impacts, even if it’s as simple as putting a smile on someone’s face.
“Success for me is achieving that which is impossible to achieve. Even if it’s putting a smile on someone’s face, that is success to me.”
During his time running a successful chain of restaurants in Southern California, the moment of true success wasn’t the multi-million dollar revenue but seeing customers return happily because the food consistently delivered joy. The energy and intention behind the product matter just as much as the bottom line.
This mindset is crucial for startups in social media, where the pressure to focus on metrics and ROI can overshadow the importance of genuine connection and user experience.
3. The Birth of The Backpackster: Innovation Rooted in Purpose
The Backpackster originated during the COVID-19 lockdown when Gaston and his partner were brainstorming ways to attract customers to a ghost kitchen project. Their search for innovative advertising mediums led them to discover a technology that would evolve into The Backpackster, a wearable, intelligent advertising backpack.
Gaston compares building this startup to the culinary concept of mise en place, which means having everything in place before cooking. He spent over two and a half years bringing together the right people, technology, and strategy to create a platform that goes beyond traditional advertising, focusing on meaningful, location-based engagement.
They are currently seeking $500,000 in investment, not just for capital, but for synergy and partnerships that align with their vision. Gaston emphasizes that the right investor is one who understands and supports the company’s mission, not just someone who can provide money.
4. The Backpackster Explained: A Smart, Mobile Advertising Revolution
At its core, The Backpackster is an intelligent backpack equipped with a digital screen that dynamically displays targeted advertisements based on the wearer’s location. Users receive the backpack at home, connect it to an app, and activate it in designated areas to start walking and earning money by showcasing ads.
This approach offers advertisers unprecedented data accuracy and reach, including targeting “off-the-grid” individuals who don’t carry mobile devices. Unlike traditional online ads, which often suffer from bot traffic and questionable engagement, The Backpackster provides real-world, verifiable interactions.
Moreover, it creates a new income opportunity for people who lack access to cars or driver’s licenses—the 16% of Americans who cannot easily participate in gig economy jobs like rideshare driving. By simply walking with the backpack, they can earn money, promoting inclusivity and economic empowerment.
5. Overcoming Challenges: Believing in Yourself and Your Vision
One of the hardest parts of Gaston’s journey was believing in himself and the concept of The Backpackster, especially given the time, money, and family sacrifices involved. He candidly shares the internal struggle of investing energy into something uncertain, emphasizing the importance of aligning your work with your life purpose.
“The difficult part for me was believing in myself and what I was about to start building,” he explains. Success is not about immediate financial returns but about pursuing a mission that energizes you and makes you feel alive.
Gaston’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship requires resilience, passion, and a willingness to face uncertainty head-on.
6. The Future of Advertising: Beyond Bots and Social Media Limitations
Social media advertising is often praised for its reach, but Gaston highlights significant pitfalls: unreliable data due to bot traffic, inconsistent algorithm performance, and difficulty verifying genuine engagement. He notes that AI-generated bots are proliferating, making it harder for brands to trust their online metrics.
In contrast, The Backpackster offers a tangible, offline advertising medium with precise targeting capabilities. Advertisers can choose locations based on pre-analyzed data and track live impressions, including emotional responses from viewers, through aggregated and contextual data collected by the backpack’s sensors.
This approach could revolutionize how brands measure return on investment (ROI) by focusing on real-world interactions rather than virtual clicks, providing clarity and reliability missing in many social media campaigns.
7. Revitalizing QR Codes: Enhancing User Engagement Creatively
QR codes have faced backlash due to overuse and poor implementation during the pandemic, often perceived as inconvenient or intrusive. Gaston, however, is a passionate advocate for QR codes when used creatively and thoughtfully.
His team has developed animated, isometric QR codes that integrate seamlessly into the user experience, providing rewards, sweepstakes, local business offers, or exclusive content upon scanning. This approach turns QR codes into engaging, interactive touchpoints rather than annoying obstacles.
With The Backpackster, QR codes become part of the advertising experience, enabling artists or brands to offer limited edition content accessible only through the backpack’s location-based ads. This creates intimate, targeted marketing campaigns that drive deeper consumer engagement.
Final Recommendations
Gaston Corbala’s journey with The Backpackster exemplifies how startups in social media can transcend conventional boundaries by embracing purpose, technology, and a strong entrepreneurial mindset. By focusing on real-world connections, innovative hardware, and meaningful engagement, you can create a startup that not only survives but thrives in today’s complex advertising landscape.
Remember, success is not solely measured by revenue but by the impact you make and the challenges you overcome. Whether you’re building a tech startup or crafting a new marketing strategy, let Gaston’s insights inspire you to embrace change, believe in your vision, and innovate boldly.
For more inspiration and to connect with Gaston Corbala, you can find him on LinkedIn or visit The Backpackster website.
Watch the full podcast here: Mindset to succeed as a startup and bots in social media | Gaston Corbala | DoneMaker Podcast
Frequently Asked Questions
The Backpackster is a wearable, location-aware advertising platform that displays dynamic ads based on where the wearer walks. Unlike traditional ads, it provides real-world engagement data, reaches people off the grid, and offers advertisers precise targeting with emotional impression analytics.
It creates new income opportunities for individuals without cars or driver’s licenses by allowing them to earn money simply by walking while wearing the backpack. This inclusivity addresses a gap in gig economy jobs and supports economic empowerment.
A resilient mindset centered on acceptance, adaptability, and purpose helps entrepreneurs navigate challenges and uncertainties. Believing in your vision beyond financial metrics fuels perseverance and innovation.
Yes, when used creatively. Animated and interactive QR codes can enhance user engagement by offering rewards, exclusive content, or localized offers, transforming them into valuable marketing tools rather than annoyances.
By focusing on offline, location-based advertising with real-time impression tracking and emotional analytics, The Backpackster offers advertisers transparent and reliable data, minimizing issues caused by bots and fake online engagement.
