They say never mix business and pleasure, yet, now and then, we meet a couple that proves the adage is worth revisiting. Real-life couple and business partners Meecan Dela Cruz and Gabriel Esguerra show that the payoff can also be amazing.

The brains behind SmartAge Solutions, Gabriel (31) and Meecan (29) are shaping up to be the couple to watch out for in the world of home and lifestyle technology. Their startup is where aesthetic and tech meet. A design-centric provider of smart home and smart glass products. It appears serendipitous: a young couple starting a life together—building a home of their own—while taking on a business endeavor focused on future-forward homes for others.

Speaking of serendipitous, Meecan considers their story as such. “Gab and I met when I visited Manila [over] Christmas 2014,” shares Meecan. Though the two started as friends, their connection, she goes on, was undeniable. The two kept in touch even after Meecan headed back to Singapore, her home base at the time. “When I returned to Manila a few months later, Gab took the opportunity to ask me out and we’ve been together ever since,” she continues. “It’s amazing how life leads us to where we are meant to be and I’m so grateful that it led me to Gab.”

In the lead-up to their engagement and ceremony in July 2022, Gabriel and Meecan embarked on a seven-year journey marked by love, growth, and adventure. “Our relationship was founded on a foundation of trust, open communication, and mutual respect, as well as a shared vision for building our dream life together,” elaborates Meecan. “Together, we faced and conquered the challenges that life hoisted our way: whether it be long distance, career changes, health struggles, or personal breakthroughs.”

Another Kind Of Partnership: Coming Together For Work

How did the two begin to get a sense that their partnership could work beyond the personal? While they had separate ventures (Gabriel owned and ran a global online boutique for luxury vintage watches and was working on a new startup; Meecan was in food franchising and ran her own accessory brand), the two discovered a shared vision for the future. In pursuit, they had their natural synergy when it came to problem-solving and decision-making to thank. This led them to explore the idea of starting a business together.

The SmartAge Solutions story began in 2018 when the young couple encountered their first immersive experience in a fully integrated smart home. “It was this experience that ignited our shared passion for future technology and its potential to elevate homes and offices,” adds Meecan. The two were captivated by the endless possibilities here.

“In 2019, we founded SmartAge Solutions with the goal of creating not just smart homes and workspaces but eventually designing and developing smart communities and smart cities in the country,” she says. “Our adventure, born out of curiosity and excitement, has grown into a vision to shape the future of technology in the Philippines.”

Here, Gab handles all aspects of the business that face the external market as the CEO. This includes sales, marketing, and product development, as well as finance, business development strategies, and building the operational systems for growth. As COO, meanwhile, Meecan focuses on managing the internal operations of the company, including HR, finance, warehousing, and inventory management.

Creating Together: Smart Homes For The Future 

As early adopters of smart home technology, Gab and Meecan had firsthand experience reaping the benefits of a fully integrated smart home. Meecan adds: “Our journey started as a personal desire to improve our own homes, but has now grown into a mission to revolutionize the integration of technology in homes and buildings in the Philippines.”

“We began to research and interview homeowners, architects, and real estate developers and discovered that many of them were looking for smart technology solutions, but didn’t know where to turn or how to integrate them into their homes,” she says. “It became clear to us that there was a significant demand for a company that could provide not only smart technology devices but expert advice on how to create a truly integrated smart home experience.”

A Partnership At Work

The early stages of running a business together were not with their own challenges, of course. In large part, this came in setting boundaries between work life and home life.

“[One] challenge is managing disagreements or conflicting ideas about the direction of the business,” admits Meecan. “To face these challenges, we make sure to set clear boundaries and expectations for our roles and responsibilities within the business, regularly discuss and evaluate our progress, goals, and any areas of concern, have open and honest communication, actively listen to each other’s perspectives—even when we disagree—and make a point of regularly taking time for ourselves and for our relationship outside of work.”

Indeed, boundaries are a great starting point for Gab and Meecan. These are punctuated by their efforts to establish clear lines of communication. In addition to the regular meetings they hold to discuss their joint venture, they make sure to set aside time to check in with each other emotionally. “This helps us to stay connected and in sync, but also to ensure that we’re not constantly thinking about work, even when we’re not in the office,” says Meecan. “It’s important for us to be mindful of how we’re feeling and to communicate those feelings to each other.” Open, honest, and consistent communication is key.

When Love, Life, and Business Take Off

As they head into 2023, Gab and Meecan, along with their SmartAge Solutions team, are charged with nothing else but excitement and optimism for the future. “Our focus is on expanding and growing our business in meaningful ways while committing ourselves to milestones that will help us reach new heights,” expounds Meecan. We are confident that through hard work and dedication, we will be able to make a real impact in the industry and create a brighter and smarter future.”

This very well translates into their personal goals, too. The two are set to celebrate their wedding this year in front of more of their friends and family.

“Last year, we had a symbolic ceremony in Lake Como, Italy, which was witnessed by two of our close friends, but this year, we look forward to sharing the joy and love with our family and friends who couldn’t be with us in Lake Como, this time in the beautiful Amankila in Bali,” shares Meecan. “I am excited about what the future holds for us and feel honored to have Gab as my partner in life as we continue to support and grow together.”

—alike.com.ph

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