Combining Three Passions to Build a Unique Business: The Story of Simón and SKOL Guitars

Every entrepreneur has a turning point—the moment they decide they want to build something of their own. For Simón, that journey began long before he could have imagined becoming the founder of SKOL Guitars, a brand that is revolutionizing the world of customizable guitars.

The Beginning of a Creative Search

Since high school, Simón knew that his future had to be tied to creativity, but he wasn’t sure how. He was passionate about building musical instruments, but at the time, there wasn’t a recognized academic path to becoming a luthier. His mother encouraged him to pursue a related field, and after an extensive eight-session vocational test, two options stood out: Industrial Design and Graphic Design.

He decided to pursue Industrial Design at the University of Palermo, and from the very first moment, he was captivated by it. He was among the first in his class to graduate, but upon finishing, his colleagues warned him: “There’s no work in product design.” Instead of giving up, he studied a second degree in Graphic Design, which ended up being his entry ticket into the job market. His skills in graphic design opened doors to jobs where he could also apply his knowledge of product design. The Experience That Changed His Mindset

Simón always had the idea of starting something of his own, of being independent, but he still didn’t know what or how. Looking for new opportunities, he moved to Miami to work for a company that produced plastic transportation cards. However, the business quickly collapsed.

The owner had failed to research the U.S. market and competition, and larger companies dominated the industry. That was a hard blow for Simón. He was entirely dependent on the company, and when it shut down, he was left without an income. He ended up working in a pizzeria, washing dishes, and doing deliveries. But instead of seeing it as a failure, he took the experience as a learning opportunity.

"Living abroad was incredible, even though at the time it felt like everything was falling apart. I adapted and moved forward," he recalls.

Returning to Argentina was tough. The unstable economy made him feel like he had to keep looking for new opportunities. That’s when he discovered the Working Holiday Visa for Australia and decided to take the next step in his adventure.

Australia: More Than an Adventure, a Professional Launchpad

In October 2019, Simón arrived in Australia with a clear goal: to establish himself professionally. He knew the country had plenty of opportunities, although most of them were in unskilled labor. But his vision was always to break into the design industry.

His first job was at Memory Block, a photo printing shop in Australian malls. He sold and printed images for customers. He had never worked in sales before, nor spoken English fluently, but the challenge motivated him to improve his language skills and develop new abilities. To speed up his learning, he avoided living with Spanish speakers for the first year, immersing himself in an English-speaking environment. Then, the pandemic hit, and like many, he lost his job.

During his free time, he decided to start his first business—a graphic design brand specializing in logos called LogUp. However, he didn’t make a single sale. “There was no market during the pandemic; nobody was investing in branding,” he recalls.

At the same time, he spent months job hunting, meticulously organizing applications in a notebook and preparing for each interview. His dedication paid off, landing him his first design job at NeoLight, where he worked on illuminated signs. The company had promised him sponsorship, but it never came through.

Simón didn’t wait around. He found another job while simultaneously launching his own LED neon sign business. He founded SoulBright, where he not only designed but also installed signs all over Sydney, setting up up to 10 signs per week.

The Birth of SKOL Guitars

While in Gold Coast, Simón landed a job at Three Worlds, a company that manufactures and designs products for circus arts (flow arts) and imports acoustic musical instruments.

There, he was able to apply his industrial design skills, but an idea started forming in his mind—combining his three passions: Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and Music.

Since childhood, his love for music had led him to imagine the perfect instrument. Now, with all the experience he had gained, he felt ready to bring it to life. He built his first guitar from

scratch, from prototyping to material selection, aesthetic design, and sound functionality. And from that moment on, he couldn’t stop thinking about how to turn this project into a business.

Simón knew he needed more tools to launch his company. In 2021, he looked for a business program that aligned with his vision, but nothing resonated with him—until his migration agent recommended Academy of Entrepreneurs (AE).

The Impact of Academy of Entrepreneurs

From day one at AE, Simón realized something crucial: understanding your market and target audience is everything. “We always think our product is for everyone, but that’s not true,” he explains. Thanks to AE, he conducted an in-depth market analysis before launching his guitar business. With the help of Debora, a business coach, he structured his venture properly.

AE’s methodology helped him validate his product before making major investments. He knew that branding was key, but he needed a scalable manufacturing process first. It took him over two years to perfect the design and production process.

The first versions of his guitar were 3D-printed, but the material was unreliable. He then tried wood, but the manual labor required was too intense. Eventually, he developed a hybrid system with a wooden core, epoxy resin, and polyurethane foam to reduce weight and minimize post-production labor. He built three guitars to validate the model.

With a validated model, cutting-edge design with no visible screws, and exceptional sound quality, in March 2025, SKOL Guitars finally made its public debut at the Melbourne Guitar Show.

The brand is redefining the industry with fully customizable models, over 120 design combinations, and an innovative system that enhances both aesthetics and functionality.

The Entrepreneurial Journey: What’s Next for SKOL Guitars?

Simón’s next big goal is to expand SKOL Guitars’ presence in the global music industry. His primary focus is online sales, providing musicians with a unique customization experience. His mission is to ensure that every guitar is not just a tool but an extension of the artist.

"The biggest challenge is sales,"

Simón admits when asked about his entrepreneurial hurdles.

"I have a lot of creative and management skills, but sales are another story. I know I have the tools, I just need to keep refining them, which is why I delegate this to my team."

A Message for Future Entrepreneurs

If he could give just one piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Simón would say:

“Don’t be afraid to start without knowing everything. Make mistakes, learn fast, and keep going.”

Today, SKOL Guitars is more than just a guitar brand. It’s proof that with passion, strategy, and resilience, any dream can become a successful business.

Support Simón and follow SKOL’s journey: https://www.instagram.com/skolguitars/

Apoya a Simon y seguí de cerca el crecimiento de Skol a través de sus redes sociales:

https://www.instagram.com/skolguitars/