Two Years at the Wheel: Driving a Business Journey

Juan Jose (JJ) Ayala
May 6
3 min read

Updated: May 7

Today May 6, 2026 marks exactly two years since Team Percepto became a formal business. Looking back on this milestone, I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my wife and daughters for their trust. They have stood by me through both the happy times and the difficult moments of this journey.

Building a company from scratch requires relentless effort. I have sent hundreds of emails, and while most remain unanswered, a few responses do come through. Every single one of these interactions has shaped my character. Along with text messages and direct calls, these efforts are how I let the world know what I am doing, and what I can do for them. Some people do not understand the idea, or simply do not want to, and I accept that completely. Every passing minute brings a new lesson.

Two years ago, I also started following Formula One racing. I have not missed a single practice, sprint, qualifying session, or race since. I view my company exactly like a Formula One team. I am not scoring points yet, but I am out there racing. I get into the car every single day, learning something new from both a technical and psychological standpoint. Formula One drivers might not win every race, but they still strap into that tight space, putting their lives at risk every time they drive out of the garage.

Our name reflects this philosophy. "Team" represents the reality that we must compete together, and "Percepto" is about how we perceive everything that life throws at our business.

This journey reminds me of meeting other founders who started with a simple idea that evolved into widely used software systems. When you connect with people who truly understand firsthand what it is to build something and what it means to drive, it changes your perspective.

As an entrepreneur, I feel like a driver myself, specifically a Formula One driver. You are solo at the wheel, but you are not entirely alone. Many people have supported me, ranging from a simple LinkedIn like, a text, or an email reply, all the way to formal business partnerships.

This entire experience is about having self-trust while traveling at 200 miles per hour on a circuit, or putting all your effort into starting a business from scratch. It means learning a 360-degree view of operations, going from zero customers to closing a deal. Let me tell you, closing a deal feels exactly like a victory in a Formula One race.

I was expressing this feeling to my daughters this morning in our way to school. As an entrepreneur, I sometimes feel like I am right on the edge of winning. I was recently in P1, leading the pack, but I spun out in the final corner, lost an inch, and a competitor took the race.

Now, I am aiming for a third season with my company. I have lost many proposals, and I have won some. I will get back into that car and keep racing. I have questioned myself, why am I not winning? But in my mind, I overcome that with a winning mentality. If I do not race, I will never win.

This reminds me of Nico Hülkenberg. After 14 to 15 years of being a Formula One driver, he achieved his first-ever Formula One podium at the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on his 239th race start. What a lesson, what a lesson. You have to keep driving and keep scoring points. Someday your time will come, you will get a podium position, and someday you will win the constructors' championship.

Thank you to all those who have supported me and my business. I am blessed to have all these experiences under my arm. I will keep driving because in the next season when the stats reset again, I have the potential to accumulate points and someday win the championship.