Clément Vanacker is an entrepreneur in every sense: curious, resilient, and constantly evolving. From his early days of launching a business with no experience to building a thriving blog and now developing an innovative project that makes shopping easier, he has embraced both failure and success as stepping stones. What sets him apart is his ability to pivot, learn, and push forward.
Originally from France, Clément settled in Austria in 2014. Since he joined the SEA community two years ago, he’s been an incredible presence. Every time we meet, I walk away with something valuable. I think that Clément truly embodies what it means to be an entrepreneur, and I was very excited to talk to him about his journey.
Clément’s path to Austria began in 2011 in France when he met his future wife, Anna, an Austrian, on an Erasmus exchange. After a few years in France, they both relocated to Austria. With a background in finance, he has spent over 14 years supporting operational teams with financial topics and currently works part-time at Swarovski. But deep down, he has always been drawn to entrepreneurship, experimenting with different ideas while juggling his corporate job.
In 2016, Clément launched his first business. With no experience in marketing or running a company, he had to learn everything from scratch: how to attract visitors, how to sell, and how to test a concept. While the venture wasn’t a success and closed quickly, it gave him valuable lessons about business and adaptability.
In 2017, he started training for a triathlon with the goal of completing an Ironman at least once in his life (a grueling combination of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.2 km running). This experience shaped his mindset: persistence, preparation, and the ability to pivot when things don’t go as planned.
His love for triathlons led him to create a blog to document his journey. He wanted to provide information he wished he had when starting out. Over the years, he experimented, built a worldwide race calendar, and even developed an app. The challenge was monetization. In 2022, his blog finally took off, reaching 80,000 monthly visits, ranking high on Google, and generating income through ads and affiliate marketing.
Despite the blog’s success, Clément always looked for new ways to innovate. In late 2023, he started working on clévany: a smart backpack that transforms into a trolley. This time, he took a more structured approach: refining the concept, interviewing potential customers, and working with experts.
What motivated you to move from France to Austria, and how did that transition shape your business journey?
Clément: I was ready for a new challenge, and I wanted to learn German, so I started searching for jobs in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. I landed a job in Austria, just 40 km from where my girlfriend, now wife, grew up. The transition from France to Austria was challenging, especially with the language barrier. I quickly realized that the Tyrolean dialect and the German I had learned in school were two very different things.
Moving to Austria expanded my perspective significantly. The network I built along the way has been invaluable, both personally and professionally.
You mentioned starting your first business in Austria in 2016. What were some key lessons you learned from that experience?
Clément: Yes, in 2016, I had the idea to launch a book subscription service where customers would receive a curated selection of books each month. At the time, I was still working full-time, and I thought it was a great concept, something I wished existed myself. I assumed others would appreciate the convenience of having books handpicked for them.
But the reality of running a business hit me quickly. I had to learn everything from scratch: how to create a website, how to drive traffic, and how to convert visitors into subscribers. It was a steep learning curve.
One of the biggest lessons I took away was the importance of properly testing an idea. I validated it with friends and family, and while their support was nice, it wasn’t what I really needed. Looking back, I needed someone to challenge me and tell me the hard truth. In hindsight, it was a terrible idea. Something any experienced entrepreneur would have spotted immediately.
The demand was low, there were plenty of alternative solutions, the business model was weak, and the logistics were complicated.
I ended up closing the business quite fast. At the time, I was still employed full-time, so there was no major financial risk, but it did teach me the importance of doing thorough market research and planning before diving into something new.
Can you tell us more about the Ironman event you completed in 2024 and how that journey influenced your business mindset?
Clément: In 2024, I completed an Ironman triathlon—a race consisting of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.2 km running—which was a massive personal achievement. It was something I had in mind since I started training for it in 2017. The training for this event really pushed me to my limits, not just physically but also mentally. I had to set clear goals and overcome setbacks, which are lessons that directly translated into my business mindset.
During training, I learned a lot about consistency and the importance of structure in achieving long-term goals. Each session had a purpose, whether it was swimming, biking, or running, and I had to stick to a schedule to build endurance. I started applying this kind of structured approach to my business too: setting specific goals and breaking them down into manageable tasks. I learned that success doesn’t come overnight but rather through consistent, incremental progress.
The Ironman experience also taught me about resilience. There were plenty of times during training when I felt like giving up—sometimes exhausted, mentally drained, and even injured. But pushing through those setbacks made me stronger, and I began to see parallels in business. There are always going to be difficult times when you feel like quitting or when things aren’t going as planned, but the key is to keep going, keep refining your approach, and keep learning from the setbacks.
Another crucial lesson was finding the right balance between intensity and recovery. Ironman training isn’t just about pushing yourself constantly; rest and recovery are just as essential. I realized the same applies to business, it’s not about non-stop hustle and burnout, but about maintaining a sustainable pace, knowing when to push hard, and when to step back and recharge.
You pivoted your triathlon website several times. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when building it, and what did you learn from those struggles?
Clément: Indeed, I pivoted a lot of times over the years, and that ability to adapt has actually become one of my biggest strengths. I am not afraid to experiment, fail, and try something new.
When I started triathlon, I had to learn everything about the sport: the rules, the training, the gear, the nutrition, and the mental aspects. At that time, there was not a lot of good information about it online. I thought, why not document the journey and maybe help others along the way? But turning it into something sustainable was a whole different challenge.
The advantage of being in the sport myself was that I knew the market was sizable, and triathletes were willing to invest in improving.
At first, I wasn’t confident enough to become a coach, as I was still a beginner, so I pursued two ideas in parallel:
Building a race calendar where triathletes could easily find races worldwide.
Write useful content based on what I was learning
The race calendar solved an issue I faced several times: Where can I race? I built an interactive map with filters and shared it online. Triathletes loved it, but I had two issues: it was time-consuming to update thousands of races manually each year, and triathletes were not willing to pay for access.
I tried to involve other triathletes and race organisers to help me update the races. I used different software and even hired developers to create iOS and Android apps. I pivoted multiple times until I found something that worked: a partnership with a French triathlon magazine. We made my tool available to their audience and shared the ad revenue. It ended up being a great partnership for both of us for over 5 years.
At the same time, I worked on the content side. Inspired by Pat Flynn (an entrepreneur I learned about when I was building my first startup), I decided to launch my website with a compilation of stories from more experienced athletes. I reached out to more than 100 triathletes, asking them what they wished they had known before doing their first triathlon. The response was incredible, I received 50 answers from amateurs, professionals, and even world champions. Sharing their humble beginnings gave my website a strong initial push.
On the day I posted that article, my site got immediate traction from those 50 triathletes and their friends. But after a week, traffic dropped significantly. I spent weeks optimizing my website design and speed. I believed that a fast-loading site would improve my Google ranking. Well, that might generally play a role, but it turned out that good content is what really drives traffic.
I also experimented with a Facebook group and an Instagram account, but it was something that I simply disliked to do, and where I felt I couldn’t be myself. I kept trying different approaches, such as partnerships with other companies for giveaways, with mixed results.
How did you manage to finally generate 80,000 visits per month to your blog? What strategies did you implement to achieve this growth?
Clément: The biggest turning point came when I shifted my approach to content creation. Instead of writing about topics I thought triathletes should learn, I focused on what they were actually searching for.
Since I had been a beginner not long before, I knew exactly what kind of questions I had searched for when getting into the sport. So, I started writing about those topics and committed to writing one article a day for 30 days. Once I saw some traction on one topic, I expanded into it. I wrote over 100 articles in English and translated the best performing ones in German and French.
Back then, I was part of a blogger community with people of various experience levels. That’s where I learned that Google usually took 6 to 8 months to rank new websites, and that’s exactly what happened to mine. After posting consistently for over six months, I saw a snowball effect. Eventually, my site ranked #1 on Google for several of the biggest triathlon-related searches in three different languages.
So, it was a mix of learning from more experienced entrepreneurs, thinking strategically, and building consistency that helped me reach such an audience every month.
How do/did you find a balance between triathlon training, your job, entrepreneurial ventures, and your life with two children and your wife?
Clément: For years, I tried to master multitasking and find a perfect work/life balance, but I realized that this approach didn’t make me happy. Instead, I felt constrained in both aspects of my life.
I have found that what works best for me is living in waves of focus, going all-in on one thing at a time. Sometimes, I’m fully immersed in a big work project; other times, I take a step back to reset. I don’t feel guilty or bad about taking a rest because I know that it helps me in the long run. This approach is what keeps me sane.
But I am not going to lie; from time to time, it is really tough. During the peak of my Ironman training, I pushed myself to the absolute limit, there were simply not enough hours in a week. To manage everything, I implemented the concept of the "ideal week" in my calendar, where I blocked out dedicated slots for training, work, and personal life. This helped both my wife and me visualize our schedule and make intentional decisions about how we spent our time during those intense weeks.
By living in waves, I can prioritize what truly matters instead of being mediocre at everything. A great example of this was when I considered becoming a triathlon coach. I loved helping other triathletes, and it seemed like a logical next step after my blog’s traffic declined due to Google algorithm changes and the rise of AI-generated content. I went all in, getting certified by both the USA Triathlon and Ironman. But I quickly realized that most amateur triathletes could only talk to me in the evenings or on weekends, precisely the time I wanted to spend with my family. Pursuing this path would have meant sacrificing my personal life, and that wasn’t something I was willing to do long-term. That’s why I’m completely at peace with closing my triathlon business in the coming months. It’s simply not my priority anymore; the current wave I’m riding is clévany.
I don’t have it all figured out, but this approach works for me, and I continue to refine it as I go.
What can you tell us about your experiences with self-employment in Austria, and what helped you on the way?
Clément: Unfortunately, as is the case in many countries, it’s much easier to work for a company in Austria than to build your own business. I have a lot of respect for entrepreneurs who have managed to overcome all the challenges.
One of the biggest hurdles I faced was understanding the system. Austria has a lot of regulations and organizations involved. Navigating them as a foreigner can be quite overwhelming, especially when German isn’t your mother tongue.
One day, while searching online for answers, I came across the Self-Employed in Austria (SEA) website.
At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but once I started exploring the platform, I realized I had found exactly what I needed. At that time, I had just moved to Vienna and needed help building my coaching business.
I loved it for three reasons:
Access to the Self Employment in Austria guide. Having a clear, structured guide in English was a blessing.
Access to experts. There are probably hundreds of business consultants and tax advisors in Vienna, but I wanted someone I could trust. I didn’t have the time to interview multiple people, and knowing that SEA had recommended experts gave me confidence. These professionals helped me structure my businesses properly and ultimately saved me thousands of euros.
Access to the SEA meetups. Self-employment can be quite lonely. I wanted to connect with other entrepreneurs who are going through similar struggles and help each other.
Looking back, I originally thought that self-employment was about doing everything on your own, but now that I am scaling my third business, I see it very differently. I am building a support system around me and focusing on what I am really good at.
It’s lovely to hear that SEA has been helpful! Let’s jump to your current exciting project, clévany – tell us all about it and the process.
Clément: Absolutely. I am really excited about this project. It was born from a problem my wife and I faced.
When we moved to Vienna, we were impressed by its excellent public transportation system and even decided to sell our car. For a year, we didn’t miss it. That was until my two daughters outgrew their strollers, which we used for shopping.
At that time, I was 34 and felt far too young for a traditional shopping trolley, which I found old-fashioned. I would have been ashamed to use one. It turned out I was not the only one.
At first, I had the idea to create a more stylish version of a shopping trolley, but I soon realized they weren’t designed for someone like me, a commuter who shops on the go.
That’s when I had the idea to build a convertible backpack/trolley that is both stylish and practical. The idea is that you could, for example, use it to carry your laptop to the office and go grocery shopping on your way home.
I pivoted several times and even considered quitting. But the good thing about Vienna is that every time I went outside, I could see some old-fashioned trolleys, and it reminded me why I started clévany in the first place.
Unlike my previous businesses, where I tried to do most on my own, I took a completely different approach with this one. I am working now with a team of experts. To be totally honest, I was also kind of forced. I knew what I wanted to build, but I am not a backpack designer and have no talent in drawings.
I partnered with a world-class backpack designer, and together, we are bringing my vision to life.
Right now, I am working on the third prototype and filing a patent with my attorney, and as we are getting closer to launching, I am also building my team further.
What has the process of obtaining a patent for your backpack been like, and what advice do you have for other entrepreneurs navigating the patenting process in Austria?
Clément: I didn’t know anything about IP (Intellectual Property) a few months ago, so it has been a journey! I was pleasantly surprised by how much support there is in Austria for navigating this process.
I lost a lot of time because I didn’t know where to look or who to contact. So, for anyone who thinks of having an innovative concept, here are the steps I’d recommend:
Don’t talk openly about your invention until you go through all the steps and your patent is filed. For about four months, I had my partners sign NDAs and didn’t openly discuss the invention. It’s frustrating but crucial for protecting your idea.
Visit the Patentamt website. A lot of information on IP protection is available, most of it available in English. I also attended one of their free workshops, which gave me a really good overview of trademarks, design, and patents.
Register for a free discovery IP session. In my case, two experts looked at my business and guided me on my next steps regarding IP protection.
If, like me, it turns out that your invention is quite innovative and might be patented, you can apply for the FFG Patent.Scheck funding. The process has two phases: The first validates whether your idea is truly innovative and checks if something similar already exists. The second phase covers filing the patent with a patent attorney. FFG will cover 80% of the costs, up to €10,000, which is a huge help.
I’m currently filing my patent in Austria. Once that’s done, I can decide where else to file it internationally. One thing I didn’t know is that there’s no such thing as a worldwide patent; registering in each country can get very expensive. So, my plan is to expand strategically.
What funding opportunities have you explored for your startup, and how did you find out about them?
Clément: As mentioned before, I received the FFG Patent. Scheck (up to 10,000€ for the patent), and 1,000€ from EUIPO (for the trademark). I am currently applying for a program with the Vienna Business Agency.
I got to know about those through my network in Vienna, mainly from other self-employed persons in the SEA community, and I also had a call with the startup service from the WKO.
There are a lot of other funding sources available, but I just didn’t fit the objectives of those.
Besides financial help, I also received knowledge and support, which I consider equally important.
I was part of the Founders Lab - Creative Industries from the Vienna Business Agency. It is a program that runs over four months. It helped refine my idea and connect with other founders in the same industry. I’d highly recommend finding such a program to anyone.
I’ve received coaching from Vienna Business Agency, access to IP experts with discovery IP, and a lot of help from people in the SEA community as well as in the Austrian Startup community. The connections and insights I’ve gained have been invaluable.
Thank you so much for sharing about clévany – I’m excited to hear all the updates, and we’re all rooting for you and supporting your project. To wrap up, here is a question that I ask everyone: Which tools help you with managing everyday life and work?
Clément: As you know, I’m always eager to try new tools to help grow my businesses. It’s a bit ironic that the rise of AI-generated websites disrupted my triathlon business, but at the same time, it has been incredibly helpful in building clévany.
Here are some of the most interesting apps I’m currently using:
1. Calendar App: I rely heavily on my calendar app, where I color-code my different accounts. I found it much easier to coordinate my life with my wife when we both had 9-to-5 jobs, but since I am self-employed, we needed to bring more structure. I have three personal calendars (one for my wife, one for the kids, and one for myself) and three professional calendars. I color-code them and share them with my wife, so we’re always on the same page.
2. Dual e-SIM iPhone: I use an iPhone with two eSIM cards, which helps me keep my personal and professional conversations separate while carrying just one phone. I use WhatsApp for personal chats and WhatsApp Business for work-related communications.
3. Superhuman: For email management, I’ve been using Superhuman, which has really helped me stay on top of my inbox.
4. Zoom AI: For video calls, I use Zoom AI, primarily because of its ease of use and its ability to generate meeting summaries.
5. ChatGPT & Perplexity: I use ChatGPT as my assistant for brainstorming, drafting content, and rephrasing my sentences. For searches, I rely on Perplexity.
6. SerpRobot: For my blog, I liked using SerpRobot to track my ranking for key Google search queries.
7. Shopify & Klaviyo: For clévany, I use Shopify and Klaviyo for e-commerce and marketing.
After this interview, I’ve gained some really valuable insights into Clément’s journey with clévany. He’s not only focused on creating a stylish, functional product but is also driven by a clear vision of making a positive impact, whether it’s through sustainable practices or giving back to the community. The way he navigated the patenting process and explored different funding opportunities is definitely something to keep in mind, especially for anyone looking to innovate within Austria. It’s inspiring to see how he balances so many projects and responsibilities while keeping clévany moving forward. I’m really looking forward to the next meetup in March to catch up on all the progress and hear how things have evolved!
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