Today we’d like to introduce you to Valentino Caratini.
Hi Valentino, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been obsessed with two things: community and improvement. Growing up playing sports, I saw how much potential people have when they’re surrounded by the right environment — mentors, teammates, and a sense of belonging. But as adults, that structure disappears. Everyone wants to get better at something, but most people don’t know where to start, who to learn from, or how to find the right community.
That’s where the idea for Hazlo started. I realized there was no simple, fun way for people to discover local coaches, join real-life activities, and build connections through movement. Everything felt scattered — websites, random recommendations, group chats. I wanted to create a platform where trying something new felt exciting instead of intimidating.
The vision for Hazlo is big: a living map of coaches, classes, and communities, where people can activate themselves and instantly see everything happening around them. A map that fills up city by city as people start doing things — whether that’s tennis, yoga, fitness, or any activity that brings people together.
We’ve been building quietly for a while, talking to coaches on the ground, understanding their struggles, and shaping the product around real human behavior. And now we’re finally at the point where it becomes real: we’re launching our first vertical — tennis. Atlanta is an incredible tennis city, and we already have hundreds of coaches ready to show up on the map, run events, and help people connect through the sport.
This is just the beginning, but the mission has never changed:
Help people take the first step, discover their potential, and build a healthier, more connected community — one activity at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most founders, I had to grow into the role while building the company. One of the biggest challenges early on was learning how to build the right team. It’s easy to get excited and bring people in quickly, but I learned that the real progress happens when you surround yourself with people who are aligned with the mission, not just the idea. Finding that balance — trusting others, setting standards, and staying patient — was a huge learning curve.
Another challenge was simply losing the fear of getting started. When you’re creating something new, especially something you’ve never seen done before, there’s always a voice telling you to wait until everything is perfect. I had to learn to move forward even when things felt uncertain, and that mindset shift changed everything.
I also wasn’t starting from a typical place. I’m from Argentina, and when I came to the U.S. I didn’t have the network, the connections, or the “warm introductions” that a lot of founders rely on. My first language is Spanish, and I had to pitch, negotiate, and build relationships in a language and culture that weren’t originally mine. It forced me to work harder, communicate clearer, and be extremely intentional about every relationship I built.
But honestly, those challenges became strengths. They made me more persistent, more resourceful, and more connected to the mission. Hazlo is all about helping people break that barrier between wanting to do something and actually doing it — and I had to live that lesson myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of Hazlo.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Hazlo is a sports and wellness community built to help people get active, meet others, and discover what’s happening around them. It’s a live map full of coaches, classes, and local events — starting with tennis — so you can instantly see what to join and who to learn from.
What makes Hazlo special is how social it is. You’re not just finding a lesson; you’re connecting with people nearby who want to move, improve, and be part of the same community.
For coaches, Hazlo offers real support: more visibility, easier ways to run events, and a simple way to reach new clients without needing to be marketing experts. It gives them a place where their work and talent can truly stand out.
At its core, Hazlo brings players, coaches, and communities together — making it easier for everyone to get out, try new things, and build a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Some of my favorite childhood memories come from traveling to tennis tournaments around the world. Those trips were full of excitement and adventure — competing, making friends from different countries, and seeing how sport connects people no matter where they’re from. Tennis became my way of understanding the world.
But at the same time, I grew up in Buenos Aires. A city that’s loud, fast, passionate, chaotic, and full of life. You feel the energy of Buenos Aires the moment you step outside: the buses flying by, people talking loudly in cafés, kids playing in the streets, and that mix of intensity and warmth that only porteños have. It’s a place that teaches you to be tough, creative, and resourceful.
Even now, after living in different countries and building a company in the U.S., I never forget where I came from. Buenos Aires shaped how I see community, resilience, and possibility — and it’s a part of me in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hazlosports.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hazlo.sports/
