Startup Success Story: Delicorner, Fostering Workplace Well-being – Antoine Tran Huu

From Idea to Execution: When Simplicity Meets Need

Antoine told us about Delicorner’s genesis: starting with the idea of cold-pressed juices in B2C, he and Julie pivoted to B2B after discovering Yumi’s existence. The inspiration came from experiences in Berlin and the United States, where they observed this type of service in companies.

Their differentiation? A proactive subscription model that prevents companies from constantly ordering, and product rotation to maintain novelty. No complex testing: they borrowed a vehicle from Antoine’s father and started delivering. Execution takes precedence over perfect planning.

Learning on the Ground: Doing It Yourself Before Delegating

A valuable lesson from Antoine: “We never had a sales director; it was Julie and me”. For months, the two founders handled prospecting, sales, and delivery themselves. This approach allowed them to intimately understand their customers and develop their sales skills.

“It’s like martial arts: with small touches, the movement improves”. This intensive practice gave them the legitimacy to recruit and train their first sales representatives, having mastered every aspect of the sales process themselves.

The Covid Crisis: From Zero to Rebirth

The ultimate test: going from €700,000 in monthly revenue to zero overnight with the lockdown. Their clients (tech, consulting, finance) no longer had employees in the office. How to survive?

Innovation and adaptation: partnership with the Protège-Ton-Soignant association to maintain 20% of revenue in April by delivering to hospitals. For 18 months, they operated at 30% of their activity, but this period allowed them to work on quality, processes, and company culture.

Emerging Stronger: The ‘Talent Density’ Effect

Antoine cites Netflix’s example in No Rules Rules: after laying off 40% of its workforce during the dot-com crisis, the company experienced its best period thanks to talent density and shared motivation. Delicorner experienced the same on its own scale.

Result: within one year post-Covid, they recovered 100% of their pre-crisis activity, with a stronger organization, empowered managers, and a highly motivated team. The crisis revealed and retained the best talents.

Management and Balance: 7 Weeks of Leave Per Year

Antoine reveals a strong managerial approach: 7 weeks of leave per year for each founder, and 10 weeks of paternity leave taken without hesitation. This philosophy of work-life balance spreads throughout the company.

“Our conviction: someone who isn’t doing well cannot perform”. Hence the importance of creating a trusting environment where employees can express their doubts and receive support.

Vision and Ambition: From 10 to 100 Million in 5 Years

Currently at €10 million in revenue, the goal is to increase tenfold in 5 years to reach 100 million. Facing economic tensions, growth will come from international expansion: London, Milan, Madrid, Berlin.

“For €100 invested per employee per month, the return in motivation, productivity, and retention is very high”.

Entrepreneurship Lessons According to Antoine

What skills are needed to get started? “None, because you learn by doing”. For Antoine, it’s all about energy, will, and taking action.

His quote from René Char summarizes this philosophy:
“Impose your luck, embrace your happiness, and go towards your risk. Watching you, they will get used to it”.

In a nutshell…

Three key lessons:

• Master before delegating: do it yourself to better pass on knowledge
• Transform crises into opportunities: strengthen culture and processes
• Cultivate balance and trust: performance and well-being go hand in hand

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