People who wait for the economy to stabilize before making their move will likely still be waiting in five years. The conditions that feel like obstacles, uncertainty, rapid technological change, and shifting customer behavior, are precisely the conditions that create the largest opportunities for those willing to act while everyone else hesitates.
Matyas A. Szabo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Novalis Media and a tech entrepreneur who has built a software solution for the restaurant industry serving over 400 clients in Hungary, while simultaneously investing in technology, digital assets, and emerging trends, has built his approach on a conviction that sets founders apart from everyone else. “The future belongs to people who are willing to think independently, move quickly, and build despite uncertainty,” Szabo states.
Speed is the Structural Advantage Founders Have That Incumbents Cannot Buy
Large organizations move slowly because their size demands it: approvals, committees, legacy systems, and risk aversion are baked into every layer of decision-making. Founders do not have that limitation, and in a market where industries are evolving almost overnight because of AI, automation, and shifting consumer behavior, that structural agility is worth more than any capital advantage a larger competitor might hold.
The people who win in this environment are rarely the smartest in the room. They are the fastest learners, the ones who treat customer feedback and market signals as inputs to continuous adaptation rather than challenges to their original thesis. At Novalis Media, Szabo built that discipline into the core of how the business operates, consistently evolving the software based on real feedback rather than clinging to an idea that the market had already moved past. The market rewards adaptability. Founders who internalize that stop fearing change and start positioning for it.
Real Problems Outlast Every Trend
Following the hype is easy, but it is costly. Every technology cycle sparks a wave of businesses built around what is exciting rather than what customers truly need, and most do not last long enough to reach the next cycle. The businesses that grow over time are built around problems that remain important in any economy, especially those that affect customers’ revenue, reputation, or survival. At Novalis Media, the focus on reputation management and customer trust for restaurants is not a passing trend. It is a lasting challenge that businesses in this sector will always need to address, regardless of the wider economic climate.
Szabo’s test for any opportunity is simple: what problem does it solve, and why does it matter? Answering those questions honestly cuts through the noise that often distracts founders and investors. Long-term thinking, combined with that level of clarity, helps businesses withstand uncertainty rather than fall victim to it. Short-term volatility is inevitable. The systems, skills, and businesses that grow over a decade are built by people who understand that early and position themselves accordingly.
Follow Matyas A. Szabo on LinkedIn for more insights on founder thinking, emerging market opportunities, and building businesses that compound in any economic environment.
