Asian Business Owners - A.B.O.3 Joulu 2025

From Rolex to Entrepreneurship: Renaud-Louis’s Journey of Craft, Risk & Reinvention

What does it really take to leave a stable corporate career and finally bet on yourself?

In this episode of Asian Business Owners, I sit down with Renaud-Louis, founder of Amplitude, a Hong Kong watch atelier born from 18 years of experience at Rolex and a lifelong passion for craftsmanship.

Renaud-Louis shares the pivotal moments that pushed him from corporate comfort to entrepreneurship.

What you’ll hear:

The honest realities behind starting a retail business: choosing the right location, handling customers, managing cash flow
Navigating a major identity shift
The emotional and financial risks with the support of his family

Timestamps:

（00:00）Introduction to Asian Business Owners

（00:33）Meet Renaud-Louis: From Rolex to Entrepreneurship

（01:36）Early Career and Passion for Horology

（03:50）Journey to Hong Kong

（06:12）Balancing Rugby and Watch Repairing

（10:02）Climbing the Ranks at Rolex

（14:57）This or That Questions

（15:48）The Pivot Moment: Founding Amplitude

（19:10）Finding the Perfect Shop Location

（20:43）Setting Up the Shop and Initial Challenges

（22:58）The Importance of Customer Relationships

（23:36）Learning from Mistakes and Managing Cash Flow

（24:28）Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

（25:36）Family Support and Humility in Business

（26:18）Teaching Kids the Value of Hard Work

（28:00）Creating a Community of Watch Lovers

（30:06）The Art and Craft of Watchmaking

（33:46）Future Goals and Aspirations

（37:03）Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners

👉 To find out more about Amplitude:

The website

On Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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