Meet Luca Gabaldoni | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luca Gabaldoni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luca, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Most owners of event venues encounter a familiar issue in their work: a client asks for photo or video coverage, and they find themselves scrambling, once again, to locate a reliable & affordable creator. The process ends up being unnecessarily expensive, and not to mention, consistently inconsistent.

I began as a high school student by connecting media talent —photographers, videographers, and editors — with businesses that needed them. Over time, I recognized a recurring pattern. Of all the industries I worked with, event venues tended to face the same challenge. They needed dependable, affordable media coverage, but they did not have the proper system in place to have this. Each event meant another search, another quote, and another gamble on media quality.

That gap stood out to me. I realized that these venues didn’t just need better creators; they needed a better model for handling in-house media production. They need something that would give them consistent, quality service without the familiar headache of outsourcing time & time again.

That’s what led to Pioneer Group as it stands today: offering personalized media packages that connect venues with professional creators from our network on a consistent, retainer basis. It’s an opportunity for venues to gain the benefits of an in-house media team without facing the excess overhead.

My focus has always been on building practical solutions that deliver value. This was one of those moments where the idea became clear through experience, and I built around it.

What should our readers know about your business?
Pioneer Group began as a marketing agency, but I quickly realized I wasn’t delivering the level of value I wanted. I shifted into the media space and built an initial creator network by working with peers from a highly acclaimed student news program. The early model was simple: help media creators close more deals at desired rates while providing clients with reliable, quality content. Getting it off the ground wasn’t easy. There were months of trial, failure, and learning how to run a business without any blueprint. However, the mission was always clear to me: build a platform that supports creators and delivers consistent value to clients.

The main lesson was that building from scratch takes more than just strategy. It requires a strong vision and endless persistence. There are no guarantees when you’re creating something new, and most of the work happens before anyone else can see the outcome. What makes the difference is trusting your direction and constantly looking to provide value to others through what you offer as a business. Entrepreneurship isn’t about external validation; rather, creating something useful and standing behind it, even when the results take time to show themselves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Growing up in a rapidly developing city like Miami showed me the value of pace and progress. Over time, I have learned to prioritize quality time with the people closest to me.

If a close friend were visiting, I’d focus less on high-traffic spots and more on meaningful time in a relaxed, productive setting. The ideal week would include early mornings, a solid place to train, and a comfortable environment where we can reset and spend the day with intention. We would spend time in restaurants and lounges, and keep the rest of the time centered around conversation and being present. That’s the kind of time I value most. Low profile, quality, and centered around growth.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to recognize the Christopher Columbus High School Business Department and the Internship & Externship Program for playing an important role early on in my journey. The Business Department gave me the flexibility to be involved with coursework that built a foundation of professional knowledge. Just as importantly, the Internship & Externship team connected me with real extracurricular opportunities, such as internships in industries ranging from banking and real estate firms to private equity groups. This allowed me to apply what I was learning in real, meaningful ways. That early exposure helped shape my approach to business and gave me momentum that I still carry today.

Instagram: pioneer.mediagroup

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-gabaldoni-b74b4b280

Image Credits
Anthony Cerra
Andrew Ahrendt