| The Upstart Toronto’s boldest innovators and what they’re making
Toronto’s boldest innovators explain what they’re making and how it works
Tech jargon you use Too much: “Mompreneur” Tech jargon you haTe: “The cloud”
how iT works:
“Users connect via Facebook, so everyone has a name and a photo, and admins vet members and moderate the community. You can shop the feed or look for specific items.”
eureka momenT:
“I used to be a teacher. I was on mat leave in 2012 and I was selling stuff to make room for the baby. I tried classified websites, but they creeped me out. Then I found people buying and selling stuff on social media. It was less anonymous, more fun and local, but disorganized. So I turned to my husband and co-founder, Carl, a software developer, and said, ‘Can you build this app for me?’ ” how much you spenT iniTially: “$50,000. We bootstrapped it for a year and a half.” your Turning poinT:
“My husband wasn’t convinced at first, but once he saw me building relationships with other moms in the neighbourhood through selling my stuff, he started to see how social and addictive it was.” your big-Time backers:
“Real Ventures and a couple of angel investors gave a few million; Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and others later invested $34 million together. ” The besT advice you've received: “I met Elon Musk last April. He told me to hire top-tier talent and pay attention to what talents people have had since they were children.” The worsT advice you've received: “I’ve been told, ‘Don’t be such an open book,’ but I’ve found being transparent works. It’s the key to earning the trust of investors, employees and users.”
coolesT Thing in your office:
“A copper barbecue smoker that’s a life-size bull. We had it shipped here from a VarageSale community in New Orleans.”
your Tech role model:
“Sheryl Sandberg. I admire not only her success as a businesswoman but her mission to help other women succeed, too.”
your besT varagesale buy:
“A brand new Michael Kors wallet for $40. The seller had a shopping problem and just needed to clear out.”
app you can’T live wiThouT:
“Google Maps. I drive to work from Etobicoke, and traffic is insane.”
if you weren’T running a sTarT-up:
“I’d still be a teacher. I actually never intended to leave that profession.”