BUILDERS PERSPECTIVE 🔧 

When I went through Y Combinator, I expected to learn tactical tips on fundraising or growth. What I didn’t expect was how much of the program was really about rewiring how you think as a founder.

YC taught me to stop waiting for permission and just build. That mindset shift alone has shaped how I approach companies, communities, and Canadian tech at large. But beyond that, three lessons have stayed with me, and I believe they apply to every founder, no matter where you’re building.

1. Speed Beats Perfection

At YC, the best founders were not the ones with the flashiest decks or the most polished product. They were the ones who shipped early, listened to users, and iterated like their lives depended on it.

One of my batchmates launched something that broke in the first 24 hours, then spent the next week fixing it based on real feedback. By Demo Day, they had traction. Meanwhile, other founders were still perfecting their pitch.

Too many founders, especially in Canada, hold back until they think they are “ready.” They wait for the perfect prototype, the right intro, or someone else’s validation. The truth is, you will never be ready. And the market does not care about perfect. It cares about progress.

Ship. Learn. Iterate. Repeat. That is how you build momentum.

2. Think Bigger, Earlier

YC pushes you to think globally from day one. Even if your first users are local, the expectation is that your vision will not be.

When I came back to Canada, I noticed how many founders set their ambitions too low, too early. They aim for a small exit. They target only the Canadian market. They measure themselves against local peers instead of global leaders.

Ambition is a competitive edge. It attracts better investors, stronger teams, and more customers who want to bet on your vision. Your vision sets the ceiling, so why not set it higher?

Your first 100 customers might be down the street, but your mindset has to be global.

3. Community is a Superpower

The real magic of YC is not Demo Day. It is the network. Alumni helping alumni. Batchmates pushing each other to grow. Intros happening over coffee chats.

Building a startup is too hard to do alone. Community is what accelerates you, not just capital.

That is something I have carried back with me into everything I have built in Canada. Community is our ecosystem’s greatest asset. It is why we started TechTO. It is why Canadian founders punch above their weight when they collaborate. It is why we will continue to produce world-class companies.

Do not underestimate the power of having peers in your corner. To pressure test your ideas, share what is working, and keep you going when things get tough.

YC lessons are universal. If you are a founder anywhere in the world, remember:

• Build fast, even when it feels uncomfortable.
  

• Think bigger than your local market.
  

• Lean on your community, and give back to it.
  

You do not need permission to start. You need the courage to keep going.

Have questions or comments? I’ll be hosting the next Together Toronto and will love to catch up there or feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Thanks for reading,

Jason Goldlist

CEO of Venue.ink and Co-Founder of TechTO

OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH 👀 

We’re hosting a hackathon!

TechTO subscribers get a discounted ticket to Elevate Festival

We're thrilled to be an official Community Partner of Elevate Festival 2025. Are you planning on attending October 7-9?

Subscribers can use coupon code TECHTOELEVATE to get 20% off their ticket here. TechTO members get an even deeper discount for this conference and all other major Canadian tech events. Learn more about our membership.

P.S: We’ll be announcing the details of the official Elevate + Startup Open House After Party this week. Keep your eyes peeled 👀.

Startup Open House Is Happening Soon

Startup Open House is like a giant neighbourhood block party- but for startups.

On Thursday, October 9th, Toronto tech startups will open their doors to the public. It’s your chance to walk right in, meet the team, see the office, and feel what it’s like to work at a startup.

• Students drop by to explore careers.

• Job seekers pop in to discover opportunities.

• Investors, partners, or just startup-fans get a behind-the-scenes look.

It’s your chance to check out where Canada’s most exciting companies are being built. You might stumble into the next Shopify or Wealthsimple before the rest of the world catches on.

Meet founders, explore offices, and connect with the people building the future of tech.

🚪 Startups & ecosystem partners: Sign up to host

🎟️ Want to attend? RSVP here

P.S: Are you building something of value for Canada's tech community? We’d love to feature it. SUBMIT HERE. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 📆

Check out these upcoming TechTO events which you will not want to miss

• HAPPENING SOON: Together Toronto: Monday, September 8 at 6:00pm- REGISTER HERE

• Health Toronto: Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00pm- REGISTER HERE

• Commerce Toronto: Monday, September 15 at 6:00pm- REGISTER HERE

• TechTO Hackathon: Saturday, September 27 at 9:00am- REGISTER HERE

• Startup Open House Toronto @ Elevate Festival: October 9 at 3:00pm - Learn more and get updates- RSVP HERE

• SAAS NORTH Trip (Ottawa): November 4th-6th- REGISTER HERE

Also check out these other ecosystem events + TechTO only perks:

• ECOM NORTH: September 23rd-24th- REGISTER HERE use coupon techto15 for 15% OFF

• ELEVATE Festival: October 7-9: REGISTER HERE use coupon TECHTOELEVATE for 20% OFF.
  

  TechTO Events Calendar

BECOME A MEMBER 🫂 

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Have questions about memberships? Book a chat with Megha our Community & Membership Director. She’s pretty sweet. Email her at [email protected].