ELEVATOR PITCH 🎤

It’s time for another episode of the TechTO ‘Elevator Pitch Series’. We get pitched by up-and-coming startups as we ride the elevator 18 floors. A literal Elevator Pitch.

In today’s episode, we are highlighting the music industry and showcasing the next innovative solution for music collaboration and promotions. Today, we meet Jordan Wisenberg, CEO and Founder of FEAT, an AI-powered marketplace built for artists who want to collaborate and promote their music.

Curious to learn more about FEAT and try it out? Check them out at https://app.feat.me or reach out to Jordan on LinkedIn.

Stay tuned for new episodes of our Elevator pitch series all year long. We will be dropping them across social and in every Thursday newsletter!

STARTUP OPPORTUNITIES TO SHINE ✨

• StartupDrinksTO invites you to their next event on February 26 in Toronto. Get ready for Startup Investor Drinks, a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators. This is your chance to pitch your ideas, make meaningful connections, and take your startup to the next level—all in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere — Register here
  
  

• Innovation Factory is hosting The Black Excellence Pitch Event in Burlington on February 27. Join them from 5:00 p.m to 8:00 pm to celebrate the Black Entrepreneurs in the ecosystem! This event is great for investors and ecosystem partners looking to meet new innovators and for startups looking to watch some great pitches and network! Register here
  
  

• TechTO Elevator Pitch: Want to pitch us next? Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll make it happen!

BUILDERS PERSPECTIVE 🛠️

In this section, we focus on the unique perspectives of the founders and innovators who are sharing their insights on success and growth and their opinions on the major headlines in tech today.

Today’s Builders Perspective showcases the secrets behind building a global powerhouse with 100 million users.

Written by Allen Lau, Co-Founder of Wattpad, and current investor, he details the company's strategic efforts to establish a vast international presence.

From its inception, Wattpad prioritized global accessibility by supporting multiple languages, recognizing that English speakers constitute less than 5% of the world's population. This foresight led to unexpected growth in regions like Vietnam. Additionally, early adoption of Android technology allowed Wattpad to cater to users in low-GDP countries, further expanding its global reach.

Wattpad's international success is also attributed to its diverse investment strategies and tailored monetization models. By engaging investors from various countries, the company gained valuable insights into international markets. Understanding that subscription preferences vary across regions, Wattpad introduced a virtual currency system, enabling users to purchase content à la carte. Collaborations with entertainment companies worldwide have led to successful adaptations of Wattpad stories into films and TV shows, achieving top rankings on platforms like Netflix and in box offices across multiple countries.

Some Additional Takeaways:

• Global User Distribution: Wattpad's user base is evenly distributed, with 25% each from North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

• Language Diversity: The platform supports 50 languages, with Spanish being the most popular, surpassing English.

• Localized Monetization: Implementing a virtual currency allowed Wattpad to cater to regional purchasing preferences, offering both subscription and à la carte options.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with global entertainment entities has resulted in successful multimedia adaptations, enhancing Wattpad's international appeal.

• Deliberate Global Strategy: Wattpad's conscious efforts in embracing linguistic and cultural diversity have been pivotal in its growth as a global platform.

Read the full article here

NEXT BIG GIGS 💼 

• Social Nature is hiring a Director of Sales — Founder Annalea Krebs will be speaking at next week’s Vancouver Together event if you want to meet her and chat more about the role — tickets available here
  

• Relay Financial (one of our 2024 Rocketship companies) is hiring for multiple roles on their Engineering, Customer Experience, Finance & Operations and Marketing teams
  

• SensorUp is hiring for multiple roles in Customer Success and Product in Calgary
  

• Stay22 (another one of our 2024 Rocketship companies) is hiring across Engineering, HR and Product

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 🗓️

• Together Vancouver, Monday, February 24th at 6 pm — Details and Tickets Here

• Together Toronto, Monday, March 3 at 6 pm — Details and Tickets Here

• Best of TechTO at Toronto City Hall, Monday, April 7 at 5:30 pm — Details and Tickets Here

• Together Montreal, Wednesday, April 16 at 6 pm — Details and Tickets Here

• Commerce Toronto, Wednesday, April 23 at 6 pm — Details and Tickets Here

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