WHAT’S GOING ON AT TECHTO? 👀

It’s been a busy January for the TechTO community, as we’ve already brought together nearly 1,000 of you in real life.

Our last Together event saw 400+ attendees at MaRS Discovery District, and we are anticipating another great turnout for our next Together event on February 3.

Our next speaker lineup brings a brand new wealth of knowledge and will cover a wide range of topics including:

• The future of AI and HealthTech

• Taking a patient-centric approach to product building

• Bootstrapping lessons learned (and how to land a massive fundraise)

• A technical Co-Founder shares an honest take on building AI products

• Plus, valuable insights from an early-stage founder building today (And what you can apply to your journey)

Are you curious to know what happens at our Together events? Check out some past conversations and get excited for the next change-makers taking the stage next week.

A full recap from our last event was also featured in BetaKit! Read the full piece here

COMPANY PROFILE

For today’s company profile, we meet Loopio, a company that addresses a specific but universal pain point for businesses. Let’s learn more.

Meet Loopio

Loopio specializes in response management software designed to streamline the process of replying to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Security Questionnaires, Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and similar inquiries.

Meet the Founding Team

Founded in 2014 by CEO Zak Hemraj, CTO Matt York, and board member Jafar Owainati, Loopio emerged from the founders' firsthand experiences with the tedious and time-consuming nature of responding to RFPs in their previous roles.

Bootstrapped Beginnings and Strategic Growth

Initially, Loopio was bootstrapped, allowing the founders to maintain control and focus on building a product that directly addressed customer pain points. This approach led to the development of a platform that combines intelligent automation with collaboration tools, reducing the time spent on gathering information and coordinating with team members.

By 2021, Loopio secured a significant $252 million CAD strategic investment, marking a pivotal moment in its growth trajectory.

Key Takeaways for Tech Founders

• Bootstrapping Success: Loopio's initial bootstrapped approach highlights the potential for startups to achieve significant growth without early external funding, emphasizing the importance of product-market fit and customer focus.

• Strategic Scaling: The company's ability to secure substantial investment after establishing a solid foundation demonstrates the value of building credibility and a proven track record before seeking large-scale funding. In its pursuit of innovation, Loopio also acquired Avnio, a company specializing in AI-driven response solutions, to further enhance its product offerings.

• Culture as a Growth Driver: Loopio's dedication to cultivating a supportive and innovative company culture underscores how internal values can directly contribute to external success and industry recognition.

Loopio's journey from a bootstrapped startup to becoming a leader in their industry, offers valuable insights into strategic growth, the impact of company culture, and the importance of addressing clear market needs.

Want to learn more about Loopio and meet Co-Founder and CEO Zak Hemraj? You’re in luck!

Zak joins us on stage for a fireside chat next month, for our next installment of the Together Toronto Series on February 3. You can expect to hear more in-depth takes on bootstrapping, growth and his builder’s journey.

PODCAST 🎧

The latest episode of our Founders Journey series just dropped!

We’re excited to welcome Liran Belenzon, CEO at BenchSci to the podcast. He drops by to chat all things building an impressive AI solution, his journey into the medical and pharmaceutical space and he shares a very unique approach to fundraising conversations that you’ll want to check out.

INTERESTING READS 📚

• The Captivate newsletter delivers one powerful communication strategy each month, carefully curated to elevate your influence. Check it out here
  

• The 30 best pieces of company-building advice
  

• How to hook them in less than 3 seconds, using great ads
  

• An important read before starting a company

PARTNER CONTENT

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With Spendbase, an average mid-sized company saves $0.5-1 million annually – a free product that saves you money for using it.

*this is sponsored content

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 📅

Here are a few more notable events to attend for the TechTO community:

• February 10: Member Social (members only) [LEARN MORE]

• February 24: Together Vancouver [REGISTER HERE]

• March 3: Together Toronto [REGISTER HERE]

• April 7: Best of TechTO at Toronto City Hall [REGISTER HERE]

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