NEW EPISODE 🎧

Entrepreneurship, particularly in the tech industry, is often romanticized as a thrilling pursuit of innovation and success. Yet, behind every breakthrough lies a story of relentless struggle, countless failures, and an unyielding drive to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

For tech founders, the journey is not just about creating a product or service; it’s about navigating a complex landscape of competition, market shifts, and the ever-present challenge of securing funding.

Building a business from the ground up requires more than just a great idea. It demands resilience, adaptability, and the ability to inspire others to believe in a vision that has yet to be fully realized. The path of entrepreneurship is riddled with uncertainty, where every decision can be the difference between success and failure.

In today’s new episode drop, we chat with a Founder who has had his fair share of ups and downs, not just in entrepreneurship, but throughout his life as well.

Emiel Bril, Co-founder and CEO at VendorPM joined us to share his honest takeaways on fundraising, building, and staying optimistic through the unpredictable journey that is entrepreneurship.

Key highlights from today’s episode:

• Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Building a tech startup is a test of endurance. Founders must navigate setbacks, from product failures to market rejections, while maintaining the confidence and determination to push forward. Hearing no is hard, and Emiel shares his best advice for coping with rejection.

• The Challenge of Differentiation: In a crowded and rapidly evolving market, tech founders must constantly find ways to differentiate their offerings. Emiel shares some advice for founders on how to build something different and better than the rest.

• The Art of the Pitch: Successful fundraising hinges on crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with investors. Through every phase of fundraising, Emiel shares what he learned through multiple fundraising rounds and the surprising factor that every founder should know.

• Building Investor Relationships: Fundraising is not just a transactional process; it’s about building long-term relationships with investors who can provide not only capital but also strategic guidance and support. Emiel shares the importance of treating the fundraising process like a job interview — it has to be a great fit for you too.

• Navigating Market Uncertainty: The tech industry is characterized by rapid change and unpredictability, and that includes new additions to your product and an evolving market. From the surge in AI to product updates, Emiel shares how VendorPM is staying ahead.

• The Emotional Rollercoaster: The journey of entrepreneurship is emotionally taxing. Founders often face extreme highs and lows, from the exhilaration of securing funding to the anxiety of meeting investor expectations. Emiel shares advice on how to handle the ups and downs of the journey.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to like and subscribe to The Founders Journey Series wherever you listen to your podcasts.

PARTNER CONTENT

Founders often steal the spotlight, but we’re teaming up with Humi to shine a well-deserved light on tech’s unsung heroes—the brilliant operators behind the scenes.

We invite you to nominate the standout leaders in Finance, Operations, or HR roles within the tech industry. Let’s come together to celebrate their remarkable contributions.

Why should you nominate someone?

• Exclusive Networking: If your nominee wins, you’ll be invited to join the celebration and connect with other top professionals.

• Peer Recognition: Acknowledge the hard work of your colleagues, giving them the recognition they deserve and a morale boost.

• Champion Excellence: Elevate the stars in your network, setting a new standard of excellence for everyone to aspire to.

• Enhance Company Reputation: Show the world that your company is home to award-winning talent, boosting your brand’s prestige.

• Advance Your Career: Demonstrate your eye for talent and leadership, which can positively reflect on your career trajectory.

• An Exclusive Invite: If your nominee is selected, you will be extended an invite to join this exclusive celebration (by invite only)

What are you waiting for?

UPCOMING EVENTS

🛒 TechTO: Retail | September 9, 2024 - TechTO Retail returns to bring you more key insights and knowledge from those who are making massive strides and progress in the retail sector. More announcements coming soon!

🛩️ TechTO: Travel | September 16, 2024 - Travel returns, featuring the experts and leaders who have big things to share in regard to the travel tech space. Learn how travel has evolved, and everything you need to know about the future.

👏TechTO: Together | September 17, 2024 - The most popular TechTO event returns to Rotman to bring you more insights, perspectives, and expert opinions from inside the Canadian Tech Ecosystem. It’s what investors, innovators, and tech professionals need to know.

 🇨🇦 TechTO: Montreal | September 23, 2024 - TechTO returns to Montreal to celebrate the Founders and innovators who are building and doing amazing things for Canadian Tech. More announcements to come!

Visit our events page to see everything coming up for the community! New events are announced every month!

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