A candid conversation with founders who share how they landed their very first customer.
Getting your first customer is one of the hardest milestones for any startup.
Whether you’re selling to consumers, enterprises, healthcare providers, farmers, or industrial operators, the challenge is the same: how do you convince someone to take a chance on a company that is just getting started?
At our next Founders Lunch, we’ll hear from four founders who successfully navigated that challenge across different industries and business models. From health and agtech to industrial sectors, our panelists will share what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons they learned while acquiring their first customers.
Expect a candid conversation about:
- Finding and validating your target customer
- Building trust before you have a track record
- Early sales and marketing strategies that actually worked
- Common mistakes founders make when trying to generate traction
- Differences between B2B and B2C customer acquisition
- How customer acquisition changes across industries
- Whether you’re still refining your idea or actively trying to land your first paying customer, you’ll walk away with practical insights and real-world experiences from founders who have been through it themselves.
Panelists:
- Remi Schmaltz, CEO & Founder at Brilliant Harvest
- Dion Kelly, CEO & Co-Founder at Possibility Neurotechnologies
- Rohit Joshi, CEO & Co-Founder at Brightsquid
- Apostol Radev, CEO & Founder at SolarSteam Inc.
- Brad Andrews, Senior Associate, UCeed Investment Funds at Innovate Calgary (moderator)
This event is part of the monthly Founders Lunch Series, which aims to empower and support entrepreneurs. Organized by Innovate Calgary and supported by Alberta Innovates, ElevateIP Alberta, and the TD Ready Commitment Program, this dynamic platform connects entrepreneurs, fosters knowledge sharing, and inspires collaboration. Be a part of this transformative experience to expand your network, learn from industry leaders, and confidently navigate your entrepreneurial journey.