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Luke Aulin. CEO of RTOWN, and keynote at PitchFest2

September 21, 2017 by Adil Amlani

Luke Aulin is the Founder and CEO (also known as the Mayor) of RTOWN – a company recently named one of the Top 20 largest digital marketing companies in BC by Business in Vancouver. He’s also our keynote at PitchFest2 on September 28, 2017. For background on RTOWN, see below my interview.

Prior to RTOWN, Luke had an equal number of successes and failures in business and, aside from his entrepreneurial pursuits, he’s a world traveller who’s been to over 60 countries.

Luke’s addicted to uncovering better ways to serve the problems facing people and planet. His life’s purpose is to help other entrepreneurs realize their dreams. He believes that business is a force for good in the world.

“Luke’s heart is sometimes bigger than his brain.”

Interview

HPM: Who are you and what is your background viz pitching?

LUKE: I’m the founder and CEO of RTOWN. Before that I founded two failed startups in my early 20’s before becoming an “intrapreneur” at a software company called Faronics. I grew two brand new business units from nothing to something and then traveled the world for a year before starting my latest company. We’ve been recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of BC’s 15 largest digital media companies in BC. I was recently named a Top 40 Under 40 recipient.

So needless to say; I’ve pitched a LOT! Investors, employees, customers, the media. Pitching is a major part of being successful as entrepreneur.

HPM: How has pitching helped you get to where you are right now?

LUKE: I’ve raised two rounds of financing for RTOWN. I’ve also attracted some amazing team members to work on our vision, which is to help local businesses succeed by making every town RTOWN.

Without the support of so many of these stakeholders, we would not be the company we are today. Which is a leading subscription-based digital marketing company focused on helping local businesses grow through our digital marketing tools.

We have a staff of 23 (and we’re hiring), and I have an amazing board of directors supporting us as we continue to scale.

HPM: What was your hardest pitch?

LUKE: My hardest pitch, by far, was during a time of poor business performance. I was taken through a full four months of due diligence by a VC in Vancouver who did not produce the check he promised after we got to the finish. We literally had paperwork signed and he showed up without the check to the lawyers office. I walked away from him, due to dishonesty, even though he promised a check would come. About 4 months later we came within about $10 of missing payroll. During that time of cash crisis, I pitched raising a round out of desperation. I was honest about what had happened, but the investors didn’t come through. It was a hard pitch, from a place of desperation that I failed to get. Thankfully, we didn’t need the bridge funding. We executed like the rock star team that we are and survived. We started running profitably, and we grew.

HPM: What was your latest pitch? Was it successful?

My latest pitch was to Business in Vancouver after I was nominated for Top 40 Under 40. A very prestigious award given annually after sifting through over 300 nominees. I’m humbled and honoured to say that, yes, that pitch was successful. All thanks to our team around RTOWN.

HPM: Why do entrepreneurs need to nail pitching skills?

LUKE: Because you’re always selling as an entrepreneur. Whether to investors, future employees, the media, or customers. You’ve got to nail all of your pitches to get people to buy into your vision or ideas.

Knowing your business, product, and value proposition is essential to helping others understand why they should care about you. Your pitch, to whomever you’re pitching, has to be fluid and compelling. Pitching is an essential skill to develop.

HPM: What is your latest / current project?

LUKE: I’m focused squarely on growing RTOWN. We’ve recently launched in Calgary, North Vancouver, Prince George, and the Fraser Valley. We’re still growing strong in Vancouver and Kamloops. Our mission is to make every town RTOWN. We love supporting local, typically smaller to medium-sized companies. We’re helping them do more with their marketing dollars than they otherwise could afford. We’re priding ourselves on bringing big business technology to small businesses. We believe in a world where “local businesses eat big businesses’ lunch!”

HPM: What kind of advice to you have for entrepreneurs/ startups on Vancouver Island?

LUKE: It’s not who you know or what you know. It’s what you DO with who and what you know.

Great entrepreneurs have a bias for action. It’s all about execution, hustle, determination, and the ability to get up after being knocked down. Resilience will serve you very well. Oh, and always speak the truth. No one expects your business to be without challenges. Be straight with everyone. Don’t worry about sharing the warts. It’ll build trust for you, and also help you get the help you’ll need to solve those problems. Ask for help!

HPM: How can LIFT members benefit from your work with RTown?

LUKE: We provide a fully integrated digital marketing solution (mobile ads, search engine marketing, social media marketing, responsive websites, and a digital loyalty solution). We’re like having an entire marketing team for the fraction of one headcount. LIFT members can benefit from 10% off their first year’s subscription with RTOWN should they need support through our marketing tools. [If you’re ready to experience LIFT VIP – member – benefits on Vancouver Island, be in touch.]

Luke Aulin is our keynote and one of our judges at our #WeAreYQQ PitchFest2 event on September 28, 2017. For more information and tickets (we’re almost sold out) see WeAreYQQ PitchFest2.

RTOWN

RTOWN’s core purpose is to help local businesses succeed. That’s a good fit for LIFT, as we’re about helping entrepreneurs in small towns grow their businesses by thinking BIGger. RTOWN currently serves the digital marketing needs of over 500 businesses all over Western Canada. LIFT isn’t at that scale. Yet. We’re trusting that Luke will inspire us when he comes to visit Vancouver Island.

hanspetermeyer
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram

— 30 —

 

Filed Under: Event News

PitchFest events: featuring Vancouver Island’s talent economy. Like Ron Pogue.

August 29, 2017 by Adil Amlani


Get your PitchFest2 tickets now!

On September 28 LIFT hosts its second annual #WeAreYQQ PitchFest & Party events. PitchFest2 is a kick off to the Fall LIFT season of entrepreneur events. It’s also the culmination of a year’s worth of entrepreneur “BizOnDeck” workshops. This year PitchFest features seven Vancouver Island entrepreneurs, three judges, a keynote (Spring Activator global startup school’s Keith Ippel), and the signature #WeAreYQQ party format with $1000s in prizes.

At LIFT we’re dedicated to “leading, inspiring, and fuelling talent” in the Comox Valley and on Vancouver Island. When we say “talent,” we’re as interested in artists as we are in foodists as we are in technologists. For example, one of the three winners at our 2016 PitchFest event was a chocolatier. Another was an innovator in children’s clothing and safety gear. Another was a photographer. Ron Pogue won for his pitch about his “alternative wedding photography” service.

What is an “alternative wedding” photographer?

Ron’s vision is singular. Alternative wedding photography, however, isn’t something he invented. Like many innovators, he’s building on what colleagues and peers are doing as they modernize and adapt wedding photography conventions. You can find this large and growing body of work online by search for social media tags like #alternativewedding, #alternativeweddingphotography, and #alternativeweddingphotographer.

“The images my clients cherish most are serendipitous, unexpected, the things they couldn’t have planned for.” Ron’s approach captures the spirit of the event as it unfolds. He references photojournalistic innovator Henri Cartier-Bresson, who was dedicated to capturing “the decisive moment.”

“I treat clients’ weddings as historic, newsworthy events,” he says. “I don’t ask people to pose or smile. m y approach is more documentary, more candid than what most people think of as traditional, what I call ‘fairy tale’ wedding photography.”

Who’s buying? Where’s the market?

Our region has a wealth of talented wedding photographers. They’re meeting the demands of a growing wedding market, and part of an emergent wedding industry. “Alternative wedding photography” is part of the mix.

Ron acknowledges that this style isn’t for everyone. His clients are coming a particular demographic, one that is also growing in our region: younger creatives whose weddings, like their lives, are not necessarily conventional.

“Artists, musicians, people who are looking for something different, these are the people who I’m typically working with,” he says. Couples often tell him, “We’re not having a traditional wedding.” Ron’s response: “That’s fine, I’m not a traditional wedding photographer.”

How to contact Ron Pogue Photography

Email: [email protected]
Website: ronpoguephotography.com
Instagram: instagram.com/ronpoguephoto/
Facebook: facebook.com/RonPoguePhoto

 

LIFT Comox Valley and the #WeAreYQQ talent economy

Our region has been attracting talents like Ron for generations. At LIFT, we believe that people like Ron are our greatest “natural resource” and that talent is the future of our economy. Join us on September 28 for PitchFest2. Learn more about the talents that are shaping the Comox Valley’s economy.

Early bird tickets (and more information about the event) are available at WeAreYQQParty.ca. Come early for a Community Throwback dinner at Prime Chophouse, with a portion of your dinner going to support Startup Comox Valley.

~ hpm
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter



Get your PitchFest2 tickets now!

Filed Under: Event News Tagged With: #WeAreYQQ, creatives, entrepreneurs, innovation

This summer support local & win prizes!

June 19, 2017 by Adil Amlani

This summer Atlas Café, Bosley’s (Courtenay), Gladstone Brewing, The Waverley Hotel, Toscano’s Mediterranean Grill, Sure Copy Courtenay, My Tech Guys, and [add your business here] are giving away prizes as part of a unique “support local” contest we’re hosting.

Using our social media clout to support local business on Vancouver Island

LIFT was voted “best social media organisation” in the Comox Valley region last year. We think that’s because we’re doing a great job of supporting local entrepreneurs. This summer we’ve put $1000s in promotional support together with our social media clout to help people like you promote local businesses – and win great prizes this summer.

Why? Because every dollar spent locally helps grow our economy. That means local businesses thrive. That means local businesses create jobs. For example, we have about 25,000 households in the Comox Valley, and over 15K households in Campbell River. If every household spends $100 locally on goods and services they’d have bought out of town this summer, that will put about $4M back into our regional economy on this part of Vancouver Island.

That will help local businesses thrive. That will help local businesses create jobs.

Here’s how you can help us make that shift happen this summer:

  1. To boost local businesses, post selfies with your favourite owners or staff to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Your posts help elevate every business you’ve posted about.
  2. To boost local – and win prizes:
    1. Find local LIFT VIPs (there over 100 of them between Nanaimo and Campbell River). Ask your business friends if they’re members – or check the list at liftlocal.ca.
    2. Post selfies with LIFT VIPs to Instagram with the #LIFTVIP tag so we can find and “engage” your posts!
    3. That’s it! You’re in to win prizes from Atlas Café, Bosley’s (Courtenay), Gladstone Brewing, The Waverley Hotel, Toscano’s Mediterranean Grill, Sure Copy Courtenay, and My Tech Guys.

Enter often!

Every post is your way to support local business in our communities.

Every #LIFTVIP post to Instagram is your way to support local and win prizes from great local businesses.

We’re drawing winners weekly in July, August, and September.

NOTE: If you’re ready to see your business featured in the #LIFTVIP promotion, please contact HPM now.

Filed Under: Economy, Event News, News Tagged With: #BCBuyLocal, #LIFTVIP, contest, economy

Elevating our local talent economy!

June 4, 2017 by Adil Amlani

On May 31, 2017 LIFT Comox Valley hosted its first Trade Show for local creatives and entrepreneurs. We also hosted our second Community Voices collaboration with CV Collective Magazine, featuring seven local entrepreneurs. Afterwards, we hosted our eighth #WeAreYQQ Party.

At LIFT we’re committed to Leading, Inspiring, and Fuelling Talent – because we think talent is the future of our economy here on Vancouver Island. For more information about how we’re helping creatives and entrepreneurs grow BIGger, please see our website, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Or set up a time/date to meet with me, LIFT founder Hans Peter Meyer (HPM).

For upcoming events, including BizOnDeck workshops, PitchFest2, #WeAreYQQ Parties and more, please see our website.

If you’re ready to give your business a lift, be in touch and we’ll get back to you ASAP! Because our business is helping you grow your business.

hpm
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram

Filed Under: Event News Tagged With: #DowntownCourtenay, #WeAreYQQ, Comox Valley, creatives, entrepreneurs, talent, Vancouver Island

This summer, promote local business – and win with LIFT VIPs

May 25, 2017 by Adil Amlani

Imagine a photo treasure hunt that supports local business and wins cool prizes. That’s what we’re talking about with our #LIFTVIP shared selfie promotion. The simple version: Find LIFT VIPs. Post their pics with the #LIFTVIP tag. Win prizes. Easy. 
 
Here’s the long version.
 

Let’s support local

But more than a fun treasure hunt, it’s a way to show support for local and regional businesses.
 
The absolute best way to support local businesses is to buy their products and services.
But your love of local doesn’t have to stop there. Many of us have a smartphone. We can use this sometimes obnoxious device to help our friends and neighbours get a lift with their business.
 

Here’s the deal

At LIFT we’re inviting you to help us promote local with a photo treasure hunt. We’ve got 110+ LIFT VIP businesses. These are businesses who are working together to grow a grassroots, entrepreneur focused economy. And, we’re inviting you to help them grow – and for you to win prizes from other LIFT VIP businesses – like Atlas Café, Gladstone Brewing Co., The Waverley Hotel, and Toscano’s Mediterranean Grill.
 
You can make this happen by following three simple steps to success (yours and the local businesses you choose to support):
  1. The treasure hunt: find a LIFT VIP business. There are 110+ of them, mostly in the Comox Valley, but a few in Campbell River, and now also in Nanaimo (because I believe that our community economies thrive when they’re regionally connected). How to find them? We’ll be launching a map-based directory of LIFT VIPs this summer. In the meantime, ask your friends in business. Are they part of the LIFT movement to grow local business? If they are, proceed immediately to Step 2.
  2. Snap that shared selfie. Make sure your LIFT VIP business owner or their staff is prominently displayed and smiling. That’s right; it’s not just business owners who can win. Your friends who work for LIFT VIP businesses get to represent and be entered to win with your selfie. They way we see it at LIFT, the more we share, the more we win. Now the hard part…
  3. Post the pic to social media and MAKE SURE you include this tag so we can find the winning pic: #LIFTVIP. For extra impact for your new-found LIFT VIP friend’s business add #WeAreYQQ if you’re in the Comox Valley, #WeAreYBL if you’re in Campbell River, and #WeAreYCD if you’re in Nanaimo. 
That’s it. You’re in to win.
We’re doing random draws for $25 gift cards for The Waverley Hotel in May and Gladstone Brewing in June. In July, August, and September we’ll be doing weekly draw for 2x $25 gift cards for Atlas Café, Gladstone Brewing, The Waverley Hotel, and Toscano’s.
 

Where to find those LIFT VIP businesses?

That’s the challenge. That’s why it’s a treasure hunt. You’re looking for business people who value local, grassroots business and community economic development. For a “starter list” of these LIFT VIPs, get some selfies with LIFT Solution Sponsors and Community Partners. These are the people who’ve helped grow this LIFT initiative:
Sue Finneron, Leif Jason, Adil Amlani, Nazaneen Dizai, Chrissie Bowker, Allison Mandzuk, Lee-Ann Dixon-Phillips, Jabin Postal, Danny Zanbilowicz, Sandra Viney, Paul Hansen, Lisa Hansen, Bob Wells, Ron Pogue, Karen Milstein McKinnon, Daniel Sharratt, Leanne Zdebiak-Eni, Shane Philip. That’s 19. There are about 90 more out there. Plus all their staff. 
 
An easy way to find a whole lot more is to come to a #WeAreYQQ Party. Many will be wearing #LIFTVIP name tags. All of them are up for selfies that’ll win you prizes. See the WeAreYQQParty.ca link for the next event. Hint: May 31, September 28, and November 24 are already on our party calendar. Be there. Win some stuff. Support local.
Most of all, have fun!
 
hpm
Hans Peter Meyer
Founder of LIFT
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram
#BCBuyLocal #WeAreYQQ #WeAreYBL #WeAreYCD #VancouverIsland

Filed Under: Event News, LIFT VIP news Tagged With: #BCBuyLocal, #LIFTVIP, contest, promotions

May 31: Let’s elevate this economy!

May 25, 2017 by Adil Amlani

The 6th Annual Elevate Arts Festival in downtown Courtenay is the BEST time to visit the Comox Valley.

That’s it. Be here. May 31-June 3. Downtown Courtenay. Where you’ll find more fun and entertainment on the street than you can imagine.

It’s about talent

At LIFT Comox Valley we’re thrilled to be helping kick off this celebration of local talent. We’ve programmed a hat trick of events on the evening of May 31. These include a pop-up trade show, a different kind of talent show, and an after party for creatives, entrepreneurs, and fellow-travellers.
The evening, organised by LIFT Comox Valley, is focused on talent. “I believe that when we grow our local talent, we grow our local economy,” says LIFT VIP and special event sponsor Monica J Parkin, of Invis Mortgages.

The evening

Things start happening at 5pm at the Courtenay Legion with first ever LIFT Trade Show. This pop-up reveals what a number of LIFT VIP businesses are doing. Among them:
  • Bluebird Pads,
  • Re Bastien Portrait Photography,
  • Jace Pierson – Sun Life Financial advisor,
  • Wags Doggy Bags,
  • Heart Drum Beat – Brain & Body Training Systems,
  • Panther Workwear,
  • The Old House Hotel & Spa, and
  • Speedibin composter.
  • Futurpreneur Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia) will also be on hand, looking forward to meeting young entrepreneurial talent.
At 6:30pm Community Voices II challenges seven creative entrepreneurs to tell their story of “living local, thinking BIGger” with only seven minutes and seven slides. This is the second time LIFT is collaborating with The CV Collective and builds on CVC member Ian Adams‘ previous series’ of evenings featuring local talent.
The final event, the 8th #WeAreYQQ Party, takes place at Gladstone Brewing at 8pm. Music by DJ Adil, fun and games by “#WeAreYQQPartyCrew Boss” Leanne Zdebiak-Eni.
The presenters at Community Voices II represent a wide range of talents or examples of the Comox Valley’s “knowledge economy.” They include:
  • Wendy Nixon Stothert of Choral Valley,
  • Tom Keenoy of Kitestrings/ Medium Rare Interactive,
  • community animateur Meaghan Cursons,
  • craftsman Cyrill Werlen of Cascadian Wood Tech,
  • Step Carruthers of, among other things, Phat Tank and Lucky Village Enterprises ,
  • Alex Bowman & Kate Waddel of Byte Me Robotics,
  • and recent Dragons’ Den pitcher, James Flawith of Lil Worker Safety Gear .

The lineup is guaranteed to elevate your understanding of the creatives growing a grassroots “talent economy” in the Comox Valley.

For example, Tom Keenoy, a transplant to the Comox Valley by way of Brooklyn, New York, runs Medium Rare Interactive in Courtenay. He’s also currently building Kitestrings, a solution to internet security that could put our local tech scene on the global map. You can follow Kitestrings on Twitter @kitestringsapp.

Tickets

Tickets are by “suggested donation” online and at the door. Net proceeds from the event support the volunteer community economic development organisation that annually creates the Elevate Arts celebration of local talent.

Buy Now
For more information about May 31st events see WeAreYQQParty.ca, or contact me:
Hans Peter Meyer
Founder, LIFT Comox Valley
250-792-1408 
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram

Filed Under: Event News Tagged With: #DowntownCourtenay, #WeAreYQQ, Comox Valley, creatives, economy, entrepreneurs, talent

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