Innovating for Survival: How to Take Risks the Right Way - Mike McDerment (FreshBooks)

Aug 10, 2018, 1:30 – 4:30 AM

We're hosting a Toronto-based guest this time, Mike McDerment, CEO & Co-founder of FreshBooks! Learn how this visionary CEO had the foresight to recognize his product was going to fail and the huge risk he took to overcome the inevitable - giving his team the freedom to spend 2 years building a new competing product to test UX designs in the market.

In-person event

About this event

This is another event with our friends from the Founder Institute Vancouver!

We're so happy to bring you Mike McDerment!


If you're running a small business, chances are that you might have heard of FreshBooks. And you should probably use it! :) The cloud accounting software has helped over 10 million small business owners with making billing painless.

The Toronto-based company was founded by Mike McDerment. From starting a company in his parent's basement to building a product to compete with his own, Mike knows how to take risks.

Innovation in itself is taking a risk but it's critical for a company to stay ahead of the game. In today's business landscape, consumers expect products to be constantly improving. That's especially true for software. But how do you make major changes in a way that does not disrupt existing users? How does a company allow for the exploration required for innovation without screwing up what it's already getting right?

In our fireside chat with Mike, we'll hear a series of his stories that'll touch upon why it is important for us all to take risks, and why the benefits almost always outweigh the risks.

You'll learn how this visionary CEO had the foresight to recognize his product was going to fail and the huge risk he took to overcome the inevitable - giving his team the freedom to spend 2 years building a new competing product to test UX designs in the market.

Check out what happened

Speaker

  • Mike McDerment

    FreshBooks

    CEO & Co-founder

When

When

Friday, August 10, 2018
1:30 AM – 4:30 AM UTC

Agenda

1:30 AMNetworking with Snacks & Drinks
2:00 AMIntroduction
2:15 AMFireside Chat
3:30 AMMeet Mentors & Make New Friends!

Host

  • John Thornburn

    The Founder Institute Vancouver

    Director

Organizers

  • Henry Soo

    Settlely

    Startup Grind Vancouver Director

  • Melodie Von

    Startup Grind Vancouver Digital Team

  • Eileen Xing

    Startup Grind Vancouver Digital Team

Partner

Th Founder Institute Vancouver logo

Th Founder Institute Vancouver

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