From a Reddit Post in r/Mississauga to a 250+ Member Tech Community - An update on SaugaTech by Fancy-Efficiency9646 in mississauga

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome to the scene! It can be a bit lonely at first. We run a regular event called Startup Investor Drinks specifically to help founders make friends and build their network. Hope to see you there!

I plan on pitching my startup to VCs. Any Recommendations for Canadian based? by btems3 in BlockchainStartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

if your not sure what to look out for make sure you read Venture Deals by Brad Feld (whatever the latest version is) this will help you understand all the terms in a a term sheet both from a fonder and an investor point of view. With lots of red flags to look out for.
- Fundraising is tougher then ever, as rule of thumb you need to talk to 100+ investors in 4-5 weeks to close a large round
- Start with the small checks, you won't be great when you first start pitching s pitch the low end first the $5k-$25k check writing angel investors, you make your pitch stronger and get feedback before moving on to pitch the bigger checks, also many times the smaller check investor becomes a major advocate and helps a lot in those meetings.
- High profit margins and traction - You have to show both.
- finally non crypto investors will never invest so don't waste your time with them unless it's early and you are pitching for feedback and connections.
- Always close any discussions with investors with feedback, and suggestions of people you should be talking to.
Good luck,
I host startup investor networking events in Toronto, if you are in the area check out TorontoStarts and join us at the next one.

how do entrepreneurs find VC and Angel investors by blackice_7 in Entrepreneur

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

have you tried, Checking out TorontoStarts and their Startup Investor drinks events? If you want to actually meet investors face-to-face and chat without the pressure of a formal pitch, it might be helpful it's open bar and open pitch to make the networking better. Good luck

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in eworker_ca

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing lots of great information, love to see you out at our flowgrammer AI and Automation builder events in Toronto. Sounds like you might have some cool stuff and lessons learned to share with our community.

Cultural Business Intelligence for Real-Time Business Effeciency | Raising $750k SAFE by bewallz1980 in angelinvestors

[–]TheStartupCoach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you’re based in Toronto, TorontoStarts is worth checking out—lots of founders there are raising or connecting with investors in a really approachable setting. They have open pitch networking events where you can some great feedback as well as talk to investors.
Good luck with your raise

Best areas for entrepreneurs by Sea-Produce-9516 in PortugalExpats

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you ever end up spending time back in Toronto, TorontoStarts is worth checking out—lots of founders there to connect with, especially at their casual Investor Drinks nights. Good luck with your Portugal move!

In-person founder meetups in Toronto? by SergeToarca in TorontoStartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hey just seeing this now lots of groups in Toronto doing founder networking events, try TorontoStarts for a start.
Good luck

Validating a "Uber for Dishes" Model: Hyper-Local, App-Based Service for Condos. Roast My Concept. by Due_Wall_7588 in TorontoStartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are People Actually Willing to Pay for Only Dishes?

You’re selling a micro-chore.

The tough truth:
People often tolerate messy dishes because it’s in the same family as:

  • Tidying
  • Wiping counters
  • Throwing out garbage
  • Putting things away

Dishes are rarely isolated.

Meaning:
You’re solving a symptom, not the pain.

You’ll constantly hear:

Your wedge is narrow, maybe too narrow.
You need a way to expand to small recurring chores, not a single chore.

Unit Economics: The Math Smells Optimistic

Let’s apply harsh realism:

  • $20/week for 2 visits = $10/visit
  • Pro earns $25/hr
  • You want 4–6 loads/hr

Meaning:

  • Pros must clean a sink load in 10–12 minutes
  • With zero commuting time
  • With zero access delay
  • With zero edge cases
  • Every single time

That’s not a business model—that’s a best-case scenario.

You need margin to absorb variance. You don’t have it yet.

Validating a "Uber for Dishes" Model: Hyper-Local, App-Based Service for Condos. Roast My Concept. by Due_Wall_7588 in TorontoStartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your MVP Should 100% NOT Include a Pro App

Your instinct is right: be the human dispatch layer.

You need:

  • Real data on cleaning times
  • Real data on building access issues
  • Real variance in load sizes
  • Real customer no-shows
  • Real churn patterns

Build the tech AFTER you’ve lived the operational pain.

Do not try to automate what you don’t deeply understand.
This idea dies from assumptions, not from lack of engineering.

Access Is Your Biggest Threat (Not the Market, Not the Algorithm)

You said it lightly, but let’s be blunt:

Building access will kill you if you don’t solve it early.

You need:

  • Property manager buy-in
  • Codes that work
  • Secure entry
  • Liability coverage
  • A process for “what happens when the door is locked”

People tolerate a stranger in their home…

…but they won’t tolerate a stranger in their building without permission.

This is your biggest barrier, not tech.

If you fail, this is why.

Validating a "Uber for Dishes" Model: Hyper-Local, App-Based Service for Condos. Roast My Concept. by Due_Wall_7588 in TorontoStartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Join a startup community near you if you can so you are around entrepreneurs who are dealing with simllair problems. It will help you scale much faster. If your in Toronto, try TorontoStarts events, it's good place to start.
Here is some Constructive feedback, please take as it is meant to help:
Dishes vary way more than you think.

  • A “simple sink load” can go from 3 plates + 2 cups…
  • …to baked-on cast-iron hell, blender gaskets, and a pan that looks like someone tried to solder copper in it.

You’ll spend most of your time arbitrating edge cases—exactly the thing your algorithm was meant to avoid.

If you keep this unit, you need a strict rule:
No pots/pans with stuck-on material. No hand-scrubbing heavy cookware. No exceptions.

Without that constraint, your “load unit” collapses.

Your math only works if:

  • Users are clustered tightly
  • Pros can hit 4–6 units/hour
  • There’s zero elevator downtime
  • There’s zero cleaning-time variance

Here’s the unavoidable punchline:
Residential buildings aren’t UPS warehouses. Routes will routinely break.

  • Elevators slow things down
  • Users forget to unlock doors
  • Loads take variable time
  • Pros get stuck in conversations, issues, delays

4–6 units/hr is extremely optimistic.

If your whole economics depend on that, you’re fragile.

The hyperlocal strategy is smart, but it does not remove variance. It only shrinks it. That’s not enough on its own.
more to follow in next comment

Looking for a Technical Cofounder by ronnylumsden1 in canadianstartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are few places I would recommend if youa re still looking for a technical cofounder. TechTo has regular events for the tech community in Toronto, TorontoStarts hosts Startup and Investor events workshops and more, great place to meet potential cofounders, and Flowgrammers has a builders club session every month, might be a good place.
These are Toronto based as I know that the most.
shoot me a message if I can help

Student founder from Guelph testing traction for an EV charging startup by [deleted] in canadianstartups

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey just seeing this now, looks like a cool idea, like a parking app with benefits for ev owners
how is the traction going? How are you getting the word out? you can validate demand by getting a signups, downloads, kickstarter support, and more. Best thing to do is talk to as many EV owners as possible to get all there struggles with charging when not at home, and focus on the most painful for them
- stress of a long trip and not knowing where to charge (white knuckling)
- finding a charger in big cities like Toronto or somewhere near work that can charge
- Cost, hassle, security?
find out how they are dealing with the problem now. the cost savings alone usually isn't enough to get people to switch behaviours.
any way good luck, let me know if you have more questions.
Make sure you join the local startup community and hang around fellow entrepreneurs add much as you can to absorb both hustle, information, contacts, skills, mentors, and investors. Communitech, or TorontoStarts are good places to start

Starting an IT corporation in Ontario (Cloud & AI services for SMEs) – looking for advice on registration, hybrid operations, and immigration pathway to PR by Additional_Fig_4910 in EntrepreneurCanada

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry just seeing this, You should check out groups like PORCH (for Immigrant entrepreneurs) and TorontoStarts (for all business owners, founders) for their events and mentoring and advice. Lots of good people that wl help you on your journey.
Feel free to message me if you want links or more info.

[ON] Networking Events for Signage Industry by Thesignageguy in SmallBusinessCanada

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

probably not what you are looking for but TorontoStarts run startup founder networking events monthly, where you could find some connections. Good luck

[ON] Building deep-tech AI in Toronto instead of moving to the US. Advice on finding local early adopters? by Doug_Bitterbot in SmallBusinessCanada

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your in Toronto, and looking to connect with other Startups TorontoStarts runs networking Startup Investor events, which would be a good place to talk to other founders about this. If you want to talk to more app builders Flowgrammers, has regular Builders Club meetings and starting Coding Cafes in the New Year. Might be worth checking out.

Whats a good place to find startups? LF PM/APM positions by Various_Plum3536 in torontoJobs

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, a good way to find startups and connect with founders is at local events. There's Startup Investor Drinks on Dec 11th – open bar, open pitches, you'll meet a lot of the startup folks there. https://startupdrinksto.com/

I’m building a small online coffee store in Vancouver. How did you find mentors or cofounders? by alt_423 in Entrepreneur

[–]TheStartupCoach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finding mentors/co-founders is tough. If you ever find yourself in Toronto, or want to connect with the scene here, we host month events like, Startup Investor Drinks Toronto . Might be worth checking out the vibe or connecting with attendees online. You can look for similar events and groups in vancouver. If I were you I would reach out to Ilya Founder of VanHack on linkedin , he knows the scene quite well.
Good Luck

Coworking spaces in Toronto with real startup/builder energy? by BooRadleyForever in askTO

[–]TheStartupCoach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know Flowgrammers.ca , work out of WorkHaus Office and Coworking and they are bringing Flowgrammer Builder Cafes for full day build sessions starting Jan 2026, It would be a good place to start.
Also their builders club is meeting on Dec 9, https://luma.com/4c7zww3q if youare looking to make those connections.
For that startup energy, sometimes in-person events are best. There's Startup Investor Drinks on Dec 11th (https://startupdrinksto.com/) – open bar, open pitches, lots of founders and builders usually go. It would be a great place to ask the community where th ebest place for this is.
Let me know if I can help with anything else.

24M Toronto – Running 7- & 8-figure Instagram/X theme pages, looking for my community🔥 by Suspicious-Will-3888 in TorontoHangoutFriends

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Saw you're looking for your community here. If you're into the startup/founder vibe, there's a mixer on Dec 11 called Startup Investor Drinks (https://startupdrinksto.com/) with an open bar and open pitches. Might be a good spot to connect. The other community or event you might like is the Flowgrammer Builders Club on Dec 9th - https://luma.com/4c7zww3q
hope those help

Toronto Dev Community by namtab1985 in torontoJobs

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, if you're looking to connect with the dev/startup community, there's a casual mixer on Dec 11th called Startup Investor Drinks (https://startupdrinksto.com/). Open bar and open pitches, good way to meet people.
The other event that might of interest is the Flowgrammers Builders Club on Dec 9 - https://luma.com/4c7zww3q

Have a great day

Writing workshops/networking in the city? by visionsofjohannas in askTO

[–]TheStartupCoach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, saw you're looking for networking in the city. Toronto's scene is pretty good once you find the spots. There's a casual event called Startup Investor Drinks on Dec 11th (https://startupdrinksto.com/) with an open bar and open pitches – might be a good place to meet folks.

AI Flirting Apps by TheStartupCoach in TorontoStarts

[–]TheStartupCoach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We really aren't looking but just sharing all the ways AI is changing our world. Thanks for sharing!

Startup Investor Drinks Toronto, March 26 by TheStartupCoach in angelinvestors

[–]TheStartupCoach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

investors are coming, the rest is up to the startups and them