Troy Cre a of Grata.
Tell us about yourself?
3x Founder, Former VC, Former Pro Hockey Player, Dartmouth College Graduate | Have been fortunate enough to been in SaaS for a few years.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
That it is easy. StartUps are not created equal… There are levels to this. AN ecommerce t-shirt company is a StartUp, the lemonade stand is a StartUp but they all solve different problems… entrepreneurs are not the same.
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey, and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
Trust yourself. You got this. The ability to not be afraid of failing is also the ability of self-belief because nothing can touch you at that point. You will solve every problem thrown at you.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
Personality, Ambition, Never-Say-Die Attitude, The Will to Win – having innate ability to be able to take customer advice, and be able to leverage technology to create experiences that will ultimately create value in a customers and users life.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
Resilience and grit above everything. Being able to roll with the punches and not let bad sales calls and competition hinder your ability to go after it .
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
I was a Apartment Renter and realized the digital experience was non-existent on these apartment buildings so I set out on a journey to leverage technology as an amazing to enhance the experience.
Where do you see your business in five years?
Sold or Public. Will have revolutionized the Multifamily Apartment and Student Living vertical and provided a digital experience never before seen to the rental residential residences.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
Being able to continue to hire the right people that will ultimately take the company to the next level.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
Selling the largest REIT in Canada to a seven-figure Sell… I have been in SaaS for years and getting a contract of that size was a game-changing milestone.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
Sales-Driven Startups and Sales Founders are a must. Which I am. We have cold-sold every company and client in our space. Zero marketing dollars…
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
Go for it. You will never know the answer until you jump. So jump you have literally nothing to lose. Don’t worry about what people think
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
I want to be able to live the life want for myself and my future family. The ability to jump on a plane and have an experience whenever and wherever. True Freedom.
Great read! You’ve carried forward your pro athlete background in your drive, determination, competitiveness and your “never surrender” attitude! That, along with your warmth and charm are a ticket to your ultimate success. Congrats Troy! I’ll be following your success!
“Selling the largest REIT in Canada to a seven-figure Sell…” This is completely false. The largest REIT in Canada is Capreit, who they aren’t partnered with. Secondly, there was certainly no “seven-figure” deal. BuildingLink is the largest competitor in the space and even they don’t have contracts that large.