README.txt

I back founders building things people actually use. If you're optimizing for TechCrunch, we're not a fit.

What I Do

First check. Seed stage. I write small checks into people I believe in, then help them figure out the rest.

I'm not thesis-driven. I'm pattern-driven. I've seen enough to know what good looks like—and I trust my gut on founders.

What I Care About

Do real people want this? Will they pay for it? Can you get it to them?

I don't need a TAM slide. I need to believe you understand your customer better than anyone else.

How I Work

Fast yes, fast no. I don't do months of diligence theater.

If I'm in, I'm in. I'll make intros, I'll pick up the phone, I'll tell you when you're wrong.

If you're a Canadian founder, we should talk. I've been doing this for a while.

What Excites Me

Business Types

Fintech RailsBanking, payments, savings, lending—the infrastructure
MarketplacesTwo-sided, liquidity games, network effects that compound
ConsumerProducts real people use and love, not enterprise dashboards
LogisticsMoving things efficiently—delivery, supply chain, last mile
Food & RestaurantTech that makes restaurants work better
Local CommerceConnecting people to businesses in their neighborhood

What I Mean by Fintech

Not crypto. Not DeFi. Not speculative tokens. I mean the boring stuff that actually moves money: payment rails, banking infrastructure, savings products, lending platforms. The plumbing.

Founder Patterns

What I Look For

Customer ObsessionYou talk to users constantly. You know their problems.
VelocityYou ship fast. You learn fast. You don't hide behind strategy.
ScrappinessYou've done more with less. You don't need perfect conditions.
TasteYou care about the product. Details matter to you.
MagnetismPeople want to work with you. You can recruit.

Bonus Points

CanadianWaterloo, McGill, UBC, Western, Queen's—I know the ecosystem
Second-timeYou've done this before, learned from it, ready to go again
OperatorYou've been inside a company that scaled. You've seen what works.

How I Evaluate

The Questions

Would I use this?Consumer instinct. Do I get it immediately?
Why now?What changed that makes this possible today?
Why you?What do you know that others don't?
Can this be huge?Not "is the TAM big"—can YOU build something massive?
What's the unlock?What single thing, if true, makes everything else work?

For Marketplaces

LiquidityHow do you solve cold start? Which side do you own first?
Take RateWhat's defensible? What happens with competition?
FrequencyHow often do people transact? Can you own the habit?

For Fintech

RegulatoryDo you understand the compliance landscape? Really?
TrustWhy would someone give you their money?
Unit EconomicsCAC, LTV, default rates—do the numbers work?

Notes

I've been doing this for 15+ years. I've seen a lot of pitches. I know what I like.

What I Don't Do

Deep TechScience risk isn't my game—talk to my partner
HardwareUnless it's clearly software in hardware clothing
CryptoNot the speculation. Maybe the infrastructure, if it's real.
EnterpriseI don't get excited about dashboards and sales cycles

Reach Out

Short email. What you're building. Why you. One sentence on what you need.

I read everything. I respond fast.

Canadian founders: seriously, just email me. I want to meet you.
z: 0