On August 1st, Jesse Thompson, founder of HaggleFree took home the grand prize in our RBC EPIC Founders Pitch Day after completing the 12-week accelerator program. We had a chance to catch up with him and talk to him about his experience:

The Founders program offered me an excellent opportunity to work on my business idea and to validate it with my customers within a quick three months. Because of the monthly stipend, I was able to give my business full-time attention without dipping too much into my savings. Along the way, the program offered guidance and education to help me make sure that I was spending my time on the things that would help me validate as quickly as possible. The workshops were on point and the relationships I built with mentors, facilitators, and colleagues were priceless. Winning the pitch competition provided me with some additional seed money and encouragement to continue moving forward.

I came out of the program knowing that the product I’m building is something that my customers actually want and are willing to pay for which allows me to confidently invest additional time and money into the business while minimizing risk. The practical lessons I’ve learned throughout the Founders program will continue with me throughout my career and I’m extremely grateful for the experience. I highly recommend the program to anyone interested in starting a business of their own.