FIRST STEPS

“Having learned my trade in the space rental service at Breather, I wanted to adapt this type of service to the fitness world, but through an app. After finding programmers who would make it all possible, we gathered the founding team and approached professional trainers and gyms. The first idea came when I was working at Breather and looking for a gym in the area so that I could work out here and there despite my busy schedule. I thought: what if the small vacant offices in the area were converted into fitness rooms that could be booked on demand, using a PIN code and by the hour? I knew that I would certainly not be the only one attracted by the possibility of training alone without a contract or subscription.”

FIRST COMPANY NAME

“The first name was Solofit, but the domain was already taken so we opted for Silofit which was ultimately even more representative of our brand since working in a silo implies that we isolate ourselves. Our spaces become a kind of personal studio, whether it is to train alone or to train a client. And if you take a look at the plans of the buildings in which we are present, our “silos” are all located in the middle of office spaces, which makes us different.”

FIRST COMPETITION

“We got our first grant from Montreal Inc. who had approached us after hearing about us through Yes Montreal. We contacted them and went through the interview process. The team was very excited about our idea. One member even said he was going to use Silofit regularly as soon as the service was up and running.”

FIRST ROUND OF FINANCING

“In our first round, we raised $150,000 from our angel investors. That’s when we started pitching to competitions like Sports Tech and Fundica Roashow where we met potential investors and angels. The following year, at Fundica, our company doubled in size and we won our first prize!”

FIRST BUSINESS LESSON

“I learned three important things as a young entrepreneur. First, knowing how to manage risk is essential. It is better to make small mistakes early in your journey, learn from them and thus avoid making bigger ones a little later. Second, everything revolves around the team, so you have to invest time and money in people who share your vision. And finally, create this vision not just for yourself, but for the entire company. It is important to know how to chart the course and show the way!”

FIRST SUCCESS

“One of our first successes was the inauguration of our first space. And if that wasn’t enough, the first week was sold out, only one month after the launch. Raising $1 million in our first round of funding was another very exciting achievement and we are delighted to close this round at $3.5 million. There are many new things to come and the whole team is very proud of the progress we have made so far.”

Montréal Inc. is a foundation that promotes the success of young, innovative and ambitious companies through scholarships, access to a prestigious business network and the expertise of seasoned volunteer coaches.