Resources Built from Real Experience
We've spent years testing what actually works when building ventures from scratch. Our study materials aren't theoretical—they're the frameworks, templates, and guides we use ourselves when launching new projects or advising founders across Canada.
Everything here is designed to save you time and avoid the common pitfalls we've seen repeatedly in the venture building space. No fluff, just practical stuff.
What You'll Find in Our Library
These materials reflect how we think about venture building—structured but flexible, detailed without being overwhelming.
Validation Frameworks
Step-by-step guides for testing business ideas before committing serious resources. Includes interview scripts, survey templates, and our validation scorecard.
Financial Models
Spreadsheet templates we actually use for forecasting, runway calculations, and unit economics. Built for Canadian market conditions with appropriate tax considerations.
Launch Playbooks
Complete checklists and timelines for different venture types—from MVP launches to market expansion. Based on patterns we've observed across multiple successful launches.
Team Building Guides
Practical advice on early hiring, equity splits, and building remote teams. Includes job description templates and interview frameworks that have worked for us.
Pitch Materials
Deck templates, one-pagers, and executive summary formats. We've reviewed hundreds of pitches—these reflect what investors in Canada typically want to see.
Growth Experiments
Documentation of marketing tests, channel experiments, and growth tactics. Both successful approaches and expensive mistakes we've learned from.
Updated Based on Current Work
We're not just creating content—we're actively building ventures. When we discover a better approach or a new tool that works, we update the materials. Last major refresh was January 2025.
Some resources get quarterly updates, others evolve as regulations change or market conditions shift. You're getting living documents, not static PDFs from 2019.
Focused on Canadian Context
While many principles are universal, we've adapted everything for the realities of building ventures in Canada—from incorporation specifics to funding landscape to market dynamics.
Includes considerations for operating across provinces, understanding SRED credits, and navigating the specific challenges of our market. Because context matters.
Who Creates These Materials
Our team includes operators who've been through multiple venture cycles. We write from experience, not theory.
Desmond Hartwick
Lead Venture Strategist
Desmond has built three ventures from concept to profitability and advised dozens more. He focuses on the validation and early traction phases where most ventures struggle. His frameworks for testing assumptions quickly have helped founders save months of wasted effort.
Avalon Pritchett
Operations Director
Avalon specializes in the operational side of venture building—setting up systems, processes, and infrastructure that scale. She's particularly good at helping technical founders understand the business mechanics they need to master. Her financial modeling templates are used by startups across Canada.