Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Dylan Sher, who noticed a flaw in the homeowner-contractor relationship and created a business to fix it. We caught up with him to find out about his most memorable milestone so far and what advice he would share with other young professionals…
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WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
I have created a website that pairs homeowners with qualified contractors. The quoting engine I created learns about the job and sends it to only the best contractors.
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
I worked as a door-to-door salesmen throughout elementary and high school. I couldn’t believe that this was the way that contractors found their customers. I was also not happy that homeowners were “left in the dark” when choosing a contractor. I really want to bring trust to the industry.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
The most memorable milestone I have reached so far was securing my first round of investment with an angel investor for a $100,000 equity deal the day before my 17th birthday. That was a moment I will never forget.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
For the next five years I can see myself taking fixopolis to where I envision it going in order to reach its full potential. I will also be finishing up my degree in Agricultural Business. I plan on taking my knowledge in tech and business and applying it to the agricultural industry in the next 10 years, and into my future.
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Always seek advice and help from people who are more experienced than you – but don’t do both at the same time. If you have a business idea that you want to get started, ask lots of people for advice and then take all their criticism and further develop your idea. Now, if you want to go and raise money, for example, you look a lot better coming back to them with all the answers and are more likely to get them on board. Also, every time a really nasty problem comes up in business, don’t let it get you down. Be happy that it’s hard. It means there are less people doing it!
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
I am a Young Leader with the Alma foundation, an organization that helps educate children in Peru and Bolivia. It is important to me because it tackles the fundamental problem of education in order to help future generations. I particularly like what this charity stands for as they take a much more hands-on approach in contrast to building infrastructure and then leaving once they are done.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
The largest challenge I have had to deal with by far is running my business while studying agricultural business full-time at the University of Guelph. Trying to balance the two is a constant struggle.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
When I think of the word notable, I think of something that resonates with me and inspires me to take action
PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
I love to go to Local Public Eatery in Leaside. The atmosphere is amazing, the burgers are out of this world, and there is a great selection of beer.
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
It would have to be YouTube. I love watching old stand-up comedy from Billy Connolly and guys like that. The Mumford and Sons album (not the new one).
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear for a comical view on the world.
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
I have family down in Australia and I love it! I feel like the lifestyle is something I could get used to very easily. After seeing some pictures from my friend’s last trip, my dream would be to head down to Chile for a ski trip. It looked truly amazing.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
I will always wonder what it would be like to fly in the air force. That was something I always wanted to do but I have more of an entrepreneurial personality. I am not sure how I would be with taking orders.
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
I’m not sure I am too guilty of them! I never liked dessert or sweets so that gets rid of most of them. The only thing I might be a bit guilty of is being an adrenaline junkie. I love mountain biking and skiing.
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
I wish I could spend less money on my phone bill! I hate having to use it so much for work but its just one of those tools that we need now. There is no getting away from it. I would love to spend more money on my favourite hobby, aviation. I hate restricting how much I fly because of the cost. I feel empty if I haven’t flow in a long time.
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Success for me starts with setting my goals. I make them huge so I am always reaching for something. The most important thing for me is to make sure I never say “I will be happy when…” because that mindset limits us from happiness. I think success comes down to progression and always moving forward no matter how small or no matter the circumstances. If you are always pushing forward you will always be successful.
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