In most corporate organizations, proper minutes are legally mandated but the task is often bestowed upon an untrained or unprepared meeting member. Minutes Solutions provides professional recording secretaries to attend the meeting (either virtually or physically) and transcribe formal, objective meeting minutes.
Minutes Solutions was born through the Enterprise Toronto Starter Company Program which provided a small financial grant and mentorship opportunities aimed at helping start-ups achieve success. After being selected, the affiliates of the program nominated Noah Maislin and Marko Lindhe to deliver a speech about their experience in the program to fellow entrepreneurs, mentors and members of council at Toronto City Hall.
What was the inspiration for your career route?
We were always interested in starting a business, and our long standing relationship of being line-mates for a Toronto based hockey team and attending the same university in the East-Coast naturally drew us together. In business, we noticed a lack of communication and transparency between various parties involved in board meetings, so we launched a company that specializes in transcribing and archiving their records, by way of meeting minutes.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
In 2014 we applied to the Enterprise Toronto Starter Company Program which provided a small financial grant and mentorship opportunities aimed at helping start-ups achieve success. After being selected, the affiliates of the program nominated us (out of over 100 different start-ups) to deliver a speech about our experience in the program to fellow entrepreneurs, mentors and members of council at Toronto City Hall.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
We aim to continually grow this business, and 10 years we’d like to have multiple businesses up and running in relation to our current initiative (we’ve got some ideas…). Hopefully at this time we can engage in more volunteer/charity initiatives as well. And in 20 years hopefully we’ve worked up the courage to start talking to girls, because the prospect of a family, a puppy and a white picket fence does seem appealing.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
I think many people would say “follow your dreams” or “do something you love and success will follow”. I do genuinely believe those aphorisms are sincere, but they can be ambiguous. My advice would be to find a product or service that is practical, something that you think people need (or want) and set up realistic goals. I don’t mean goals like “in 10 years let’s be successful and rich” but more tangible goals like, by month six let’s contact 300 people, set up qualified meetings with 75 and convert 10 into buying clients. Goals are necessary, tangible goals are imperative. Oh, and iron your clothes – you are your own billboard.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
We both have soft spots for cancer research as everyone, including ourselves, has been intimately affected by it. However, for the time being we find that our (so far) modest contributions may stretch a little further if they are attributed to local charities. Sports and education is something that has been instrumental to both of us, so this year we’re donating to the Boys and Girls Club of Toronto.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was leaving steady careers with consistent paychecks to venture off on our own endeavor. There is always a risk associated with this decision, but in order to give your idea an honest go, there is no shortcut, you have to commit.
What does the word Notable mean to you?
With respect to young entrepreneurs, I think the word notable indicates someone (or multiple people) who are developing an ethical service or product that addresses a need, which multiple parties can positively use, or benefit from.
Marko Lindhe
PLAY
Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
Any decent sushi spot as they’re abundant and relatively healthy (although Marko likes the fried stuff and drowns everything in soya sauce/spicy mayo, while Noah sticks to Sashimi and brown rice).
What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
Linkedin, BBC and Reddit. In regards to music, Noah: Hall and Oates and Marko: Kygo or Country music.
Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
“Favorite place” is difficult because different places affect you in various ways. One of the most unique places Marko visited was Turkey, simply based on the country’s diversity and captivating history (and of course the food…). Noah has also travelled extensively, but his trek through the Himalayas in Nepal, was definitely one of his most memorable experiences.
What gives you the greatest FOMO?
Missing out on valuable family time and forgoing parties to work on weekends. Watching Snapchat stories doesn’t help.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Noah: Any/every show on the VICE channel and Top 40
Marko: Romcoms and double fisting Spicy Chicken sandwiches from Wendy’s
What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
When we do manage to go out with friends, our bar tabs are often regrettable. Both of us have family all over the world, and the ability to spend more money on visiting them would be lovely.
And finally, what does success look like to you?
Success to us comes down to freedom and helping others. When Marko’s sister was in university and working at a restaurant, two gentlemen (knowing she was in business school) ordered coffees and left $100 on a $10 tab – that always stuck with us. The ability to whimsically help nice people either financially or otherwise always resonated with us as success.
We would love the ability to help family members, employees, friends and benevolent strangers achieve their goals as well. If you are able to support yourself financially and have the freedom to do what you want, give what you want, when you want, where you want, to us, that defines success.