Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneurs are Eve Tab Founders Sameer, Anton and Kyle, whose company aims to revolutionize the Toronto nightlife experience at the touch of a button. Here’s what inspired them on this career route…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
Sameer: I am responsible for market traction and strategic business development for Eve Tab.
Anton: Product Management. Company Operations. Providing technical leadership and managing company operational processes.
Kyle: I build an all-star team, ensure they have everything they need to succeed, and get out of their way.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
Sameer: After working for the biggest Canadian company in the nightclub industry for the past three years, I wanted to leverage technology to create a better experience for anyone looking to enjoy the nightlife scene in Toronto.
Anton: Became an SEO expert in high school. Started hacking in first year university. Started first venture at 22 with Steve Black using his poker winnings ($600k) and savings from running my affiliate marketing business ($150k). Never looked back at another career path other than entrepreneurship.
Kyle: I identified a few market indicators such as the evolution of mobile payments, the technologically neglected nightlife market, and the consumer market desire for premium on-demand services. When you look at the challenges in each of these markets and put together a savvy solution, then anything is possible.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Sameer: I love being an entrepreneurs and living the start-up lifestyle. The best part of my day is interacting with Eve Tab users while they experience our unique service. The biggest challenge we have had so far is the adoption of mobile payments.
Anton: Product Design. Most challenging part of my day is managing conflicting priorities and interests.
Kyle: The most challenging part is also the best part of what I do on a day-to-day basis. At Eve, we thrive on chaos. Sleep is overrated.
What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
Sameer: I love what I do. Sacrifices are a part of life. You can’t win if you haven’t lost.
Anton: You forget to eat.
Kyle: I would never view what we do as work; we live nightlife, we love the challenges and the opportunity. The old cliche says never mix business with pleasure, but in our team’s case, our business is our pleasure. And so far it has served us all too well.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Sameer: Creating a better user experience in various platforms while leveraging technology to better the lives of others.
Anton: CEO at a startup or Venture Capital Fund Operator.
Kyle: Either as the market leader in on-demand mobile VIP or building another experience-based platform. Mobile apps and platforms come and go, but people will always remember the emotional response triggered by an outstanding experience.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Sameer: I have always been ambitious since a very young age. The challenge with ambition is that it takes up a lot of your time, which can result in sacrificing spending time with family and friends. I try and live more of a balanced lifestyle now.
Anton: Starting companies with friends can get emotionally difficult. Sometime friendship needs to be put aside to focus on pure business considerations. I have overcome this by being honest with my friends/co-founders that everyone in the group needs to maintain certain neutrality and not bring friendship-driven emotions into business decisions. Once that understanding was achieved and a better working relationship has emerged, it became easier for me terminate employment of certain people without hard feelings or losing their friendship.
Kyle: I was kicked out of System Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo… twice. Why? Because I didn’t want to conform. I did great in the courses I was passionate about and epically failed at the things I had no interest in. Eventually I gave in to get the degree and also picked up options in biomechanics and management science.
What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
Sameer: Freedom and flexibility are my signs of success. Money does not equate to happiness.
Anton: Pride in building products that people love using. Freedom to travel and spend time with loved ones. Money = Freedom. Freedom is a key requirement for happiness, but how it was earned is way more important to feeling happy.
Kyle: Quite the opposite, Happiness gets you money. Why? Because if your job makes you happy, then it isn’t work and you will remain passionate and ultimately be more successful.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Sameer: There have been so many important milestones in my career and I see each one as a stepping stone to the next. The biggest milestone was convincing three prominent Toronto nightclubs buy into my vision without building a product.
Anton: Raising $1.2 million at 22 years old.
Kyle: When we did our first friends and family soft launch event; we got so much feedback from everyone, good and bad. It allowed us to take our company, business and platform to another level.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Sameer: Take a chance and live your life your way. Have the courage to go after what you want.
Anton: Find a mentor, observe the world with curiosity, always listen to your gut, and never ever give up. Don’t forget to exercise, eat nutritious food, and meditate every day.
Kyle: Don’t get an MBA; no one wants to hire you in the startup world and if you don’t have “skin in the game.” Don’t pitch to an investor. If you have nothing to lose, then no one will invest in you.
Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
Sameer: I enjoy going to Bar Isabel. Amazing food and phenomenal drinks.
Anton: Lobster Trap in Toronto on Avenue Road. Love the owner’s hospitality and the lobster is the best in the city. Straight out of the Maritimes.
Kyle: Chill Ice House (our system works there) and Wabora Sushi, where one of our partners’ apps works (Lorax).
When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
Sameer: I try to spend as much time as possible with family and friends. I also spend a lot of time being physically active playing a wide range of sports.
Anton: Meditating, working out, reading books, playing poker and listening to electronic music.
Kyle: I spend 80% of my “me” time at the gym, lifting weights. Physical stress makes mental stress seem non-existent.
Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
Sameer: I love visiting different parts of Latin America. Great food and friendly people.
Anton: Eastern Europe (Russia, Baltics, Czech Republic ). Beautiful cities, welcoming people, and gorgeous women.
Kyle: To and from my office; it’s where I spend the other 20% of my “me” time, often on the phone with family and loved ones.
If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
Sameer: Eminem, “Lose Yourself”
Anton: They Eye of the Tiger
Kyle: Linkin Park, “In the End.” “Time is a valuable thing.”
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
Sameer: Working as a freelance artist.
Anton: Playing poker professionally.
Kyle: Working for PumpUp – I’m a huge fitness advocate and I was in Velocity Garage with the founders. They are great guys.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Sameer: I have been an avid supported of the AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) for a number of years, whose main focus is to help improve the lives of communities in third world countries.
Anton: Not at the moment.
Kyle: I’m a poor startup founder; I give blood regularly because its free and it saves lives. I would love to have the money to support charities, but I don’t at this point in my life so I give what I can.
What to you is notable?
Sameer: Something that evokes emotion; walking away from someone, a place or a thing and thinking, “Wow.”
Anton: A royal flush.
Kyle: Something notable is something remarkable, like what Eve will be by end of the year. Those who are notable are noble in character; they’re heroes who humbly suffer in the face of impossible odds for those who they believe in or love.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
Sameer: iPhone.
Anton: iPhone
Kyle: I used to work at BlackBerry and love the stability of their software. I have been using Android for the last few years and hate it, and now I’m switching to iPhone next week. Ask me again next week.
#NOTABLE
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