At the centre of any good story is a moment of conflict, a challenge, an obstacle to overcome.
The same is true of our best ideas.
Here are the stories of Kitchener-Waterloo’s startup founders, and the deeply human experiences they share that form the foundation of the culture of innovation and community right here at home.
What sparked Five Hundred Sparks?
I moved to the Waterloo region originally for love. While that romance didn’t entirely play out, I did fall head over heels with the region. There was something in the air here – a spirit of entrepreneurship, of community, of helping each other out. Fresh ideas pour out like water from a fountain.
I had to be a part of that – but how? As a lifelong writer (and former journalist), my passion has always been telling stories. It’s truly an honour to take someone’s experiences and bring them to life for others to learn from and enjoy.
So when I attended my first Hackernest and started talking to some of the founders in KW, I found a community not just willing but enthusiastic about sharing their stories. Lots has been said about what they do and why – but almost nothing has been said about how they got there in the first place.
It’s that journey I aim to capture: the deeply human moment of inspiration, the challenges that led up to it, and the drive to turn it into something bigger.