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Getting Your First Customer

Getting Your First Customer

Business-building
Community
People & Culture
Skill-building
  • June 25, 2026
  • 12:00 pm
    2:00 pm
  • Life Sciences Innovation Hub

Getting your first customer is one of the hardest milestones for any startup. Whether you're selling to consumers, enterprises, healthcare providers, farmers, or industrial operators, the challenge is the same: how do you convince someone to take a chance on a company that is just getting started? At our next Founders Lunch, we'll hear from four founders who successfully navigated that challenge across different industries and business models. From health and agtech to industrial sectors, our panelists will share what worked, what didn't, and the lessons they learned while acquiring their first customers. Expect a candid conversation about: Finding and validating your target customer Building trust before you have a track record Early sales and marketing strategies that actually worked Common mistakes founders make when trying to generate traction Differences between B2B and B2C customer acquisition How customer acquisition changes across industries Whether you're still refining your idea or actively trying to land your first paying customer, you'll walk away with practical insights and real-world experiences from founders who have been through it themselves. Panelists: Remi Schmaltz, CEO & Founder at Brilliant Harvest Dion Kelly, CEO & Co-Founder at Possibility Neurotechnologies Rohit Joshi, CEO & Co-Founder at Brightsquid More coming This event is part of the monthly Founders Lunch Series, which aims to empower and support entrepreneurs. Organized by Innovate Calgary and supported by Alberta Innovates, ElevateIP Alberta, and the TD Ready Commitment Program, this dynamic platform connects entrepreneurs, fosters knowledge sharing, and inspires collaboration. Be a part of this transformative experience to expand your network, learn from industry leaders, and confidently navigate your entrepreneurial journey. ___ Lunch will be provided. Parking is limited. Please Park only in designated public parking spots. Do not park in Lot 81 or 82, as it is reserved for our tenants only and you will be ticketed/towed. Parking is $1.50 /every 30m or $10/day, and the building is accessible by transit. The Brentwood Train station is about a 10-minute walk away. Read less

Getting your first customer is one of the hardest milestones for any startup.

Whether you're selling to consumers, enterprises, healthcare providers, farmers, or industrial operators, the challenge is the same: how do you convince someone to take a chance on a company that is just getting started?

At our next Founders Lunch, we'll hear from four founders who successfully navigated that challenge across different industries and business models. From health and agtech to industrial sectors, our panelists will share what worked, what didn't, and the lessons they learned while acquiring their first customers.

Expect a candid conversation about:

Finding and validating your target customer

Building trust before you have a track record

Early sales and marketing strategies that actually worked

Common mistakes founders make when trying to generate traction

Differences between B2B and B2C customer acquisition

How customer acquisition changes across industries

Whether you're still refining your idea or actively trying to land your first paying customer, you'll walk away with practical insights and real-world experiences from founders who have been through it themselves.

Panelists:

Remi Schmaltz, CEO & Founder at Brilliant Harvest

Dion Kelly, CEO & Co-Founder at Possibility Neurotechnologies

Rohit Joshi, CEO & Co-Founder at Brightsquid

More coming

This event is part of the monthly Founders Lunch Series, which aims to empower and support entrepreneurs. Organized by Innovate Calgary and supported by Alberta Innovates, ElevateIP Alberta, and the TD Ready Commitment Program, this dynamic platform connects entrepreneurs, fosters knowledge sharing, and inspires collaboration. Be a part of this transformative experience to expand your network, learn from industry leaders, and confidently navigate your entrepreneurial journey.

___

Lunch will be provided.

Parking is limited. Please Park only in designated public parking spots. Do not park in Lot 81 or 82, as it is reserved for our tenants only and you will be ticketed/towed.

Parking is $1.50 /every 30m or $10/day, and the building is accessible by transit. The Brentwood Train station is about a 10-minute walk away.

Read less

Event Address:

3655 36 St NW Calgary, AB T2L 1Y8

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