The Fundica Roadshow’s first 2018 event is now behind us, but the connections fostered there will stay with us for years to come. When not preparing for our next stop in Vancouver, we continue to converse with those who define the Roadshow’s past: innovative figures making waves in the Canadian startup scene.  

Among those figures is Maxime Villemure, CEO and co-founder of Sharebee, an online platform that allows individuals and businesses across Canada to advertise or rent unused storage space. Since the company’s inception, Sharebee has successfully raised pre-seed funding, obtained a prestigious Fondation Montreal inc. Grant+, and earned regular media coverage. And, with over 2,000 rentable spaces in Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, 5,000 users, and plans to expand their services to all major U.S. cities by 2019, Sharebee is on a sure path to propagate their already considerable accomplishments.  

We connected with Maxime to learn more about Sharebee’s beginnings and the milestones that lead to its present success.  

Tell us more about the early days of your venture. How did you come up with the idea for your company?

Sharebee was born on August 2016 when I got my hands on a large house that would meet the needs of my growing family. After contemplating what to do with my garage, which I wouldn’t be using completely, I decided to use the extra space to generate additional revenue. Remembering my own horrible experience renting traditional storage space, I suspected that people in my neighborhood might be interested in renting a clean garage space that was less expensive and closer to their home. One week later, my garage was filled with four renters, and I was making $500 in monthly passive revenue! I knew I had a disruptive idea on my hands. Quickly, I partnered with an ex-technical colleague to create Sharebee.  

What was the biggest challenge you faced while attempting to raise funds?

As a young startup, maintaining growth in your key defined metrics is imperative, and most of your time and your colleagues' time is spent working towards that goal. One of our biggest challenges was keeping results growing every week while also juggling investor meetings, due diligence, hustlin', etc. Raising funds can be an overwhelming endeavor for founders, and it can divert your focus when you’re trying to keep the traction going.

How did pitch competitions, such as the Fundica Roadshow, help you grow your business?

Preparing for a pitch event is an exercise that forges new skills in entrepreneurs. Planning a pitch, creating a good pitch deck, following a narrative & story, practicing the pitch delivery like crazy—all these activities help you define (and refine) your ?company's message in a short amount of time. Consequently, every word, every page, every header, and every letter has a price tag on it and matters tremendously.? Pitching at events has also helped us present our business to multiple potential investors and form partnerships and long lasting relationships.

Join the ranks of Sharebee and startups like them by pitching at the 2018 Fundica Roadshow.

Want to participate in our events but not ready to get up on stage? Buy your tickets below!

Vancouver, May 31st, 2018: Tickets here  

Toronto, June 28th, 2018: Tickets here  

Finale, Montreal, July 12th, 2018: Tickets here