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Andrew D'Souza on the TechTO stage

Andrew D'Souza

Founder, Boardy

AITorontoOn TechTO stages since 2019

Waterloo engineer who co-founded Clearbanc (now Clearco) with Michele Romanow, funding founders on business data instead of credit scores — from $20 advances to Uber drivers to millions for e-commerce merchants across 11 countries. After handing Clearco to a new CEO, he started Boardy in 2024: an AI that makes warm intros by phone.

On the TechTO stage ×2

First seen on a TechTO stage in 2019. Every TechTO talk is searchable — ask the archive about Andrew

In their words

I sucked at working for people. Every boss I ever had hated me. I thought it was them, and then it just kept happening over and over. At a certain point you realize you're not employable — and starting a company was the last line of defense.

TechTO, May 2025 · watch at 1:01

You're never going to have enough data to jettison the thing that's working for the thing you're more excited about. It has to be that founder instinct — and you have to do it before you have enough data.

TechTO, May 2025 · watch at 10:02

If we hadn't started by giving ten and twenty dollars to Uber drivers four years ago, we would never have been able to give millions of dollars to an e-commerce entrepreneur.

FintechTO, Oct 2019 · watch at 13:06
A few quotes can’t cover everything Andrew said on the TechTO stage. 1,570 talks are searchable.Ask about Andrew

Around the web ×2

Quick answers

What is Andrew D'Souza building now?

Boardy, started March 2024: an AI that makes warm introductions. Boardy has a phone number, email, LinkedIn profile and WhatsApp — deliberately no app, login or dashboard.

How did Clearbanc (now Clearco) start?

It began by advancing Uber drivers their pay, moved to funding Airbnb hosts, then went all in on e-commerce — funding merchants off business data like payment processors and ad accounts instead of personal credit scores, eventually expanding into 11 countries.

Is he still CEO of Clearco?

No. He decided he wasn't the right person to take the company to its next level and helped bring in a new CEO in 2022, before starting Boardy.

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Maintained by TechTO · facts sourced and dated · last reviewed Jul 13, 2026