On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2020. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Eamonn ↗
In their words
It took a long time to build the MVP, but our go-to-market was incredibly scrappy. One of my co-founders and I had a van each, and we would drive from job site to job site in Montreal and give builders free coffee so they would listen to our sales pitch.
There'll be good days in a business like this and there'll be bad days, and if I can pick up the phone as quickly on the bad days and speak to an investor the same way I can on the good days, that's definitely a good sign.
We had bootstrapped for the first probably 12 to 18 months, from concept to launch.
More from TechTO ×1
Around the web ×1
Quick answers
What is Eamonn O'Rourke known for?
Co-founding RenoRun, the Montreal company that delivered construction materials directly to job sites. He led it from a bootstrapped MVP to a US$142M round led by Tiger Global before it filed for creditor protection in March 2023.
How did RenoRun get its first order?
He told TechTO that he and a co-founder each drove a branded van between Montreal job sites handing builders free coffee in exchange for a sales pitch. The first order came on day two.
What did he look for in an investor?
A personal connection above all. He and ScaleUp Ventures' Matt Roberts met over meals before the seed round because he wanted to know he could call an investor as easily on a bad day as a good one.
What is he doing now?
Not publicly confirmed. He describes himself as a former RenoRun CEO and a serial entrepreneur, and no current company has been verified for this profile.