On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2021. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Mike ↗
In their words
The question we asked ourselves is: why can't you sell a construction project — like a home renovation or a new house — on Shopify or Amazon?
The big vision we had was that we were going to raise two million dollars at a 15 million valuation, which now seems so cheap. And that's what we got laughed at for. They said, well, if you want that, you'll have to go to Silicon Valley.
We literally spent our last dollars on this trip, and we're sitting in the car thinking, what do we do now? Okay — let's call Sand Hill Road.
Around the web ×1
Quick answers
What does Bolster do?
It sells software for residential construction — interactive estimating, scheduling, project management and payments — so contractors can quote a job the way an online store sells a product.
Was Bolster always called Bolster?
No. It was founded as CostCertified and rebranded to Bolster. The TechTO session in 2021 was recorded under the CostCertified name.
How did Mike Bignold raise his first round?
Badly, at first. He told TechTO that Calgary investors laughed at a $2M raise on a $15M valuation and told him to go to Silicon Valley. He spent his last $1,500 on the trip, cold-called Sand Hill Road, and ended up in Y Combinator, where FUSE invested before demo day.