On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2016. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Sol ↗
In their words
Every single time I've always said no. It's not because I'm special, it's not because I'm scared, it's definitely not because I come from money. I've always said no because it doesn't jive with the kind of life that I want to lead.
Are you willing to lose control? If I'm taking investment money, am I not just replacing the man with somebody else?
I'm not here to dominate, but I'm still here to make a dent — and I can do that without taking external money.
Around the web ×2
Quick answers
Who is Sol Orwell?
A Toronto entrepreneur who co-founded Examine.com in 2011 with Kamal Patel and Kurtis Frank. The site analyses the evidence behind supplements and nutrition claims and is funded entirely by readers, not advertisers or supplement makers.
What was his TechTO talk about?
The case against raising money. Speaking at the TechToronto meetup in February 2016 he ran through the questions he asks first — how badly do you need the cash, what is your endgame, are you willing to lose control, how much of the exit is actually yours, and what are your personal goals.
Has Examine.com raised venture capital?
No. Orwell says investors approached repeatedly and he turned them down every time; the company was self-funded from revenue.