Yesterday, Branchez-vous reported that it acquired 2 niche successful websites in Québec, fanatique.ca and humourquebec.com.
I didn’t write about it, as I knew Branchez-Vous’s overall strategy is to become the #1 media destination in Québec, and their tactic is to acquire regularly new web destinations, on a bi-monthly basis, and launch new advertising partnerships. One of the websites’s price tag was $65.000, and well, for me… that was it, it closed the story.
And I moved on. It’s hard to report such a story when you hear about Bebo’s acquisition price or Meebo’s valuation.
I just read however a post that brings a new perspective about this. Jean-François Dubé thanks Émile Girard, who was behind both websites.
J’aimerais le féliciter pour cette belle réussite mais j’aimerais surtout le remercier. Pourquoi? Parce que sans même me connaitre, Émile m’a donné un solide coup de pied dans le derrière en me faisant réaliser qu’il est possible pour un jeune entrepreneur du Québec de réussir dans ce domaine de fou.
Tout comme Émile, j’aurai bientôt 24 ans et j’ai la tête (et le laptop) pleine de projets. Sans le vouloir, il vient d’envoyer un gros “FUCK YOU” à tout ceux qui n’ont pas cru en moi jusqu’à maintenant et qui m’ont dit que je devrais entrer dans une grosse boîte avant de tenter de voler de mes propres ailes.
And there I understood that this is really a meaningful symbol for new entrepreneurs. Émile Girard started both websites in his early twenties, was a solo-entrepreneur, gathered an audience, and through passion, hard, relenteless work, he made a substantial amount of money from it. The fact that we are not talking about digg or reddit.com might be even more meaningful for new entrepreneurs: it’s easier for a Montreal/Quebec/Canadian-based entrepreneur to see him/herself in Émile Girard’s shoes than say, in Kevin Rose’s, of Digg.com fame.
And I agree with Jean-François Dubé. Stories like Émile Girard’s needs to be heard more often. Yes, it’s possible to start something in Québec. Be it a “small”, dedicated website like fanatique.ca, or something big, like standoutjobs.
And I am now starting now a new section on Montreal Tech Watch, called it Technology Entrepreneurs Stars, and it will be dedicated to local entrepreneurs who succeeded, be it from a successful IPO or an acquisition. If you know anyone who fits there, feel free to comment and email at news@montrealtechwatch.com
Comments
Sylvain Carle March 18, 2008
Chrystian Guy (cguy.org) – founder of La Toile du Québec, probably the biggest takeover of web 1.0 in Québec, now at Transcontinental.
Yves Williams – founder with Chrystian of la Toile, now CEO of agentsolo.com
François Lane – sold *2 * internet businesses now working on the Code Kitchen / Cake Mail.
Alexandre Taillefer, another two-times buyout, Intellia and Hexacto.
(more later)
Heri March 18, 2008
i will have to get their pic and bio. it’s not going to be easy (especially with François Lane)
Carl March 18, 2008
By the way, the strategy isn’t to acquire new sites on a bi-montly basis …
It just happened that way … we worked hard for months and everything folded in place at the same time.
heri March 19, 2008
i am starting a hall of fame for successful technology entrepreneurs http://tinyurl.com/2ohcf9
Montreal Tech Watch March 19, 2008
A small step for Branchez-Vous, a big symbol for local entrepreneurs http://tinyurl.com/yrxo3o
LP March 19, 2008
Heri March 19, 2008
my point was that some (like J.F Dubé) lookup to him.
some just want to setup a local, nice website, with a cool audience, and I am perfetly ok with that.
but it’s also sure that many, like you, lookup to bigger successes.
we will feature all those in the new section
Sébastien Morin March 24, 2008
http://blog.duproprio.com/2007/06/13/dupropriocom-dans-lactualite/
Philippe Telio March 25, 2008
Great list Heri. I hope to see many names on it.