Successfully Scaling without VC funding: How Fatima Zaidi Bootstrapped Her Business to Millions in Revenue

She's Interesting with Rashel Hariri

In this empowering episode of She’s Interesting, Rashel Hariri engages in a motivational dialogue with Fatima Zaidi, tracing her remarkable journey from HR to Sales and, ultimately, to the Founder of one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies, Quill Inc. Together, they delve into the unique challenges faced by women of color in the Canadian VC world and explore the strategic utilization of Government funding and grants as alternative avenues for business support. Fatima candidly shares the inherent hustle and obstacles of being a startup founder, offering valuable insights into advocating for your business, how to pitch to journalists, and navigating the current economic climate. The conversation unfolds to cover the early days of Quill, highlighting pivotal moments such as the transition from a marketplace app to a podcast agency and hosting platform.

Join in as Fatima sheds light on her money mindset, both for her business and personal life, providing a rich tapestry of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts alike.

>>>> Get the list of government grants ⁠HERE⁠ <<<<

In this episode, we cover:

(04:46) Life as a third-culture kid and creating a diverse culture in business

(09:21) Transitioning careers from Human Resources to Sales

(12:30) Different sales strategies and the influence of marketing on sales

(19:45) Making the shift from Corporate to Startup life to Entrepreneurship

(30:53) How to raise funding for your startup, from government grants to VC funding

(37:35) Pivot or DIE! Evaluating your business idea in order to survive

(41:20) Fatima's money mindset for her business and her personal finances

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Music Credits:

Intro music: Lifeline by Kaleido

Ad music: Always in Motion by Oleg Mazur