Thank YOU!!!!!
It seems that FaveQuest is capturing the imagination of the media. We’ve been covered and interviewed by radio (CBC, CFRA, Live 88.5), newspapers (Metro, Ottawa Business Journal) and t.v. (A-channel, CTV). Not bad for a two person operation. Thank YOU!
Except that it isn’t a two person operation, even if the full-time core consists of just myself (Allan Isfan) and my co-founder Bill Love.
There’s an army of people, some of which I’ve mentioned in the various interviews but that never seems to make it in the final edits and only my name pops up. This disturbs me because there’s a whole pile of people behind us and they deserve recognition. For you start-ups out there, this is the type of support you might need and should seek (except for my wife .. can’t have her 
.
Yvonne Craig is my wife of 19 years (we’ve been going out since I was big haired 13 year old punk at Quebec High School). She supported my decision to leave Nortel to join the ultimately hyper-successful but initially super tiny Catena Networks (acquired for $476M in 2004 by Ciena:) and then supported me again when it was time to resign from a lucrative senior role and launch Isfan Solutions Inc with her and then ultimately FaveQuest. Not only that but she does all of our graphics … for nothing. She’s an accomplished artist and designer with clients that actually pay her (12 to 18 months baby … to the top).
Bill Love is my business partner and co-founder. He is amazing to work with and I’m incredibly fortunate. Super smart, easy going and when we put our heads together 1+1=3. You can’t have him either.
Allain Lalonde jumped in to help us when we got the bluesfest deal. Met for lunch, didn’t talk money “let’s just get this done”. Are you kidding me? He works full time elsewhere and has been pitching in evenings and weekends. Quite amazing. Don’t even think about it.
Roble Ali connected with me on twitter. Volunteered to help us with the bluesfest viewtube facebook app … for no pay … just experience!
Ragaeeb Haq and Martin Cayouette are two students that helped us through the winter to build a video vetting tool (thanks to Carleton University and OCRI for sponsoring their pay!!). Ragaeeb was able to stay on with us part-time this summer and helped us build the bluesfest jukebox … again with support from Carleton.
Dave Rooney is an amazing developer and Agile Software trainer. He busted his hump for a very long time to build the initial version of our platform. We were very close to launch but got delayed (bit media company… sigh … hopefully will launch this fall). David decided to back to training and is launching his own Agile S/W training company with partners. You should ping him if you manage S/W developers. Seen him work first hand. Awesome.
Our other co-founders, who have now moved into advisory roles are Spencer Campbell and Stanley Berneche. I cannot tell you how much I learned, and continue to learn from those guys. So incredibly lucky to have met them.
Ian Hembery and Bruno Leps, two of our most involved advisers. They were co-founders of AOL Canada among many others things. Helped me grow up and got me black and blue a few times (especially Bruno … no holding back). If your advisers don’t slap you around once in while, you have to get ones that do. Also on our board of advisers are Dr. Michael Geist and Dr. Daniel Lemire and both have provided invaluable advice. Dr. Geist confirmed that there were things we could do without copyright issues and gave us some great ideas early on. Dr. Lemire, a recommendation algorithm expert among other things, strongly advised us on algorithm issues and especially to ensure we realize that reliance on such smart is tricky.
Scott Simpson, CEO of Bitheads believed in us and provided us a developer and some office space (back when we thought we need desks). Their help allowed us to build our first prototype and get the attention of a major media company. We are forever (hopefully not actually forever) indebted to them.
LaBarge Weinstein law firm took us on as clients very early on and have continued to support us for three years. They still believe in us and put in substantial amount of support. James Smith even helped me get a consulting gig to keep the lights on. Seriously!
InMedia PR (Francis Moran et al) have been helping us with media contacts and training which is in large part why we are getting the media attention we are getting. I’ve also received great advice from Adrian Salamunovic, co-founder of dna11 (http://www.dna11.com), the dna art company (ultra super cool). We skyped while he was in California. Trust me, media is not lining up at my door. I’m pushing hard.
Huge appreciation for Leo Lax, CEO of Skypoint Capital, and all the staff there. They took me on as an Entrepreneur In Residence, taught me the ropes, connected me and gave me credibility. Invaluable!
Christine at RBC, for dealing with us and providing with support and credit so we could get some working capital that eventually help us secure an IRAP grant (that is now official!). Llynne Plante, Daniel Saikaley and Janice Singer from NRC/IRAP for believing in us and working on holiday and weekends to get us our grant in time!
Rolly and Yvette Renaud for constant support on many fronts, including filtering videos for Bluesfest. Susan Murphy for constant support and video she is producing for us as I post this. Mark Saunders for introducing me to Mark Monahan at the Virgin Radio launch party. Estephe Loridan, my cousin in Paris who built our favequest.com site on WordPress (kid is a genius). My kids for their patience.
Last but not least Ottawa Bluesfest, and especially Mark Monahan and AJ Sauve for giving us a shot when we were unproven but full of ideas and passion. We are forever indebted to you. I don’t think we could possibly love a customer more!
The list of people behind us goes on and on and on. I apologize if your name is missing. I’m running on no sleep, way too much caffeine and adrenaline. I know I have forgotten someone … and I have a pit in my stomach just thinking about it.
Thank YOU all from the bottom of my heart. When you see my name in the media, know that there’s an army standing together by my side. I will not forget and don’t mess with us.
Cheers,
Allan Isfan
CEO, FaveQuest
@isfan
