Getting To Know: Our New Winnipeg Lead!

A giant welcome to our brand new Winnipeg lead, Gloria Thom!! 

We are SO excited to be breaking into Manitoba and to have Gloria lead the charge. 

Quick facts about Gloria before we dive into the interview: 

• Gloria studied corporate finance at the Canadian Western School of Business and project management at Red River College 

• Gloria is a founder and entrepreneur herself, having formed Green Umbrella Consulting Group in 2020 

• Gloria was the lead consultant in building the North Forge Angel Network

• Gloria’s expertise is in Operations, Corporate Administration and Startup Finance

So let’s get to it! 

TNT: Gloria! Welcome to the team!! 

GT: Thank you so much! I’m really excited that TNT is in Winnipeg, and the active part I get to play in growing TNT here. 

TNT: We’re super happy to be in Winnipeg too! So tell us - what was your first TNT encounter? 

GT: I found out about TNT when I was working with North Forge Technology Exchange, developing the North Forge Angel Network. And then I connected with Jesse when he was recruiting angel investors for Summit V. Meeting Jesse in person was so fun - he has so much energy and it’s contagious! 

TNT: Agreed! And he has the best laugh of the team, IMHO. 

Ok, so tell us why you like working with startups? 

GT: I think there’s a really common fear for people to be working somewhere where they aren’t making an impact or their job doesn’t hold a lot of value for them, past a paycheque. 

But with startups, you can see your impact. Any advice you give, any mentoring you do, your contributions - you’re going to see the value that it adds to the company. And that’s really appealing to a lot of people, including myself. 

TNT: What excites you about the startup ecosystem in Winnipeg? 

GT: The startup community in Winnipeg is so incredibly supportive. People are just all in for helping one another, whether you’re a founder, investor, consultant, etc. 

There’s a lot of desire in the community to build and grow companies here in Manitoba, and to provide a sustainable future for Winnipeg. And that’s the other awesome thing about TNT coming to Winnipeg - it opens that door to early capital for founders. 

TNT: What are you most excited to do first, as Winnipeg Lead of TNT? 

GT: I’m really looking forward to letting founders and entrepreneurs know about what TNT offers to them - that TNT is a tangible resource to the community through the Summits, and that access that I mentioned above, to early capital. 

I’m really excited to see Manitoba go through a full Summit, and to see a Manitoba winner! 

TNT: Can’t wait!! Ok, so you have been doing angel investing for a while now. What do you think people need to know about angel investing? 

GT: I think there’s a common misconception that in order to be an angel investor, you need to have family wealth/generational wealth, or you need to be super wealthy. But I started with none of that. I didn’t know anyone in Winnipeg who was doing angel investing, so I didn’t really have anyone I could call up and ask questions to. So I started Green Umbrella with the express purpose of taking the profits and investing them as an angel. 

Also, I want people to know that when you’re an angel investor, you’re building a relationship with that investment. With your safer, more obvious investment choices - RRSP’s, GIC’s, etc. - you don’t get that relationship. Angel investing is riskier, but you’re very involved in the process, and you can see your money making a direct impact. 

TNT: Love it. Ok, fun questions now! What’s your favourite drink? 

GT: Coke and Jack! That’s the drink that my dad and I share - it’s a comfort drink. 

TNT: That’s so cute. I love it. Favourite place to eat in Winnipeg? 

GT: Resto Gare in St Boniface, the French district here! It’s so cool - it’s a restaurant that’s tucked away inside of the boxcars of a train. 

TNT: What! That’s so awesome. I have to come and eat there. 

Any hidden gems in Winnipeg that you want to let people know about? 

GT: I think my favourite one is The Roost. It’s a great rooftop bar/pub, and just wonderful to go to in the summer. 

TNT: Fun! Alright, last question - what is a random fact about you? 

GT: Oooh, here, I’ll give you my favourite quote about startups - “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” Drew Houston, co-founder and CEO of Dropbox

TNT: That’s such a great quote. I love it. Thanks for hanging with me today, Gloria and welcome to the team. 

GT: Thank you!