Getting To Know: Our Saskatchewan Lead
Meet Jesse Wiebe, our Saskatchewan lead! Jesse and his father first joined us in our spring Investment Summit. On our very first call he asked, ‘How can I help you bring this to Saskatchewan?” Well he was soon teaching us how to do it! First as an ambassador in Saskatoon and now as our Saskatchewan lead. Zack (ZS) and Jesse (JW) spent a whirlwind 36 hours together in January, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to transcribe some of their chats into an introduction blog.
ZS: Hey Jesse… Thanks for showing me around Saskatoon, man.
JW: No prob… it’s been a crazy 36 hours since you landed on my doorstep at 1am.
ZS: Hell yeah.. Lots of places to go, lots of people to meet. So let’s dive into it. I know the story, but let’s tell everyone else. How did you hook up with Startup TNT?
JW: Well, in winter 2021, my dad and I were talking about taking our investments to the next level. I had previously worked with something similar in Toronto, and met David Janzen, who introduced me to TNT. I pitched the idea of the Investment Summit to my dad, and we went in on investing in the spring 2021 Summit. Since then, we’ve funded 7 companies through TNT, and all 5 of the Saskatchewan startups in the Fall summit.
ZS: Wicked… love that you went above and beyond and funded 7 companies. Amazing. Now tell me why you think people should think about Saskatoon when they think about startups.
JW: The community here is filled with vibrant and talented people. We’re such a tight-knit community, and we’ve got great support systems like Co.Labs and Innovation Place. Plus, people from Saskatchewan are tenacious and have a helluva work ethic, exactly what you want to see in an entrepreneur.
ZS: I hear ya… I think the people are so welcoming and I agree about the support systems. They’re fantastic. So what are some of your other favourite things about SK?
JW: The river area is just gorgeous in the summer. And the food scene is really strong… I’m a bit of a foodie. Las Palapas, Seasoned Fusion Tastes, and Spicy Bite are all restaurants you’ve gotta hit up if you’re in YXE.
ZS: Yeah, you’ve taken me to some fantastic places to eat… and of course drink, for our Thursday night Happy Hour.
JW: Yep… I’m all about the beer. Porters and stouts are my go-tos.
ZS: Let’s take a quick walk down memory lane. You’ve lived like 7 lives.
JW: (laughs) Yeah, you could say that. I was born in Saskatoon, and then when I was 2, my family moved to Bangladesh. I have a lot of early memories from that part of the world, and those memories definitely feed why I think it’s so important to invest in different companies that are aiming to help people. After Bangladesh, we moved back to Saskatoon, and then I went to Waterloo University for chemical engineering. Got about half way through, and then decided hell no and quit that program. Went into hospitality for a bit, then moved to England for a few years, and then to Toronto for my econ degree. Fast forward, pandemic hits, and then I moved home to Saskatoon and started this angel investing journey.
ZS: Holy shit.
JW: (laughs) Yeah, it’s been a ride.
ZS: So let’s go back to what you said about your early experiences in Bangladesh. You said it shaped your values and why you think it’s so important to help others.
JW: Yeah, it definitely did. And that’s also why this position with TNT excites me. It allows me to work with so many different people who are all doing really rewarding work. Startups, entrepreneurs and community partners who are all trying to better the world, and investors who want to invest in their local ecosystem.
ZS: Yes, love it. Alright, let’s end on something fun. Tell us a random fun fact about you.
JW: I’m a huge NBA fan, specifically the Raptors. I actually worked in Drake’s former bar, Pick 6ix Sports, during the 2019 finals. And I met Danny Green on my birthday.
ZS: That’s awesome, man. I’m super stoked to have you on the team.
JW: Yeah, me too!