#26 - Laura Gabor [Canada vs USA Investing], Co-founder & COO, Ecologicca; Founder, What in the Tech

How I Became...

In this episode of How I Became, I spoke to Laura Gabor. She is the co-founder & COO at ecologicca, the founder of What in the Tech, and avid investor and loves community building.

We discuss her fundraising experiences in the US and how it compares in Canada, noting differences in risk tolerance and capital availability. She shares her journey with ecologicca, a company focused on improving indoor air quality and predictive health modeling, inspired by her co-founder's struggles with poor air quality. We also explore her side project, What in the Tech, which provides resources and support for tech founders. Being a founder is not easy, nevermind spending time trying to understand resources, tools, and the lingo. This is what she's working to unlock.

Take Aways

• Fundraising in the US is often easier and faster compared to Canada, where investors are more risk-averse and have less capital available.
• The Canadian tech ecosystem tends to focus on B2B SaaS companies, while the US is more open to different industries and hardware startups.
• Ecologicca is a company that focuses on indoor air quality and uses IoT technology to monitor and improve air quality in buildings.
• The company's products produce hydroxyls, which are responsible for fresh air outdoors, and have been used by NASA.
• Ecologicca aims to provide clean air for everyone, regardless of their location or financial means. Ecologicca creates hydroxyls to improve indoor air quality and reduce the spread of diseases like COVID-19.
• What in the Tech is a side project that provides resources and support for founders in the tech industry.
• Data and technology play a crucial role in both Ecologica and What in the Tech.
• Laura is passionate about advocating for underrepresented founders and creating a more inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystem.