Startup of the Week is a feature on Startup Calgary that aims to highlight and showcase innovative tech startups and budding entrepreneurs in Calgary.

This week we hung out with Jamie Clarke, noted speaker, mountain climber and serial adventurist to learn more about his new adventure, LiveOutThere.com.

Startup Info:

Name of Startup: LiveOutThere.com

Name of Founder(s) and titles: George Achilleos (COO), Jamie Clarke (President), and Darrell Jones (Board Member)

Year Founded: 2009

What’s your elevator pitch?

LiveOutThere.com is fast becoming Canada’s premier online purveyor of apparel, footwear and equipment for people living an active outdoor lifestyle.

How did you come up with the idea for your startup? Was there an “ah-ha” moment?

While operating our successful bricks and mortar store in downtown Calgary for 8 years we uncovered a need for our products and services across the country. Rather than open more stores we saw an opportunity in e-commerce. Leaning on the strength of our relationships with the world’s best outdoor gear manufacturers we launched what is now LiveOutThere.com.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

Our biggest challenge so far has not been the predicted struggles of raising capital, building a site, hiring a good team, or opening a warehouse, but rather navigating the reality that e-commerce has a plethora of barriers to success most of which you can’t plan for or predict. E-commerce is a stressful, but rewarding nonetheless.

Are there any key individuals outside of your organization that have been of great help to your startup?

There are two groups of people who have helped us get this far: our investors and suppliers. We would not be where we are without our investors — not just their money, but also their belief in what we are doing and their business counsel along the way.

We have invested years in building relationships with the thought leaders in our industry. We now have relationships with the presidents of companies like Arcteryx, IceBreaker, and The North Face. These relationships allow us to pick up the phone to solve problems and get things done.

What’s new with your startup that we can share?

We thought last year was good, but this year we are growing in some segments by 1000%. And better yet, we’re soon launching Patagonia and a contest to send 4 people to Alaska on a heli-ski adventure!

Personally, do you think it is more difficult to raise capital or find the right talent? Any suggestions to make it easier?

George and I have been raising capital for 20 years. We first worked together to raise money in the early 1990’s when I was trying to fund expeditions to Mt. Everest. George gave a pitch recently to a group of savvy investors where he was told his presentation was the best they’d ever seen. So, we’ve been around the block. Still, getting money is tough. Raising money to climb the Everest was harder than the climbing. The same goes here.  Yes, it’s hard to build the right team, but raising money — actually getting cash in the bank (especially from Calgary investors if you’re not offering an oil and gas deal) is tough climbing.

Advice: Knowing your stuff goes without saying as does having your own pound of flesh at risk. Most important though is to be modest in your business planning and revenue projections — classic under promise/ over deliver. Also, take rejection as a form of important feedback and when someone tells you ‘no’ always ask why.

What has contributed to your success to this point?

Our commitment is our number one key to success. Our lives aren’t at risk here, but our livelihoods are. If we weren’t in so deep financially, George and I would have quit long ago, but we are personally responsible for rent, lines of credit, for the more than 25 people who count on us to meet payroll, and to the people who have invested in us. We cannot fail and therefore we won’t.

It’s not lost on us that we need to be profitable, but we also want to build something we are proud of. We want to build a company that inspires Canadians to go outdoors and enjoy this fantastic country we call home — and we want them out there and comfortable in our fantastic gear!

What made you choose to go down the path of entrepreneurship?

I’ve never had a proper day job. Entrepreneurialism is all I know. George; however, left a well paying job at IBM where he was a rising star. He summoned the courage to leave that security 12 years ago to join forces with me. There’s no denying the entrepreneurial spirit in him—something passed on by his parents. They immigrated to Canada with nothing and made a significant life for themselves. George has always respected his parents for the risks they took, the sacrifices they made and the hard-won success they have enjoyed. In his own way, George is an adventurer and he too wanted to strike out on his own to explore the possibilities.

What are your thoughts on Calgary’s startup community? 

George and I both grew up in Calgary. I was born here, as were my parents. My grandfather was raised on a farm in southern Alberta. This is home. And it’s close to the mountains. That sentimentality aside, Calgary is busting with entrepreneurial spirit. The people here are smart and have the guts to take risks and the gumption to get things done.

We have the money and brainpower to better diversify our economy and make Calgary the economic centre of the country beyond oil and gas. Shortsightedness keeps our community mesmerized with crude. Bitumen rules the day and understandably so, but much more can happen here in the form of tech development and ecommerce. It’s happened already with the likes of iStockphoto, Veer, StumbleUpon and others, but investors need to see potential in Calgary beyond a barrel of oil.

What’s your ask right now? What do you and your startup need?

Sales are booming so money is becoming less and less the issue — now we need a bigger warehouse and talented and passionate people.

Thanks Jamie… count us in for the heli-ski adventure in Alaska!

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