EET facilitators are highly accomplished young entrepreneurs. Speakers share their stories—both triumphs and challenges that they have faced—in addition to advice on how to leverage the entrepreneurial mindset regardless of what career path you choose.
Interested in being a speaker on the tour? Visit our call for speakers page to learn more.
Veer Gidwaney
Veer Gidwaney was a co-founder of Control-F1 and grew the company into an industry leader in Support Automation. Control-F1 had over 85 world-class enterprise customers. Gidwaney started Control-F1 in the midst of completing his degree at The Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. In December of 2005, Control-F1 was sold to CA, the world's 6th largest software company with over $3.5B in sales.
Veer is working with a team of researchers and entrepreneurs to build Neurosilicon.
Neurosilicon develops novel Brain-Computer interfaces to expand the scientific understanding of the human brain and to revolutionize, streamline and improve the effectiveness of drug discovery and therapeutic practices for neurological disorders. Neurosilicon will commercialize products that have the ability to stimulate and sense the electrical activity of excitable cells (intact neuronal networks) grown on silicon chips.
Veer is presently launching an Internet fundraising platform that leverages micro-donation, social networking and ‘empowerment of the individual’ to inspire action. He has been named to McLean’s Top 25 Under 30 and was a finalist for the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year award.
More about Veer
Biggest obstacle overcome...
My brother and I left school to start Control-F1. Shortly after we launched the company, our father passed-away. He had always been a guiding source of inspiration and wisdom for me and Vinay. To overcome that challenge while continuing to build the company successfully was experience that made the both of us much stronger, in the mind and in the soul. It also made us appreciate how precious life is and that to live every moment means to set big goals and do whatever it takes to achieve them.
Biggest business mistake...
I’ve made many, that’s for sure! But the most fatal ones have been with respect to hiring. The most important part of any business is its people. In the early days of Control-F1, my ability to assess candidates was not as strong as it needed to be and I hadn’t formulated a philosophy on hiring. Through practice and experience, I have become much better. I believe that the key to building a great team is to find people who already believe in your vision and are as passionate as you are to achieve it.
Biggest vice...
I’m very diligent (okay, obsessive) at being organized… Sometimes I just need to ‘take it easy’…
Biggest advice for others...
“Never get emotionally attached a sunk cost”. This is the single most important thing I learnt at business school - in accounting class! Bad investments in time and money shouldn’t be followed by more bad investments in time and money. No when to let go and move on!
What I do for fun...
I spend as much time as possible with my wonderful wife, Nina! She’s my best friend and soul mate. We love to explore NYC, watch movies and check-out new restaurants. We and some friends are working on an Internet fundraising platform that leverages micro-donation, social networking and ‘empowerment of the individual’ to inspire action. My brother and I love to toss around new ideas and challenge each other’s creativity.
Most embarrassing business moment...
The first time I pitched Control-F1 at an investor conference, I decided to demonstrate our software in the form of a skit. I realized afterwards that the ‘screenplay’ wasn’t that descriptive and I wasn’t a very good actor!
