Blyth Gill is the Founder of Tradle in Vancouver, BC. Tradle is a Clothing-as-a-Service platform for children that helps the clothing industry be more sustainable.
After a challenging climb, six companies, including Tradle, are now moving onward and upward to the 2022 OKGN Angel Summit Finale on March 16th. We connected with each of the finalists to learn what they would do with the investment, why they think they are the right choice for the investors and hear their insights on the Summit program.
What problem were you trying to solve when you started Tradle?
The hand-me-down world is very inefficient and inconvenient so we want to make that process better. By introducing sustainability to the clothes children go through, we’re seeking to make parents’ lives easier. We created a service that allows parents to access the clothes they need, avoid spending a lot of money and easily exchange or return the clothes once they’re done with them.
If you were to win, what would you do with the investment?
In addition to onboarding new parents and working with suppliers of high-quality kid’s products, we have an R&D project that will create efficiencies in clothing’s circular economy. We’re building a digital ID for all clothes that will show where the item was made, what materials they’re made from, how often the clothes have been circulated and where they should end up so that it doesn’t go to a landfill or incinerator.
Why should the investors be interested in Tradle?
The timing couldn’t be better for us. In terms of the market, secondhand products are becoming much more mainstream. The other reason relates to our digital ID technology which will help this process become more efficient and give insight into the lifecycle of each product. As much as I love kid’s clothes, it’s just the beachhead to get things going. This technology will have important applications to a variety of markets.
Has your approach to raising capital changed over the course of the Summit?
I’ve learned that it’s about finding the right partner so that our respect and belief in one another adds value to the journey. I’m not looking at investors as walking ATM machines. I’m looking at them as people with a lot of experience and knowledge and who are much more valuable than what they’re offering to invest.
What advice would you give to the participants of next year’s Summit?
There are a lot of good businesses competing in the Summit but it’s not about them or about being the best, it’s about opening doors. Your business isn’t going to resonate and connect with everyone, but if you can connect with just a few people, you’ve won. Building relationships and creating connections is how we all win.
If you are just learning about our OKGN Angel Summit, it is a 10-week program where accredited investors and startup founders are introduced to the world of angel investing through a guided, hands-on process with multiple pitch events and training activities. This process provides participating companies with a chance to learn how businesses are vetted, complete due diligence, and make improvements to their pitch. At the end of the program, during a live public pitch event on March 16th, the investors will decide which company receives the $150K investment from the fund.
Who will take home the big investment? Find out at the 2022 OKGN Angel Summit Finale on March 16! You can register for the Finale now on Eventbrite. Tickets are free for students and members of Accelerate Okanagan.
