I have a Ph.D., so my background really is as a research scientist, so I kind of knew there was going to be funding out there and I really think that put me at a bit of an advantage. I think that for new companies starting out, if there could be a central system, something like NRC or IRAP, where a company starting out might be able to access somebody, that could help guide them in the beginning.
I know there is the issue of who will actually have this growth potential, but I think that you're really in new waters. Unless you're a really well-experienced entrepreneur, I think having some guidance to really maximize the brainpower that's in Canada would be very, very beneficial. A lot of people come to me asking for advice on where to get started, and I quickly tell them all the things they could access, but I also tell them about some of the challenges they may face.
As I mentioned, looking at strategic investors and even having, as my husband was suggesting, a central roster, would be useful. It would be something for when you're at the point where there is so much growth potential and you have to ask yourselves, “Wow, do we have to sell out in order to get there and make it?” We've had to ask ourselves that when we can hardly put food on the table because we're pushing so hard to meet the demand that is there, even though that is what we all want. So I think it would be very beneficial to have assistance both at the beginning to access what's there, but also assistance in growing financially, which is of course the basis of how we can grow.