Where Braver stands — October 2020

Writing this article took time, because it was not always possible to present that positive picture while being honest about our chances of succeeding.

I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.... Unless you have a lot of passion about this, you're not going to survive. — Very well-known entrepreneur

But first, the good news

I think it is important to start by sharing several very good pieces of news:

1. We are finishing putting together a financing package of more than $300,000, which includes private investment, some debt, grants and tax credits. As a healthcare innovation company, we have a significant investment phase before generating revenue, so this kind of package is crucial to success.
2. We are well on our way to obtaining certification from Quebec's Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux, which will help us fulfil our vision: allowing everyone, regardless of their practice setting, public or private, to collaborate around shared patients, at no required cost.
3. Braver is increasingly integrated into the healthcare ecosystem, in part with the help of our advisory committee, which, after more than a year in the making, is becoming very well established! Several pilot projects, each in different and exciting settings, are on the table to demonstrate how Braver can have a significantly positive impact on the quality of care and the efficiency of healthcare providers.
4. We were recently admitted to Esplanade's Collision incubator in the Community Health stream. This Montreal incubator is deeply integrated into the healthcare ecosystem, so we are very excited to see what comes of it!
5. We are finally in a position to show you what the product looks like! Our mobile app, available on iOS and Android, is ready, and we are currently working on a desktop version (which will be available on Windows and macOS).

There is an enormous amount to say about all of the above — far more than could reasonably fit into this article. So, over the coming weeks, we will publish a series of articles covering different aspects of our journey ahead and our technology solution.

What brought us here

Looking at the state of things described above, we are proud of where we stand in October 2020. However, it would lack transparency to show you only the current situation and share only the good news. Is it necessary to look back and share the path we have travelled over the past few months? Not necessarily. But ultimately, naming a few elements from these past months gives a fuller picture of Braver. So here is what brought us here:

1. A lockdown that allowed the development team to work tirelessly to deliver our mobile app. And for Mathieu to be tired of coding, he must have done a whole lot of it.
2. 4 months of fundraising, with everything that entails: dozens of investor presentations, dozens of versions of financial projections, rejections, good news, but above all, a lot of waiting. This investment round has been a milestone in our journey, and we can't wait to give you more details!
3. The start of a certification process known throughout the ecosystem to be very (very) demanding. Hundreds of criteria to meet, requiring hundreds of pages of documentation, all of which swallowed up our week of summer vacation. July marked the beginning of a very stressful period that continues to this day.
4. Many wonderful people who care deeply about interprofessional collaboration, improving our healthcare system and advancing Braver. It is impossible to do them justice in such a short paragraph, but the past few months have brought an incredible ecosystem into our lives. We have worked so hard over the past two years to make Braver solid and credible, and you know what? We are starting to reap what we have sown. And something tells me this is only the beginning.
5. Resilience. The past few months have been very, very intense. Very, very stressful. We have already told you about this entrepreneurial roller coaster. But honestly, the lows have been more than frequent in recent months. Running and the mountains saved us. Going to bed early and eating Quebec-grown vegetables saved us. Seeing our family and friends saved us. Knowing how to say no and how to communicate saved us.

And thankfully so, because we are still here, and we are so close to the goal.