For year and a half he sat beside his grandfather every chance he could, listening to his views on life and business. His beloved granddad had cancer and Kyle Braatz knew his time with him was limited. When it finally came time to say goodbye, Kyle decided he would honour his life and organized a cross country bike tour that raised more than $100,000 for cancer research.
Armed with that experience and his granddad’s advice, Braatz decided to start his own company in Ottawa. Netgen launched in 2009 and is now a successful digital marketing firm. Now at the age of 26, Braatz has helped start three companies and is working on a fourth. Finding mentors and working with them have taken his entrepreneurial skills to the next level.
“Sometimes you have the best idea going but you’re afraid to ask for feedback. They genuinely want to help, so don’t think you’re a burden.”
Kyle’s inspiration and biggest mentor was Frank Moores, the second premier of Newfoundland. He learned from one of the best. Granddad Frank would be proud.
