Let’s Change The Game — A You X Farewell.
As of January 4th, 2021, Teija & I have joined LEON as Head of Design and Head of Product respectively. As of today — You X Ventures will be shutting down.
Here’s our story on how this all came to be …
Oh Captain My Captain.
Five years ago, my Father-in-Law passed away while my wife was 8 months pregnant with our 3rd child. He was too young and too full of life to leave so suddenly.
He was an entrepreneur who had to start again with nothing having left South Africa for Toronto with a young family. His law degree didn’t mean much here. He started a bunch of different businesses of all shapes and sizes until he found one that fit — just before his passing. He was one of my heroes and while I had to be strong for my wife who was crushed — I found it hard to keep it together.
At the time, I was working as a Sr. Director at a startup Design agency — helping someone else build their company from the ground up. We had lots of financial success and lots of cool artifacts to show for it — including a 4,000 sq/ft office in the heart of Toronto and our own coffee shop.
Despite the glowing appearances, the company culture was cold and dark on the inside and it became an impossible place to work. I knew I had to leave and start again — but I didn’t know where to begin.
