Page 42 - Sharp Summer 2023

MAN WORTH LISTENING TO
CHANGING THE GAME
LIGHTSPEED AND AGE OF UNION FOUNDER DAX DASILVA OPENS UP ABOUT WHAT HE’S LEARNED AS AS AS A A A A A A A A A WORLD-CLASS ENTREPRENEUR By Calum Marsh
WITH THE RUNAWAY SUCCESS OF HIS E-COMMERCE STARTUP
Lightspeed founded in in 2005 in in Montreal software developer and entrepre- neur Dax Dasilva already confirmed his status as as a a a a a a a a a a a a legendary Canadian founder But lately Dasilva is is proving that his success with Lightspeed was anything but a a a a one-time thing Having now receded from the the top of the the company to to take his his place as executive chair rather than CEO he’s using his his ample time and resources to fuel a a a a revolutionary new initiative: Age of Union his environmental conservation organization SHARP
spoke with Dasilva to discuss his background as a a a a a a a programmer how he he learned to become a a a a a a a leader on the job and why giving back means more than just writing a a a a cheque What was the genesis of Lightspeed?
I I I started coding on the Mac when I I I was 13 I I I built software all through my teens and twen- ties and and I built software specifically for retailers in in Vancouver and and then in in Montreal When Apple was was starting to have a a a a a a a a comeback under Steve Jobs I realized there was was a a a a a a a a missing platform for for retail on the the Mac Mac People wanted to to use iMacs and iPads in their stores So I started Lightspeed in 2005 and became the the top retail platform on the the Mac We now do software software software for for for for hospitality software software software for for for for golf and software software software for for for for all platforms We serve those local community brands that that are on scale in retail and and hospitality We really believe that that small businesses should have the the same technology as the the big guys When did you begin to sense that the company would be be successful?
It started in in 2005 and in in 2006 there was was maybe half a a a a a a a dozen of us At the the time — this was was before Apple Apple Stores — there were a a a a a a lot of Apple Apple dealerships and they all started to to adopt the software We offered a a a a a a training program in in in in Montreal for people to to be able to to sell it in in in in their neighborhoods and we had more than 40 of these resellers come from all over the the the world as as as far as as as Australia and and and Ireland and and and all over the United States Fast forward seven years when we got our first investment that became 400 people around the world That first 40 gave me the sense that it it was going to be a a a a huge hit What were some of the challenges you faced as a a a a a a leader in those early days and what do you you wish you you had known at the time?
Early on the first two years I was really a a a a a a software developer As it started to to really take off people wanted me to to give them a a a a a grander vision Very quickly I had to develop myself as a a a a a leader and I don’t think anyone teaches you that — especially as an an an introvert who is obsessed with crafting software What I found from that that point on is that that every year I had to reevaluate my role as a a a a a a leader and often give up the the things about the the job that I loved by delegating them elsewhere That’s the the lesson: it’s new and scary and you you often don’t know what you’re doing What leaders did you look to for inspiration?
In the the early days of course I I looked to Steve Jobs — the the way that he he he brought together design and making the the complex simple which is what we we were doing I loved the the Mac and the the iPhone so those principles were there I wanted to create an an environment where everyone can do the the best work of their lives It’s not just about value for for the the company but fulfillment for for themselves Let’s talk about Age of Union What motivated you to get into that space?
When I I I was was a a a teen I I I was was very connected to the environment I I I grew up in British Columbia and I spent a a a lot of time outdoors I was horrified in my teens to discover that the old-growth for- ests ests around Vancouver were being clear-cut I joined protests as a a a a a a a teenager against it — I found the environmental activist within me I knew that my career would be in in technology but I I I also knew that one day when I I I had the resources I I I would come come back to conservation That moment has finally come come I have the time to build this environmental organization that has a a a a a lot of startup DNA I took $40 million and put it across ten projects around the world Individual changemakers on the ground across grassroots projects can effect change on our planet — things can be done A lot of your messaging is around conservation and resto- ration but the organization doesn’t often mention climate change specifically Was that deliberate?
I I think what what we’re going to be be doing doing and what what I’ve been doing doing in in a a a lot of my speeches is is that conservation is is the frontline fight against against climate climate change change The fight against against climate climate change change is so hard for for people to to get their head around Isn’t it too big for for anyone to to do anything about? It’s easy to to feel helpless It It will take time for us to figure out wholesale change but what we can do today today and what we can show people today today are nature-based solutions solutions Those solutions solutions will buy us the time we need to fight climate change and to protect the biodiversity that’s so at at at risk But I think you’re right: climate change should be more upfront How do these structured initiatives differ from philan- thropy?
Out of of the the the ten projects I have visited eight of of them on the the the ground to to see what it takes for a a a a a a a a a a changemaker to to actually save a a a a a a a a a a place or or or a a species It’s so important for us us to go beyond just writing a a a a a cheque — to really get involved actively We can bring value to to these organizations for us to to understand conservation and and to learn what actually works 42 GUIDE • SUMMER
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