Christophe Garnier, Totsy + Spark Labs // Learning From An $80mil Blocked Sale + The Future Of Work
I met Christophe when I first moved to New York. I was drawn in by his infectious energy, French charm and distinct sense of humor. He had started multiple companies and our friendship grew over chats about life in America & the world of entrepreneurship. One evening after an epic meandering night out, we landed in Koreatown to chow down on plates of bibimbap & bulgogi. It was a few days before his life was about to change with the birth of his daughter and I asked Christophe about any regrets he had from the past…he started to share this story: “This one time, I had a call from the CFO of Groupon and they had made an $80mil offer on our company, Totsy! It would have been a 10X return for our investors and it was going to be a life-changing moment for me”… The table went silent as we crept towards the edge of our seats… “But then my board blocked the deal, we had to say no! A short while after, we got crushed by Zulily and had to sell for much less. I made nothing from the sale.” It was the sort of honest conversation you could only have with real friends. And yet, it was a familiar outcome that 90% of founders face when starting a company. The type of story that hasn’t been perfectly crafted by a PR machine or used as the tee-up to the inevitable “but look at me now!” It was just plain, honest, truth. In this episode, we revisit that story in more detail to share the stark reality of entrepreneurship – the high highs and the low lows, what it takes to bounce back and move on to a new adventure. We also get into how his world has changed since having a baby daughter, why he thinks being a parent can make you a better entrepreneur and what his new company, UpFlex, is focused on. I hope you enjoy the honesty that Christophe shares in this revealing conversation – if so, shoot me a note, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Five Things To Listen Out For: Ups and Downs of entrepreneurship – the true reality for many entrepreneurs who start companies $80mil acquisition offer – what really happened when he had to reject this offer and what you can learn from his experience Being a parent and a founder – how to find your own balance and why Christophe says it makes him a better entrepreneur Leaving Your Company – when and why you might ever leave the company you started Upflex – his new company and why there’s a need for “Workplace-as-a-Service” Subscribe and watch on YouTube.com/creatorlabfm Full show notes: https://www.creatorlab.fm/christophe-garnier-totsy-spark-labs-upflex/ Social: Instagram: @bzaidi212 @creatorlabfm Everywhere else: @bzaidi @creatorlabfm Thank you to our sponsors who help make this show possible: SquareFoot, where growing companies find their place, check out SquareFoot.com/creatorlab to find your next office space