JASON SETNYK
Cornwall’s own Marc Lafleur is set to return to CBC’s Dragons’ Den, this time as a guest Dragon. The founder of truLOCAL, an e-commerce company specializing in locally sourced meat, Lafleur will appear in two episodes airing February 26 and March 5. Lafleur, a Holy Trinity graduate, first appeared on Dragons’ Den January 16, 2016. His pitch led to a deal with Michele Romanow, and the company later grew to a national scale with over 60 employees and an eventual acquisition in 2020 valued at approximately $16.8 million. Now the CEO of DB8 Labs, Lafleur is focused on building niche AI products. The opportunity to return to the Den as a Dragon stems from the show’s special “Full Circle” series, spotlighting former pitchers who became successful entrepreneurs. “It really does just kind of showcase the whole Canadian entrepreneur story from pitcher to dragon,” said Lafleur. As an investor, Lafleur says he looks beyond the numbers. “I was a kid who was completely counted out in high school and university… I’m looking for founders who are stubborn, gritty, 100% committed. It’s less about the business for me and more about the person.” While he’s saving most of his filming-day stories for after the episodes air, Lafleur says his experience on set was unforgettable and deeply meaningful, especially given his journey from a misunderstood student to a national business leader now mentoring others. “It’s about giving people a shot, just like I was given one.”
L’article Marc Lafleur: From pitcher to Dragon est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
