Keith Ippel from Spring

Keith Ippel is the Co-Founder of Spring Activator, Spring Investing Collective and Spring Impact Capital.

Spring Activator helps entrepreneurs to change the world. We provide the tools, training, and network to values-driven entrepreneurs from launch to $1.5M in revenue.

Spring Investing Collective exists to help everyone have the opportunity to invest for people, the planet and profit. Through the Investing Collective, investors become empowered through experiential education, be in community with like-minded investors, and access the best early-stage impact investing opportunities in Canada. 

Spring Impact Capital invests in Canadian changemakers at the early stages of their company journeys to promote scalable innovation in planet and human health. They invest in founders to scale innovations for a more sustainable, healthy and equitable world.

Takeaways

• Invoke Labs was the birthplace of Hootsuite and one of the first venture studios in Vancouver.
• A great idea versus a good idea.
• The importance of team over an idea.
• What does impact mean to Keith and Spring from an investment standpoint.
• Spring's geographic expansion and impact.
• Keith looks for founders with a clear vision, hustle, adaptability, and a focus on revenue generation.
• Build strong communities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Invoke Labs

01:10 Creation of Invoke Labs and the Venture Studio Model

05:34 Timing and Tailwinds for Spring Activator

06:00 Differentiating Good Ideas from Great Ideas

07:48 Evolution of Spring Activator

09:47 Importance of Accelerator Programming

10:12 Characteristics of a Great Accelerator

12:09 Importance of Connections Beyond Capital

13:22 Key Considerations for Founders

15:36 Introduction of Spring Impact Capital

18:40 Introduction of the Spring Investing Collective

20:03 Challenges Faced by Impact Startups

22:15 Building Strong Communities

24:52 Geographic Expansion of Spring

27:35 Global Perspectives and Learnings

30:14 Vancouver Tech Scene and Future Growth

33:09 Investment Criteria and Qualities of Founders

36:01 Future Plans for Spring

39:07 Dealing with Hard Times

41:06 Favorite Books and Excitement for the Future

43:34 Final Message