11 March 2022
When Wendyam M. Drabo started her business in 2011, she benefited from Créavenir, a Desjardins solidarity financing program. Four years later, her sales had quadrupled.
The young entrepreneur is the founder of Pivot Santé, a kinesiology clinic dedicated to the 50+ clientele in Longueuil. He presents the 5 main principles that allowed him to grow his business.
He who seeks finds. Even if the money doesn’t fall from the sky, it exists. Find solid financing partners. Meet with your financial advisor at the caisse or knock on the door of organizations in your area: CLD1, SADC2, PME Montréal3, Futurpreneur, Filaction, etc. Many financing programs are aimed at young entrepreneurs and the advisors at these organizations will be able to direct you.
When I finished my master’s degree, I realized that being a kinesiologist was not an easy task. That’s when the idea of creating my own business came up. Once I had my business plan in hand, the CLD de Longueuil introduced me to Créavenir, a program that offers support and financing to young entrepreneurs.
And that’s exactly what I needed: I got a loan at a good rate with a capital repayment vacation for the first year. This financial springboard opened doors for me and gave me access to other financial products at Desjardins, including a line of credit, a Visa card and Accord D financing.
There are fitness centers and sports clinics on every street corner. To innovate, we decided to be the first to target the 50+ clientele, who are more at risk of developing chronic diseases or problems related to aging: diabetes, heart attack, back pain, hypertension, etc. At Pivot Santé, advancing in age is a privilege to be enjoyed every day.
Networking is key. Get involved professionally and socially. Surround yourself with people who believe in your project. Being successful in business is more than finding the right niche product; it’s about personality and attitude. Teaming up with the right people and taking advantage of available expertise instead of relying on your own is a winning strategy to grow your business.
This is why we collaborate with hospitals, CLSCs and medical clinics that send us clients in search of better health.
Don’t hesitate to ask the financial experts for advice. At Desjardins, the advisors have the tools to help young entrepreneurs like me. Chantal Charron [advisor at Desjardins Entreprises Rive-Sud] has known my business since the beginning. When I have a question, I consult her and she quickly offers me a solution adapted to my needs. For me, this is priceless.
Finally, to obtain financing or simply to find a professional such as a notary or a lawyer, the CLD de Longueuil knows where to direct me. This is a major asset.
Recruiting talent is possible. Recruiting talent that shares its expertise and passion is the challenge. Even though job prospects in this field are improving, many graduates must work up to 4 part-time jobs to fill their schedule.
Pivot Santé makes it a point to develop and promote human capital: my employees quickly obtain full-time employment, they are motivated and espouse the same corporate vision as I do. This is a significant return on investment.
To move forward, encourage boldness and cultivate determination. Learn about project management through training or workshops offered by schools and local organizations. Management skills will help you make your dream a reality. Take initiative rather than waiting for opportunities to present themselves: turn constraints into opportunities. Finally, believe in your project and never give up. You will have to overcome many obstacles, but you will get there.
Contractor’s name: Wendyam M. Drabo, M. Sc.
Company name: Pivot santé www.pivotsante.com
Activity: treatments and adapted exercises
City: Saint-Hubert
Start-up year: 2011
1. CLD: local development center.
2. CFDC: Community Futures Development Corporation.
3. Composed of 6 economic development poles, PME Montréal is the new Montréal model for local economic development.
Source: Desjardins Blog
