Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Roger Vandomme, Chief Data Scientist of SMC Inc., located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Making decisions about your company’s AI strategy could be challenging. 25 years of practical, operational, and academic experience can be available on call to help you plan, structure your ideas, and guide you on your digital journey. Then, as an independent international consultant with a 30-year of experience in AI and a strong background in business strategy, I will conceive, code, and implement your AI algorithms.

Tell us about yourself

After more than 20 years working in large international corporations at the highest executive levels, I got tired of the cumbersome decision-making and risk aversion. The wave of Big Data was starting. Nobody was ready to surf on it, so I decided to take it alone. It allowed me to diversify my activities and solve problems for various industries, which is very exciting and motivating.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a small company in a niche, I cannot do any kind of advertising or marketing. Prospection is cold calls and one on one meetings. But the best feeling is when word of mouth starts working and when clients start calling, recommended by others.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For small businesses, the biggest challenge is to be able to prospect while in production. It is very easy to get 100% involved in the current project with no time for networking and prospection. Then, when the contract is finished, it takes a long time to re-engage.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Believe, and make sure your environment shares your enthusiasm.
  2. Dive - Who dares wins.
  3. Never give up.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://smc.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogervandomme/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.