Shayne Gilbert is the founder of mobile app start-up Toucanect, but her entrepreneurial roots have been growing strong since 1994 when she started Silverweave, a boot-strapped business that has been running profitably for almost twenty years.
Through Future Forward Events, a partnership of Silverweave, Shayne has delivered exclusive programs like the Nantucket Conference and Convergence, for high technology and life sciences executives and investors, for more than a decade.
Shayne’s work has been recognized in The Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and Wired. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Shayne lives in Boston with her husband and daughter.
Who inspires you?
I’m inspired by creative people whose artistry resonate and impact our daily perspective. Julie Taymoor. Annie Lebovitz. John Lennon.
Why are you an entrepreneur?
I’m a fourth generation entrepreneur. It’s in my DNA.
What was a defining moment in your career?
When I figured out how to earn a living while doing something that I absolutely loved. It was liberating!
How is your company different from your competitors?
Toucanect, http://toucanect.com, is smart, simple and fun. We’re really focused on creating an intuitive experience with a core mission of helping folks stay more organized.
Where do you see your company in the next five years?
In the pocket of every multi-tasking parent out there.
What’s next for your company?
Building a passionate community of folks who swap and share their favorite activities with one another.
Can you provide us with the inside scoop on the Boston tech scene?
It’s actually a very close-knit community with a lot of people who are committed to helping the next great idea get to market.
How did you finance your business when it was at the early stage? (Self-funded, crowd-funded, Angel Investor, VC)
Angel funding from a group of investors and advisors who are successful serial app developers.
Tell me something about yourself that we don’t know already.
CrossFit training keeps me sane.
What is your guilty pleasure? (Real Housewives, Chocolate, 50 shades of Grey, etc)
I love to code. I started with Pascal.
Describe a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
I’m an entrepreneur. When we fail, we just move on to the next great idea.
What is your favorite mobile app?
Toucanect (that was easy). It just makes life so much easier to manage, especially for multi-taskers who are responsible for coordinating professional, personal, social, family, school and other daily life occurrences.
What do you do to help focus?
I add another project on my to do list (I’m a classic multi-tasker).
Your favorite productivity tip is…..
Put Toucanect in your pocket. You’re going to be amazed at how much it simplifies your day-to-day organizing and communicating.