Geof Auchinleck’s newest company, Claris Healthcare, makes a tablet designed for elderly people who don’t get along well with computers but could benefit from using technology to help them keep track of health issues.
In 1997, he and a partner founded Neoteric, a company that sold a blood transfusion tracking technology Auchinleck had developed for use in hospitals. In 2009, he and his partner sold Neoteric to a Boston-based company.
Before becoming a successful entrepreneur, Auchinleck’s career was on a more predictable track. For many years he climbed the corporate ladder at a Canadian health-care company and eventually become an MDS vice-president.
But when the company decided to consolidate in the mid-1990s, Auchinleck was faced with a move to Mississauga.
“I’m a fifth-generation British Columbian,” he said, “and Mississauga might as well be the dark side of Mars.”
That’s when he discovered the entrepreneurial fire in his belly.
“I bought a plane ticket and flew out to Mississauga … I had an appointment with the CFO,” he said.
He made the pitch, which involved a big bluff (see below). To his surprise, the CFO wanted to invest in Auchinleck’s company.
“He leaned forward and said, ‘How much do you need?’”
That’s when Auchinleck realized he had joined a select club of strange creatures.
“That was my first encounter with someone with the true entrepreneurial spirit,” he said. “What I’ve learned since is that [entrepreneurs] think differently. We’re not out there after a bigger slice of the pie. What we’re after is having people make a lot more pies.”
Now a successful entrepreneur himself, Auchinleck has paid it forward with others who are looking for guidance.
“I’ve got all sorts of people who call me up and I’ll give them an hour of advice for the price of a cup of coffee.”
