In my previous post, I explained how the idea of iWeb originated; from my days as an accounting student to my first job connecting companies, and I left off at the inception of Formatek; the company that would eventually become iWeb.
Early in 1996, Formatek offered many services related to the Internet, including training, website design (well, web page at that point), hardware sales, custom software, and a few other services that companies were willing to contract us for.
The Infonet company started by Martin Leclair
Martin Leclair, with whom I co-founded iWeb, was a collaborator on many of these projects. After a few months, Martin and I started to realize just how well we worked together. Martin, though sometimes a little introverted, has always had a more cerebral approach, thinking of new ways to offer the best web services and working on “what’s next”. As a (complementary) contrast to Martin’s abilities, I was more extroverted, and much more interested in developing the business side of things, like financing and management.
By the end of 1997, Martin and I decided to focus more on a specific “niche” market, web hosting. Specifically, web hosting in French. We knew that as a small group of individuals, we would have a hard time competing against the big IT companies unless we had an edge, and the opportunity to meet the needs of francophone customers was right there.
One of the fisrt french portal in the world in 1996
We also knew that one day, everything would eventually be digital; it was the beginning of MP3 music/Napster, digital cameras, online games, VOIP telephony, IMS (chat with ICQ), etc. We had to get started right away!! Early in 1998, to test our market, we launched boutique-iweb.com which offered 4 test services; Web hosting, HTML training, toner and finally, IT books. The big winner, as you might guess, was Web hosting
Once we saw the results, we decided to merge all the companies we were operating; Formatek.qc.ca, Infonet.qc.ca, and WebDepart.com, to officially launch iWeb-hosting.com in 1998 and create iWeb technologies! In early 99, we created the current version of the company, iWeb Group (here is the press release, it was only published in French, sorry)
Next time, I’ll tell you the first years of iWeb, now that we were focused on web hosting!
I think it might be interesting to explain the story of how iWeb came to be, so I guess this post will be part 1 of the story.
The company was officially incorporated in 1996. Before this, however, my entrepreneurial spark was lit in University, while studying management accounting at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). I chose this degree because I didn’t really know what i wanted to do in the future, but I knew that management and practical accounting would help me get around in almost any environment.
In 1995, my university decided to link to McGill University through the Internet, which is where I had my first experience with the Internet. E-mail, Gopher, Newsgroup, Telnet and of course the the Web (www!). I was totally excited by this new media which could share and communicate with the world! So I went to the orientation people at the university and asked to change programs, from accounting management to computer science. The orientation person explained that I would lose all my credits from 2 years of school, and suggested that I complete my program while taking optional courses related to computer – which made a lot of sense to me, so I did.
After a few courses, I knew it wasn’t enough, so I decided to find a summer job, somehow related to the Internet. I found a job with Industry Canada; I was in charge of the “Connected Students” program. The goal of this program was simple: connecting companies to the Internet and use the web to find potential customers and suppliers and of course, to get them to start using e-mail! With a team of about ten students, like myself, we connected over 1000 companies to the Internet.
After the summer of 96, before I returned to University, I received several requests from the companies we connected, who were looking for more services from us, including training, on using the web pages and other stuff. So in October 1996, the company now known as iWeb, (originally called FORMATEK) was founded!
Next time, I’ll tell you about the first years of FORMATEK, before it became iWeb.
Yesterday, in the lobby of iWeb’s HQ in Montreal, we officially unveiled iWeb’s Vision, Mission and Values (VMV), a big, framed statement of who we are and what we stand for.
To me, and to everyone at iWeb, this is a very important milestone in our history, especially since we recently revisited and renewed this very important statement.
It started 2 months ago, when the management team decided to question the last version of iWeb’s VMV. After many meetings, e-mails and discussions, we ended up with the current, updated statement.
The next step was to share this with everyone in the company, so I met every staff member, in small groups of 10-15 people. I also asked three questions :
1- How did they discover iWeb? friends? Online? from competitors?
2- How do they see iWeb in 3 years? And finaly;
3- How can they contribue to iWeb’s future success?
The answers people gave were really awesome!
The pledge in the lobby
After the questioons, it was my turn to explain iWeb’s Vision, Mission and Values, and then I asked everyone to commit to these by signing a big poster we had printed with the entire VMV text!
This is how we approached the definitions of VMV:
The Vision is how you see the company in the future.
The mission is what needs to be done to achieve the vision and
The values are the attitude you have when you work!
So we wrapped all of this up Thursday, and I realised the impact of a good and clear VMV statement; it is so fundamental to have this and to share it with the people in the company.
Saturday May 9th, I was in Jerusalem. a very beautiful and spriritual city. It’s facinating to see how this region is home to three very important religion for mankind; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Amazingly, this is the cradle of monotheist humanity. I’m very happy to be part of this mission organized by the Quebec-Israel committee and the « Regroupement des Jeunes Chambre de Commerce du Québec (RJCCQ) ». Many thanks to Martin Thibault and Eric Paquette from the the RJCCQ for inviting me.
After many years of media information from newspapers, TV and the Internet, you have to be in Jerusalem to really feel and understand the tragedy and hope of this land.
Because we are an entertaining group, the Quebec-Israel committee surprised us by giving us some tickets for the show of Depeche Mode in Tel Aviv. We were in an outdoor stadium with 50 000 fans, the show was magical and very special. I’ll blog some more on this trip before it comes to an end on May 17th .
Je suis arrivé à Jérusalem samedi le 9 mai en soirée, après plus de 14 heures de va-et-vient ( nous sommes passés par Toronto pour aller ensuite à Tel Aviv). Voici quelques photos et un vidéo pour que vous puissiez ressentir quelque peu toute la beauté de cette ville qu’est Jérusalem, le berceau de la nativité.
J’ai la chance de faire partie d’une mission économique organisée par le Comité Québec-Israël. Je tiens à remercier Martin Thibault et Eric Paquette du Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec pour cette expérience unique et inoubliable! Notre semaine sera bien remplie, plusieurs rencontres sont au programme avec le milieu des affaires, des écoles et autres organismes à Jérusalem et à Tel Aviv. Nous serons en Israël pour 9 jours. un peu plus d’une semaine qui sera d’une très grande richesse. Alors suivez-moi sur mon blog pour en savoir plus!
There are somes pics and one video on my first day at Jerusalem, Israël.
Samedi dernier le 2 mai, j’ai été invité à la journée de lancement de la saison du circuit ICAR à Mirabel. Ce fût toute une journée! J’ai pu enfin voir tout le potentiel de ma voiture, une Nissan GTR 2009. Étaient présentes des Ford GT ( 6 des 9 qui ont été vendues au Québec), des Ferrari, des BMW M3, M5, beaucoup de Porsche, des Carrera 4S, des Porsches GT2, GT3, des Dodges Viper, des Dodges Challenger dont celle de Patrick Bertrand de iWeb. J’ai été déçu de ne pas voir de Chevrelet Corvette, de Audi R8, de Lamborgini et autres voitures sport de luxe.
Deux Nissan GTR au Québec, c'est rare!
C’était une belle journée, un peu froide à cause du vent, ce qui est normal car nous étions sur une piste d’aéroport. Une fois rendu sur la piste, oubliez le froid, c’était HOT et j’étais comme une p’tit cul dans son auto de course: malade!! J’ai aussi invité Jean Bastien, Président de Manoir Nissan qui est venu également avec une Nissan GTR qu’il venait de recevoir, elle avait seulement 200 km au compteur!! Merci encore Jean de m’avoir vendu ma GTR!
Bon, parlons un peu des performances de la Nissan GTR sur la piste. Au centre de la console, il y a des options de contrôle de la transmission, de la suspension et de la traction, j’ai tout mis à R pour Racing et j’ai découvert le monstre dans le ventre de ma voiture: c’était malade! Tous les conducteurs de Porsches, Ferrari, BMW et Viper ont été surpris! Je n’ai pas eu la chance de voir avec les Ford GT, mais elles étaient modifiées à plus de 800ch….ayoye!!
Quelle sont les Ferrari!
Mais la vraie question: est-ce que c’est l’auto ou le conducteur qui était performant? J’ai discuté de ça avec Jacques Duval, chroniqueur automobile réputé du Canada et pour lui, c’est l’auto Jacques, va te chercher une Nissan GTR et on se retrouve sur la piste. On pourra alors voir si c’est vraiment l’auto Il y avait aussi un autre Jacques….Jacques Villeneuve. On a aussi discuté de voitures. Je l’ai trouvé finalement très accessible ce M. Villeneuve. Très gentil, même après des centaines de prises de photos. Finalement, entre ce qu’on dit dans les médias traditionnels sur Jacques V. et la réalité…j’aime mieux la réalité!
Bon, j’ai déjà hâte à ma prochaine journée de piste!
Voici quelques photos et un vidéo de la journée!
Last Saturday, on a beautiful yet chilly day, I went to the opening day of the ICAR automobile racing track in Mirabel, formerly the home of Montreal’s second airport. It was awesome day! I finally had the chance to really push my Nissan GTR, and oh boy – it really is a sports car!
Patrick Bertrand from iWeb
For the occasion, there were several amazing cars on the track. Ferrari, Ford GT ( 6 of 9 sale in Quebec), a few Porsches, BMW, Dodge Viper and Patrick Bertrand (iWeb’s first Account Manager) was there with his Dodge Challenger. All that was missing was a Vette, Lamborgini, Audi R8 and similar super sports cars.
As you can see in this video, the Nissan GTR was brilliant and performed really well, everybody was surprised by the way the GTR was lapping on the track. Mister Jacques Duval, noted journalist and automotive enthousiast, questionned whether the performance came from the car of the driver. Jacques, try out a GTR on this track and then we will know for sure 1997 Formula1 champion Jacques Villeneuve was there and honestly, I thought he was a very nice guy!
I really enjoyed my day at the track with my GTR, and I’m lookig forward to my next track day!
Jacques, va te chercher une Nissan GTR et on se retrouve sur la piste. On pourra alors voir si c’est vraiment l’auto 