North Forge has welcomed Kristian Escoto, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, to our team for the summer!

Kristian brings more creativity, drive, and storytelling vision to our marketing team. He is looking forward to amplifying the stories to help us continue reaching out and establishing deep connections, bridging our brand and community on an emotional level. Kristian also sees how by “sharing knowledge and resources… that it is feasible [for founders] to build their businesses here and be part of a thriving startup community… in Manitoba.”

Our CEO, Joelle Foster, spoke at Kristian’s University of Winnipeg entrepreneurship class this past year as part of their ongoing studies towards a Business and Administration degree. At the end of the lecture, Kristian and his peers had the opportunity to pitch their startup ideas to Joelle. She brought the positive energy and inspiration that helped the students imagine their business idea beyond just a school project. Joelle also inspired the students to bring their concepts to reality by fostering entrepreneurial thought processes, constructive feedback, and genuine support. At this point, he knew he wanted to work with Joelle in some way, though little did he know that opportunity would present itself near the end of the 2021 school year. 

Through academic and community research, Kristian observed that “one of North Forge’s strengths is the power to fulfill people’s dreams and ideas. Creating a business from scratch can be a long journey and may feel overwhelming to attain. North Forge allows individuals to take their first step – that crucial step – to get their idea on the right road and come to fruition. ” 

Kristian is looking forward to “… being immersed in the many facets of an incubator/accelerator and the startup community within North Forge and Manitoba” while working with North Forge during July and August. “I’m excited to be in a space full of creative and strategic ideas, passion, and diverse perspectives,” Kristian goes on to note that “North Forge is known for its collaborative and nurturing environment. I’m looking forward to contributing to such space and being exposed to new industries and ideas.”