Young entrepreneur Leonid Gamayunov, BAdmin 15, has already initiated two ventures and is planning a third one. | Photo courtesy of Leonid Gamayunov
Wishbox.gift users can send loved ones a choice of six experiential gifts — such as wine tasting, pottery workshops and adventure games — at a cost of $75 to $250 per gift.
One of the most important things Gamayunov learned at D3, he says, is that the best way to find out the needs of a potential customer is to ask.
“They do a great job of guiding you in the right direction and making sure you know the challenges,” he says. “Over time, they pressure you to approach potential clients, try things and then fail. It’s a great learning process.”
Gamayunov admits that Wishbox.gift has encountered several roadblocks since its launch, yet that has not deterred him from forging ahead. He’s always sought creative and pragmatic solutions to the problems he encounters both in business and in life.
Wishbox.gift isn’t Gamayunov’s first endeavour. In 2010, the young entrepreneur started an event company, TTBA Group, that planned and promoted special parties, corporate events and 5 à 7s. He even opened a Montreal nightclub — Habitat — that hosted underground electronic musical acts.
It proved to be a complicated industry. Three years ago, Gamayunov decided to refocus TTBA Group into a digital marketing agency that helps clients with social media management, branding, website development and content marketing.
“I’m always looking for ideas to test,” Gamayunov says. It’s a trait that has defined him for as long as he can remember.
Growing up in a small town outside Moscow, Russia, Gamayunov used to spend his time dreaming up all sorts of artistic projects. After immigrating to Montreal in 2007 at age 17, he began shooting videos and selling them to Russian websites to make some extra cash.
He had quickly realized that with broken English and no French language skills, finding a good job in the province would be difficult. Being an entrepreneur, on the other hand, meant he could create that dream job for himself.
Aside from TTBA Group and Wishbox.gift, Gamayunov is also working tirelessly to launch a third venture.
Last year, he partnered with a Russian company, Boft, to try to import its “Instagram ATM” concept to Canada. The company manufactures and installs photo booths that print Polaroid photos from the user’s Instagram account at the click of a button.
“If you have time, you should do something with it,” Gamayunov insists. He adds that with the right amount of planning, drive and perseverance, he may eventually launch a fourth venture.
“Being an entrepreneur means that you always have a lot of things in mind and you’re always doing a lot of things at the same time, every day,” he says.
“With time things get better. If you see that it will work out on paper, you just have to do it — to prove yourself wrong.”
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