There is a techno-agricultural entrepreneur in Quebec, and we’ve met her!
Being a woman in technology isn’t easy enough. Being a woman in agricultural technology is quite a challenge! We met Raphaëlle Viau, a multi-entrepreneur who takes the cause of women in business and technology to heart. She won the Femmes Nueva 2019 competition, a pitch contest showcasing women in digital. Several scholarships were up for grabs, as well as a trip to Nantes for Nantes Digital Week. We met her at this event, which aims to be the digital festival for all, bringing together around a hundred events across Nantes for 10 days. Portrait of Émilie Vion.
Émilie Vion: Where does your entrepreneurial energy come from?
Raphaëlle Viau: I was a high-level figure skating athlete. It was athletics that brought discipline, confidence, rigor and determination to everything I do. In my case, I learned very early on to communicate and brainstorm with my pair skating partner about costumes, music and so on. My athletic background taught me to listen to and respect the other’s vision, as in a business partnership, for example. Following a major injury, I had to put an end to my career as an athlete. I then had a lot of time to reinvest. That’s when I started my first project, which was the Femmes en Affaires association, under the umbrella of UdeM and HEC Montréal, and that’s really what got me hooked on entrepreneurship.
“We need more role models of successful women, however we define it. It’s up to our generation to create role models for future generations by respecting the environment, the ethics of technology use, etc.” – Raphaëlle Viau
Émilie Vion: You created a technology company in the agricultural sector. Can you tell us about it? What challenges have you encountered?
Raphaëlle Viau: In July 2018, I co-founded the company Agrilog with my brother and a friend. We wanted to start an automatic ventilation system for grain silos, to ensure grain storage at its optimum quality level, as well as monitor grain quality. It’s an Internet of Things (IoT) system that uses both hardware and software.
Émilie Vion: What challenges have you faced?
Raphaëlle Viau: Many! Being a woman, not an engineer, who doesn’t come from an agricultural background, I had to carry a lot of baggage!
Customer relations were quite a challenge at first. I was often mistaken for the receptionist. To earn my respect, I decided to go out into the fields to meet producers directly. I wanted to show them that, as a co-founder, I could answer their questions. I discovered that the people I met were very human and welcoming. Raising awareness and educating people about the need for new technologies in the agricultural sector was another big challenge. Finally, not being an engineer, I often had to prove my point and make my voice heard concerning the company’s strategy and the future of our technology.
Émilie Vion: What kind of reception do you get when you pitch on stage?
Raphaëlle Viau: We’re very lucky in Quebec because people are open to the fact that I’m a woman in technology. I think I’ve often unsettled the judges and my audience when I present my techno-agricultural business. Having said that, I think a man with the same skills would probably have received funding more quickly than I did. Funding programs for companies founded or co-founded by women are necessary. Unfortunately, they often require women to own 51% of the company. This is very limiting. I’m convinced that diversity in an entrepreneurial team is essential to the success and successful management of a business project.
Émilie Vion: As an entrepreneur at heart, do you have any other business projects in the pipeline?
Raphaëlle Viau: There are a lot of things in the pipeline. I started a family business with my father and brother called IIS: Innovation Internationale et Services, a production platform for various innovation projects. We have a cybersecurity division to ensure that people and companies are well aware of how to improve corporate governance. We also have an engineering division, with a project on citizen security still in the planning stage. And I also have WOMA, my innovative marketing agency for women entrepreneurs.
“I’ve done a lot of work on myself. That’s the best advice I could give to young people. We have to know what we want to do and respect our values in the projects we take on.” – Raphaëlle Viau
Émilie Vion: You took part in the Printemps Numérique delegation for Nantes Digital Week. How did that benefit you?
Raphaëlle Viau: I won 1st prize in the Femmes Alpha pitch competition, which enabled me to go to Nantes. I took advantage of my presence at Nantes Digital Week to pre-launch my marketing agency. I signed up some strong partnerships in the artistic field, notably for brand creation. The networking was very fruitful, and a city like Nantes, crowned European Innovation Capital, is a great source of inspiration for female entrepreneurs. And yet, I have the impression that the cause of women in business and technology is even harder to fight in France.
