William Jiang is not a newcomer when it comes to the world of startups. Not only is he the Founder and CEO of NATIV Media, but his first venture was an entrepreneurial organization for youth called Startup Academy. But he didn’t always think he would end up becoming a business owner, and in fact, founding Startup Academy helped him gain clarity on what he actually wanted to do.

In the beginning, William started NATIV Media with the idea of providing social media marketing services at extremely cheap rates so that they can be affordable for all sorts of clients. After a few months of trial and error, he realized that his model wasn’t sustainable and that if he wanted NATIV Media to be profitable he would need hundreds of clients. Even though the idea of cheap services is appealing to most, he found that some customers would still be hesitant to work with him, because they didn’t see his company’s value. He made the realization that:

“Not everybody can be your customer, which is why it’s important to identify who your ideal customers are and find the ones who believe you can provide value.”

This being the toughest obstacle throughout his journey, he truly understood the value of finding the right customers that see the importance of their services and work. Since realizing this, NATIV Media has never looked back.

Now, you can find them working with some of the biggest brands in Vancouver, like Boba Boy, Cacao 70, Gong Cha, and even Reebok. One of William’s proudest moments for NATIV Media was creating the viral $5 Ramen Challenge and the Beer Ramen Challenge for Yuu Japanese Tapas. The campaign generated so much buzz, challengers lined up all week to participate, picking up media attention from outlets like Buzzfeed, Vancouver is Awesome, Foodbeast and some TV Networks.

“With the $5 Ramen Challenge event, it really showed me how much of an impact we really have on the community and our clients.”

These days, you can find William working on his newest venture called the Boba Straw, a sustainable alternative to plastic straws that don’t sacrifice comfort or style. With the venture already receiving support on Kickstarter, this serial entrepreneur is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.

William Jiang
Founder & CEO of NATIV Media
Venture Connection Client