A strong community can promote new ideas and ensure accountability. It can also act as motivation, support, and even provide a little friendly competition. The power of community is undeniable and the Okanagan tech community is no exception.

Our community is strong and growing with record speed and maintaining a connection through a period of growth like this can be a challenge. Nobody panic, we’ve got a plan. 

Introducing, We are #OKGNtech. A showcase of Okanagan tech entrepreneurs, partners, supporters, and cheerleaders designed to fuel more connection, more growth, and more excitement. Follow along on the blog and on Instagram @OKGNtech to learn more about our growing community and what makes them awesome.

Meet Tasha. Tasha Da Silva is the founder and CEO of Infuse I.T. Inc. When she isn’t reimagining the subscriptions and point-of-sale experience, you’ll find Tasha reupholstering furniture, or cheering on her daughter, Olivia, at her basketball game.

How were you first introduced to the OKGNtech community?

I’m such a social person and working from home was killing me—that’s when I found the OKGNtech community. I joined CoLab, got my first desk, and everything changed. I met my first business partner, our dev team, and Accelerate Okanagan. Having so many companies under one roof is why I still love working in an OKGN Works shared space.

What’s something you love about the OKGNtech community?

I love OKGNtech because, whether you’re a developer or a CEO, everyone is positive, approachable and willing to help. Even as I was putting my stuff together for the OKGN Angel Summit, other entrepreneurs were offering to review my pitch deck, my old business partner was recommending what should be included, and Scott McFarlane (an Executive-In-Residence with Accelerate Okanagan) was even offering to help! You don’t see that anywhere else.

Where do you work in the Okanagan?

I work for Infuse I.T. Inc., a one-stop-shop for several software solutions aimed at helping small businesses grow. At first, the focus was on being a Lightspeed POS consultant. Then, once I incorporated, we built VinStream—a membership solution software applicable to any company that has subscriptions, membership or other recurring payments.

How did you get into this kind of work?

I was working for the Pan Pacific hotel when I found out I was having a miniature one. I realized I needed a new career to support my baby. My brother, Dax, thought Lightspeed POS would be a good fit for me. After I had Olivia, my dad and my brother offered to support me for 6 months while I got Infuse I.T. Inc. off the ground. I’ve been very blessed to have a supportive family.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

What I enjoy most is working with different companies. I get to come in and identify what they’re struggling with (inventory, scheduling, managing employees), and then give them the tools they need to grow and mature. Businesses, especially wineries, need to be able to get out of the fragmented tech and back into the vineyard or back to engaging with customers.

Is solving that problem why you started Infuse I.T. Inc.?

It’s the reason we built VinStream. Wineries would reach out to me wanting to use Lightspeed POS and I had have to tell them that it couldn’t handle what they needed. No one seemed to be addressing all of the membership needs in one system. Deciding that I was going to be the one to build that solution was the smartest choice I ever made.

What’s next for VinStream?

VinStream was built for wine but it works for any subscription, memberships or recurring billing based platform. At the moment, it’s still built on Lightspeed but this next update will allow us to plug into other POS software, as well. Getting fresh takes and feedback from our beta testers has been a great way for us to find those areas of improvement.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a job like yours?

When it’s your passion, there is no giving up. Even when you want to leave, something deep down won’t let you. You wake up the next day, go to work, and you celebrate the next small win. It brings the passion back.

Is there something you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered as somebody who does what she does in order to make a difference. Whether it’s in people’s businesses or in their personal lives, the end-all-be-all was never a dollar amount, it’s what the people I interact with get out of it.

Connect with Tasha. Learn more about Infuse I.T. Inc. Hungry for more? Meet Simon.