Jeff's Story
Jeff is the Founder and CEO of The Raw Office which helps businesses with product sourcing, order financing and eCommerce technologies. To date, Raw Office has fulfilled more than 36,000 orders totalling over $38 Million in lifetime revenues on its proprietary software.
During the pandemic, when supply chains broke down and first responders in health care were without protection, Raw Office designed and built supply chain and inventory management software that allowed Raw Office to help first responders stay safe. Ultimately, Raw Office was able to distribute: 126,153,717 face masks, 39,033,400 nitrile gloves, 768,275 rapid test kits, and 44,845 face shields within North America and around the globe on its Send 123 technology (www.rawoffice.com).
Jeff was the Co-Founder and Past President of Prairie Paper Inc. which was active in the research, development, and sales of recycled agricultural straw fibres into tree-free paper. It’s 80% wheat straw-based Step Forward Paper™ was sold at Staples, Office Max and other distribution channels across Canada and the USA.
Jeff is an eco-entrepreneur who began his career in this area 33 years ago when he started Winnipeg’s Blue Box curbside recycling program in 1990. Jeff has successfully started and exited 3 small startups and has spectacularly failed at 2 others. Jeff graduated with an Honors degree from the Ivey School of Business.
An active philanthropist, Jeff founded Green Kids Inc., an environmental education touring theatre charity for Children, which has inspired over 1.5 million students in over one thousand schools, since 1991. He has served as the volunteer President of Green Kids for the last 32 years (www.greenkids.com).
Jeff is an active video blogger and wrote the book The Cool Vegetarian, which includes a foreword by Actor Woody Harrelson. Jeff ‘s blog The Cool Vegetarian is the winner of the Diet Spotlight award and provides free inspiration and lifestyle tools on how to live in a healthier more sustainable way. With over 300 videos of experts, doctors and his own rants, The Cool Vegetarian site has become a popular destination for vegetarians and vegans in 160+ countries with over 29,000 subscribers and 4.5 million video views: (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCoolVegetarian)
Jeff has been featured in hundreds of media channels including Time, Fortune, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Globe & Mail, and the Financial Post.
Recognition for his contributions to creating a better world includes:
- The 3M Environmental Innovation Award
- The Federal Business Development Bank’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- The Sustainable Development Award of Excellence
- The Globe Award for Environmental Excellence
- The Canadian Printing Award
- The BrightLane Entrepreneur Award
- The Giving Back Award.
Jeff has contributed several articles to Entrepreneur Magazine, sharing practical advice and innovative strategies to thrive in today's competitive landscape. Explore Jeff's insights into entrepreneurship and discover the keys to success.
How to Fairly Divide Equity Between a Co-Founder and Investor
This is a huge foundational issue that can make or break your company, as it will affect every aspect of the business and will have consequences for the entire life span of the venture.
How to Have a Successful Co-Founder Relationship
Choosing who your business partner will be is the single most important decision you will make in your business -- and potentially in your life.
Board of Directors vs. Advisory Board
Our entrepreneur expert Jeff Golfman breaks down each board and how founders can utilize them.
