The Unpaved Road:

Chronicles of a Founder

The road isn’t always smooth,

but it’s always worth the journey

Welcome to

The Unpaved Road: Chronicles of a Founder

Starting and building a business is much like exploring uncharted terrain—challenging, unpredictable, and often rewarding in ways you never expected. Through this blog series, I’ll share my experiences as the founder and CEO of Roamlii, navigating the twists and turns of running a startup in the dynamic worlds of tourism and technology.

Here, you’ll find reflections on entrepreneurship, lessons learned (sometimes the hard way), thoughts on the Canadian economy and its impact on small businesses, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build something from the ground up.

My hope is that these chronicles inspire, inform, and connect with anyone blazing their own trail—whether you’re building a business, championing a cause, or simply looking for insights on resilience and innovation.

The road isn’t always smooth, but it’s always worth the journey.

Let’s get started.

Metrics That Matter - Stop Counting What Doesn’t Count

Metrics That Matter - Stop Counting What Doesn’t Count

Metrics That Matter - Stop Counting What Doesn’t CountConor K Phillips
Published on: 10/10/2025

Impressions, likes, page views…they can be interesting signals, but they don’t show the full picture. This blog explores how tourism businesses and regions can measure success in ways that actually lead to growth.

The Unpaved Road - Chronicles of a Founder
Innovation vs Protectionism: Where Canada Fails Itself

Innovation vs Protectionism: Where Canada Fails Itself

Innovation vs Protectionism: Where Canada Fails Itself
Conor K Phillips
Published on: 03/10/2025

We talk a lot about supporting startups. But too often the rules still tip toward entrenched giants. This blog explores how we align public needs with bold new ideas.

The Unpaved Road - Chronicles of a Founder
The Infrastructure Gap - Why Tech Can’t Fix What Doesn’t Exist

The Infrastructure Gap - Why Tech Can’t Fix What Doesn’t Exist

The Infrastructure Gap - Why Tech Can’t Fix What Doesn’t ExistConor K Phillips
Published on: 26/09/2025

Not every tourism challenge is a digital one. This blog breaks down the need for real-world infrastructure, funding, and support before tech tools can make an actual impact.

The Unpaved Road - Chronicles of a Founder
The Discovery Problem - Why Most Travellers Aren’t Finding You

The Discovery Problem - Why Most Travellers Aren’t Finding You

The Discovery Problem - Why Most Travellers Aren’t Finding YouConor K Phillips
Published on: 19/09/2025

Great experiences shouldn’t be buried five clicks deep. This blog explores why visibility is still the biggest barrier in tourism, and what to do about it.

The Unpaved Road - Chronicles of a Founder

"Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear." - George Adair

"Roamlii is headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Treaty 6 Territory, and the traditional homeland of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dene, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Métis nations. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this great land, and reaffirm our relationship with one another."

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