Founder of CoolIT Systems
About Brydon
Brydon Gierl is the Co-Founder of CoolIT Systems and has spent more than 20 years helping shape the future of liquid cooling technology. From startup uncertainty to global growth, he helped build CoolIT from a bold idea into a company that sold in 2026 for US$4.75 billion, proving that some of the biggest success stories begin with the biggest risks.
Before CoolIT, Brydon worked across construction and fabrication industries, where he developed the hands-on mindset that continues to define his approach to business and innovation.
In 2026, CoolIT became one of Calgary’s most celebrated tech success stories with its acquisition by Ecolab. Behind the headline, however, is a story of risk, resilience, hard lessons, and the realities of building something from the ground up.
FAILURE IS A CERTAIN PATH TO THE TRUTH, TO IGNORE ITS GIFT IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
What Brydon says about FAILURE
Failure is inevitable for each new enterprise, how the people experiencing it perceive and react to it is what makes the difference.
As a musician, playing live it is the most thrilling and precarious thing you can do, as you walk a thin line between control, improvisation, and inspiration. I think we used those same principles in this business endeavour, probably unconsciously.
In the beginning we relied on intuition, iteration, and determination to make
F*uckUp YYC - The Crew Behind the Chaos
Hosts: Shahr Savizi & Amanda Ovaici
The FuckUp Nights YYC team is a collective of community builders and catalysts dedicated to tearing down the facade of "perfect" professionalism. Led by Shahr Savizi and Amanda Ovaici, the pair are on a mission to destigmatize professional failure through radical vulnerability and the power of raw storytelling.
By hosting high-impact events that celebrate the messy, human side of business setbacks, Shahr, Amanda, and their team foster a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in Calgary. Their work encourages local leaders to:
Embrace Transparency: Shedding the "hustle culture" mask for honest, authentic growth.
Drive Resilience: Learning more from a collapse than a win to build stronger ventures.
Foster Meaningful Connections: Creating a professional landscape rooted in shared experience and grit.
In a world obsessed with highlight reels, the team is here to remind us that our biggest blunders are often our greatest lessons. They aren't just hosting an event; they’re building a culture where Calgary’s leaders can fail forward, together.
