On Feb. 28, 2026, at Startup Experience Day presented by EMBARK, Trinity Western University’s venture incubator, TWU business student Torge Stehr pitched his startup, Webstory—a platform designed to help organizations create video-based websites for more authentic communication.
For Stehr, the moment represented more than a public pitch. It marked a shift in how he understood entrepreneurship—not simply as building products, but learning when to loosen his grip on ideas.
“The hardest part wasn’t writing the code,” Stehr says. “It was deciding what to let go.” That decision came after months of user testing and data that challenged his assumptions, and it became a defining moment in his development as a founder. Through EMBARK, Stehr began learning what disciplined entrepreneurship looks like: listening carefully, testing ideas honestly, and grounding ambition in purpose.
Stehr didn’t arrive at TWU with a polished business plan or clear roadmap. What he brought instead was strong technical ability, a habit of building, and a conviction that his education and entrepreneurship should be rooted in faith. EMBARK helped shape those instincts into something more focused, honest, and sustainable.
Founded in faith
Before coming to Canada, Stehr spent time at a Bible school in Australia. At the time, university wasn’t part of his plan. “I always felt university was too theoretical,” he recalls. “I wanted to build things, not just learn about them.” Through prayer and reflection, however, that perspective began to shift. Stehr sensed a calling to pursue formal education in an environment where faith would not be sidelined. “I didn’t want to build my future while completely disregarding my faith,” he says. “I wanted my education to be grounded in it.”
After connecting with Canadian peers and learning more about Trinity Western, Stehr felt a strong conviction that TWU was where he was meant to be. That sense was affirmed during orientation, when faculty members prayed over incoming students. “That moment stood out to me,” he says. “I realized this was a place where professors actually cared about students as people.”
From builder to business student
Long before becoming a business student, Stehr was a builder. At 15, he launched his first web development business in Germany, even petitioning a court for permission to register a company as a minor. “I’ve always loved building,” he says. “Even when projects didn’t take off, the joy was in creating.” At the same time, he recognized a gap in his skill set. “I was strong technically, but weak on the business side. I wanted to learn how to actually make something sustainable.” That desire led him to TWU’s School of Business and to EMBARK.
Stehr discovered EMBARK before he ever set foot on campus. While researching TWU, he came across the incubator on LinkedIn and applied for an internship prior to enrolling. “I was excited because EMBARK wasn’t just about ideas,” he says. “It was about people, mentorship, and actually doing the work.”
Through EMBARK, Stehr was introduced to Lean Startup principles and the discipline of validation—less building in isolation and more learning directly from users. “That’s been one of the hardest lessons for me,” he admits. “I love building, but EMBARK kept pushing me to talk to people first.”
Learning entrepreneurship in the real world
That push became central to the evolution of Webstory. Early testing, including a pilot with a Bible school in Australia, revealed unexpected results. Users spent more time on the site, but conversion rates didn’t improve. “That was humbling,” Stehr says. “The numbers didn’t lie. It forced us to rethink our assumptions.”
Further testing, including sessions with TWU students, opened new directions, such as applications in education and micro-learning. “The biggest lesson,” he adds, “is not to fall in love with your idea. Stay flexible.”
Balancing academics, work, and a startup hasn’t been easy, especially as an international student facing heavy reading loads and late nights. Still, Stehr describes a surprising contrast. “School and making money felt like work,” he says. “Building Webstory felt like free time.” Support from EMBARK and from faculty across TWU helped him stay grounded during demanding seasons.
When asked what kind of leader he hopes to become, Stehr’s answer is simple. “I want my life to point to God,” he says. “Through how I treat people, how I lead, and how I build.” For students who feel hesitant to start, his advice is equally direct: “Doing something—even if it fails—teaches you more than waiting to be perfect. Initiative matters.”
EMBARK is Trinity Western University’s venture incubator, supporting early-stage founders through mentorship, validation, and real-world learning. By bringing together students from diverse disciplines, EMBARK cultivates an entrepreneurial culture grounded in purpose, integrity, and collaboration.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. TWU has its main campus in Langley, B.C. and campus sites in Richmond, B.C. and Ottawa, Ont.
Learn more at twu.ca or follow @TrinityWestern on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For media inquiries, please contact media@twu.ca.