( CNN ) -- Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is very softly spoken . The tech titan , now chief executive of mobile payments company Square , is an observer who pays close attention to everything that goes on around him . The 36-year old prefers to listen rather than talk , which may seem ironic for someone who helped re-define how we communicate . But it might explain the brevity of Twitter , the social media phenomenon which distils communication to 140 characters . READ MORE : Dorsey 's plans to reinvent shopping . Dorsey , who I meet in a Toronto coffee store , is a little uncomfortable around the media . This is perhaps not a shock given some negative press which has followed his success -- notably from journalist and author Nick Bilton , who painted an unflattering portrait of Dorsey during the early days of Twitter . But he is surprisingly engaging when he is talking to small business owners and Square customers . Dorsey has a real passion for building communities , and that 's the common thread between his current venture , Square , and Twitter . They are both about building communities . There are differences : Twitter was wide in scope , while Square is focused on building a community of small businesses . Dorsey , now a billionaire and one of the world 's most influential tech brains , grew up in St Louis , Missouri , with parents who were running small coffee and pizza businesses . He 's clearly a genuine believer in small companies and their importance to communities and wider economic growth . That 's why Dorsey is traveling around the U.S. and Canada , holding Town Hall meetings for small businesses under the banner # LetsTalk . Dorsey wants to talk to business owners about Square , but also connect these local companies to support and mentor each other . READ MORE : Twitter valued at more than $ 11 billion . Square is the mobile commerce company he set up back in 2009 , with the @ Square Twitter handle . It began with a credit card reader and has expanded to analytics ( Square Register ) and service where you can send cash over email ( Square Cash ) . The initial set up is easy and fees are low , which reflects Dorsey 's desire for technology to even the commercial playing field . He wants small businesses to have the same shot at success that big businesses have . Dorsey also thinks technology should make the back office administration ( billing , inventory , promotions ) easier so that the owner or seller can spend more time on the actual business -- in the front of the shop . Ultimately , he wants to revolutionize commerce . READ MORE : Why is Twitter spending so much on R & D ? And despite the presence of Paypal , Google and Intuit , Dorsey thinks there is still too much disruption for customers . He refers to a `` frictionless '' experience for customers that releases business to do what it should be doing : Building the economy . Square is in U.S. , Canada and Japan already . But Dorsey , in his unassuming way , is pitching to take it around the globe .
Twitter co-founder Dorsey is promoting his new business , Square , across North America . Dorsey 's North America caught up with Jack Dorsey in Japan to hear his plans to upend commerce . Dorsey said he wants to make commerce frictionless , allowing businesses time to expand . His comments come as Twitter , which is valued at up to $ 11 billion , prepares to go public .