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The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How Canada can be a leader in space (and save the world)
“ This isn't just about doing something cool because space is the next frontier. This is a key domain for economics, for national security, sovereignty, job creation, and everything.” A company trying to achieve Canada’s first commercial rocket launch. Three startups solving for the future of humanity. One founder sending messages to his future self. This special episode contains select highlights from BetaKit Town Hall: Most Ambitious, featuring speakers from NordSpace, Deep Sky, Xatoms, MycoFutures, and Verto Health. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Invest Northern Ireland—the gateway to international growth. International Tech compa...
2025-08-08
41 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
The living history of Canadian tech with Phil Telio
“History never stops. It’s a living reality.” In celebration of Startupfest’s 15th anniversary, founder Phil Telio joins to discuss the origins of the international tech festival, its connection to Québec and the broader Canadian tech ecosystem, and how community evolves with each generation. Ambition, government support of tech, and the state of the Québec ecosystem also came up before the grandma judges kicked us out of their booth. Recorded live at Startupfest. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by KDD 2025, the world’s leading conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. Connect with top res...
2025-07-28
45 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
‘Canada’s edge in applied AI’ with Nvidia and Waabi leaders
“The talent here is incredible, right? When we started faculty, I walk in the class and there's Jimmy Ba. Every time you guys train a neural network, you're using his algorithm.” Sanja Fidler (Nvidia VP of AI research) and Raquel Urtasun (Waabi founder and CEO) sit down with Ada CEO Mike Murchison for a discussion about the frontier of AI and the role Canada might play in bringing it to the physical world. Recorded live at Homecoming during Toronto Tech Week. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by KDD 2025, the world’s leading conference on Knowledge Discov...
2025-07-21
45 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why Canada's prime minister is talking about quantum tech with Xanadu’s Christian Weedbrook
“The current government is really plugged into what’s needed.” One step closer to quantum data centres with the launch of his company’s advanced photonics packaging facility, Xanadu founder and CEO Christian Weedbrook joins to discuss the renewed federal interest in quantum technology, how it relates to Canadian sovereignty, and where the money to fund it should come from. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by KDD 2025, the world’s leading conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. Connect with top researchers, industry pioneers, and innovators driving real-world impact. At KDD 2025, you’ll explore cutt...
2025-07-14
1h 10
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Ambition made in Canada with Shopify, Cohere, and Wealthsimple
“ It's kind of that 'Valley or bust' mentality which breaks the ecosystem and really hurts Canada.” Harley Finkelstein (Shopify), Mike Katchen (Wealthsimple), and Aidan Gomez (Cohere) hold a candid conversation about 'Ambition made in Canada' during Toronto Tech Week. Recorded live at Homecoming. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Invest Northern Ireland—the gateway to international growth. International Tech companies are discovering countless advantages in Northern Ireland. That’s why it’s the #2 international investment location for US Cybersecurity firms, as well as Europe’s leading location for new Software development projects. Global Tech giants li...
2025-07-07
42 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
What keeps Bluesky’s head of trust and safety up at night?
“ The company fascinates me… because they have such interesting concepts internally. One of them being ‘treat the company as a future adversary,’ which I have never seen anywhere in my career." Bluesky's head of trust and safety is a Canadian working out of Dublin. In town to speak at the BetaKit Town Hall for Toronto Tech Week, Aaron Rodericks first joined The BetaKit Podcast to discuss his journey from government to social media, lessons learned from working at Twitter, and how Bluesky might one day help you find joy online. -- The BetaKit Podcast is...
2025-06-30
1h 01
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
The stories of Canadian tech’s Most Ambitious
“I want to put ambition in people’s hands. You say it doesn’t exist—you’re going to hold it, you’re going to flip through it, you’re going to see it.” BetaKit CEO Siri Agrell joins to discuss today’s launch of BetaKit’s Most Ambitious: our first-ever print issue, telling stories of bold ambition in Canadian tech. Consider this your Most Ambitious director’s commentary companion, with highlights of some of our favourite stories from the inaugural issue, alongside a behind-the-scenes peek at how it was made. We also answer the most important questio...
2025-06-23
58 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Summer reading list: The Subversive Marketing Handbook
“ Subversiveness is a way of changing the system. And I think what we're seeing right now is that all systems are changing.” Entrepreneur and Startupfest founding partner Alistair Croll has co-authored a new book, Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook. If you’re wondering why your company is so bad with its go-to-market execution, or which rules need to be bent (or broken) to win in the attention economy, this book might shoot to the top of your summer reading list. Originally aired: Feb 02, 2025 The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newslett...
2025-06-16
53 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
InBC’s Jill Earthy knows Canadian VC “could be healthier”
“ That's what we wanna change, right? For future companies, more Canadian investors on the cap table so that we can see those benefits come back through investment, through mentorship.” Jill Earthy, CEO of InBC Investment Corp—a provincial Crown corporation with $500 million of direct and indirect capital to deploy—joins to discuss the state of Canadian venture, the role of organizations like hers in BC’s growing tech ecosystem, and InBC’s future fundraising plans. Recorded live at Web Summit Vancouver. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Motion: the control center for creative strategists. Motion helps...
2025-06-09
38 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Amii CEO Cam Linke says Canada’s AI strategy requires customers
“Be a customer of Canadian startups. This is the thing that every company needs. Nobody died from having too many customers.” The CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Cam Linke, joins to discuss the next phase of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and how Amii stands apart from other national AI institutes, Vector and Mila. Recorded live from the Upper Bound AI conference. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Motion: the platform helping marketing teams turn ad performance data into creative strategy. Motion makes it easy to analyze what’s working across your campaig...
2025-06-02
56 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
The Canadian engineer trying to fix the internet’s original sin
“ Companies have spent a lot of time and money creating really great user experience for humans. And now there's kind of this race to create a really good experience for AI agents.” Erik Reppel, head of engineering for the Coinbase Developer Platform, joins to explain why the x402 open payment standard he helped create might plug one of the oldest holes in the internet, and how the protocol could revolutionize commerce—with the help of cryptocurrency and AI. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud...
2025-05-26
59 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why Faire’s co-founder wants to bring Silicon Valley’s DNA to Canada
“ I think every ecosystem is different, but we can learn a lot from Silicon Valley, and we can merge what we have here.” Faire co-founder and Chief Architect Marcelo Cortes explains his journey from Brazil to Canada, how working in Kitchener-Waterloo connected him to Silicon Valley, and the process of applying the lessons learned there to his company. We also discuss how Faire's wholesale marketplace for retailers is navigating the trade war, its use of AI, and how it convinced former Uber CTO Thuan Pham to join the company. -- The BetaKit Podcast is pre...
2025-05-19
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Half of the internet is bots and they’re feeding you lies
“Bad actors are weaponizing AI faster than governments and enterprises are using AI to combat it.” New data shows that more than half of all internet traffic comes from bots, and a third of those bots have malicious intent. Koat.ai co-founder Connor Ross joins to discuss the impact of the disinformation and defamation campaigns these bots run, how governments and enterprises are unprepared for this AI-driven explosion, and why the social networks are doing nothing to stop it. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OV...
2025-05-12
44 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
2025’s angel investor of the year has a plan for Canadian tech
“I feel like doing this is one of the greatest gifts of my life. Working with these people energizes me.” Joe Canavan, principal at Canavan Capital, is Canada’s 2025 Angel of the Year. Recorded live at the NACO Summit in Ottawa, Canavan discusses his passion and enthusiasm for investing in tech after a career in finance, and what Canada should do to bolster its productivity and economic sovereignty. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build...
2025-05-05
34 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How does an online car retailer survive a trade war?
“I think for any entrepreneur that’s navigated the last five years, I don’t know if there was a worse time to be building a company.” Clutch found a new gear for its business after a post-pandemic lull … just in time for tariffs to hit. Dan Park (CEO) and Stephen Seibel (COO) join to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online car retail, how the end of cheap capital pumped their brakes, and how Clutch regained traction after a savvy market expansion. What has this journey taught them about how to prepare for whatever tariffs will do to the...
2025-04-28
56 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people this June
“ Toronto Tech Week belongs to everyone. Toronto Tech Week is by definition a platform, and it succeeds or fails by the virtue of all the hosts and all of the ecosystem in Toronto wanting to participate.” Filling the summer event gap that Collision left in the city, Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people attending over 100 events this June. How did the ‘community-driven platform’ come to be? How will it be different than other tech events? Toronto Tech Week founding partners and co-organizers Ameet Shah (Golden Ventures), Satish Kanwar (Good Future), and Mell Truong (Sage Consulting) join to tell th...
2025-04-21
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Eric Migicovsky’s crazy journey to relaunch Pebble
“ At the end of the day, I really wanted a Pebble. It didn't exist. No one was building anything remotely like it. So I, without really knowing what I was doing, decided to go and make it.” Almost 10 years after Pebble’s demise, Eric Migicovsky is back building smartwatches. The Canadian behind some of the largest Kickstarter projects of all time explains why he’s relaunching the device he originally made for himself, the incredible luck that has allowed him to do so, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. The BetaKit Podcast is presented...
2025-04-14
1h 17
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Katherine Homuth revisited
“ It's worth it. Because this deserves to live. We've gotten it far enough that this deserves to actually come to fruition. I don't think there is another company in the world today that actually is closer to this sci-fi dream.” Revisiting BetaKit’s January interview with SRTX founder Katherine Homuth about her company’s ambitious goal to modernize Western textile manufacturing in light of recent news that she will step down as CEO contingent on a deal to secure new financing. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses...
2025-04-06
1h 09
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Canadian foodtech has a scale-up problem
“ By the time these companies are ready for B and C [rounds], their cap tables are super clean, too. So it doesn't really make sense that we're not putting money into them.” In a time of global uncertainty, a new report by the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) shows that Canada lags other countries in foodtech funding, relying too much on public funding. CEO Dana McCauley joins to discuss the report, how CFIN’s 6,500 members are navigating tariffs, and why it's important that Canada invests in the tech that feeds us. The BetaKit Podcast is presente...
2025-03-30
54 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Cohere commands attention, Apple Intelligence delays, plus a vibe coding PSA
”Apple won't use user data to develop and train AI. And Apple lives in a world where AI is going to be table stakes in any software or hardware moving forward.” Call it counter-programming. A tech palate cleanse for all the election and trade war talk. This week, Rob and Doug tackle the latest AI developments: vibe coding, Cohere’s (temporary?) LLM pole position, AI data centres from Telus (powered by Nvidia), and Apple’s delayed intelligence. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX—your pathway to new sal...
2025-03-23
56 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
An election primer on what Canadian innovators need
”One of the things that I think we've got to critically think about in our country for the future is that we've got to begin using those dollars effectively, like the $4 billion in SR&ED.” CCI’s Ben Bergen joins to discuss items innovators hope will be on the agenda in the forthcoming federal election before ranking what programs (VCCI, SR&ED, etc.) and policies (AI regulation, open banking, etc.) the next government in power might adopt, drop, or move forward. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX...
2025-03-16
1h 00
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
What is Build Canada trying to construct?
“I don’t know what Canadian DOGE is. You know what I know? That everyone is projecting both their hopes and fears onto this thing.” Ex-Shopify VP Daniel Debow joins to discuss his Build Canada initiative, what it’s attempting to achieve, what it isn’t, and his frustration regarding ongoing associations with ‘Canadian DOGE’. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX—your pathway to new sales, industry connections, and non-dilutive funding. If you're ready to scale, refine, and lead cybersecurity innovation, apply today at www.thecyberchalleng...
2025-03-09
1h 13
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Rejecting the rejection of DEIA with AccessNow’s Maayan Ziv
“It feels like my inclusion was optional, and that is a scary message to be told. ‘We were doing you a favour by letting you in the room.’” AccessNow founder and CEO Maayan Ziv has been working in the accessibility space for over a decade—long enough to know that progress is slow and takes a fight. With DEIA currently being blamed for “everything from bad business decisions to plane crashes,” Ziv joins to explain why she feels the fight is “slipping through our fingers.” The BetaKit Podcast is presented by CIX SUMMIT, powered by Elevate. CIX is Ca...
2025-03-02
58 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How is Canadian tech responding to the trade war?
“Once you’ve cornered that beaver, look out. We are a vicious beast.” Rob and Douglas review the latest dispatches in Canada’s impending trade war with the United States, specifically how Canadian tech is responding. Did someone poke the beaver and unleash Canada’s quiet patriotism? A 3-2 overtime hockey win points to yes. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by the University of Toronto Entrepreneurship Week, returning March 3-7 in downtown Toronto. Don’t miss AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, 2024 Nobel laureate, live as he shares insights for startups. View the schedule and register for...
2025-02-24
40 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
AI’s new moat with Coveo’s Louis Têtu
“ You're going to see Coveo starting to invest quite aggressively actually to be a market taker. We're not a disrupted company. We're a market taker in AI.” Coveo's current CEO and future executive chair, Louis Têtu, joins to discuss the applied AI company's earnings performance and where the market is heading in the face of customer fatigue and DeepSeek disruption. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float, Canada's complete business finance platform, combining modern financial services and software to help businesses spend, save, and grow. Support Canadian business and switch today at floatfinancial.com.
2025-02-16
1h 00
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Is Canada a secret video game powerhouse?
“Part of the magic of the games industry here is that it’s not one thing.” Canada must diversify its economy. Why not start with gaming? Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) president and CEO, Paul Fogolin, joins to discuss video games’ $5.1 billion contribution to Canada’s economy and the results of his organization’s latest study on the Canadian gaming industry. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float, Canada's complete business finance platform, combining modern financial services and software to help businesses spend, save, and grow. Support Canadian business and switch today at floatfinancial.com.
2025-02-10
58 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why Alistair Croll wants Canadian startups to be more evil
“ Subversiveness is a way of changing the system. And I think what we're seeing right now is that all systems are changing.” Entrepreneur and Startupfest founding partner Alistair Croll has co-authored a new book, Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook. Why are Canadian companies so bad with their go-to-market execution and is now really the time to be preaching subversion and disagreeableness? Let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKi...
2025-02-02
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
SRTX's Katherine Homuth wants to solve for everything
“This is worth the pain of attempting to figure out how to do it. But attempting to figure out how to do it required us to basically rethink everything about that traditional outsourcing model.” SRTX founder and CEO Katherine Homuth explains how attempting to solve one problem with tights led her company to attempt solving for all problems related to modern North American textile manufacturing. The BetaKit Podcast is brought to you by the BetaKit Innovation Leaders program. Innovation Leaders are driving Canada’s innovation economy forward. By partnering with BetaKit, you can help support the jo...
2025-01-26
1h 05
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Social media’s midlife crisis with Amber Mac
”It does make me increasingly nervous that one of them really wants to move to Mars and the other one has a legit bunker. Like, what are they preparing for?” Social media expert Amber Mac joins to discuss why two of the world’s richest men, collectively responsible for over 3 billion monthly users, are so quick to blame everyone else for the problems their platforms cause. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Ne...
2025-01-19
1h 02
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
The biggest tech questions of 2025
“ I'm sure if there's one takeaway here is that we can all trust Enron to solve the world's energy problems.” “With a mere human-sized egg.” A cleantech crisis? The end of VCCI? The rise of centaurs? FinTech IPOs? Quantum leaps? BetaKit reporters Madison McLauchlan and Josh Scott join to review 2024’s biggest tech questions before offering a fresh set for 2025. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.
2025-01-12
1h 12
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
2025 tech predictions: embrace chaos
“Part of my prediction for 2025 is embracing or acknowledging that chaos reigns.” AI agents. Political shenanigans. A Canadian tech acquisition that will shock you. And a Big Tech breakup that you might expect. After choosing chalk last year, The BetaKit Podcast adds some spice to its 2025 tech predictions. Let’s dig in! Have a different take on 2025? Let us know: podcast@betakit.com. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by ‘Devious Web,’ a Shelley Grandy mystery novel available in digital or paperback formats. A successful Canadian entrepreneur is offered millions from Silicon Valley for...
2024-12-27
38 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
The biggest tech stories of 2024
“We are about to see a bunch of people who are powerful, successful, and feel like they know the best way to do things bring this approach into government.” The BetaKit Podcast reviews the biggest tech stories of 2024 before doling out annual letter grades for Shopify, Wealthsimple, Cohere, and many more. A podcast so good we had to record it twice. Have a different take on 2024? Let us know: podcast@betakit.com. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by ‘Devious Web,’ a Shelley Grandy mystery novel available in digital or paperback formats. A successful Canadian...
2024-12-20
1h 16
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Lessons in leadership, hiring, and AI from SAAS NORTH 2024
“SaaS was around, ‘How do you automate business processes in order to empower humans?’ AI is about, ‘How can a machine do the process so that you need less [human] involvement?’” David Appel (Sage Intacct), Bryan Watson (Venbridge), April Hicke (Toast), and Stephanie Lipp (MycoFutures) talk AI, the changing role of the CFO, leadership and hiring, cleantech tax credits, and how to make leather from mushrooms (seriously). Recorded live at SAAS NORTH. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Uber Canada. Uber's driving positive change for riders, drivers, and communities across Toronto. Learn more about how Uber is movi...
2024-12-09
56 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Mama don't take my Google Chrome away
“Browsers aren't a business. Browsers don't make money. These are loss leaders for other connected experiences because no one wants to pay for the window to the web." The DOJ wants to take Chrome away from Google. Arc wants to build a better browser for everyone. Rob Kenedi wants to decelerate tech with his new show, which is not (yet) a browser. Let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is brought to you by Cloudways, the managed hosting platform built for speed and scalability. Take advantage of Cloudways Black Friday Cyber Monday offer: 40% off for 4 mont...
2024-12-01
51 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why Sampler failed, according to its founder
“I’m using failure with intent today, because I don’t want to be ashamed of saying ‘failure.’" Marie Chevrier Schwartz, founder and former CEO of Sampler, explains how her company lost product-market fit after a decade in business. Recorded live on the BetaKit Keynote Stage at SAAS NORTH 2024. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Quiz. Think you're up to date on the world of Canadian tech? Test your knowledge with The BetaKit Quiz, proudly sponsored by GoDaddy.
2024-11-24
33 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Inovia’s Chris Arsenault on the state of Canadian software
“Canada is hitting above its weight. It doesn’t always feel like that.” Inovia Capital CEO Chris Arsenault joins to share data and a long-term perspective on the state of the Canadian software industry in 2024, recorded live on the BetaKit Keynote State at SAAS NORTH. Check out Inovia’s report and read along with the podcast! The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Quiz, proudly sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit GoDaddy to search for your perfect .CA domain and access a special offer.
2024-11-18
33 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Addressing Canada’s speed of financial innovation
“Regrettably, I don't think we're very good, to be honest, at collaborating with FinTechs, or collaborating with the private sector more broadly on solving for policy issues.” It's a podcast double feature this week, with two conversations offering a pulse check on financial innovation in Canada. First: Koho’s Daniel Eberhard (CEO) and Peter Aceto (Chief Banking Officer) detail the process of becoming a licensed bank along with the benefits and risks. Second: leaders from Manzil (Mohamad Sawwaf) and Borrowell (Eva Wong) join the Department of Finance Canada’s Julien Brazeau to discuss innovations focused on greater inclusio...
2024-11-10
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Alexis Ohanian and Matt Damon can help Xatoms clean water around the world
“The 776 fellowship has connected us to so many opportunities that we would never be connected to [otherwise].” Xatoms co-founder Diana Virgovicova explains how she uses quantum chemistry, AI, grants from tech leaders like Alexis Ohanian, and celebrity relationships to help solve a global clean water problem. Recorded live at Elevate Festival. Related link: Xatoms is planning a quantum leap to clean the world’s water The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Shakepay: Canada's easy way to buy and earn bitcoin. Visit shakepay.com/betakit and join over 1 million Canadians shaking for bitcoin. Also...
2024-11-03
42 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Does Canada have the leverage to regulate Big Tech?
“We just don’t have the clout to be able to successfully push policy on top of these platforms without cooperation or partnership from other countries.” Former Google Canada and Twitter Canada exec Rory Capern joins to discuss the ongoing US Big Tech antitrust cases, the state of social media and digital advertising, and what recourse (if any) Canada has to move forward effective regulation. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Shakepay: Canada's easy way to buy and earn bitcoin. Visit shakepay.com/betakit and join over 1 million Canadians shaking for bitcoin.
2024-10-20
1h 03
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Can Canada successfully scale AI companies?
“The development of AI is racing ahead from most large corporations’ ability to keep up with it. What does that mean? There’s a nice gap there. There’s a beautiful gap to create products and go fill that gap.” Founders and government capital convene to discuss the go-to-market and scaling realities for AI companies in Canada. Featuring Dwayne Dulmage (BDC), Hongwei Liu (Mappedin), Sarah Legendre-Bilodeau (Videns Analytics), Sam Ramadori (BrainBox AI), and Pape Wade (Airudi). Recorded live at ALL IN in Montréal. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Shakepay: Canada's easy way to buy and ear...
2024-10-15
45 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Can Wealthsimple build Canada’s largest financial institution?
“I think we’re going to build the largest Canadian financial institution. That is a giant opportunity, and our focus on delivering that in Canada has helped us grow way faster.” Ten years in, Wealthsimple is profitable with $50 billion in AUA. How did the company get here and what comes next? Co-founders Brett Huneycutt (CPO) and Michael Katchen (CEO) join for a special birthday podcast. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Uber Canada. Uber's driving positive change for riders, drivers, and communities across Toronto. Learn more about how Uber is moving Toronto forward.
2024-10-06
51 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
What Canada can learn from AI use in South Africa
“How do we collect data so that we give it in the hands of the government in an efficient way? We’re in a democratic country. Isn’t this data supposed to inform the government?” Raesetje Sefala, research fellow at The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), joins to discuss her work analyzing the impacts of South African apartheid using computer vision techniques and satellite imagery. Recorded live at ALL IN in Montréal. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Motion: one of Canada's fastest-growing tech companies. Motion is hiring, so check out its careers page. And read...
2024-09-30
38 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Evolving Canada’s AI strategy with CIFAR’s Elissa Strome
“This is a technology that now is directly impacting society every day and is impacting people's lives. And if we're going to help continue its development in a positive way, we actually need to be involved—not just on the technical side, but also on the policy and the societal impact side as well.” Elissa Strome, executive director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at CIFAR, joins for an open-ended discussion on what that strategy has achieved and where it needs to go next in the face of GenAI, compute crunch, and the stalled Bill C-27. Recorded live a...
2024-09-23
1h 00
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Pablo Srugo wanted to be “insanely rich.” It killed his startup.
“This was mine. This was done. I was going to be the next Steve Jobs, I was going to be rich—everything was happening. And now they took it away.” As the young co-founder of Ottawa-based Gymtrack, Pablo Srugo had one goal: “become insanely rich.” Now a partner at Mistral VC, he joins the podcast to share what went wrong and caution founders against becoming their own worst hypebeast. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Shakepay: Canada’s easy way to buy and earn bitcoin. Visit shakepay.com/betakit and join over 1 million Canadians shaking for bitcoin.
2024-09-14
1h 06
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
AI roundtable: Hugging Face, Zapier, Tenstorrent (and more)
"Verticalized AI applications right now are available, right now accelerating industry after industry." AI is moving so fast it can be hard to keep up. The BetaKit Podcast has you covered with vantage points on AI from: Dr. Sasha Luccioni (Hugging Face), Reid Robinson (Zapier), Solon Angel (stealth startup), Darian Shirazi (Gradient Ventures), Joella Almeida (MedEssist), Chris Walker (Untether AI), and Eric Duffy (Tenstorrent). Rob and Douglas do their best to keep up. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Google Cloud: scale your startup faster and smarter with the Google Cloud credits, technical training, startup...
2024-08-31
57 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Canadian Web3 regulations & Coinbase’s year in review
“I think it's really important for Canadians to speak to their public officials and remind them that this is an important industry. They should be taking it seriously. They should be putting in the time to speak with industry and learn about it.” Live from the Blockchain Futurist Conference, award-winning BetaKit reporter Josh Scott moderates two important conversations: a year in review with Coinbase Canada CEO Lucas Matheson; and a Canadian Web3 regulation check-in with Dan Nuñez Cohen (Crypto.com), Kunal Bhasin (KPMG), Morva Rohani (Canadian Web3 Council), and Suzanne Lasrado (CIRO). The BetaKit Podca...
2024-08-18
50 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
What Vault’s co-founder learned at Revolut
“If you want to succeed and build an enduring and large business for Canadians, that has to be your focus. Nothing else. If you want to focus on Canada as an additional market or a secondary market, it’s not going to work out.” Three years after its bold expansion strategy, Revolut has a banking license in the UK, but not much to show in the US or Canada. The company’s former North American Head of Strategy & Operations, Saud Aziz, joins the podcast this week to discuss what went wrong and the lessons he’s taking forward wi...
2024-08-10
45 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why has developer hiring slowed? (AMA episode)
“It was a seller's market during the pandemic … They were staffing up in the anticipation of growth that never actually materialized. It's now a buyer's market.” For our 350th episode (!) of The BetaKit Podcast, the gang once again attempts to survive an overstuffed mailbag of listener-submitted questions regarding: the fediverse, federal cleantech tax credits, disappeared Alberta investor tax credits, and interesting Indeed job numbers. Presented by Carbon6. In the face of mass layoffs and long hiring cycles, Carbon6 wants to attract candidates with stability. Learn more about their hiring drive here.
2024-07-29
1h 07
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
This deep tech PE firm was drawn to Canada by the data
“In Canada today … if you look at the inventory of 20,000 great technology companies, 60 percent of those have never met an investor. Because they’re really busy at meeting customers.” Jolt Capital managing partner Jean Schmitt joins to discuss why he made Montréal his deep tech private equity firm's North American HQ, and the opportunities for investment he sees across Canada. Presented by AWS Startups: accelerate your innovative ideas with AWS credits of up to $100,000 through the AWS Activate program. The BetaKit Podcast is also sponsored by Float: sign up for early access to Float's...
2024-06-29
43 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How Web Summit Vancouver came to be with Casey Lau
“Is this Collision, is this RISE, is this Web Summit? I’m very confused.” Web Summit co-host Casey Lau joins the podcast from the show floor of the last Collision to evaluate its impact, what Web Summit Vancouver will do for the city, and what the reimagined tech conference might look like when it arrives next year. Presented by Mantle: next-level equity management, powered by AI. Visit withmantle.com/betakit to get started with your first 12 months free.
2024-06-21
37 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How Dax Dasilva plans to get Lightspeed to $1 billion in revenue
"Fiscal '25 is the year we turn 20, and it's the year we cross a billion in revenue and we become a profitability story." Once again back in the CEO chair, Lightspeed's Dax Dasilva discusses why he stepped down, then returned, as the company he founded approaches its 20th birthday. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Innovate BC: a Crown Agency of the Province of British Columbia. Visit innovatebc.ca to learn more about Innovate BC’s programs, initiatives and ongoing work across British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem.
2024-06-09
51 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Can this Canadian company make a splash in plant-based fish?
“We’re not in the business of selling food, we’re in the business of behaviour change.” New School Foods founder Chris Bryson joins to discuss his plans to commercialize a pet R&D project into a Canadian plant-based meat competitor. Can he do the impossible better than... Impossible? The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Innovate BC: a Crown Agency of the Province of British Columbia. Visit innovatebc.ca to learn more about Innovate BC’s programs, initiatives and ongoing work across British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem.
2024-05-31
51 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Tobi Lütke finally comes on the podcast
“I think ambition is a problem… Canada is a go-for-bronze culture, and that sucks.” Kinda. Presenting BetaKit chair Satish Kanwar’s fireside chat and AMA with Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke at the BetaKit Town Hall. The pair discuss the state of Canadian innovation, government and policy, and what comes next. With special guests from CDL, Ada, Knix, and Version One Ventures. Presented by the Master of Business Administration in Technology Leadership (Tech MBA) at Schulich School of Business. Gain a Competitive Edge. Design the future with Schulich’s Tech MBA.
2024-05-10
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
How Simple Ventures plans to fill a Canadian entrepreneurship gap
“When you think about that shark American ethos, playing to win … but then also having the Canadian kindness, I think that’s where Canada and Canadians have a really big opportunity.” Simple Ventures CEO joins to discuss the motivations behind the launch of the venture studio, the power of geographical arbitrage, and the structural, cultural, and economic impediments to Canadian entrepreneurship. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP. Osler, the leading law firm for startups, high growth companies and investors in Canada, has released its third annual study of 486 anonymized Canadian venture ca...
2024-05-04
49 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Wealthsimple and Koho CEOs talk productivity, competition, and building
“I think it would be a mistake if we make Canada even less competitive at such an incredibly important moment in time for us to embrace competition and productivity.” Michael Katchen (Wealthsimple) and Daniel Eberhard (Koho) join BetaKit editor-in-chief Douglas Soltys for a wide-ranging conversation on Canada’s productivity, entrepreneurship, and competition crises. Financial innovation, open banking, Real-Time Rail, and capital gains taxes might also come up. Recorded live at INNOVATEwest. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP. Osler, the leading law firm for startups, high growth companies and investors in Canada...
2024-04-27
31 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
#Budget2024 emergency pod
“The reality is this government cannot execute.” Sound the alarm! Matt Roberts (CMD Capital) and Ben Bergen (CCI) join for an emergency #Budget2024 podcast to discuss the capital gains tax increase, Minister Freeland’s Friday meeting with tech leaders, and the level to which politics are intersecting with innovation policy. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP. Osler, the leading law firm for startups, high growth companies and investors in Canada, has released its third annual study of 486 anonymized Canadian venture capital and growth equity financings.
2024-04-21
1h 12
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
What made you first love tech?
“I think what we're trying to do here is maybe celebrate and acknowledge all pathways into tech. Whatever sparked the inspiration.” Co-hosts Rob and Douglas peel back the curtain to reveal the gadgets, media, and moments that inspired their love of tech. Come, witness the retelling of their Immaculate Tech Conceptions while reliving your own on this full-blown nostalgia pod! The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP. Osler, the leading law firm for startups, high growth companies and investors in Canada, has released its third annual study of 486 anonymized Canadian venture capi...
2024-04-13
58 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Can video games teach kids math?
“I deeply want to solve the challenges in education. I think what we have is a current educational system is really not working.” Mobius Math Club co-founder Steven Woods (ex-Eloqua, Oracle, and Benevity) explains how video games are actually a great educational tool, and why taking venture capital won’t help him scale. Presented by Mastercard Canada: watch Mastercard Canada's Darrell MacMullin and BetaKit’s Douglas Soltys explore emerging tech’s impact on the future of financial innovation in a BetaKit Live fireside conversation.
2024-03-30
55 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Alexis Gay is (still) the funniest person in tech
"One of the things that's funniest in tech is the complete and utter lack of self-awareness." The BetaKit Podcast is off for March Break. If you're anything like us, right now you might need a welcome distraction from the joys of family. Enter comedian and podcaster Alexis Gay, who joins to share her transition from working in tech to creating content that perfectly articulates the absurdities of working in tech. Sponsored by DiscoveryX Conference—Ontario’s premier innovation event, April 17 & 18. Also sponsored by the Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE) Program at Toronto Metropolitan Unive...
2024-03-18
47 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
After Ecobee, Stuart Lombard has no regrets
“There’s a big difference between wanting to be great and being great.” After a 16-year run leading Ecobee, Stuart Lombard has stepped down as CEO and president of the smart thermostat maker. He joins the BetaKit Podcast to discuss lessons learned, building hardware in Canada, and "becoming the smart home company Nest should have been." Sponsored by the Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE) Program at Toronto Metropolitan University—learn how MEIE can help accelerate your career or bring your startup idea to life.
2024-02-24
54 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
The war against tech enshittification
“We kinda want to leave the internet.” Inspired by Canadian science fiction author and journalist Cory Doctorow, the BetaKit Podcast articulates all the ways we find the internet getting worse. Sponsored by the Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE) Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn how MEIE can help accelerate your career or bring your startup idea to life. Recorded at CreatorClub, a one-stop hub for content creation empowering brands, agencies, and marketers to streamline their content creation process from start to finish.
2024-01-28
44 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
VC extravaganza: fundraising, "shitty" behaviour, mannequin startups & more
We know you love VCs on the BetaKit Podcast. So here's an all-VC episode of the BetaKit Podcast. Featuring: Chris Neumann (Panache Ventures), Matt Cohen (Ripple Ventures), John Ruffolo (Maverix Private Equity), Michelle Scarborough (Thrive Venture Fund), Satraj Bambra (Round13's Digital Asset Fund). Sponsored by Zoholics Canada 2023, Zoho’s premier user conference. Use the code "BETAKIT25" for a 25% discount!
2023-08-26
59 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
LIVE from Startupfest!
"The BetaKit Podcast is very much a pro-dog podcast." Dr. Theresa Johnson (Airbnb), Harper Reed (General Galactic Corporation), and Neha Khera (2048 Ventures) join for a wide-ranging conversation on shooting particles at satellites (for science!), founder-market fit, working for Barack Obama, when to quit, shutting down your company, angel and early-stage investing, and building jetpacks for dogs (for science!). Recorded in front of a live audience on the main stage of Startupfest 2023. Sponsored by Palette Skills.
2023-07-22
1h 05
Tank Talks By Ripple Ventures
Was RenoRun Abandoned By Investors or Just Another Mannequin Startup? Matt Cohen joins the BetaKit Podcast to discuss
The tables have turned on our host Matt Cohen who was recently a guest on the BetaKit podcast and had a spirited discussion about the recent meltdown of RenoRun. BetaKit features weekly podcasts discussing Canadian technology news and global startup news from a Canadian perspective and it was an honour to be a guest on the show. You can listen to the whole episode where Matt shares the history of Ripple Ventures and a lot more here.From BetaKit’s post:BetaKit has reported this year on LPs unable to honour capital calls, leaving Canadian VCs to pu...
2023-04-20
1h 07
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why I killed my startup
"It's not like a light comes down from heaven and says 'now you shall stop your company.' But, man, was it very difficult emotionally." Entrepreneur and BetaKit Podcast co-host Rob Kenedi explains the process of launching and eventually shuttering his startup, Staid.
2023-02-03
48 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Can Amber Mac explain WTF is happening in tech right now?
"I honestly feel as though 2023 is going to be one of those years in Canadian tech where companies are going to have to be accountable." Award-winning Amber Mac returns to the award-nominated BetaKit Podcast for the first AMA episode of 2023, answering listener questions about: mass tech layoffs and CEO departures; VCs killing rounds because LPs can't (won't?) pay up; opportunities for tech growth in Atlantic Canada; and the essential 10 minutes talking ChatGPT and 'Next Big Things'. Sponsored by Amazon Web Services.
2023-01-27
48 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Bessemer, Georgian, OMERS VCs discuss the state of the market
“If this is the environment we’re in today, what should we do?” Aleeza Hashmi (Bessemer), Michelle Yu (Georgian), and Laura Lenz (OMERS) join BetaKit senior editor Meagan Simpson for a conversation about why the beginning of 2023 will be just as hard for startups to fundraise in. Recorded live at SAAS NORTH on the BetaKit Keynote Stage. Sponsored by Caravel Law.
2022-12-09
30 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Dissecting the anatomy of a #CDNtech seed round
"If we take a look at some of the salaries we were seeing, it was probably four engineers and our entire round was gone." Eva Lau (Two Small Fish), Shawn Hewat (Wavy), and Kathleen Chan (Calico) discuss what it was like to raise a seed round in 2021 and what changed in 2022 so founders are ready for 2023. Recorded live at SAAS NORTH on the BetaKit Keynote Stage. Sponsored by Caravel Law.
2022-12-02
34 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
#CDNtech talks down rounds, disasters, and "recipes for failure"
"There was a bit of ego raising." "I think it has been a disaster." "I read BetaKit for the truth." Canadian tech luminaries try to make sense of a crazy year in this compilation of interviews recorded live at SAAS NORTH. Featuring: Laura Lenz (OMERS Ventures), Leo Lax (L-SPARK), Louis Têtu (Coveo), Ria Bhavnani (Shopify), Peter Housley (Unbounce), Natalie Archibald (Clio), and Sean Silcoff (Globe & Mail). Sponsored by Caravel Law.
2022-11-26
57 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Will some Canadian tech companies die during the downturn? (LIVE at SAAS NORTH)
"Are we willing to let companies die in Canadian tech?" "Yes." VC Matt Roberts joins for a special episode of the BetaKit Podcast recorded live at SAAS NORTH, answering attendee and speaker questions about the impacts of the current tech downturn, the FTX clustercuss, and Canada's next BlackBerry. Sponsored by Caravel Law.
2022-11-18
40 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Making future bets on Shopify, Wealthsimple & the metaverse (AMA episode)
"If Canadian VCs weren't allowed to talk to journalists anonymously, they would never say anything." The BetaKit Podcast's monthly AMA episode answers listener questions about what the future holds for Shopify, Wealthsimple, venture funding, and tech in the 2020s.
2022-10-29
54 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Is Real Ventures done? Is BDC just getting started? (AMA episode)
“Half a billion dollars for women in Canadian tech. Pretty cool!” The BetaKit Podcast's monthly AMA episode answers listeners' (tough!) questions about bad news coming from Real Ventures and exciting news coming from BDC, with some Elevate highlights thrown in. Sponsored by SAAS NORTH (use code BETAKIT20 for an early bird discount).
2022-09-24
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Exploring the city Google couldn’t buy
“This is the rise and fall of a company that had hundreds of millions of dollars to play with and nothing left to say about it.” Globe and Mail reporter Josh O'Kane joins to discuss his new book, Sideways: The City Google Couldn't Buy, along with BetaKit senior editor Meagan Simpson. Sponsored by SAAS NORTH.
2022-09-16
50 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Canadian tech is (still!) hiring
"I’m just concerned about finding tech talent." Nora Jenkins Townson (Bright + Early) and Meagan Simpson (BetaKit) join to explain why over 350 companies are looking to hire Canadian tech talent in the midst of a downturn. Sponsored by Linebox.
2022-09-09
45 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Learning from embedded FinTech leaders at Traction
"Shopify Pay still uses Stripe and they have some crazy scale." Immad Akhund (CEO, Mercury) and Jon Fry (CEO, Lendflow) join BetaKit's Douglas Soltys onstage to discuss how startups can embed FinTech into their products, increase revenue, and avoid the hidden icebergs. Recorded live at Traction Conference 2022. Sponsored by Linebox and Thinksound.
2022-09-02
34 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Shopify stumbling, Rogers resilient, recession fundraising (AMA episode)
"That's the pull quote. 'Amber Mac: things are crumbling.'" Special guest Amber Mac joins to answer listener questions on the award-nominated BetaKit Podcast. Topics include: Shopify's layoffs, Rogers' revenue resiliency following its second outage in the last year, Canada's digital divide and its impact on remote work, and early-stage fundraising tips. Sponsored by Diuca.
2022-07-30
1h 03
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Quiet tech towns & Twitter’s Elon Musk Problem (AMA episode)
“I both love and hate this question.” BetaKit Associate Editor Meagan Simpson joins for her second AMA episode to answer a complex bunch of listener questions: what did the New York Times get wrong about Toronto tech? Is the Globe anti-competition? What should the banks do with their excess profits? What are the dangers of troll capital? Sponsored by Osler and Cisco.
2022-04-14
53 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Ukraine, soonicorns, Canadian tech vibe check (AMA episode)
"What is your vibe right now about Canadian tech?" Co-hosts Douglas Soltys and Rob Kenedi are joined by BetaKit associate editor Meagan Simpson to answer listener questions submitted LIVE during a special Twitter Spaces AMA edition of the BetaKit Podcast. Sponsored by Pocketed.
2022-03-03
1h 12
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why every SaaS company will become a FinTech
BetaKit associate editor Meagan Simpson leads a panel conversation with JD St-Martin (Lightspeed) and Joost Ouwerkerk (Hopper) about the desire (or need?) for SaaS companies to offer new financial services. Recorded live at SAAS NORTH.
2022-01-17
41 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Bessemer, and Trulioo, and Plaid - Oh my!
"This episode is going to get a little bit SaaS-y." A highlight of BetaKit's interviews at SAAS NORTH, featuring: Alexandra Sukin (Bessemer Venture Partners), Steve Munford (Trulioo), Irene Zhou (Plaid), Anthony Mouchantaf (RBCx), Tamara Grominsky (Unbounce), and Leo Lax (L-SPARK). Listen to the full interviews on BetaKit.com or SoundCloud.com/BetaKit. Sponsored by SVB and Innovate BC.
2021-12-04
34 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Shopify's crypto bros, and anti-growth is cool now (AMA episode)
"This is a Web3 podcast now." Co-hosts Douglas Soltys and Rob Kenedi are joined by producer Kattie Laur and BetaKit associate editor Meagan Simpson to answer listener questions about the 'anti-growth' movement, Shopify's blockchain team, and what's holding #CDNtech back. Sponsored by SVB and Innovate BC.
2021-11-12
41 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Canadian tech's leadership turnover | Black Swan #41
"What COVID did last year was reset expectations on everything. It reset the X and the Y-axis." The Globe and Mail's Sean Silcoff and BetaKit Associate Editor Meagan Simpson join to discuss recent leadership turnover at Shopify, Top Hat, Real Ventures, FreshBooks, and more. Produced with support from TWG.
2021-02-23
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Black Swan #30: "Faceplants, misfires, and nothingburgers"
"It's just a series of faceplants, misfires, and nothingburgers." Jim Balsillie and Dan Breznitz give Canada a failing grade on innovation policy. So how does COVID-19 present new opportunities for Canadian companies? Audio used with permission from a recent panel conversation hosted by the Innovation Policy Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (full remarks here). Moderated by BetaKit Associate Editor Meagan Simpson. Sponsored by the #CIBCInnovationEconomy podcast. Produced with support from TWG.
2020-11-24
34 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Black Swan #16: Minister Bains explains the feds' COVID-19 response
"We want to be bold, we want to think big, but we want to be flexible and nimble as well." BetaKit speaks with Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, about the federal government's COVID-19 response plan for Canadian tech: what worked, what didn't, and what comes next. Produced with support from TWG.
2020-07-27
37 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Black Swan #15: The evolving business of preparing for death
"We're not a business that a lot of Canadian VCs found sexy." Willful CEO Erin Bury, who longtime listeners might remember as a regular guest on BetaKit’s CanCon podcast, joins to explain what COVID-19 has made easier, and more difficult, for a business built to grapple with death. Produced with support from TWG.
2020-07-13
29 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Black Swan #12: A horrifying truth, unspoken
"Canadian investors don't back Black women-led startups. Let's talk about that." Amoye Henry (Pitch Better) and Danielle Graham (Sandpiper Ventures) join to discuss the underlying social problems that prompted Amoye's BetaKit op-ed "The horrifying truth about being a Black woman founder in Canada" and potential solutions. Produced with support from TWG.
2020-06-15
46 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Black Swan #1 - How to Survive
"Everything that happened over a four to five-month period in '08 has happened in a four-week period this time around." The Canadian tech ecosystem is facing a black swan event: extremely rare and extremely severe. BetaKit spoke with Matt Roberts, partner at ScaleUP Ventures, about the federal government's response to support Canadian businesses, and what entrepreneurs can do to ensure their companies survive. Hosted by Douglas Soltys & Rob Kenedi. Edited by Kattie Laur. Produced with support from TWG.
2020-03-30
40 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Canadian tech is leaving money on the table
Erin Bury lists the grants Canadian entrepreneurs could and should be using (with some pro tips). ScaleUP Ventures partner Matt Roberts joins to answer the question 'when is it wrong for an investor to ask a company to sell?' following BetaKit's exclusive on the curfuffle around EVP and Uken Games. Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Canada in my Pocket" by Michael Mitchell / "Coins" by Tri Angels Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
2018-12-03
52 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Why did 500 Canadians fly to Lisbon in November?
200 of those Canadians were part of a tech delegation to Web Summit. BetaKit tagged along. Hear from delegates from Jauntin', RBC, and the City of Toronto on why heading to Lisbon was so important, and what it means for Collision in Canada in 2019. Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Flying" by Bryan Adams Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
2018-11-20
40 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
BetaKit's origin story + office hours to diversify tech
For BetaKit Incorporated's second birthday, we bring on a bevy of special guests: iNovia's Sarah Marion on a new VC program to support underrepresented groups in tech; Dell EMC's Matthew Trotter on cloud technology creating a power shift in small business; and Erin Bury dishing dirt on BetaKit's early days. Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Long Time Running" by The Tragically Hip Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
2018-03-05
1h 08
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 76: Saadia Muzaffar, Harley Finkelstein, Bruce Croxon at BetaKit 150
This week features Saadia Muzaffar from TechGirls Canada, Shopify COO Harley Finkelstein, Elevate Toronto co-founder Razor Suleman, and former Dragon and current The Disruptors host, Bruce Croxon, talking about the future of Canadian innovation. All audio taken from BetaKit 150, hosted in Toronto, June 22nd. Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip
2017-07-18
1h 14
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 73: BetaKit 150 and your Canadian tech questions
This week on CanCon, the team remembers a successful BetaKit 150 event, and answers your Canadian tech questions! Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Headlines" by Drake
2017-06-25
29 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 67: Is Vancouver Canada's next great tech hub?
The CanCon podcast heads to Vancouver to talk FinTech, Startup Visa, #Tractionconf, and the city's pitch to Seattle tech. Music clip (under fair dealing): "No Culture" by Mother Mother
2017-05-16
1h 12
The Fail On Podcast with Rob Nunnery - Fail Your Way To An Inspired Life
Sol Orwell On Building & Stepping Away From 7 Figure Businesses And Failing Nonchalantly
Sol Orwell is an entrepreneur and business developer most known for his work as the cofounder of Examine.com. He was recognized as a 2014 Game Changer by men’s fitness and profile by Forbes as a seven figure entrepreneur. He’s also on the fitness advisory board for Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’ll first be talking to Sol about how a speaker at high school taught him to look at business and failure in a very nonchalant way. He’ll touch on how every single business that he has started has originated from him solving a problem that he had for himse...
2017-05-08
1h 14
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 45: Does Canada need a SaaS conference?
The CanCon podcast heads to Ottawa for SaaS North, Canada's first-ever national SaaS conference. Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): “Shake Your Boots” by StillNative
2016-12-07
1h 02
Exponential Minds Podcast with Chief Futurist Nikolas Badminton
Exponential Minds Podcast - Ep007: Empowering Kids in Changing the World with Sarah Prevette
In this episode Nikolas interviews Sarah Prevette, the Founder of Future Design School -- a school focused on empowering youth innovation through design methods and entrepreneurial experience. Nikolas and Sarah talk about empowering kids and cultivating their ideals and passion with tools and educational methods. They also discuss breaking and rebuilding the world, risk taking, the changing economy, and making governments alter their thinking to make change actually happen. Previously, Sarah was the founder of Sprouter.com, an online platform facilitating knowledge exchange between startups and business leaders that was acquired by Postmedia in late 2011. Sarah also built BetaKit.com...
2016-06-01
28 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 18: What can Canada learn from other tech countries?
On this episode of CanCon, the team discusses what we can learn from Israel about entrepreneurship, the new Pebble lineup, and which Canadian billionaire will be the first to sue BetaKit. Canadian content clip (under fair dealing): "Vancouver Divorce" by Gord Downie
2016-05-31
57 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 16: Startups get political on the Hill
On this episode of CanCon, we take the podcast to the nation's capital to speak with MP Bardish Chagger and a host of Startup Canada Day on the Hill attendees. Canadian content clip: "Kill Count" by The Balconies (under fair dealing)
2016-05-16
58 min
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 15: Let's talk startups and mental health
On this special edition of the CanCon podcast, we talk about the perils of entrepreneurship and mental health.
2016-05-05
1h 03
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
CanCon Podcast Ep. 1: Hipster TV and our dollar sucks
On the first ever edition of the CanCon Podcast, Douglas Soltys, Erin Bury, Rob Kenedi, and Patrick O'Rourke discuss Netlfix, Showmi, CraveTV, and VR. Music clip: “Money City Maniacs” by Sloan
2016-01-25
1h 03