Shows
Tech About Town by CommunitechBuilding Digital Kitchener 2.0 with Nicole AmaralHow does a city of nearly 300,000 people stay ahead of the technological curve? In this episode of Tech About Town, we sit down with Nicole Amaral, Director of the Digital Kitchener Innovation Lab, to discuss the evolution of Kitchener's digital strategy.Since its inception in 2017, the Digital Kitchener Innovation Lab has served as an experimental hub within the Communitech Hub, bridging the gap between municipal government and the local tech ecosystem. Nicole shares her journey from communications to IT and provides an inside look at the upcoming Digital Kitchener 2.0 Strategy, set to launch in April 2026.
2025-12-1726 minTech About Town by CommunitechMaking Cycling Accessible Through Technology: Mark Connolly from the Cycling Guide FoundationCommuting by bike helps the environment and is great for your health, but getting from point A to point B isn’t always easy. That was part of the motivation for Mark Connolly and team behind Cycling Guide, a mobile app that shows cyclists the least stressful paths to get where they need to go.Mark joins us on the podcast to talk about the inspiration behind the app, which uses community-maintained OpenStreetMap data to find low-stress, bike-friendly routes, including those secret neighborhood shortcuts and connecting paths that other apps miss.Communitech’s Isibeal Ryan is i...
2025-12-1032 minTech About Town by CommunitechAuthenticity Over Algorithms: Rebuilding Community with Samantha CampbellOne of the things we talk about constantly on this show is that 'tech' isn't just about code or hardware—it's about the people who build it and the community that supports them. And if you’ve been part of the Waterloo Region ecosystem for any length of time, you know that building a truly inclusive community takes work, passion, and boots-on-the-ground leadership.That is exactly why we're excited for this episode's guest.Samantha Campbell is a software engineer, a long-time community builder, and the driving force behind Gender Equity Tech Waterloo.We’re goi...
2025-12-0325 minTech About Town by CommunitechDinah Davis on sharing stories of women in tech with Code Like A GirlAsk Dinah Davis about the state of women in tech, and she’ll tell you we’re moving forward, but not nearly far enough. It’s a perspective shaped by her own path, from computer science student at the University of Lethbridge to founder of Code Like A Girl (Medium and Substack), a community built to elevate the stories of women and non-binary people in tech.On this episode of Tech About Town, Dinah sits down with guest host Michelle Engelhardt from Communitech to talk about representation, allyship and why programs like Fierce Founders matter now more than e...
2025-11-1944 minTech About Town by CommunitechMike Kirkup is turning startup mistakes into caregiver insights with ElderellaYou can learn a lot from your successes, but you can learn even more from your failures.Mike Kirkup joins us for his record-breaking third appearance on the podcast to talk about lessons learned from his experience launching and folding his last startup, Arlo. Over the last few weeks, Mike has been sharing stories on LinkedIn, from why avoiding a Salesforce integration was the wrong decision to why he regrets not digging deeper into customer insights.He’s putting those lessons into practice with his latest startup, Elderella, a platform to help caregivers feel less al...
2025-11-1234 minTech About Town by CommunitechInside KidsAbility’s Rocket Discovery Centre with Brendan Wylie-ToalWhen most people think about innovation, they think startups or software. But at KidsAbility, innovation is happening inside a non-profit — reshaping how therapy and rehabilitation services are delivered for kids and families across Waterloo Region.We’re joined by Brendan Wylie-Toal, the Director of Research and Innovation at KidsAbility and KidsAbility Rocket Research Centre, to talk about how his team is rethinking systems, shortening wait times, and showing how innovation can thrive even without a dedicated R&D budget.We explore:How play-based launch groups improved access to careWhat Intel and...
2025-11-0528 minTech About Town by CommunitechWhy Waterloo Region is a great place to build a startup (and a great place to visit!) with Ashley Lansink from Explore Waterloo RegionTourism might not be the first thing you associate with tech—but it should be.In this episode, we talk with Ashley Lansink from Explore Waterloo Region about the unexpected connection between tourism and tech and why both are critical for economic development in our community.Ashley walks us through how the team markets Waterloo Region to leisure travellers, sport organizers, and business event planners alike. We also explore how tourism boosts talent attraction and community pride, and how founders can get support when planning conferences, tournaments, or team events.Listen is as we...
2025-10-2929 minTech About Town by CommunitechWhat startups can learn from community foundations with Eric AvnerEvery founder needs trust and connection. So does every community.In this episode, we sit down with Eric Avner, President and CEO of the Waterloo Region Community Foundation, to explore what it means to build a thriving community—socially, financially, and systemically.Eric explains how WRCF is investing in long-term, intergenerational impact: from managing over 420 community funds and endowments to launching new tools like WRgive.ca and GatherWR that make it easier to do good. He also unpacks insights from the latest Vital Signs report, including Waterloo Region’s dramatic demographic shift, and why b...
2025-10-2236 minTech About Town by CommunitechWhy community comes first: Communitech CEO Sheldon McCormick on what’s nextWhat does it mean to be community-first in a tech ecosystem?In this episode, we check in with Communitech CEO Sheldon McCormick to reflect on his first five (LinkedIn says six!) months on the job and look ahead to what’s next. From AI adoption to KW Oktoberfest lederhosen, we talk about building momentum, reconnecting the region’s tech community, and why Sheldon believes the “return to office” is critical for Communitech’s mission.We also explore:Communitech’s shift back to its original community-first ethosHow AI adoption and “AI-native” thinking are res...
2025-10-0929 minTech About Town by CommunitechHow Elderella is changing caregiving – a talk with Jacqui Murphy and Mike KirkupThere are over 71 million people acting as caregivers for their parents in North America, spending an average of 26 hours a week with everything from grocery shopping to health and wellness care. It’s a burden that we all should take on with grace, but a little help wouldn’t hurt.In this episode, we sit down with Jacqui Murphy and Mike Kirkup, two of Waterloo Region’s most respected tech leaders, who have launched a new venture, Elderella. Born from personal experience and extensive discovery work, Elderella is building tools that ease the invisible burden of elde...
2025-10-0144 minTech About Town by CommunitechMarketing on a Startup Budget: Tips from fractional CMO Roshni WijayasinhaWhen you’re building a startup, resources are scarce. Time. Money. People. Unfortunately that means founders make trade offs that might hurt them in the long run.One of the first things to be put on the “...we’ll get to it list” is branding and marketing. But building a great product isn’t enough, especially in a crowded space or a new category where customer education is critical to success.Our guest today wants you to know that you don’t have to choose between building a great product and a solid marketing strategy.Roshni...
2025-09-2429 minTech About Town by CommunitechAI, Total Rewards and HR's Evolving Role – A Preview of SocialHRCamp KW with Selina Miah and Larissa CurrahWhether you're navigating return-to-office policies, figuring out how to adopt AI safely, or rethinking your total rewards strategy, HR leaders are facing more complexity than ever. That’s where SocialHRCamp KW comes in. It’s a one-night event bringing together HR and People & Culture professionals for honest conversations, actionable insights, and community support.In this episode, we’re joined by Selina Miah and Larissa Currah, two of the trio of organizers behind SocialHRCamp KW, happening on September 25, 2025, at Magnet Forensics’s office in Waterloo. They talk about why they brought the global event series to KW, what makes th...
2025-09-1828 minTech About Town by CommunitechRE-RELEASE: What’s next for Communitech with CEO Sheldon McCormickOriginally released on May 28, 2025He's six weeks into the job, and Communitech's new CEO, Sheldon McCormick, has some thoughts. On this episode of Tech About Town, we've got Sheldon in the studio with hosts Alex Kinsella and Rosie Del Campo to talk about what startups need, what the community needs, and what the 27-year-old organization needs to do differently to help tech companies start, grow and succeed.Tune in and get to know our new CEO and what's on the horizon for the Waterloo Region tech ecosystem.This episod...
2025-09-1037 minTech About Town by CommunitechHow to make a great tech event with Victoria Harrison and the Accelerator Centre's Shriaa ShethWaterloo Region's tech community is built on events. From founder meetup to hardtech hikes to panel discussion (yeah, even panel discussions), getting together IRL is back and better than ever.On this episode of Tech About Town, our own events specialist Victoria Harrison joins us in the studio with Shriaa Sheth, Events & Communitiy Engagement Specialist at the Accelerator Centre, to dig into what makes an event succesful.Whether you're planning your first event or an established pro, tune into this episode to learn their secrets and what events they're most excited for this year....
2025-08-1340 minTech About Town by CommunitechImproving patient outcomes for stroke survivors with Sensible Vascular's Kevin Macwan and Purvish SoniWhether it was a PSA on TV or inside a bus, we’ve all learned the FAST method for detecting a stroke. Each year, 12 million people suffer a stroke—and unfortunately, six million of those end in death. Kevin Macwan and Purvish Soni quit their day jobs to launch Sensible Vascular. They are developing a faster, safer, and more effective thromboectomy solution to remove clots to provide better patient outcomes.In this episode, Kevin and Purvish share how their experience at industry giants like Medtronic helped them recognize the gaps in current stroke treatment and gave...
2025-07-3034 minTech About Town by CommunitechTurning mushrooms into sustainable textiles with Stephanie Lipp, co‑founder of MycoFuturesWe’re trading silicon for shiitake with Stephanie Lipp, co‑founder of MycoFutures. The biomaterials startup is turning mushroom mycelium into a fully biodegradable alternative to leather.Think handbags that sprout from a lab, not a feedlot. Stephanie and her partner Leo Gillis grow mycelium sheets that rival leather for strength and feel, while slashing water, energy, and chemical use.Stephanie joined us from Montreal to talk about how MycoFutures got started and how the startup is working to break through barriers on its road to commercialization.Special guest host: Mohammed Kamla
2025-07-2335 min
CanadianSME Small Business PodcastExpand Beyond Borders: How to Scale Your Team Worldwide Without the Headaches!Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand, where we explore the strategies that empower Canadian companies to scale and innovate globally. Today, we're focusing on international hiring and how businesses can expand their teams worldwide while navigating legal, tax, and compliance challenges.Joining us is Karen Klink, Director of Growth and Partnerships for Communitech Outposts, an all-in-one employer-of-record solution helping Canadian companies hire and grow teams globally. We’ll discuss the importance of global growth for Canadian companies, the challenges of expanding into new markets, and how Communitech Outposts facilitates smooth international expansion. Le...
2025-07-2118 minTech About Town by CommunitechHow Cognitive Systems’ Taj Manku is reimagining home care through Wi-FiWhat if your Wi-Fi could do more than just connect your devices?For Taj Manku, co-founder and CEO of Cognitive Systems, a personal caregiving challenge sparked a professional breakthrough. When his aging parents experienced medical emergencies, Manku found himself navigating the emotional and logistical weight of caregiving while raising a family and running a fast-growing tech company in Waterloo.That experience led to Caregiver by Cognitive, an eldercare solution powered by WiFi Motion, software that turns ambient Wi-Fi signals into a passive way to monitor movement in the home, with no cameras, no microphones and...
2025-07-0929 minTech About Town by CommunitechBuilding trust in the creator economy, one plush at a time: Landon Brett, CEO of MakeshipWhat do plush toys and tech startups have in common? If you ask Landon Brett, the answer is everything.Landon is the CEO of Makeship, one of Canada’s fastest-growing creator economy companies. Makeship launched in 2018 with just $8,000 and a bold idea: help online creators bring their characters to life through limited-edition plush toys. Today, Makeship has grown into a global business with over 65 employees and more than $20 million paid out to creators, without taking on a dime of outside funding.In this episode, Landon joins us to talk about Makeship’s journey from its Kitc...
2025-06-2531 minTech About Town by CommunitechDetecting the undetectable: Shalini Gupta on building Asima HealthWhen a personal health scare revealed the limits of existing diagnostic tools, scientist and entrepreneur Shalini Gupta saw an opportunity to build something better. On this episode of Tech About Town, Shalini shares how that moment led to the creation of Asima Health, a startup focused on same-day, blood-based cancer screening. She talks about the challenges of launching a biotech company as a solo founder in Canada, how her research background enabled a breakthrough in early detection and why she's focused on making cancer monitoring more accessible for survivors. From Velocity to the...
2025-06-1829 minTech About Town by CommunitechGrowing Pains: How to scale without losing control with Dave LitwillerWhat got you here won’t get you there. In this episode of Tech About Town, we sit down with Communitech Growth Coach Dave Litwiller to talk about scaling your team, leadership and markets. From the art of delegation without abdication to navigating global expansion in unpredictable times, Dave shares real-world insights on how founders can grow without losing grip. Plus, we get into startup Darwinism, job title inflation and the big question every founder should be asking before going international.Dave was nice enough to share his show notes with us (and you), too!
2025-06-1137 minTech About Town by CommunitechRebooting the Mission: What’s next for Communitech with CEO Sheldon McCormickHe's six weeks into the job, and Communitech's new CEO, Sheldon McCormick, has some thoughts. On this episode of Tech About Town, we've got Sheldon in the studio with hosts Alex Kinsella and Rosie Del Campo to talk about what startups need, what the community needs, and what the 27-year-old organization needs to do differently to help tech companies start, grow and succeed.Tune in and get to know our new CEO and what's on the horizon for the Waterloo Region tech ecosystem.This episode is brought to you by Communitech and Elevate IP...
2025-05-2837 minTech About Town by CommunitechCharging Ahead: How Clockwork is fixing EV infrastructure one station at a timeWhat if two of the four gas pumps at a gas station were out of order, but no one told you until you pulled in? That’s the reality for many electric vehicle (EV) drivers today, and Jennifer Buchanan and Andrea Curry are on a mission to change it. In this episode of Tech About Town, the Clockwork co-founders break down the messy truth behind EV charger reliability, the business case for fixing it, and how their software helps operators keep chargers up and running to keep EVs moving.Plus, they unveil their bold new metric—the C...
2025-05-1447 minTech About Town by CommunitechSEO isn’t dead: Tim Peckover shares why you shouldn't write for robotsIs SEO really dead—or just evolving (again)? In this episode, Alex and guest host Alison Piel sit down with freelance content strategist Tim Peckover to talk AI, LLMs, and why the rumours of SEO’s demise are (still) greatly exaggerated. From early days at Clearpath to leading content at Smile.io, Tim shares how AI is changing the game for content creation, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to use em dashes.Whether you're a founder, marketer, or just wondering why your blog post from 2016 still ranks, this one's for you.
2025-05-0735 minTech About Town by CommunitechFrom caregiver to CEO: Seun Adetunji is breaking down barriers in healthcare communicationWhen a loved one faces a health crisis, language barriers and medical jargon can make an already stressful situation even harder. Seun Adetunji, founder and CEO of MedInclude, knows this firsthand — and she’s building the solution. In this episode, Seun shares her journey from caregiver to healthtech innovator, how MedInclude is simplifying healthcare communication, and why working with healthcare providers was key to their success. Plus, hear how a pilot with Grand River Hospital is opening doors to even bigger opportunities — including emergency services.If you’ve ever wondered how tech can brid...
2025-04-2937 min
Women in Leadership and EntrepreneurshipWhat's driving Kitchener's rise as a tech hub in Canada?Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 74, Jennifer Gruber, Interim CEO of Communitech, shares her leadership journey and the role startups play in reshaping Canada's economy. Based in Kitchener—one of the country’s top tech hubs—Jennifer explains how Communitech helps entrepreneurs grow by fostering a supportive environment, connecting founders with essential resources and promoting Canadian IP and talent. Jennifer also shares her vision for building a more connected, thriving tech community for the future. To learn more about Communitech, please visit ht...
2025-04-2327 min
CanadianSME Small Business PodcastCommunitech: Empowering StartupsWelcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen! In today’s episode, we explore the vital role of startups in driving innovation, resilience, and navigating the complexities of today’s business landscape. Startups have become a cornerstone of Canada’s economic growth, contributing significantly to job creation and generating billions in economic impact annually.Joining us today are Joel Semeniuk, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Communitech, and Kevin Tuer, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Communitech. Communitech is a leading innovation hub supporting tech startups across Canada. Joel and Kevin bring a wealth of expertise in startu...
2025-04-1421 minTech About Town by CommunitechAxe the Fax: How Sifio Health is using AI to reduce surgery delaysOn this episode of Tech About Town, we welcome JP Eskander, CEO and founder of Sifio Health, and Stacy Sobering from Communitech to discuss how AI-driven scheduling and workflow optimization can reduce surgery wait times and improve hospital efficiency. They explore the barriers to innovation in healthcare, the impact of COVID-19 on tech adoption, and why Canada is an ideal testbed for new solutions. Plus, hear how startups like Sifio Health are navigating the complex healthcare landscape to bring real change. Stacy Sobering also shares how programs like Fast Track Health are connecting Canadian innovators with customers a...
2025-03-2625 minTech About Town by CommunitechHeavy Lifting: How DOZR is using Communitech Outpost to scale across North AmericaEver wondered how startups scale globally without getting tangled up in red tape? In this episode of Tech About Town, we dive into the dynamic world of international hiring with Karen Klink, Director of Outpost Partnerships at Communitech, and Stacie Curtiss, VP of People and Culture at DOZR. Discover how Communitech Outposts helps startups hire across borders seamlessly, why boots on the ground matter for growth, and how DOZR blends construction and tech to build a winning culture. Spoiler alert: there's even a surprising origin story behind Outpost involving a late-night HR dilemma and some creative thinking.
2025-03-1929 minTech About Town by CommunitechFrom McMaster to the World: The Evolution of QReserve with Graeme BrownOn this episode of Tech About Town, we're joined by Graeme Brown, co-founder and CEO of QReserve. Graeme takes us through the journey of QReserve, a resource management platform that started at McMaster University and has since expanded globally, helping organizations—from universities to coworking spaces—optimize their valuable assets.We dive into how QReserve simplifies equipment and space-sharing, how Communitech uses it for meeting room bookings, and why the future of resource management is all about smarter, more efficient systems. Plus, Graeme shares his thoughts on bootstrapping, scaling internationally, and why every good star...
2025-03-1138 minTech About Town by CommunitechHow Startup Bootcamp helped Cirtus founders Adanna Amechi and Dimitri Njila win bigIn this episode ofTech About Town, host Alex Kinsella and guest co-host Angela Bruce talk about theCommunitech Startup Bootcamp, a six-week program designed to equip early-stage entrepreneurs with essential business fundamentals like customer discovery, MVP development, sales, and pitching. Supported by the City of Kitchener, the program fosters community and mentorship to help startups grow.Winning founders Adanna Amechi and Dimitri Njila share how Citrus helps job candidates prepare for technical interviews by providing tailored learning paths and mock interviews. They discuss the challenges of interview preparation, the importance of confidence, and how their product adapts to...
2025-03-0526 minTech About Town by CommunitechUnlocking the power of intellectual property for startups with Jim HintonWhen it comes to IP, we follow the motto “protect it, don’t neglect it.” In this episode ofTech About Town, hosts Alex Kinsella and Rosie Del Campo sit down with Jim Hinton, founder and CEO ofOWN Innovation, to explore the critical role of intellectual property (IP) for tech startups. As a leading expert in IP strategy (and one of our favourite people around the Hub), Jim wants founders to know they need to prioritize IP protection from day one.Jim explains the different forms of IP—patents, trademarks, trade secrets—and how startups can leverage pr...
2025-02-1936 minTech About Town by CommunitechFrom Fast Track to Full Scale: How ConeLabs is helping to prevent infrastructure failuresIn this episode of Tech About Talent, we catch up with Communitech’s Carleigh Johnston and ConeLabs co-founder and CEO Albert Mansour to talk about Communitech Fast Track Cities. The program connects municipal partners with innovative tech solutions to solve their challenges. ConeLabs won the Fast Track Cities Showcase in November 2024, and Albert explains how his startup uses AI to automate infrastructure inspection, addressing issues like sewer inspections and autonomous technology integration.
Grab a coffee and listen as Albert shares his founder journey and what’s next for ConeLabs as it continues to expand its offering to engin...
2025-02-0441 minTech About Town by CommunitechFounders First: A Conversation with Ruth Casselman and Jennifer GruberIn this episode of Tech About Town, we sit down with two powerhouse leaders in Waterloo Region's tech ecosystem: Ruth Casselman, CEO of the Accelerator Center, and Jennifer Gruber, Interim CEO of Communitech.
Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities of supporting founders, fostering collaboration, and building community in one of Canada’s top innovation hubs. Jenn also shares her love for quarterly fiscal planning.
Ruth and Jennifer reflect on their unique journeys into leadership, sharing how their personal and professional experiences shape their approaches to culture and mentorship.
...
2025-01-1630 minTech About Town by CommunitechMentoring, Magic, and Meat Processing: A Chat with Dan Silivestru and Heather GaltIn this episode of Tech About Town, we welcome Dan Silivestru, CEO of Chocolate Soup, and Heather Galt, Chief Customer Officer of P&P Optica for a conversation on everything from tacos to tech, with plenty of surprises along the way.
Dan shares the origins of Chocolate Soup, a startup that helps companies deliver meaningful employee recognition to their teams and its impact on workplace culture and retention. Heather provides insights into P&P Optica's cutting-edge use of AI and hyperspectral imaging to revolutionize the food processing industry. Both guests reflect on their roles as Communitech growth...
2025-01-0948 minTech About Town by CommunitechWhy your pitch deck should be a movie trailer with Rob Darling and Michael HoOn today’s episode, we’ve got two people with fundraising experience and opinions. Rob Darling is the founder and CEO of runQL, a tool designed to help data teams save time and find value in the mega gigabytes of data they have. Rob sold his last startup, BriefedIn, to Communitech in 2022 and was previously the CIO here. runQL recently announced $1.6 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding to help the company scale.
Rob introduced us to our second guest, Michael Ho. Michael was the founder and CEO of Bering Media, which was acquired in 2014 and again in 2017. He h...
2024-12-1146 minTech About Town by CommunitechGiving pathologists AI-superpowers with Tenomix's co-founder Saumik BiswasIs the AI hype cycle bringing you down? Don’t worry—we’re here with an episode of the podcast that will inspire new hope for AI being used for more than just removing people from holiday snaps.
On this very special episode of Tech About Town, Saumik Biswas joined us in the studio to share how his startup aims to improve cancer patient outcomes with the collab you didn’t know we needed—AI, robotics and ultrasound. Saumik co-founded Tenomix, a life science startup that has developed a solution to improve the reliability and speed of cancerous l...
2024-11-0637 minTech About Town by CommunitechInnovating Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest with Allan Cayenne and Allie StefflerForget PSL season. It’s schnitzel and stein season here in Waterloo Region as the 56th annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest kicks off.
In this episode of Tech About Town, KW Oktoberfest President Allan Cayenne and Ambassador Allie Steffler join us in the studio to discuss the festival's evolution, rich cultural heritage, and impact on the community.
Allan and Allie share insights into Oktoberfest traditions, their personal journeys into the festival, and the exciting new developments for this year's celebrations. They also dive into the best food to try, their favourite fes...
2024-10-0933 min
Artificial Insights: How To Do AI RightWhen AI Goes Wrong: $20K Bills, Bad Data, and What Leaders Should Know w/ Mandip Kanjiya, Founder @ Vite HR & HeyFlyerAI can save money and time. Or it can generate a $20,000 bill overnight. What makes the difference?Mandip Kanjiya has shipped AI-powered products in HR, insurance, and identity verification. Some worked. Some didn’t. Each one taught clear lessons for leaders who want AI to help, not hurt. In this conversation, Mandip shows why an “advisory layer” helps teams avoid leaking sensitive data, how on-device processing cuts costs and compliance exposure, and where using proven models beats trying to build your own.Daniel and Mandip get specific: claims triage that moved faster once the workflow was re...
2024-09-2743 minTech About Town by CommunitechHelping all athletes access mental health support with Trainwave's Rosie MacLennanHow are athletes and founders similar? How do you overcome mental challenges in a high-performance sport? What's the Olympic Village really like?
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Rosie MacLennan joins us in the studio to answer these questions and more! MacLennan won gold in trampoline at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janiero games and joined Team Canada in Paris as an Athlete Mentor in 2024.
Part of her success is the support she's received from sports psychologists and coaches, including mental performance coach and co-founder Dr. Kyle Paquette. Giving athletes access to that support earlier in their...
2024-09-2537 minTech About Town by CommunitechWhat founders need to know about fundraising with Vartika Manasvi and Mike KirkupAre you down with O.P.M. (other people's money)?
One of Communitech founder members' top questions is how to get in front of VCs. But the answer is often a question—are you sure you’re ready to raise money?
This week on the Tech About Town podcast, Vartika Manasvi and Mike Kirkup are in the studio to discuss all things fundraising. Vartika is a Senior Advisor at MaRS Discovery District and a Growth Coach at Communitech. Mike is CTO of EnPowered and Arlo and was previously the Dire...
2024-09-1145 minTech About Town by CommunitechPublic Relations 101 for Startups with Rosie Del CampoClass is in session with Rosie Del Campo, Communitech's Senior Corporate Communications Manager. Rosie leads our external and internal communications efforts and uses her experience to help founders navigate the ins and outs of public relations.
Before joining Communitech, Rosie was a journalist at CTV News Kitchener for over a decade. At CTV, she served in various roles, including anchor, co-host, producer, and the anchor for CTV News at Six.
In this episode, Rosie takes us on a deep dive into what founders need to know about public relations. She answers questions like what makes a go...
2024-08-2846 minTech About Town by CommunitechRevitalizing Downtown Kitchener with Cory BluhmDon’t count downtown out just yet.
This week on Tech About Town, Cory Bluhm, Executive Director of Economic Development for the City of Kitchener, joins the podcast to discuss the exciting developments and ongoing transformations happening across Downtown Kitchener.
From the challenges of the pandemic to the rise of new businesses and community spaces, Cory shares his unique perspective on the city's journey to becoming a vibrant and dynamic urban center that's become a model across North America.
We also debate what the best cocktail is in DTK and it’s Coffee and C...
2024-08-1450 minTech About Town by CommunitechExploring Quantum Frontiers with Dr. Paul Terry and Jessica HodgsonGoing to a cocktail party and scared someone will ask you about quantum technologies? We've got you covered.
On this episode of Tech About Town, Dr. Paul Terry and Jessica Hodgson from Photonic join us for a deep dive into quantum information and computing and the diverse careers available in this cutting-edge field.
Recorded right after one of our Communitech Breakfast Series events, our guests shared their perspectives on Canada's untapped quantum talent pool and the importance of nurturing quantum education from an early age.
We didn't even make one Schrödinger's Cat r...
2024-07-3134 minTech About Town by CommunitechMedReddie's Kara Leblanc and Google's Iran Karimian on Accelerating Startup GrowthWhen it comes to applying to an accelerator like Google for Startups Accelerator, MedReddie’s Kara Leblanc says you just have to go for it. Kara should know. The startup recently completed the Google for Startups Accelerator and is an alum of the Communitech Fierce Founders program.
On this episode of Tech About Town, Kara discusses MedReddi’s awesome growth and its recently announced $782,000 pre-seed round. Founded in 2020, MedReddie bridges the gap between healthcare providers and medtech suppliers, saving valuable time and resources that help medical providers focus on patient care.
Iran Karimian, the Canadian Lead...
2024-07-1736 minTech About Town by CommunitechMarianne Bulger on Letting Your Employees Date Other CompaniesNavigating career paths isn't what it used to be.
On this episode of the Tech About Town podcast, Marianne Bulger, Partner at True Executive Search, joins us to discuss how to succeed in today's tech market and the unique challenges and opportunities for tech leaders that come with bringing diverse perspectives to the table.
Marianne shares her insights on the importance of cultural alignment, leadership, and a willingness to learn and adapt within tech companies. We also discuss the critical traits of resilience and adaptability in job seekers and hiring candidates.
Last but...
2024-07-101h 04Tech About Town by CommunitechWe're going to need a bigger boatCommunitech President and CEO Chris Albinson joins us for a stream-of-consciousness discussion covering everything from the rapid growth of technologies like generative AI and quantum computers to the importance of ethics and governance in private-sector technology companies.
We also take a look at our community's rapid population growth—an estimated one million people by 2050—and the challenges that come with it, including the need for infrastructure development and affordable housing.
2024-06-2630 minTech About Town by CommunitechAllow us to reintroduce ourselvesA lot has changed in the Waterloo Region tech ecosystem over the last 25 years.
That includes Communitech, too. On our first episode of the Tech About Town podcast, Alison Vreeswyk, SVP of Marketing and Business Development and Joel Semeniuk, Chief Strategy Officer, join us to talk about where the ecosystem has been and where it's going.
We also dig into Communitech's new three-year strategy and what we're doing to help Waterloo Region founders succeed in Canada and around the world.
2024-06-1746 min
Brian Crombie Radio HourBrian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 967 - Canada-Ukraine Security Innovation Challenge with Joel SemeniukBrian speaks with Joel Semeniuk. Joel talks about a contest sponsored by Communitech, the Canada-Ukraine Security Innovation Challenge (CUSIC). This challenge is a collaborative effort between Communitech, the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), and the Ukrainian Startup Fund, among other partners. In addition to leading strategy for Communitech, Joel oversees programs that help connect startups to Canadian markets. Tech companies in Canada and Ukraine will be invited to participate in a bilateral competition and showcase that will bring together tech entrepreneurs from both countries to work on innovative solutions that will strengthen Canada and Ukraine’s technological expertise and could sh...
2023-09-0848 min
BIV TodayCommunitech’s Chris Albinson on the state of the tech sectorThe tech sector has been on a tear in recent years. And as unicorn after unicorn has emerged with billion-dollar valuations, the labour market is getting increasingly tight. So how does the sector manage that growth? Communitech CEO Chris Albinson, whose technology hub is best known for supporting startups when it comes from everything from to tapping capital to tapping talent, joins BIV Today to discuss everything from securing talent to maintaining growth. Tyler Orton hosts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2022-06-0216 min
DisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Waterloo’s Booming Tech & Innovation SceneTo learn more about Communitech and their mission to help founders start, grow and succeed, visit Communitech.ca.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2022-03-0110 min
My Immigrant StoryVartika Manasvi - Serial Tech Entrepreneur, Angel Investor & Startup Podcast HostVartika Manasvi is a 2x Tech Entrepreneur with over eleven years of experience, Human Potential Coach, Angel Investor, and a Generalist. She has domain expertise in building diverse, transparent & equitable teams, networks, and communities.
Vartika lived and worked across the U.S., Singapore, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East before moving to Canada (startup visa program pathway). In fact, she is the first woman entrepreneur to have immigrated to Canada through the Startup Visa which was supported by the Government of Alberta!
Vartika is currently the founder of a community called Stackraft. It has over...
2022-02-1010 min
Product Innovation Series with Aram MelkoumovHow to increase success of your innovation projects - Hussam Ayyad, Highline BetaFollow me on Linkedin for quickest product show updates, new episodes and highlight clips.Innovation is a lot more than an “initiative”. It’s a culture, it’s a new attitude. It’s set of beliefs that you have to have your leadership aligned around. Legacy orgs who created open spaces to mimic “google thinking” thought it will solve their culture. It didn’t it. Innovation is a constant ongoing thing. It is as mental as it is financial. It takes time. Highlights:- How large corporations can be more innovative: steps can they t...
2021-10-0448 min
Backstage Pass, by Front Row VenturesIain Klugman: Building Communitech, Canada’s leading tech hub (S1.E8)Iain Klugman was the President and CEO of Communitech for the past 17 years. He grew Communitech into one of North America’s leading tech hubs and into a central node in Ontario’s start-up support system. To this day, Communitech has supported the growth of thousands of technology companies.Last year, he announced that he would be stepping down from his role while assuming a new role: Executive Advisor to the CEO. Prior to Communitech, Iain was the CEO of a provincial crown corporation, Executive Director of Communications at CBC, and Director of Global Branding and Advertising for...
2021-07-021h 03
Catapulting Commissions Sales Talk with Anthony GarciaGetting Ahead of the Curve w/ Joseph Fung Welcome back to the Catapulting Commissions Podcast with your host, Anthony Garcia. Our guest this week is Joseph Fung, CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator. He’s a repeat founder and CEO and often speaks on sales, leadership, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. Joseph sits on the board of Communitech, the KW Symphony, GTAN, and volunteers with several other local not for profits. Today, he’s here to talk about tech sales, getting there, and thinking well ahead. Joseph is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator. They run a 12-w...
2021-05-1940 min
Life as Leadership: Where Leaders Gather to Grow TogetherLeading Start-Up Organizations with Joseph FungDownload a year’s worth of https://www.leadershipactionlist.com/ (weekly action steps to improve your leadership) for FREE!
Joseph Fung is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator and Kiite, a sales enablement platform purpose-built to provide sales teams with the information they need when they need it. Joseph is a repeat founder and CEO and speaks frequently on the topics of sales leadership, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. He is an active early-stage investor who ensures that the majority of his investments are into women-led companies. Joseph also sits on the boards of Communitech, the Golden Tri...
2021-04-0831 min
Significance Breeds SuccessFind Your Authenticity & Passion w/ Daniel Puder & Joseph FungJoseph is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator, and of Kiite, asales enablement platform purpose-built to provide sales teams with theinformation they need when they need it. A graduate of the University ofWaterloo’s Computer Engineering program, Joseph’s a repeat Founder &CEO, and with multiple successful exits, and speaks frequently on thetopics of sales leadership, diversity, and corporatesocial responsibility.He is an active early-stage investor who ensures that the majority of hisinvestments are into women-led companies. Joseph also sits on theboar...
2021-04-0634 min
The Marketing BriefHow to Pivot Your Signature Event StrategyIn episode 13 we are revisiting events with Megan Gallinger, Events Lead at Communitech. Megan is bringing a fresh perspective on corporate event marketing - everything from what goes into these events, to how the pandemic has shifted these strategies. Megan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to today’s episode, having worked for Communitech - an organization supporting the entire “Community of Tech” in Canada. Communitech plans and hosts several large events throughout the year and Megan and her team play a key role in the execution of these events. You can learn more about Communitech on Instagram @commun...
2021-04-0153 min
The Results Podcast with Michael AltshulerJoseph Fung - Insanely Successful Serial Entrepreneur And Tech Sales Thought LeaderJoseph Fung is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator, and Kiite, a sales enablement platform-built to provide sales teams with the information they need when they need it. A graduate of the University of Waterloo's Computer Engineering program, Joseph's a repeat Founder & CEO, and with multiple successful exits, and speaks frequently on the topics of sales leadership, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. He is an active early-stage investor who ensures that the majority of his investments are into women-led companies. Joseph also sits on the boards of Communitech, the Golden Triangle Network, and the...
2021-03-091h 01
The Entrepreneur Way1851: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants with Joseph Fung Founder and Owner of UvaroJoseph Fung is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator, and of Kiite, a sales enablement platform purpose-built to provide sales teams with the information they need when they need it. A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Computer Engineering program, Joseph’s a repeat Founder & CEO, and with multiple successful exits, and speaks frequently on the topics of sales leadership, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. He is an active early-stage investor who ensures that the majority of his investments are into women-led companies. Joseph also sits on the boards of Communitech, the Golden Triangle Angel Netw...
2021-02-2744 min
Talking to Cool People w/ Jason FrazellJoseph Fung - Co-Founder & CEOSend us a textJoseph shares his tips on how to work more effectively with a major introvert like himself, shares his passion for what his company Uvaro does for those looking to break into technology sales and Jason and Joseph spend some time venting about non-authentic "Write down what you want to do."Joseph is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator. A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Computer Engineering program, Joseph’s a repeat Founder & CEO, and with multiple successful exits, and speaks frequently on the t...
2021-02-241h 00
Advance Your Art: From Artist to Creative EntrepreneurEp205 Joseph Fung - Serial Entrepreneur, CEO and Founder of UVAROMEET JOSEPH FUNG:Joseph Fung is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator, and of Kiite, a sales enablement platform purpose-built to provide sales teams with the information they need when they need it. A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Computer Engineering program, Joseph’s a repeat Founder & CEO, and with multiple successful exits, and speaks frequently on the topics of sales leadership, diversity, and corporate social responsibility.He is an active early-stage investor who ensures that the majority of his investments are into women-led companies. Joseph also sits on the boar...
2021-02-1129 min
Join Up Dots - Business Coaching Made Easy (With A Bit Of Life Coaching Too)How To Get An IT Qualification For FreeJoseph Fung is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator, and of Kiite, a sales enablement platform purpose-built to provide sales teams with the information they need when they need it. As he says "We started Uvaro because the old approach to tech hiring is broken. The fastest-growing segment of our economy needs 250,000 new sales professionals. Our colleges and universities aren’t training them. Worse yet, when tech companies want to hire diverse talent, established interview practices and company cultures put up barriers. Marginalized people who do accept job offers are often left to flounder by businesses that don...
2021-01-1349 min
Bonn Park PodcastANTHONY REINHARTIn the summer of 1963, a nine-year-old boy vanished without a trace. Decades later, Kitchener-born journalist Anthony Reinhart tracked down the man who ended the boy's life. In Bonn Park's first true-crime episode, Anthony shares the story of his journey to a Florida prison to interview the man behind one of our region's most tragic murders. Anthony won the National Newspaper Award for his writing at the Waterloo Region Record, and went on to be a reporter for The Globe and Mail before becoming editorial director at Communitech in Kitchener-Waterloo. Join us for a fa...
2021-01-061h 17
2020-08-2434 min
2020-08-2434 min
InnovatED PodcastInnovatED Episode 2-Tina Wilton, CommunitechIn this episode Sandy and Carli chat with Tina Wilton, Talent Program Manager at Communitech in Waterloo ON.
2020-08-0321 min
InnovatED PodcastInnovatED Episode 2-Tina Wilton, CommunitechIn this episode Sandy and Carli chat with Tina Wilton, Talent Program Manager at Communitech in Waterloo ON.
2020-08-0321 min
The Sunday Lunch Project Manager#32 Prof Eddie Obeng, The Human Energy Drink (Part 2)This episode we have part two of my interview with Professor Eddie Obeng, The Human Energy Drink.
Eddie is described by the Financial Times as a 'leading revolutionary' and 'agent provocateur', Eddie is a professor at the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Henley Business School, founder and Learning Director of Pentacle The Virtual Business School, and a leading business theorist, innovator and educator.
“The Rock Star of Business Education" Duke Corporate
Education He is the author of ten books including two Financial Times bestsellers and the ever popular All Change!
Known as a pioneer in digital transformation, design th...
2020-07-0554 min
The Sunday Lunch Project Manager#31 Professor Eddie Obeng, The Human Energy Drink (Part 1)This episode we have part one of my interview with Professor Eddie Obeng, The Human Energy Drink.
Eddie is described by the Financial Times as a 'leading revolutionary' and 'agent provocateur', Eddie is a professor at the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Henley Business School, founder and Learning Director of Pentacle The Virtual Business School, and a leading business theorist, innovator and educator.
“The Rock Star of Business Education" Duke Corporate
Education He is the author of ten books including two Financial Times bestsellers and the ever popular All Change!
Known as a pioneer in digital transformation, design thin...
2020-06-2851 min
Work and the FutureEpisode 3: Can We Prepare Our Communities for the Future of Work?As the labor market goes through an evolution that started long before the pandemic, our communities are being transformed as well. In many cases that means good things, as when successful companies hire and prosperity increases. Other times there are less-positive spin-offs, with some people being left out of the economic party. In the best cases, business works together with educational institutions and community partners to shape the communities they operate in, and in the process hopefully develop the workers they will want in the future.
An excellent example of a private- public innovation partnership comes from K...
2020-05-2829 min
AQ's Blog & GrillBuilding a Successful Innovation Ecosystem With Collaborative Capitalism | Communitech CEO Iain Klugman“We can honestly say that every assumption we made about how we thought it was going to work was wrong.” Iain Klugman has spent the last 16 years bringing together government organizations, businesses, and talent to make Communitech an integral part of the Waterloo Region ecosystem. In this episode, he joins AQ to reminisce on his career of building Communitech to the intentionally collaborative and ambitious environment it is today. Iain shares how his team worked to keep talent in the region when RIM went through a massive downfall, and how Communitech reviews their strategies yearly to a...
2020-04-2728 min
NACO Academy PodcastInsights on Entrepreneurial Activity by Communitech CEO Iain Klugman, OneEleven Executive Director Siri AgrellReplay of Part 2 of the NACO Roundtable on Incubators, Accelerators, and Entrepreneurial Activity"The biggest issue companies are facing is liquidity and cashflow. And that cashflow can come in the form of a bridge and then deal with our burn to get to that raise."Iain Klugman, President & CEO at Communitech"Everyone is saying we need to find a way to help these companies bridge. And I think the only thing that's getting in our way is that speed wins in times of crisis. We need to make sure we're moving...
2020-04-1416 min
Plugged In Chatham-Kent: Your business podcastPodcast Episode 31 – CommunitechI had the chance to chat with a Canadian business startup and SCALE UP rock star. Heather Galt from Communitech is a marketing expert who is mentoring companies on how they can find the courage to overcome any obstacle their wayWhat a way to end 2019 and to welcome 2020!The Chatham-Kent Economic Development Podcast is a way to share information and business news from across the region. Check out Chatham-Kent Economic Development at www.investck.ca #ckont
2019-12-2900 minAQ's Blog & GrillHow Technology is Enabling Customized Work Experiences | Kiite's Joseph FungJoseph Fung understands that hard work, sweat and tears plays a role in startups, but putting yourself out there is a huge factor in success. After consulting with an advisor at Waterloo’s Communitech, Joseph found success with his first startup, TribeHR. He went on to sell TribeHR to Netsuite, the first major chapter in his road to serial entrepreneurship. Joseph joins Alan today to share the lessons he's learned along the way and the new business venture he has taken on, Kiite. Joseph and Alan discuss the changing landscape of the workforce and how technology can enable a ne...
2019-11-1820 min
The CultureING PodcastBuilding Culture on a Startup Budget with Kaleah BakerKaleah Baker, COO and Co-founder of BridesMade – Canada’s only bridesmaid dress rental service! After growing up in small town Saskatchewan, Kaleah completed her BBA in Marketing & Management at Bishop’s University, and her MBA at Wilfrid Laurier. Both schools are known for their tight-knit communities, so it’s no wonder that a collaborative culture would be a must within her own business. From startup to standout success story, Kaleah loves telling her entrepreneurship story.
Some questions Tynan asks:
How do you build a team of millennials leading millennials?
If everyone isn’t full time...
2019-09-1938 min
The Revenue Insights PodcastJoe Gelata, Director Of Business OS @ OTTO Motors and Growth Coach @ CommunitechLearn from an experienced Director Of Business OS and Growth Coach to become successful in a sales ops role with our special guest, Joe Gelata of OTTO Motors and Communitech
2019-09-0527 min
OE OrthoPodSR&ED program, Career and Social Media | In Conversation with Martha OnerAs partner at Grant Thornton, a leading accounting and business advisory firm operating in 130 countries, Ms Oner is the co-lead of the global Innovation & Investment Incentives practice and elected member of the Partnership Board. Martha helps clients attain funding for innovation, hiring, and market expansion. A recognized trailblazer with drive, leadership, and passion, Martha was a Protégé in the Top 100 Wisdom II Program (Women’s Executive Network), has achieved the European Quality Award coaching designation from the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, and was a member of CPA Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development Symposium Advisor...
2019-05-2923 min
Impact ConversationsInnovating value, with Glenn Smith Glenn Smith is our guest this week, discussing innovation. Glenn, whose affiliations include bdsmith Partners, Communitech and Blue Sea Philanthropy, defines innovation as thinking differently to create value. Tune in to this episode, as we discuss the meaning of innovation in for-profit and not-for-profit contexts alike. Resources: Glenn Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennesmith/ Blue Sea Philanthropy: https://blueseafoundation.org/home Communitech: https://www.communitech.ca/ Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: www.socialimpactadvisors.ca ...
2019-04-0429 min
Ideas Into Action[SPECIAL EPISODE] #BellLetsTalk ft. Keith Diaz & Alexandra PaigeOn January 31st we interrupted our regularly scheduled programming to have an important conversation about depression, anxiety, stress, social media, belief, practice, and so much more. It was a relevant, much-needed dialogue that got me thinking about how to achieve composure in the chaos.
For this special episode, I called in the cavalry...
Keith Diaz works as an Insights Consultant with CIBC’s Live Labs Discovery Team where he focuses on digital strategy and innovation, working to keep the bank in-step with the behaviours and expectations of tomorrow’s customers. He’s also the host of The...
2019-02-071h 12
The Backbone: a journey inside finance at a startupEp. 27: Raising a $27M Financing Round & Managing the Ever-Changing Priorities as CFO w/ Dave PooleyOn this episode of The Backbone, I chat with Dave about:
His journey into technology with stints at Miovision, Fibernetrics and Kitchener-Waterloo based accelerator, Communitech, prior to joining Axonify.
Axonify and what its all about.
Serving the enterprise market and what that means what considerations the finance leader has to make, including the size of investment round and choosing the right investor.
Managing the ever-changing priorities as the CFO, and how priorities change in a smaller organization to a larger one.
The importance of the finance function at a technology company.
We close things off with a...
2019-01-0934 min
Startup Women PodcastFounder Find Your Tribe with Heather Galt – July 19, 2018Heather Galt is at the forefront of Canada’s largest tech hub. After seeing hundreds of startups scale into sustainable companies, she knows what it takes to grow. “That opportunity to work with growth coaches across the spectrum… that’s really what turns your company from its early concept stage to a growing, scaling organization. Heather is the Vice President of Marketing and Head of Advanced Programs at Communitech in Waterloo, Ontario. Communitech is home to one of Canada’s most well-know tech communities. It’s an industry-led innovation centre that supports, fosters and celebrates a community of nearly 1,000 tech companie...
2018-07-1933 min
The Sales Gold PodcastBiggest Win Sales Podcast#7: AI in Sales ForecastingTom Kane currently resides in Waterloo Ontario where he heads up a global team of sales professionals that bring solutions to the advanced manufacturing industry using lasers, in a form of augmented reality.
Throughout his career, he has held various senior positions in sales, manufacturing and operations with high growth companies such as: Igloo Software, D2L, OpenText and others.
Tom has also owned his own sales and distribution business to satisfy his entrepreneurial spirit. He has crossed over many industries including enterprise software, aerospace and medical devices. His years of experience implementing business systems in both SME and large...
2018-07-0233 min
Inside P2Hillary Hartley, Ontario's Chief Digital OfficerIn 2017, the Province of Ontario appointed its first Chief Digital Officer, Hillary Hartley. Hartley is something of a trailblazer. She came to Ontario from Washington, where she was the Deputy Executive Director and Co-founder of 18F, the US Federal Government's digital services corps. Prior to founding 18F, Hartley first arrived in Washington in 2013 as a Presidential Innovation Fellow. Before that, she spent several years in integrated marketing and social media management. Hartley's arrival in Ontario has coincided with a burst of digital initiatives. The province declared a set of digital service priorities, established a digital lab in Communitech in Waterloo...
2018-04-0926 min
Cultivating StartupsEp 25: Do tech incubators make sense in small urban areas?The Canadian federal budget was delivered on Tuesday and we start the show with a quick look at two items that may not get a lot of attention but may have a big impact on the startup ecosystem.
It wasn't said directly, but it looks like the CAIP program will not be renewed next year. It has provided millions of dollars in funding to organizations like Communitech, MaRS, Ryerson DMZ, Invest Ottawa and many others across Canada.
IRAP has been a source of funding for some of Canada's top startups, but the government wants to see them supporting...
2018-03-0200 minCultivating StartupsEp 24: Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs: The Expert Review Panel ReportAn expert review panel recently completed a report on the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE)—the main program of the Ontario government for providing funding to organizations supporting tech or innovation companies and startup ecosystem. The ONE's Regional Innovation Centres are located in 18 cities across Ontario.
And the review panel has recommended big changes: they want the government to become "a strong central authority" in the management of the program and recommend a diminished role for MaRS and for many of the regional organizations at the core of the ONE—many of which would no longer be call...
2018-01-3000 min
Canadian Tech PodcastCTP Ep. 142 – Dec. 3, 2017: Bell’s Feeling LuckySponsored by Olio Digital Labs and CodeshipThanks to Techdoz.ca for the loan of the Snowball Blue MicHosts & GuestsStuart ClarkDerek SilvaSaheba Segu, Market Development Representative at TouchBistroAlexandra Tucki, Software Specialist Consultant at TouchBistroTouchBistro – https://www.touchbistro.com/Quick HitsBell launching new prepaid wireless brand called Lucky Mobilehttps://mobilesyrup.com/2017/12/01/lucky-mobile-bell-canada-prepaid-wireless-carrier/https://mobilesyrup.com/2017/12/01/canadas-innovation-minister-supports-bells-lucky-mobile-carrier/Google unveils 2017’s list of top apps, games and books in Cana...
2017-12-041h 12
Canadian Tech PodcastCTP Ep. 142 – Dec. 3, 2017: Bell’s Feeling LuckySponsored by Olio Digital Labs and Codeship
Thanks to Techdoz.ca for the loan of the Snowball Blue Mic
Hosts & Guests
Stuart Clark
Derek Silva
Saheba Segu, Market Development Representative at TouchBistro
Alexandra Tucki, Software Specialist Consultant at TouchBistro
TouchBistro – https://www.touchbistro.com/
Quick Hits
Bell launching new prepaid wireless brand called Lucky Mobile
https://mobilesyrup.com/2017/12/01/lucky-mobile-bell-canada-prepaid-wireless-carrier/
https://mobilesyrup.com/2017/12/01/canadas-innovation-minister-supports-bells-lucky-mobile-carrier/
Google unveils 2017’s list of top apps, game...
2017-12-041h 12
Waterloo Region EatsCommunitech's Iain Klugman talks food and restaurantsKlugman talks about food and restaurants and why they are important to a robust city and business sector.
2017-01-1300 min
Waterloo Region EatsAlex Kinsella talks about food and the Kitchener restaurant sceneA talk with Alex Kinsella of Communitech in Kitchener, Ontario.
2016-12-1600 minAQ's Blog & GrillLoren Padelford | Selling With Ease Using Shopify And Shopify PlusLoren Padelford, Vice President and General Manager at Shopify Plus, joins Alan to share how Shopify is changing the landscape of e-commerce. Loren tells how this Canadian company sparked out of the founder’s desire to sell snowboards online. Shopify has since found great success, helping entrepreneurs reach a global market online with easy-to-use, cost-effective software. The recently launched Shopify Plus takes the software a step further, assisting large enterprise companies to sell online and create campaigns with ease. Loren shares a remarkable example of how the technology helped Oreos create a campaign in two months versus the two ye...
2016-06-1018 minAQ's Blog & GrillHost Alan Quarry | Creating an Exciting Company Culture Through LeadershipIn this special episode of AQ’s Blog & Grill, broadcasting personality Angela Onoura turns the tables and interviews host Alan Quarry. Angela picks Alan’s brain on the topic of leadership: hiring people smarter than you, giving them the freedom to do what they’re best at, and how bureaucracy can negatively impact a business by squashing creativity. Alan shares advice on creating an exciting company culture, providing examples from his own company, Quarry Integrated Communications, which is HQ'd in St. Jacob's, Ontario, with offices in Raleigh-Durham and San Jose. When hiring the sharpest tools in the shed...
2016-05-3014 minAQ's Blog & GrillAvvey Peters | Entrepreneur Opportunities at Kitchener Waterloo’s CommunitechCommunitech VP, Avvey Peters, speaks with Alan about the startup tech hub which is home to over 120 companies. Communitech was designed to assist entrepreneurs with growing their businesses through the help of networking in a creative space and receiving mentorship from experts. Over the last year, large companies like Canadian Tire, Manulife and Cannon, have noticed the success coming out of the hub and decided to join themselves, looking at ways to use technologies to innovate their businesses. Avvey talks about her cross-Canada tour visiting similar startup hubs and shares what she learned. She also discusses how...
2016-04-2809 min
Journey To SuccessThe Revenue U Co-Founder John BeresfordAfter a brief start in the pharmaceutical industry, John Beresford transitioned to the Tech Space when he was recruited to a small Waterloo company in the early 2000s called Research in Motion, which would later go on to become Blackberry. Leading North American sales and marketing teams at BlackBerry gave John had a front row seat to the birth of the smartphone revolution.
While completing an MBA at Wilfrid Laurier University John met the co-founders who would eventually form a company called Eventpeeks which has evolved into Canada’s preeminent social media broadcasting company, focusing on live experiences and social analy...
2015-10-1448 min
Ada's Sisters podcastEpisode 5: #peegate, Alayne Hynes and sexism in marketingThe U.S. presidential election is more than 12 months away and already we get daily soundbites of insanity from a full roster of potential candidates.
Perhaps this is why when #CanPoli finally got overtaken by #Peegate for a day I was so very excited. We deserve a tinkle of funny in our federal election (about which there is very little to laugh about). Let us tell you all about it.
And just when you thought that you had figured out what to post on each social medium, we have some individuals who are getting Tinder...
2015-09-1625 min
Ada's Sisters podcastEpisode 3: #iLookLikeAnEngineer, Donna Papacosta and auto-playWe start off with reading some mail from the Communitech folks about their Bootcamp that we talked about in Episode 1.Then we dive right into revenge porn and all that entails. Isis Anchalee's rallying hashtag #ILookLikeanEngineer gets our thumbs up approval as does a feature interview with veteran podcaster and author Donna Papacosta. We wrap the episode with some advice about turning off the auto-play feature in Facebook in light of the Virginia newsroom shooting.
2015-09-0227 min