Shows
Fitness Food Finances225 - Beating / Reversing Crohn's Part 5 - A New HopeSend us a textEvan McCann vs. Crohn’s – Lion Diet, Carnivore, and College ComebackDescription: In this powerful story episode, Andy shares his son Evan McCann’s journey battling Crohn’s disease with the Lion Diet and carnivore nutrition. After a tough diagnosis, Evan committed to a year of strict carnivore eating (mostly beef, salt, and water) and saw incredible results — not only managing symptoms but also regaining energy, strength, and health. He’s now back at college, thriving, and living proof that radical lifestyle changes can make all the...
2025-09-0837 min
The Hard Part with Evan McCannHarley Finkelstein from ShopifyIn this episode, host Evan sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, to discuss the unique journey of entrepreneurship in Canada. Harley shares insights on the importance of ambition, the role of storytelling in business, and the challenges and opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs. The conversation also touches on Shopify's growth, the decision to go public, and the cultural nuances that shape Canadian business. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on innovation, ambition, and the future of commerce.SupportersFloatBloom SR&EDVanHack
2025-06-1754 min
The Truth About AgThe Truth About Canadian Agriculture’s Political Reality with Tyler McCannIn this episode of The Truth About Ag, Evan Shout sits down with Tyler McCann, Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), for a candid conversation about the state of ag policy in Canada. They start with the role CAPI plays in shaping agri-food dialogue, including the value of its regular newsletter, before diving into the aftermath of Canada’s recent federal election.They examine how policies around capital gains, tax incentives, and trade disputes are shaped, not always by evidence or industry needs, but by shifting politics. The conversation also takes a critical look at...
2025-05-1457 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannStephen Seibel from ClutchStephen Seibel is the Founder and COO of Clutch.Clutch is Canada’s largest online used car retailer, delivering a seamless, hassle-free car buying and financing experience to drivers everywhere. Takeaways- Stephen's move from investment banking to starting Clutch.- Why he booked a one-way ticket to Halifax to launch the business.- Navigating regulartory hurdles.- Clutch's business model began with a consignment approach.- Early fundraising for a capital-intensive business like Clutch was particularly challenging in Ca...
2025-03-0747 minFitness Food Finances182 - DnD Live Adventure - Sewer (Granddad, me, sister, sons)Send us a textJust for fun here is an old DnD adventure we did back in 2017Mac McCannAndy McCannJustine McCannEvan McCannLevi McCannHappy new years! Fitness Food Finances182 - DnD Live Adventure - Which Half (Granddad, me, sister, sons)Sponsored by Summary:- The players are a group of adventurers who have been summoned by a wizened old wizard to undertake a dangerous mission to find a powerful hammer that can defeat a great evil- The wizard e...
2025-01-0140 min
Behind The Frames Podcast#17 Evan McCann - The Hard Part Podcast (Canadian Founders & Venture Investors)Evan McCann is the founder and creator of The Hard Part, a podcast where he interviews Canadian top founders, investors and operators, to hear their insider views on how to build successful companies and funds.
In my conversation with Evan, we talked about his story joining Neo Financial as an early employee, we talked about his learnings with posting over 100 episodes, and we talked about his preliminary thesis to build a fund leveraging his platform.
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The Hard Part: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZLCia43cBVsrzmAeoCn2w?si=e38869c113bf446b
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansmccann/
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2024-03-1735 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannWes Hall from Kingsdale Advisors, WeShall Investments and The BlackNorth InitativeWes Hall, Founder and Chairman of WeShall Investments Inc., came from humble beginnings in rural Jamaica and was raised by his grandmother. He moved to Canada in 1985. With a $100K bank loan, he transformed his first business into Canada's leading shareholder advisory firm, Kingsdale Advisors.
A staunch philanthropist, Wes launched the successful BlackNorth Initiative, combating anti-Black racism in 2020. He serves as Vice-Chair of Huron University College's Board of Governors and contributes to boards like SickKids Foundation, TIFF, and Pathways to Education Canada. Wes holds Honorary Doctorates from several universities, including Uni. of Toronto, Queens Uni., Toronto Metropolitan...
2023-10-3056 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannCharlie Grinnell from RightMetricCharlie Grinnell is the Co-Founder and CEO of RightMetric. RightMetric is a subscription-based research and insights provider that helps marketers create and refine a digital strategy that is more effective by being informed by evidence. Through their proprietary methodologies, they identify channel, content, and tactical whitespace opportunities using audience and competitor data.
Charlie's Twitter
In this episode, we discuss...
Dropping out of UBC
Learnings from working at Arc'teryx, Red Bull and Aritzia
Genesis story behind starting RightMetric
How they landed their first customer
Why you need to look within your industry for information and outside your...
2023-10-2752 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannVino Jeyapalan from Kabo and Pack FreshVino Jeyapalan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kabo and Pack Fresh.
Kabo is on a mission to help dogs live a happier and healthier life. We produce the healthiest, fresh dog food delivered right to your doorstep.
Pack Fresh is a cold chain third-party logistics (3PL) business with fulfillment across Canada. Their team specializes in handling, storing, and transporting cold/frozen goods to ensure they stay at optimal temperature and quality.
In this episode, we discuss...
Working on Facebook's ads team in 2012
Launching and exiting a dropshipping business
How they m...
2023-10-2355 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannKevin Kliman from HumiKevin Kliman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Humi. Humi is Canada’s leading payroll, HR, and benefits platform. Serving thousands of Canadian companies, Humi is the best-in-one people platform that your company will love.
Kevin's Twitter
In this episode, we discuss...
Businesses Kevin started in high school, at Brown and in dentistry school
His first venture-backed social app Instaradio and the emotions he had when it didn't work out
What inspired him to start Humi
Going through Y Combinator in 2017
The early debate of focusing on one core product or an entire platform on day one
T...
2023-10-2043 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJoe Gagliese from Viral NationJoe Gagliese is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Viral Nation. Viral Nation is a global digital and social innovation group that powers the social ecosystem through integrated solutions that align strategy, talent, media, and technology. Viral Nation works with tens of thousands of influencers across the social landscape and fuels growth for the world's leading brands, including Amazon Prime, The Coca-Cola Company, Hasbro, Meta, Oculus, Sonos, Tencent, Walmart and Uber.
In this episode, we discuss...
Joe's entrepreneurial experiences going back to when he was a kid
how Viral Nation landed its first influencer
how social has...
2023-10-171h 00The Hard Part with Evan McCannSean Silcoff, reporter and authorSean Silcoff writes about technology, biotechnology and innovation for the Globe and Mail, Canada's National Newspaper. He is the winner of three National Newspaper Awards and is the co-author of Losing the Signal: the Spectacular Rise and Fall of BlackBerry, which was released in May 2015. Losing the Signal won Canada’s National Business Book Award and was shortlisted for the international Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year.
Sean's Muck Rack (Journalism social media)
Sean's Twitter
In this episode, we discuss...
how Sean broke into journalism
what drew him towards business journalism
meeting Tobi Lütke...
2023-10-131h 01The Hard Part with Evan McCannJonathan Hershon from Pathway MedicalJonathan Hershon is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pathway Medical. Pathway is a health tech company working on helping clinicians and patients access important medical information more effectively throughout the care journey. They leverage AI and big data to create a medical knowledge platform and software solutions that drive evidence-based medicine into clinical practice.
Jonathan's Twitter
Pathway's Twitter
In this episode, we discuss...
Building an end-to-end encrypted social network in 2013 called Syme
Jonathan's mindset when Syme had to be wound down
Launching a digital agency called MILE END
Building a health tech company and navigating the...
2023-10-1046 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannBertrand Nembot from BilldrBertrand Nembot is the Co-Founder & CEO of Billdr. Billdr is a vertically integrated home renovation marketplace operating in Montreal, Toronto, and Chicago. They facilitate renovation projects by providing turnkey solutions for homeowners supported by a digital back-office platform for general contractors. Their mission is to make home renovation simple, transparent, and efficient for everyone.
In this episode, we discuss...
Bert's first foray into renovations
launching Uber in Uganda in 3 weeks
existing challenges that homeowners and general contractors had with the renovation process
how Billdr increases general contractors' win rates
building an operating system/back office for...
2023-10-061h 04The Hard Part with Evan McCannJonathan Becker from Thrive DigitalJonathan Becker is the Founder and President of Thrive Digital and a General Partner at Occasional Ventures. Thrive has overseen over $3.5B in paid customer acquisition ad spend since being founded in 2012. They focus on helping companies grow their business through paid customer acquisition campaigns, analytics, creative services, and data science. They have worked with some of the largest companies in the world and specialize in e-commerce, lead generation, user acquisition, and brand marketing.
In this episode, we discuss...
how Jonathan founded Thrive
landing Lululemon as a client early on
how he structured Thrive differently from...
2023-09-251h 08The Hard Part with Evan McCannKevin Stadnyk from Obruta Space SolutionsKevin Stadnyk is the Co-Founder and CEO of Obruta Space Solutions. Obruta Space Solutions is enabling the space economy through reimagined, autonomous, and safe spacecraft docking systems. Obruta's turnkey Docking Kit combines the necessary hardware and software for virtually any spacecraft to perform on-orbit servicing and logistics. In this episode, we discuss Kevin's time at Carleton's Aerospace Engineering program, where Obruta plays in the ever-growing space industry, what the testing process looks like for a space company, why the satellite servicing space will be $14B by 2031, why is the space industry opportunity growing so rapidly, the regulatory environment around...
2023-09-2242 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannRandy Garg from Vistara GrowthRandy Garg is the Founder & Managing Partner of Vistara Growth. Vistara provides highly flexible Growth Debt and Growth Equity financing solutions to mid to later-stage technology companies across North America. Vistara's typical investment size ranges from $10M to $30M per investment for companies that have scaled or are scaling past $10M+ in revenues. In this episode, we discuss his time at Discovery Capital Corporation a Vancouver-based venture capital firm with investments like Sierra Wireless, working at Beedie Capital and uncovering a gap in the tech space, misconceptions people have about debt, common mistakes growth stage companies make, how debt...
2023-09-1853 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannChris O'Neill, technology leader, board member and advisorChris O'Neill is a technology leader, board member and advisor. His resume is extensive, currently, he is the Chief Growth Officer at Xero, a Board Member at Gap Inc., a GP and Advisor at Portage and an angel investor. Previously he was Chairman and CEO of Evernote, Managing Director of Google Canada with a stint at Google X (now X), Board Member at Tim Hortons and much more.
In this episode, we discuss Chris's upbringing in his family's Canadian Tire business, learnings from launching Google Glass with Sergey Brin and Astro Teller at Google X, being on...
2023-09-1155 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannScott Stevenson from SpellbookScott Stevenson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Spellbook. Spellbook uses GPT-4 and other large language models to review and suggest terms for lawyers' contracts, right in Microsoft Word. In this episode, we discuss Scott co-inventing a new instrument, how to run experiments when building product, how they are converting their waitlist to raving customers, nuances to building a co-pilot product, utilizing GPT versus creating your own LLM and his blog post "Lego Mindset versus Woodworking Mindset".
Follow Scott on Twitter, he is an excellent follow
His blog post "Lego Mindset versus Woodworking Mindset" and other writings
His...
2023-09-0546 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannChris Neumann from Panache VenturesChris Neumann is a Partner at Panache Ventures. Panache Ventures is Canada's most active seed-stage venture capital fund. Panache is led by a team of experienced operators, with a strong angel investor track record, years of institutional VC experience and a strong network in Canada, in Silicon Valley and worldwide. In this episode, we discuss building and selling his first company DataHero, what makes a great accelerator, why we need more venture funds and what they should look like, why Canada and Canadian cities should stop comparing themselves to Silicon Valley and his fantastic blog The Quiet Part Out Lo...
2023-08-1852 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannPatrick Monnot from PodPatrick Monnot is the Founder and CEO of Pod. Pod is the ultimate AI copilot for B2B sellers. In this episode, we discuss Patrick's time at Fuel by McKinsey, how Pod competes in a busy sales tech market, what it is like to sell to salespeople, solo versus multi-player user experience, how to have focus when building product and the strategy behind their last raise from Bling Capital and GTM angels.
My podcast supporter!
Fasken's Emerging Tech and Venture Capital practice is comprised of 80+ dedicated legal professionals across the Canadian market. We're...
2023-08-1450 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannHamza J Alamtab from TambaHamza J Alamtab is the Co-Founder of Tamba. Tamba is a product and digital solutions studio specializing in outstanding user interface & user experience. In this episode, we discuss Hamza's business acquired by Tiny, companies that are AI proof, what makes Victoria's tech community so great, meeting Andrew Huberman which led to the start of his new business Routines and the best advice Hamza got from Andrew Wilkinson.
Tamba's website
Routine's website
Hamza's Twitter
Tamba's Ambassador Program
My podcast supporter!
Fasken's Emerging Tech and Venture Capital practice is comprised of 80+ dedicated legal professionals acros...
2023-08-1156 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannArsham Ghahramani from RibbonArsham Ghahramani is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ribbon. Ribbon is a professional social platform centred around verified achievements and ownership. They empower managers, leaders, and HR teams to effortlessly and publicly celebrate their team’s work by sending lasting verifiable awards and credentials. In this episode, we discuss his background in machine learning and data during his Ph.D. and working at companies like Amazon, how social networks should think about verification, the hack LinkedIn used to kickstart their network and how Ribbon is looking to shake up the professional social space.
My pod...
2023-08-0849 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannBen Yoskovitz from Highline BetaBen Yoskovitz is the Founding Partner of Highline Beta. Highline Beta is a hybrid corporate venture studio and VC firm that evolves the traditional management consulting model to put things into action, not just strategize in the clouds. In this episode, we discuss how to participate strategically in the tech ecosystem, what makes Highline Beta unqiue, how large companies should think about innovation and corporate venture capital, the recipe and ingredients they use to build companies and why great companies can be built with solo and multi founder teams.
Ben's fantastic newsletter "Focused Chaos"!!
2023-08-0453 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannRami Alhamad from PUSH (acquired by WHOOP)Rami Alhamad is the Founder of PUSH which was acquired by WHOOP in 2021. PUSH was a leader in the wearable sports tech space with a focus on biomechanics and movement analytics. Founded in 2013 with the goal of revolutionizing the way athletes train, PUSH grew to support over 150 professional sports organizations as well as thousands of athletes across the college and high school markets. In this episode, we discuss Rami's unique mechatronics degree at Waterloo, PUSH's acquisition by WHOOP, the importance of reducing the footprint of hardware while increasing the footprint of software, what it was like to work with...
2023-07-3151 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannCato Pastoll from LoopCato Pastoll is the CEO and Co-Founder of Loop. Loop offers tailor-made products including CAD/USD corporate cards, interest-free spending, corporate-level purchasing power, no-fee global payments, accessible growth capital and real US dollar accounts to help businesses grow. In this episode, we discuss the pivot from Lending Loop to Loop today, why word of mouth is one of their fastest growth channels, why caring about your customer is the ultimate flywheel and where we need changes in our banking regulations.
Loop's new site!!!!
2023-07-2850 minFitness Food Finances61 - On Passing the CrossFit Level 1 course Olivia (20) Evan (19) Levi (17)Send us a textOliva - Auburn ChemE AXOEvan - UGA CS BYXLevi - Senior at Fellowship HSCrossFit.comLevel 1 (L1) certificateshutterfly.com30 min of PVC OHS will wreck youBurpee Fran - OuchThat 70's showTeen Titans Go!Building a Firm Foundation for Life in Fitness, Food, FinanceI believe in building a strong foundation for life through farm-fresh nutrition, functional fitness, and sound financial practices. Join us in creating a...
2023-07-2558 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannNadia Ladak from MarlowNadia Ladak is the Co-Founder and CEO of Marlow. Marlow is a menstrual health brand that has created the first-ever lubricated tampon. In this episode, we discuss how Marlow originally started as a university project, why there is a stigma in the menstrual health space, their DTC and new retail strategy, how they got 50M+ views on TikTok and their micro-influencer strategy.
2023-07-2436 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannArun Iyengar from Untether AIArun Iyengar is the CEO of Untether AI. Untether AI provides ultra-efficient, high-performance AI chips to enable new frontiers in AI applications. In this episode, we discuss why chip companies need to raise close to $400M, what part of the AI market they are targeting, Untether's chips versus GPUs, the cost and importance of manufacturing and the importance of IP remaining in Canada.
2023-07-2148 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannBoris Wertz from Version One VenturesBoris Wertz is the Founder and General Partner of Version One Ventures. Version One invests in mission-driven founders at the earliest stages. Founded in 2012 and with $250M+ in AUM across 6 funds, they have backed over 100 start-ups. They invest in SaaS and marketplaces as well as emerging technologies and industries such as crypto/Web3, bio/healthcare, energy/climate, AI and robotics. In this episode, we discuss why your fund size is your strategy, why branded categories are too late to invest in, his Coinbase investment, and his anti-portfolio.
Boris's Twitter
Version One's anti-portfolio
2023-07-1752 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJason Silver, startup trainer and authorJason Silver is a startup trainer and author. In this episode, we discuss what the term startup trainer actually means, his time at Airbnb, decision-making frameworks for individuals and startups and why scaling doesn't mean a startup slows down.
Go preorder Jason's book "Quietly Crushing It" at www.quietlycrushingitbook.com or www.qcibook.com and get 40% off.
2023-07-1456 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannTy Wilson from Tab CommerceTy Wilson is the Co-Founder & CEO of Tab Commerce. Tab is reinventing expense control for the restaurant industry. Tab is building a suite of data-driven products to help restaurant groups maximize profitability, optimize cash flow, and always have complete control over every dollar they spend. In this episode, we discuss Ty's upbringing in the restaurant world, the gap he saw in the restaurant tech space, how he thinks about growth and sales, and how he keeps his edge as a first-time founder.
2023-07-1046 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJosh O'Kane, author and reporter at The Globe and MailJosh O'Kane is a reporter at The Globe and Mail covering the Business of Arts and Entertainment and is an author of Sideways: The City Google Couldn't Buy. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to be a great reporter, what it is like to write a book, how he uncovered the real story about Sidewalk Labs and our mutual love for Fred Again.
Josh's Twitter
Josh's personal website
Josh's book Sideways: The City Google Couldn't Buy
Josh's book Nowhere with You: The East Coast Anthems of Joel Plaskett
2023-07-0744 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannNaman Budhdeo from Antler CanadaNaman Budhdeo is a General Partner at Antler Canada. Antler is the investor backing the world’s most driven founders, from day zero to greatness. In this episode, we discuss Naman's background founding businesses in the travel tech space, what makes Antler unique, what Antler looks for in founders, and how Antler attracts founders to their platform.
2023-06-3056 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannRobert Price from BōdeRobert Price is the Founder and CEO of Bōde. Bōde is a radical shift in how real estate is bought and sold. It finally empowers everyone to buy and sell their own home. Making the process simple, transparent, and more economical. In this episode, we discuss the dynamics of the current home-buying process, myths around buying real estate, the importance of data and the importance of neighbourhood pricing data over city pricing data.
2023-06-2649 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannTyler Dyck and Brandon Goode from Outro HealthTyler Dyck and Brandon Goode are the Co-Founders of Outro Health. Outro is the first digital healthcare solution dedicated to safely discontinuing psychiatric medications, starting with antidepressants. In this episode, we discuss their background at Field Trip Health, why are there so many antidepressants prescribed, why there is a gap in assisting people getting off antidepressants and the strategy behind their business model.
Check out Outro's stuff
The Outro Library
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-06-2349 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannDaryl Louie from AntiSocialDaryl Louie is the Co-Founder of AntiSocial Media Solutions (acquired by Thinkingbox) and a marketing expert. In this episode, we discuss his entrepreneurial roots going back to his great-grandfather, how digital marketing strategies shifted, how to stay on top of marketing trends and would he start an agency today.
2023-06-1953 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannIsaac Souweine from Pender VenturesIsaac Souweine is a Partner at Pender Ventures. In this episode, we discuss Isaac's product roles at Frank and Oak and Sonder, his previous investing roles at FounderFuel, Real Ventures and Front Row Ventures, building tech communities, the impacts of generative AI on B2B SaaS and find out his favourite bagel place which isn't Fairmount or St-Viateur.
Check out Isaac's stuff
His personal site
Front Row Ventures
His Twitter
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-06-161h 05The Hard Part with Evan McCannManica Blain from Top Knot VenturesManica Blain is an Investor and Advisor at Top Knot Ventures. Manica has over 15 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and venture capital. She now works directly with passionate founders as they build, grow and scale the iconic consumer brands of the future. In this episode, we discuss Campfire Capital a fund she co-founded with lululemon executives, her learnings there during the wind-down and investments in companies like FIGS and Cotopaxi and nuances to investing in the consumer space.
Check out Manica's stuff
Twitter
Confessions of a pregnant venture capitalist piece in The Globe...
2023-06-121h 04The Hard Part with Evan McCannIlya Brotzky from VanHackIlya Brotzky is the Founder & CEO of VanHack. VanHack is a network of the world’s top software engineering, design, and digital marketing talent - available on demand to relocate to help companies grow. In this episode, we discuss how VanHack landed its first customers, the complexities of hiring engineers from abroad, trends in hiring and what makes a good hiring process.
Check out Ilya's stuff
Women in Tech event
Twitter
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-06-0952 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJevon MacDonald from TierJevon MacDonald is the Co-Founder of Tier. Tier is everything a developer needs to create and manage software pricing and billing. In this episode, we discuss how two of his companies were acquired by Salesforce and Snyk, founding StartupNorth and early tech scene days in Toronto, and why the timing is right for Tier.
Check out Jevon's stuff
StartupNorth
Twitter
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-06-0556 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannStephanie Wood from Alate PartnersStephanie Wood is a Vice President at Alate Partners. Alate is a leading proptech investor in Canada. In this episode, we discuss Stephanie's shift from CPP Investments to the venture world, nuances to proptech, strategies for growth in proptech and her work with Proptech Collective.
Check out Stephanie's stuff
Proptech Collective
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-06-0250 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMichael Kravshik from LumiQMichael Kravshik is the Co-Founder and CEO of LumiQ. LumiQ is a native podcast app where engaging conversations with business leaders count as verified CPD/CPE for CPAs. In this episode, we discuss why unlearning is important, how it took Michael and his co-founder 10 ideas to land on their current business, the unique way he got Jim Balsillie (RIM/Blackberry) to do a podcast episode and the balance between entertainment and education in content.
Check out Michael's stuff
Jim Balsillie's rejection piece
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold S...
2023-05-2959 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJim Orlando from Wittington VenturesJim Orlando is the Managing Partner of Wittington Ventures. Wittington Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in the e-commerce/retail, healthcare and food sectors. They invest in companies throughout North America and at all stages of the start-up lifecycle. In this episode, we discuss Jim's journey through BCE Ventures and OMERS Ventures, Wittington's close ties to brands like Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw, what it is like to manage other investors and Jim's musical and game coding talents.
Check out Jim's stuff
Twitter
Jim's musical talents
Jim's old-school games
Check out Evan's Stuff
...
2023-05-2654 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannEva Lau from Two Small Fish VenturesEva Lau is the Founder and General Partner of Two Small Fish Ventures. In this episode, we discuss how she grew Wattpad's community to millions of users, how to not get caught in FOMO as an investor, the nuances of raising capital for a fund versus a startup and areas where we could improve Canadian tech.
Check out Eva's stuff
Twitter
ASSET Framework article and video
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-05-2258 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAnia Wysocka from RootdAnia Wysocka is the founder of Rootd. Rootd is an app for individuals suffering from panic attacks and anxiety. It offers a refreshingly engaging design, interactive exercises, tools, and lessons focused on helping people manage panic and anxiety attacks as they occur and a guided process toward lifelong relief. In this episode, we discuss how Ania grew Rootd to millions of users, and has remained bootstrapped despite FOMO and making an engaging and impactful product.
Check out Ania's stuff
Twitter
Download Rootd
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold...
2023-05-1550 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannD'Arcy Coolican, angel investorD'Arcy Coolican is an early-stage investor and was previously investing at Andreessen Horowitz. In this episode, we discuss D'Arcy's founder journey starting Frank, his time spent at Andreessen Horowitz, the nuances of investing in consumer businesses and how he keeps his edge as an investor.
Check out D'Arcy's stuff
Twitter
His personal site
His Substack
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-05-1255 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannDaniel Debow from ShopifyDaniel Debow is the VP of Product focused on Demand at Shopify. In this episode we discuss Daniel’s thoughts on a successful M&A process, what demand means at Shopify, if there is a difference between product market fit at a startup versus a large company like Shopify and Daniel’s love of good music.
Check out Daniels's stuff
Twitter
How to sell your startup article by Daniel and First Round
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-05-0848 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannBenjamin Alarie from Blue JBenjamin Alarie is the Co-Founder and CEO of Blue J, a Professor & Osler Chair in Business Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto and co-author of The Legal Singularity. In this episode, we discuss how Blue J started at the U of T, the results of Benjamin letting his students use ChatGPT and the impact of AI on law.
Check out Benjamin's stuff
The Legal Singularity
Twitter
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-05-051h 29The Hard Part with Evan McCannJoshua Goodfield from VC PlatformJoshua Goodfield is the Executive Director of VC Platform. The VC Platform Global Community is the largest dedicated group of platform professionals in the venture capital industry. In this episode, we discuss Joshua’s time at C100, why is the platform function at VCs growing, what it truly means to build community and what KPIs you should track.
Check out Joshua's stuff
2022 Global Compensation Survey we discussed
Twitter
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-05-0352 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannGui Laliberte from IntegralGui Laliberte is the CEO and Founder of Integral. Integral empowers web3 organizations in crypto accounting through revenue recognition, NFT collection management, cap gain/loss calculations, audit-compliant reports and more. In this episode, we discuss Gui’s background in founding Setter and its acquisition by Thumbtack, how and why founders should think about markets when building businesses and why he is building a picks and shovels company for web3.
Check out Gui's stuff
Twitter
Integral's site
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Tw...
2023-05-0154 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannTobi Oluwole from The3SkillsTobi Oluwole is the CEO and Co-Founder of The3Skills. In this episode, we discuss how Tobi has gotten millions of impressions on his content, how to create great content and balancing his different business ventures.
Check out Tobi's Stuff
3Skills
Paid in Full newsletter
Check out Evan's Stuff
Cold Start, fractional and advisory sales agency
Cold Start sales newsletter
Personal website
Twitter
LinkedIn
2023-04-2853 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMark MacLeod, CEO whispererMark MacLeod is a CEO coach and advisor or better yet a CEO whisperer. In this episode we discuss Mark’s time as Shopify’s first CFO, investing at Real Ventures, what he means when CEOs change altitude and Mark’s DJ skills.
Mark's website
Mark's SoundCloud
2023-04-2454 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannChad Bayne from OslerChad Bayne is the Co-Chair and Partner of the Emerging and High Growth Companies practice at Osler. Osler is a leading Canadian business law firm with 500 lawyers working together from offices across the country. In this episode, we discuss how Chad built a practice that does 50% of all Canadian tech financings, his journey from Waterloo computer engineering to being a lawyer and the impact of AI on law.
2023-04-2155 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAlex Tong from Information Venture PartnersAlex Tong is a Principal at Information Venture Partners. Information Venture Partners is a Toronto-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage, B2B SaaS applications for the financial services industry. In this episode we discuss Alex’s time spent in corporate development at Hootsuite, what makes a great board member and the importance of founder-led sales.
2023-04-1753 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannPablo Srugo from MistralPablo Srugo is a Partner at Mistral. Mistral is a seed-stage venture capital firm and typically is the first institutional investor in their portfolio companies. In this episode, we discuss Pablo’s time as a founder, his thoughts on VCs being money managers, not company builders and we break down one of Mistral’s latest investments.
Pablo is also the host of a great podcast called The Product Market Fit Show, go check it out.
2023-04-1447 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAlex Norman from N49P Ventures and TechTOAlex Norman is a partner at N49P Ventures and co-founder of TechTO. N49P is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on Canadian start-ups and Canadian founders. In this episode, we discuss his first business in collectibles, how to build a strong tech ecosystem and advice to founders on how to think about raising capital.
2023-04-0749 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAvi Goldfarb from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of ManagementAvi Goldfarb is a Professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, the Rotman Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare, as well as the co-author of two bestselling books on AI and its economic impact. In this episode, we discuss Avi's books, the impacts of AI and his work with Creative Destruction Lab.
Avi's personal site with links to his books and work.
2023-04-0355 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMatthew Lombardi from OneElevenMatthew Lombardi is the Managing Director of OneEleven. OneEleven is home to a community of high-performing technology scaleups, providing unparalleled access to peer networks, investment capital and on-demand services and strategic support. In this episode, we discuss Matthew’s impactful initiative during the pandemic, what it means to build community and what makes OneEleven unique.
2023-03-3149 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannTate Hackert from ZayZoonTate Hackert is the Founder and President of ZayZoon. ZayZoon provides Wages On-Demand so employees can access their earned wages before payday and a financial wellness platform that teaches employees how to use those wages wisely and efficiently. In this episode we discuss Tate’s time in Hong Kong, his RV tour across the United States and the major impact ZayZoon creates.
2023-03-2752 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannSalim Teja from Radical VenturesSalim Teja is a Partner at Radical Ventures. Radical Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs applying deep technology to transform massive industries, with a primary focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence. In this episode we discuss Salim’s background as a founder, he gives me a history lesson on AI in Canada and we discuss where the AI space is going.
Check out Radical's fantastic newsletter.
2023-03-241h 02The Hard Part with Evan McCannSheryl Song from RynaSheryl Song is the co-founder and CEO of Ryna. Ryna is an apartment rental marketplace with the mission to make renting & living easier, safer and more attainable for the new generation of renters. In this episode, we discuss Sheryl’s original focus when starting Ryna, how it has changed and what the future of Ryna looks like.
2023-03-201h 03The Hard Part with Evan McCannMila Banerjee from Pronti AIMila Banerjee is the founder of Pronti AI. Pronti recommends retailers' products to the right customer, giving them the right type of exposure. Their apparel products get merchandized with users’ closet items. In this episode, we discuss Mila’s early days in pharma and the difference between machine learning and AI.
2023-03-1748 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMatt Hollingsworth from AlignMatt Hollingsworth is the founder of Align. Align is a remote-first executive recruitment that gives you qualified candidates without wasted effort. In this episode, we discuss Matt's early days at Tiny, strategies founders can use to hire effectively and the discuss the ongoing debate between remote and in-person.
2023-03-131h 01The Hard Part with Evan McCannMallory Greene from EireneMallory Greene is the co-founder and CEO of Eirene. Eirene provides a modern and caring approach to cremation services. Arrangements can be made from the comfort of your home with the support of their funeral directors, online or over the phone. In this episode, we discuss Mallory’s days as an early employee at Wealthsimple, what inspired her to start Eirene and what it’s like building a business in an emotionally charged space.
2023-03-1053 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJared Henriques from RengaJared Henriques is the Founder of Renga. Renga is a group of creative thinkers & makers that build brands the future can be proud of. In this episode, we discuss how Jared started Renga, what he means by brand therapy and how founders should think about brand.
2023-03-0655 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJohn Ruffolo from Maverix Private EquityJohn Ruffolo is the Founder & Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity. Maverix is a private equity firm focused on technology-enabled growth and disruption. They look for great entrepreneurs interested in globally scaling their business and looking for a financial partner to invest at least USD $50M to $75M in the business. In this episode, we discuss how John started OMERS Ventures, the story behind his big investment in Shopify and his thoughts on the Canadian tech space.
2023-03-0357 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannVivek Ramaswami from MadronaVivek Ramaswami is a partner at Madrona. Madrona is a seed, early stage and acceleration-stage investor. Investing for over 25 years in startups in the Pacific NW, now investing across the US in machine learning, AI, marketplaces, devops, biotech and across the technology spectrum. In this episode, we discuss Vivek’s investing career which has included stops at Goldman Sachs, Redpoint Ventures, Steadfast Capital and now a focus on early-stage investing at Madrona.
Check out Vivek's newsletter on AI.
2023-02-2856 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJesse Rodgers from EigenspaceJesse Rodgers is the co-founder of Eigenspace. Eigenspace makes investments with a combination of money, time and network access. They are investing in, building and connecting University of Waterloo students and alumni builders. In this episode we discuss Jesse’s journey through Velocity and CDL, co-founding his own company and why Canada needs more early-stage investment.
2023-02-241h 07The Hard Part with Evan McCannMichael Hyatt, investor and entrepreneurMichael Hyatt is an active investor and entrepreneur. In this episode, we discuss Michael's first venture, what founders he likes to invest in, the founding of Creative Destruction Lab and a look at the Canadian tech space.
2023-02-201h 00The Hard Part with Evan McCannSimon Sokol from Relay VenturesSimon Sokol is a Vice President at Relay Ventures. Relay Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in passionate entrepreneurs disrupting and creating new markets through mobile technologies. In this episode, we discuss Simon’s path into venture, why he co-founded his own fund Gambit Partners and his thoughts on the Canadian venture space.
2023-02-1756 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMatias Marquez from ethosMatias Marquez is the founder of ethos. ethos is a white-label digital asset platform on a mission to accelerate the world’s mass adoption of digital assets by facilitating rich experiences for both brands and their customers. In this episode, we discuss the NFTs, crypto and blockchain and how brands are leveraging NFTs and the ethos platform to create a better customer experience.
2023-02-1355 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannSaud Aziz from VaultSaud Aziz is the co-founder of Vault. Vault is a banking platform built for global Canadian businesses. In this episode, we discuss Saud’s time at KOHO and Revolut, why he started Vault and the Canadian banking landscape.
2023-02-1049 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAlyssa Atkins from LiliaAlyssa Atkins is the founder of Lilia. Lilia makes the end-to-end egg-freezing process feel fast and easy, working with top egg-freezing doctors and saving you thousands. In this episode, we discuss the impact Lilia has had on women’s lives, tactics on how to test initial business ideas and what the Y Combinator experience was like.
2023-02-0657 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannRob Fraser from OutwayRob Fraser is the founder of Outway. Outway makes performance socks for the pursuit of personal bests. In this episode, we discuss why Rob decided to focus on socks, how he thinks about cash flow and the nuances of designing an apparel product.
2023-02-031h 02The Hard Part with Evan McCannDaniel Eberhard from KOHODaniel Eberhard is the founder of KOHO. KOHO is a Fintech company rooted in the belief that better financial solutions for all Canadians exist. In this episode, we discuss Daniel’s early days starting a renewable energy company, why he has focused on helping Canada’s underbanked and how views on building a great team.
How Daniel used $1000 to raise $1M.
2023-01-3054 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJason Warner from Redpoint VenturesJason Warner is a Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures. Since 1999, Redpoint Ventures has partnered with visionary founders to create new markets and redefine existing ones. In this episode, we discuss Jason’s time as CTO of GitHub, how he has built his career while working remotely and his move into early-stage investing.
2023-01-0659 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJim Pattison from The Jim Pattison GroupJim Pattison is the Chairman and CEO of The Jim Pattison Group. The Jim Pattison Group is a multi-industry conglomerate with sales of over $12B a year and more than 50,000 employees, The Jim Pattison Group is one of the largest private companies in Canada. In this episode, we discuss Jim’s early days selling cars, how he looks at talent and his philanthropy.
2022-12-3048 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAmeet Shah from Golden VenturesAmeet Shah is a partner at Golden Ventures. Golden Ventures is a leading seed-stage venture capital fund, based in Toronto and investing across North America. In this episode, we discuss Ameet’s early career, how he got into early-stage investing and what he looks for in founders he wants to invest in.
2022-12-2354 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannDave Wessinger from PointClickCareDave Wessinger is the co-founder of PointClickCare. PointClickCare is the market leader driving the transformation of healthcare vulnerable and complex populations through a broad, connected care network powered by deep insights. In this episode, we discuss how Dave and his brother started PointClickCare over 20 years ago and have turned it into a multi-billion dollar business with thousands of employees.
2022-12-1658 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannWilliam Johnson from Vancouver Tech JournalWilliam Johnson is the founder of Vancouver Tech Journal (now part of Overstory Media Group). Vancouver Tech Journal uncovers and tells the stories that matter in Vancouver's tech ecosystem. They have a daily and a twice-weekly newsletter. In this episode, we discuss how William started Vancouver Tech Journal, their acquisition by Overstory Media Group and what William thinks about monetizing media.
Subscribe to Vancouver Tech Journal here.
Subscribe to Victoria Tech Journal here.
Subscribe to Calgary Tech Journal here.
Check out what brands Overstory Media Group owns and how they are...
2022-12-0958 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannZain Manji from Lazer TechnologiesZain Manji is the co-founder of Lazer Technologies. Lazer is a digital product studio designed to help successful enterprises bring ideas to market faster and more successfully. In this episode, we discuss Zain’s early work experience at Yelp, Google and Instagram, how he and his co-founders came up with their first venture Fiix (acquired by Wrench) and Zain’s thoughts on building great products.
2022-12-0255 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJim Murphy from Boltmade and ShopifyJim Murphy was the co-founder of Boltmade which was acquired by Shopify. In this episode, we discuss Jim’s extensive tech background, the Waterloo tech scene, and what it is like being acquired by Shopify, Jim’s view on investing and why he decided to buy a farm.
Check out Jim's brewery, Elora Brewing Company.
2022-11-251h 06The Hard Part with Evan McCannJustin Herlick from PineJustin Herlick is the co-founder of Pine. Pine is transforming the Canadian home financing process by creating a new digital-first, direct-to-consumer and low-rate process for their clients. In this episode, we discuss Justin’s background that led to starting Pine, he also gives a crash course on the mortgage industry in Canada and why it is ripe for disruption.
If you are looking for a mortgage, Pine is currently available in BC, Alberta and Ontario. Apply here.
2022-11-1853 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAndrew Arruda from FlexpaAndrew Arruda is the co-founder of Flexpa. Flexpa is improving healthcare for everyone by building developer-first infrastructure. In this episode, we discuss Andrew’s first venture ROSS Intelligence, what it is like building an API business and why Andrew chose health tech for his second venture.
2022-11-1157 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannJason Goldlist from VenueJason Goldlist is the co-founder of Venue. Venue is the platform powering internal meetings that inspire and engage remote-first teams like Shopify and Wealthsimple. In this episode, we discuss Jason’s early days at Wealthsimple, the power of people and what makes Venue different in a busy video conferencing space.
Jason is also a co-founder of TechTO. TechTO is a technology community that wins together. We help tech founders, leaders, and their teams meet, learn, and grow. If you are in the GTA area feel free to follow them and attend events!
2022-11-0457 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannAaron Upright from ZenhubMy guest today is Aaron Upright the co-founder of Zenhub. Zenhub helps teams ship great code faster with time-saving agile automations, less meetings, & more visibility in GitHub. In this episode, we how Aaron came to co-found Zenhub, the impact that Zenhub has on teams building software and why Aaron's favourite books are not business books.
2022-10-2851 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannBrandon Waselnuk from CodexBrandon Waselnuk is the co-founder of Codex. Codex is an IDE extension that allows any engineer to attach comments, questions, notes or any kind of content to specific lines of code. In this episode, we discuss Brandon’s first venture TattooHero, Brandon’s extensive product background and the unique way he and his team created Codex.
2022-10-211h 11The Hard Part with Evan McCannCameron Service from Kulin & OdditCameron Service is the co-founder of Kulin and Oddit. Kulin helps DTC eCommerce brands scale revenue through smart strategy, Google ads, paid social, email/SMS and creative. Oddit provides UX teardowns for websites looking to boost long-term conversion & strengthen brand loyalty. In this episode, we discuss Cameron’s history in the branding space, starting 3 different companies and what brand really means.
2022-10-141h 02The Hard Part with Evan McCannBrandon Li from PowerBrandon Li is the co-founder of Power. Power is the most patient-friendly platform for clinical trials. They are making it easy for all patients to discover promising clinical trials and get in touch with the researchers directly. In this episode, we discuss Brandon’s entrepreneurial background, obsession with marketplaces and how the clinical trial process needs to be disrupted.
Read about Power's seed round in BetaKit.
Read about Power's seed round in Axios (sub required).
2022-10-071h 00
EnergyMD PodcastEp 61 Improving Energy and Other Symptoms in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with Dr. Kelly McCann and Evan H. Hirsch, MDIn this episode, Dr. Kelly McCann together with Dr. Evan, talk about how to improve energy and other symptoms of Mast Cell Activation 01:29 What is mast cell activation syndrome? 02:51 Why do they become activated in some people and not others?07:07 How do you diagnose MCAS? 12:45 What are some of the most common symptoms of MCAS? 35:59 How is MCAS treated? 40:13 What are your favorite remedies for improving Sleep and Reducing fatigue in MCAS patients? Dr Kelly McCann's passion for understanding why certain people develop specific conditions drove her beyond conventional medicine to...
2022-10-0747 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMarc Campagna from oxioMy guest today is Marc Campagna. Marc is the co-founder of oxio. oxio is an internet service provider without the big telco bullsh*t. In this episode, we discuss how Marc started oxio and then I got a crash course on the Canadian telecom space.
Check out oxio's website to enter your address to see if you can switch today!
2022-09-3057 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannTed Spare from NeatTed Spare is the co-founder of Neat. Neat is a unified inbox for work notifications. Currently focused on GitHub and Linear for software engineers. In this episode with Ted, we discuss Ted’s first dip into entrepreneurship at McGill, building tools for developers and Ted’s framework to interview customers.
Teams from Lego, Microsoft and Twilio use Neat for their notifications. Go to Neat.run to download!
2022-09-2347 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannGavin Dove from FluentGavin Dove is the co-founder of Fluent. Fluent is a Chrome extension that helps you practice new languages. Fluent translates select English words to the language you are practicing as you browse the internet. In this episode, we discuss Gavin’s background, why Fluent focuses on immersion and how Fluent monetizes.
If you want to start practicing a new language today, hit this link to add Fluent to your Chrome browser!
2022-09-1641 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannDaniel Baum from SleekDaniel Baum is the co-founder of Sleek.
Sleek saves you time and money when shopping online. Checkout with just 1 click at Best Buy, Zara, Gap and all your favourite stores. Plus, earn cashback on top of your credit card rewards. In this episode, we discuss Daniel’s Y Combinator experience, the checkout landscape and the future of Sleek.
Check out Sleek's Product Hunt page.
Check out TechCrunch's coverage of Sleek.
Add Sleek to your Chrome browser.
2022-09-0847 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannMyles Shedden from ChromaMyles Shedden is the Co-Founder of Chroma. Myles spent time at RBC Capital Markets, TriWest Capital Partners and SkipTheDishes. Chroma is Canada's first and only financial services platform for renters. Their industry-leading rent now, pay later product makes paying rent more convenient and helps you build your credit score by paying on time.
2022-08-1952 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannSpencer Kerber from BessieSpencer is a mechanical engineer who left the industry to engage with his values for environmentalism and his passion for food.
He founded Bessie, a farm-to-table grocer that delivers healthy food from growers to customers. All hyperlocally, people to people. No shipping required. It expanded across Alberta to 14 different municipalities and has served thousands of customers during good times and pandemic times.
In this episode, we discuss Spencer’s background, the growth of Bessie and the hard part of being a founder.
Please enjoy my conversation with Spencer Kerber.
2022-08-051h 04
The Hard Part with Evan McCannFahd Ananta from Roach CapitalRoach Capital is an investment firm focused on early-stage internet companies. In this episode, we discuss Fahd’s investing style, how he vets investments and find out why he is obsessed with roaches.
Check out Roach Capital's website to learn more!
2022-07-2950 minThe Hard Part with Evan McCannRuslan Nikolaev from FloatFloat’s vision is to deliver an end-to-end business spending platform for small and medium-sized businesses. We want this platform to enable businesses and teams to focus on investing in their growth and eliminate the need to use different banking and software tools to make day-to-day payments.
In this episode, we discuss the founding story of Float, how Ruslan has brought together a top-notch team and more.
2022-07-2255 min
The Hard Part with Evan McCannBrett Chang from The PeakBrett Chang is the co-founder of The Peak. The Peak Daily is fast Canadian business news. They help you get up-to-speed quick with a fun and smart breakdown of the three biggest Canadian and global business stories in less than 10 minutes. Enjoy my conversation with Brett!
2022-07-1550 min