Shows
The Venture PodcastEric Jorgenson — Author of The Almanack Of Naval Ravikant & CEO of Scribe MediaEric Jorgenson is the bestselling author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and CEO of Scribe Media. In this episode, we dive deep into agency, accountability, and the mindset behind doing truly original work. Eric shares the viral story behind how he turned a single tweet into a life-changing book project, what it really means to be “high agency,” and how he unexpectedly became CEO of a company he helped rescue from bankruptcy.We also cover:How to build “luck surface area”Pulling back the curtains of the venture capital industryThe keys...2025-06-121h 01
The Venture PodcastMichael Perry - Founder of Kit (Acq by Shopify) and MapleIn this episode we sit down with Michael Perry, founder of Kit (acquired by Shopify) and current CEO of Maple. Michael shares the truth about his 20-year entrepreneurial journey—from selling cars and living on food stamps to building products used by millions. We dive deep into his early hustle, the pain behind building startups, and the importance of authenticity. 2025-03-3144 min
The Venture PodcastRobbie Bent - Founder and CEO @ OthershipRobbie Bent is the CEO and co-founder of Othership—a venture that reimagines wellness with guided sauna and ice bath experiences. His story offers thoughtful insights on product design, building and scaling a brick-and-mortar business, and creating spaces that foster meaningful relationships. We’re excited to share his perspective with you—enjoy the conversation.2025-03-1848 min
The Venture PodcastPhilip Johnston - Sending Data Centers into Space as Founder of Lumen Orbit200 VCs wanted to get into Lumen Orbit (YC S24)'s seed round!
Over the holidays, James Moffat and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lumen's Co-Founder and CEO, Philip Johnston.
Drawing on his experience as a former Harvard University class president, McKinsey & Company consultant, and entrepreneur with a successful exit, Philip is now turning his focus to the stars. His mission? To revolutionize computing with solar-powered, orbit-based data centers that could redefine energy efficiency and scalability for AI.
Key Takeaways:
1. Be bold:
The biggest opportunities often lie in “zero-billion dollar markets”—industries that barely exist today but have m...2025-01-0733 min
The Venture PodcastMatt Puchalski - Co-Founder at Bucket RoboticsIguanas falling out of trees onto self-driving cars? For Matt Puchalski, this wasn’t just an odd occurrence—it was a real challenge he and the team at Argo faced when these frozen reptiles disrupted the sensors on expensive autonomous vehicles.
On this episode of The Venture Podcast, James and Bryce sit down with Matt Puchalski, the co-founder of Bucket Robotics. Today, Matt is in San Francisco, building his own robotics startup after an impressive summer at Y Combinator as a new venture partner at PioneerFund.
At Bucket Robotics, Matt...2024-11-2149 min
The Venture PodcastClaudette McGowan - CEO of Protexxa, Former CIO of BMO, and Global Executive Officer at TDThe largest venture capital raise ever by a Black woman in Canada.
A former CIO and Global executive, of BMO and TD.
The founder of a Cybersecurity company winning contracts with countries across the globe.
These are not different people, this is Claudette McGowan, this week's guest on the Venture Podcast.
Her message in this clip from our interview is powerful enough to warrant a focused share, so we'll be highlighting one key takeaway from her interview through this clip.2024-11-0848 min
The Venture PodcastKyle Norton - CRO of Owner.com, Investor, and Sales LeaderKyle Norton is the CRO of Owner, one of Forbes's "Next Billion-Dollar Startups" for 2024. As a limited partner at GTMfund and Stage 2 Capital and with over 15 years of experience leading sales teams at places like Shopify and League Inc., Kyle brings a wealth of insights to the table. He also hosts The Revenue Leadership Podcast, where he interviews top sales leaders, dives deep into growth-driving strategies, and asks radically transparent questions.
In this episode, we dive into Kyle’s approach to scaling startups, hiring and training teams, and using AI in sales—packed with advice for anyone aimi...2024-10-3155 min
The Venture PodcastDani Kagan and Victoria Marshman - Co-Founders at Mave and ChezIn episode 20 of The Venture Podcast we had the pleasure of sitting down with Dani and Victoria, co-founders of Mave and Chez—the revolutionary slipper brand that is transforming comfort and style for women.From launching their first business out of college to creating a company that’s reshaping the slipper industry, Dani and Victoria's story is a masterclass in starting a business. Their biggest lesson: you don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. Just take the leap, surround yourself with people who support your vision, and adapt as you go.Here are some key takeaw...2024-10-2146 min
The Venture PodcastConor Plunkett - Founding and Selling his AI Startup at 23At just 23, Conor has already built and sold his own AI startup, Cycle, and has an incredible amount of insight to offer from his journey this far. In just a few short years, Conor has packed in experiences that many people don’t reach in a lifetime, and his insights prove that ambition, grit, and a willingness to fail can fast-track your journey to success.
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
Experiment in your 20s: Conor emphasizes that your 20s are a time for exploration. Whether it's working in a new city, trying ou...2024-10-071h 02
The Venture PodcastAkshay Chalana - Co-Founder @ Saphira AIIn this episode of the Venture Podcast, we sit down with Akshay Chalana, founder of Saphira AI and a member of Y Combinator’s Summer 2024 batch.
Akshay’s journey—from overcoming a childhood speech impediment to working at Tesla, Facebook, Apple, and Citadel and now leading his own AI startup—offers profound insights into finding your path in tech, entrepreneurship, and life. His story is a powerful reminder that what seems like a challenge today can become your greatest source of motivation.
Key Takeaways from Our Conversation:
Follow What Excites...2024-09-2347 min
The Venture PodcastRod Boothby – Co-Founder & COO of NPM (Node Package Manager), & Founder & CEO of IDPartner SystemsIn this episode of The Venture Podcast, we had the privilege of sitting down with Rod Boothby, in Salesforce Park.
Rod’s journey shows the significance of lifelong learning—from selling baseball hats at Queen’s University, including one worn by Elon Musk during his time there, to co-founding one of the most widely used software tools in the world—NPM (node package manager), to his leadership at cutting-edge companies like Joyent and ID Partner Systems.
Here are a few key takeaways from the conversation:
Bottom...2024-09-0539 min
The Venture PodcastSascha Mornell - Founder of GetmyboatWe sat down with the man who has built the largest and most successful boat rental marketplace in the world: Sascha Mornell.
Sascha’s story is extraordinary. From Berkeley to Japan, Harvard Business School, the NBA, and leading three multi-hundred million to billion-dollar startups, including taking one public. In this conversation, we dive into Sascha’s life and explore valuable lessons for anyone starting their career, whether it’s startups or the corporate world. Check out the episode through the link in our bio.Here are a couple of takeaways from the conversation:
1. Embrac...2024-08-2957 min
The Venture PodcastAndrew Miklas - YC Visiting Group Partner and Co-founder of PagerDutyAndrew Miklas, a current visiting group partner at Y Combinator and co-founder of PagerDuty. Andrew shared his journey to product-market fit with PagerDuty, starting a venture fund with an old Waterloo friend, and his time both as a batch member and visting group partner at YC.
Here are a couple pieces of advice he has for aspiring founders:
1. Learning how to code is still vital if you want to go into tech - being able to accurately describe the product you want is a skill, and that skill is...2024-08-2352 min
The Venture PodcastKate Wallace - Co-Founder at Tally LabsKate Wallace is the Co-Founder and head of product at Tally Labs - a Web3 media company that is changing the future of storytelling (Check out their new mobile App @Avenue). Before starting the company, Kate attended The Parsons School of Design, was accepted to several well-known fellowships such as Next 36, NYC Media Lab, and Kleiner Perkins, and worked as a product manager at Better Mortgage and Peleton.
Kate shares her story about how a passion for design led her to a career in tech, a product launch that generated $2M in revenue within 6...2024-07-221h 02
The Venture PodcastVino Jeyapalan - The Co-Founder at Kabo Fresh Dog Food and Pack FreshVino is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, a former Facebook employee from the early 2010s, and an accomplished entrepreneur with three exits.
In this episode, we discuss Vino’s life journey, including how he dropped out of university after his second year to work full-time at Facebook. We break down the insights he gained at Facebook in the direct-to-consumer space and explore how he applied these lessons to build and scale successful ventures. Vino also shares valuable advice like not overthinking everything as a lifelong commitment, and having a bias toward taking action. 2024-06-211h 10
The Venture PodcastRoy Itzhaki - The Founder of BizDev LabsRoy Itzhaki is the founder of BizDev Labs - an outbound BDR agency trusted by over 70 high-growth startups. BizDev Labs helps B2B SaaS companies develop their go-to-market strategies and has generated over $1 million in profit annually. Before he started BizDev Labs, he was an Olympic-class windsurfer, graduated from the Smith School of Business at Queens, and was a top performer in various BDR roles out of school. Listen in as Roy shares what made him so successful as a BDR, his secret formula for cold email and outreach, and how he grew BizDev Labs to several reputable clients w...2024-06-1427 min
The Venture PodcastMichael Spivak and Danial Mazour - The Co-founders of ColdtureDaniel Mazour and Michael Spivak are the co-founders of Coldture - Canada’s first and only proudly Canadian cold plunge tub. Michael and Daniel both come from immigrant families and share how the values of accountability, perseverance, and risk tolerance contributed to creating a category-defining brand in the Canadian market. The two have previously appeared on Dragons’ Den where they inked a deal with Michelle Romanow. 2024-06-0732 min
The Venture PodcastCameron Rowe - The Founder and CEO of HoverCameron Rowe is the founder and CEO of Hover - Canada's first publicly available drone delivery service on the Toronto Islands. Cameron received a Master's from the Smith School of Business and has since had a ton of experience in the entrepreneurial world between starting many businesses and working with various entrepreneurial communities such as Techstars, Next36, FreshFounders, and Dragon’s Den.
Listen in as Cameron shares his experience as a solo founder of a drone company, his passion for endurance sports like marathons and Ironman’s, and all the ups and downs he's had in his journ...2024-05-3040 min
The Venture PodcastNelson Lang - The Founder of Pita PitNelson Lang is the Founder of Pita Pit, a quick-service restaurant with over 600 locations worldwide. Nelson founded the company in his late twenties and built it into the massive franchise restaurant brand it is today before selling the company to Foodtastic in 2021. With no intention of retiring, Nelson bought Lightcaster Brewery and is now the managing partner. Listen in as Nelson shares his story all the way from getting kicked out of the house in grade 11, owning his first restaurant at 21, to founding Pita Pit and turning it into a global success.
Chapters:
1:00 - Childhood...2024-05-111h 18
The Venture PodcastJonathan Newar - The Founder and CEO of Captain ExperiencesJonathan is the Founder of Captain Experiences, an online platform that connects adventure-seeking people to tour guides, primarily for fishing and hunting trips. Jonathan was a business student at the University of Georgia and worked various investment banking roles in the energy sector when one day, he was tasked with booking a celebratory fishing trip for his team after completing a successful deal. It was at this moment that he noticed there was an opportunity in the market to help people find and book fishing trips quicker and easier.
Listen in as Jonathan shares his journey building a...2024-04-0121 min
The Venture PodcastTrent Kitsch - The Founder of SAXXTrent is the founder of SAXX, a men's comfort underwear brand. Trent started his journey as a student-athlete at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and soon after completed his MBA at Ivey Business School. It was at Ivey where Trent had the vision for SAXX to which he pitched for the Ivey New Venture Project. The rest is history as SAXX has gone on to become a multimillion-dollar company. But Trent didn't stop there, he then went on to found three other successful companies in the wellness space.
Listen in as Trent shares his founding story, his e...2024-02-2924 min
The Venture PodcastNikita Kopotun - The Co-founder and President of JuniperNikita Kopotun is the Co-founder and President of Juniper which provides custom merchandising solutions for the world’s largest online creators. Nikita started Juniper in 2016 and bootstrapped the company to over $150M+ in revenue. In this episode, Nikita opens up about his journey from being an engineering student at Queen's, his experience with Cansbridge Fellowship living and working in China which changed his whole worldview and perspective on what to do after school, building companies and failing, and the trials and triumphs of launching Juniper. He also offers some great advice to students and entrepreneurs about not waiting for th...2024-02-0924 min
The Venture PodcastBrandon Afari - The Co-founder and CEO of chargeFUZEBrandon Afari is the Co-founder and CEO of chargeFUZE - a provider of portable chargers for rent to consumers at static locations. Brandon shares his journey from earning a Bachelor's in accounting and a Master's in taxation from USC, his experience working at Deloitte where he learned the importance of understanding accounting principles when starting any business, and his decision to leave and pursue his venture.
2024-02-0224 min
The Venture PodcastLuke de Haas - The Co-founder and CEO of MOSEALuke de Haas is the Co-founder and CEO of Mosea - a mobile payments platform with a focus on group payments, bill splitting, and organizing events. Luke shares his story from starting the company right out of university, dealing with the hardships of a start-up, persevering in the face of wanting to quit, and all the rewarding experiences and important lessons he learned along the way.
2024-01-2524 min
The Venture PodcastChris Grouchy - Co-founder and President of Convictional (Y-Combinator W19)Chris is the Co-founder and President of Convictional - the #1 modern dropshiping platform for retailers and suppliers. Convictional is backed by Y-combinator and was one of the top 10 startups from Y-Combinator W19 demo day. Chris shares his story from being a Queen's student studying commerce, his experience with on-campus recruiting, working for Shopify, attending the Y-Combinator startup school, and his founding story. Chris provides some extraordinary advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and students trying to answer the question of "What's next?".
2024-01-1833 min
The Venture PodcastConnor Emeny - Completing an Ironman Triathlon on all 7 ContinentsConnor is the youngest person in the world to complete an Ironman Triathalon on six continents and will soon be the first person in the world to complete an Ironman on all seven continents. To make this happen, Connor is taking on Antarctica in less than a month. Listen to Connor's incredible Ironman journey and his inspiring message to "dare to dream".
Follow Connor's Journey to Antarctica at the following links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connor.emeny/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
LinkedIn: https://www...2023-12-1925 min
The Venture PodcastPreston Rutherford - Co-Founder of ChubbiesPreston shares the story behind Chubbies (nine-figure Acq in 2021) and his personal journey from Stanford, followed by "working for the man", to finding his calling in the entrepreneurial world. Preston leaves us with inspiring thoughts for those contemplating life post-university and the entrepreneurial path.
Continue following Preston here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonr/2023-12-1926 min