Designing A Better Tomorrow: From Jet Cooper to Good Future with Arati Sharma and Satish Kanwar

In this episode, Matt Cohen sits down with Arati Sharma and Satish Kanwar, the powerhouse duo behind Good Future, a family office with a mission to support and grow the Canadian tech ecosystem. They discuss their journey from starting the digital design agency Jet Cooper to playing pivotal roles at Shopify, and now investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs. The conversation delves into their insights on building community, the importance of innovation, and their commitment to making a lasting impact on the Canadian tech scene.

About Arati Sharma

Arati Sharma is a prominent entrepreneur, angel investor, and technology leader based in Toronto, Canada. She is the Co-Founder and President of Good Future, a family office focused on building and investing in companies that positively impact the world. Arati is also the Founding Partner of Backbone Angels, a collective of female investors dedicated to supporting women and non-binary founders, particularly those from underrepresented communities. Alongside her investing activities, Arati co-founded Ghlee, a skincare brand rooted in South Asian tradition, which has gained significant traction since its launch in 2019.

Prior to her entrepreneurial ventures, Arati spent nearly a decade at Shopify, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s marketing strategy. She was the Director of Product Marketing, responsible for establishing and scaling the product marketing function as Shopify expanded its global reach. Arati also led the creation of Shopify’s annual Unite conference, transforming it into a major event for the company’s partners and developers. Her earlier roles at Shopify included leading offline, experiential, and community marketing, where she spearheaded initiatives like Shopify’s first merchant roadshow and high-profile events such as Kylie Jenner’s first pop-up shop.

Before joining Shopify, Arati worked at Jet Cooper, a Toronto-based digital design agency, where she held various roles, including Communications & Strategy and Operations Manager. Her work at Jet Cooper involved developing the company’s communication strategies, managing operations, and contributing to the firm’s internal culture. Arati’s early career also included leadership positions in student organizations, such as the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, where she honed her skills in advocacy and leadership.

About Satish Kanwar

Satish Kanwar is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and business leader from Toronto, Canada. He is the Co-Founder of Good Future, a family office that invests in and operates businesses with a focus on positive-sum impact. In addition to his role at Good Future, Satish serves as the Board Chair of BetaKit, Canada’s leading tech news publication, and holds board positions at Toronto Global and Delphia. His leadership and influence in the tech community have earned him recognition, including being named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 and Toronto Life's Most Influential lists.

Satish spent a decade at Shopify, where he held various senior roles, most recently as Vice President of Corporate Development and Head of Product Acceleration. In this capacity, he oversaw over 30 strategic acquisitions, investments, and alliances, significantly contributing to Shopify’s growth beyond online stores into multi-channel commerce. His earlier roles at Shopify included leading the company’s product strategy for online stores, retail point of sale, and multi-channel platforms, establishing Shopify as a leader in global commerce technology.

Before his tenure at Shopify, Satish co-founded Jet Cooper, a digital design studio based in Toronto that was acquired by Shopify in 2013. At Jet Cooper, Satish was instrumental in building the agency into a well-regarded design firm, which ultimately became Shopify’s foundation in Toronto. Earlier in his career, Satish worked as a Marketing Manager at Microsoft Canada, where he developed his passion for technology and entrepreneurship. Satish is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration.

In this episode, we discuss:

(00:34) Starting at Jet Cooper, the early days of Canadian tech

(02:13) Meeting Satish and the mystique of Jet Cooper

(03:03) The importance of community and design

(04:51) How Jet Cooper cornered the market on design talent

(07:03) The unexpected Shopify acquisition offer

(09:42) Transitioning to Shopify and leading community initiatives

(13:55) Building Shopify's multi-channel platform strategy

(16:20) Leaving Shopify to pursue new creative ventures

(18:47) The founding of Backbone Angels and supporting diverse founders

(23:19) The mission of Good Future and supporting Canadian innovation

(27:08) The vision behind Good Future and its unique approach

(32:39) Balancing investments with building new ventures like Ghlee

(33:13) Acquiring BetaKit to strengthen Canadian tech storytelling and why supporting media is crucial for the Canadian tech ecosystem

(37:27) BetaKit’s mission and avoiding paywalls to tell Canadian stories

(42:01) Balancing personal and professional life while building together

(44:41) How becoming a parents made them more empathetic leaders and taught them the importance of work-life balance

(47:51) The biggest risk to Canadian tech is a lack of shared vision

(50:07) The need for affordable living to foster Canadian innovation

(53:01) Leaving a legacy as force multipliers for Canadian tech

(53:38) The legacy they want to leave

Fast Favorites:

🎙 Favorite Podcast:

* Arati: Armchair Expert and The Dream Bigger Podcast by Siffat Haider

* Satish: Acquired Podcast

📰 Favorite Newsletter or Blog:

* Both: BetaKit

📲 Favorite Tech Gadget:

* Arati: Oura Ring

* Satish: Withings Body Smart Scale

📈 Favorite New Trend:

* Arati: Companies actually making money

* Satish: Rejection therapy

📚 Favorite Book:

* Arati: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

* Satish: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

🤔 Favorite Life Lesson:

* Arati: "Better late than never."

* Satish: "Embrace naivety."

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