Hub Podcasts Harley Finkelstein on how Canada can become a 'Founder Nation'
Sep 30, 2025
Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, discusses Canada's potential to become a 'Founder Nation.' He shares insights from Shopify's growth and emphasizes Canada's unique advantages like world-class talent and a collaborative culture. Harley critiques the complexity of the SR&ED program and calls for policy reforms to lower barriers for entrepreneurs. He highlights the importance of entrepreneurial education for kids and imagines a future where Canada leads in innovation and storytelling on the global stage.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Family Roots Of Entrepreneurship
- Harley Finkelstein traces his entrepreneurship roots to his immigrant grandfather who sold eggs at a Montreal farmers market.
- He shows entrepreneurship as a survival tool that shaped his family's pathway and his own drive to build Shopify.
Diversity Enables Global Product Empathy
- Canada’s diversity gave Shopify technological empathy to build for many markets and UI preferences globally.
- That domestic multicultural experience made international product decisions more natural for Shopify.
Make Launching Effortless
- Remove friction in founding: 48-hour incorporations, harmonized registrations, and time-limited approvals across provinces.
- Simplify programs like SR&ED so founders don't rely on costly consultants to claim support.
