The Hard Part with Evan McCann

Brent Pretty is the Co-Founder and CEO of Retellio.Retellio is an AI briefing tool for leaders who can't listen to every call. It takes all your company's customer calls, finds the moments that matter, and turns them into easy-to-digest podcasts.Takeaways- Dropping Out of High School- Working at Verafin- Learnings and Insights from Verafin- Innovating with AI- Creating a Hive Mind- Integrations and User Experience- The Future of AI in Business- Defining Market Segment- Scaling and Team Dynamics- The Importance of Discipline- Product Development Insights- Building Distribution Chapters00:00 From Small Town to Big Dreams02:50 The Verafin Journey06:02 Building a Tech Ecosystem08:54 The Genesis of Retellio11:52 Innovating with AI14:59 Creating a Hive Mind17:51 Integrations and User Experience21:13 The Future of AI in Business24:03 Scaling and Team Dynamics27:14 The Importance of Discipline29:57 Product Development Insights33:03 Learning from Books and Frameworks36:06 Personal and Professional Growth39:00 Embracing ChallengesKeywordsBrent Pretty, Verafin, Retellio, AI, tech ecosystem, entrepreneurship, discipline, product development, customer obsession, Newfoundland

The first episode of The Friday Show!00:00 - Intro to The Friday Show Format01:57 - X Content Rundown08:38 - Connor Turland from Ceedar18:57 - Alexander Stratmoen on Socratica Symposium27:55 - Owen Brakes from Steinmetz37:03 - Rahul Gudise from Gale48:00 - Jack Xu from Proception55:14 - Adam Cohen from Weave57:00 - Jay Alammar from Cohere on Command A

Laura Mock is the Director of Cultivator.Launched in 2019, Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator) was built to create an innovation hub that provided the programming, resources, mentorship, funding, and space for founders to accelerate the growth of local tech startups in Regina.Cultivator aims to foster 250 companies with annual recurring revenue of at least a million dollars by 2050.Takeaways- What is Cultivator?- The Role of Conexus in Cultivator- Challenges for Saskatchewan Founders- Building Density and the Founder Pipeline- Ambitious Goals for Cultivator- Attracting Founder Talent- Programming at Cultivator- Capital and Investment Challenges- Cultivator as a StartupChapters00:00 Introduction to Cultivator03:16 The Role of Conexus in Cultivator06:03 Challenges for Saskatchewan Founders09:51 Building Density and the Founder Pipeline12:57 Ambitious Goals for Cultivator19:52 Attracting Founder Talent22:53 Programming Successes at Cultivator27:53 Capital and Investment Challenges32:04 Cultivator as a Startup34:57 Personal Insights and Closing ThoughtsKeywordsCultivator, Saskatchewan, tech incubator, entrepreneurship, AgTech, founder challenges, investment, startup ecosystem, Conexus, community support

Braden Ream is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voiceflow.Voiceflow is the collaborative platform to build custom AI Agents. It is the fastest way to build powerful chat and voice agents for customer support and beyond.Takeaways- Braden's first venture Flare- How Voiceflow started as a children's story bedtime app on Alexa called Fable- Pivot to Voiceflow- Building a Platform: Community and Ecosystem- Navigating Developer Sales: Strategies for Success- The App Ecosystem: Spontaneous Growth and Adaptation- Navigating Enterprise Sales- Why you need to keep your head in the sand- The Future of AI Agents- Team Dynamics and Hiring Strategies- The Canadian Advantage in Business- Building and hiring in Canada versus SF- Why your job as a founder is to keep the energy highChapters00:00 Founding Flare: The Journey Begins04:35 Discovering Voiceflow: The Spark of Innovation10:17 Building a Platform: Community and Ecosystem13:23 Navigating Developer Sales: Strategies for Success20:05 The App Ecosystem: Spontaneous Growth and Adaptation26:01 Navigating Enterprise Sales30:09 The Future of AI Agents34:13 Team Dynamics and Hiring Strategies38:37 The Canadian Advantage in Business42:01 Personal Growth and Professional Aspirations45:30 Resilience in LeadershipKeywordsFlare software, Voiceflow, entrepreneurship, AI agents, platform approach, developer community, product-led growth, app ecosystem, innovation, startup journey, enterprise sales, customer relationships, AI agents, team dynamics, hiring strategies, Canadian business, leadership resilience, startup culture, product marketing, talent density

Renée Touzin is the President and CEO of GIRO.GIRO Inc. is a leading maker of optimization software for the public transport and postal industries. Launched in 1979 as an offshoot from a university project in operations research, the company now employs more than 600+ skilled and expert staff. Its specialized software solutions enjoy a worldwide reputation.Takeaways- The Founding Story of Giro in 1979- Growth and Transformation Over 45 Years- The Importance of Focus- Building Lasting Client Relationships- The Journey to CEO- The Products: HASTUS and GeoRoute- Investing in R&D for Innovation- The Role of Conferences in Client Engagement- Creating a Strong Company Culture- Engaging with Customers for Product Development- Maintaining Independence and Control- Embracing Technology TrendsChapters00:00 The Founding Story of Giro02:55 Growth and Transformation Over 45 Years05:31 The Importance of Focus in Business09:05 Building Lasting Client Relationships11:12 The Journey to CEO13:26 The Products: HASTUS and GeoRoute20:23 Investing in R&D for Innovation22:08 The Role of Conferences in Client Engagement23:48 Creating a Strong Company Culture25:12 Engaging with Customers for Product Development26:37 Maintaining Independence and Control27:59 Embracing Technology Trends29:03 Personal Growth and Learning30:33 Dealing with Challenges in BusinessKeywordsGIRO, public transit, software, optimization, client relationships, company culture, innovation, R&D, technology trends, CEO journey

Josh Domingues is the Founder & Executive Chairman of Flashfood.Flashfood is on a mission to feed families, not landfills. Their app connects shoppers with fresh produce, meat and other groceries at up to 50% off. By partnering with retailers across North America, they offer nutritious staples at affordable prices and reduce the amount of food going to landfills. Takeaways- Josh's Connection to Food Waste- Understanding Food Waste and Its Impact- Early Product Validation- Building Consumer Demand- Navigating Grocery Store Partnerships- The Journey of Raising Capital and Scaling- Scaling Effectively by Simplifying Processes for Retailers- The Reality of Scaling in the US- Building an Effective Executive Team- The State of Canadian TechChapters00:00 The Genesis of Flashfood04:31 Understanding Food Waste and Its Impact11:01 Building Consumer Demand14:33 Navigating Grocery Store Partnerships18:11 The Journey of Raising Capital and Scaling23:41 The Reality of Scaling in the U.S.27:39 Building an Effective Executive Team37:30 The State of Canadian Tech43:58 Personal and Professional Growth StrategiesKeywordsFlashfood, food waste, grocery app, sustainability, startup journey, consumer demand, fundraising, grocery partnerships, environmental impact, food industry, scaling, U.S. market, executive team, Canadian tech, entrepreneurship, growth mindset, leadership, building businesses, Flashfood, innovation

Michael Buhr, the Executive Director of C100, is a veteran with over 30 years in Silicon Valley, dedicated to connecting Canadian tech entrepreneurs with global resources. In this engaging discussion, he highlights the mission of C100 in fostering mentorship and collaboration among the Canadian expat community in the Bay Area. Buhr dives into the changing entrepreneurial landscape, the challenges faced by growing companies, and the importance of in-person connections. He also emphasizes a unique Canadian mindset that encourages support and ambition in the tech sector.

Meti Basiri is the Co-Founder and CEO of ApplyBoard.ApplyBoard's mission is to empower students worldwide to unlock opportunities for the best education. With their innovative platform and expert team, they simplify the journey—from exploration and application to enrollment—helping thousands of students achieve their dreams of studying abroad.Takeaways- ApplyBoard's First Round of Investment.- Mission-Driven Culture and Creating Impact.- Scaling Challenges and Strategies- Adapting to Recent Policy Changes- ApplyBoard's Newest Venture - Capio- Maintaining Startup Mentality During Growth- Navigating Startup Culture and Growth Challenges- The Balance of Internal Promotions vs. External Hires- Co-Founder Dynamics: Family and Business- International Expansion: Cultural Adaptation and ChallengesChapters00:00 The Founding Story of ApplyBoard06:23 Navigating Early Investments09:11 Mission-Driven Culture and Impact13:58 Scaling Challenges and Strategies17:07 Adapting to Policy Changes21:09 Innovating with New Ventures24:05 Maintaining Startup Mentality During Growth26:29 Navigating Startup Culture and Growth Challenges29:13 The Balance of Internal Promotions vs. External Hires35:57 Co-Founder Dynamics: Family and Business39:30 International Expansion: Cultural Adaptation and Challenges43:27 Personal Growth and Resilience in Business47:37 Finding Balance: Hobbies and Positive MindsetKeywordsApplyBoard, entrepreneurship, international students, education, startup culture, investment, scaling, mission-driven, policy changes, innovation, startup culture, hiring practices, co-founder relationships, international expansion, personal growth, resilience, business challenges, company values, team dynamics, leadership

Stephen 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 Canada.- Dive deep into the car sales industry in Canada and the US.- Why Canada is the ideal place to build Clutch.- Why they source cars directly from consumers.- Clutch has purchased over 27,000 cars from Canadians.- Clutch utilizes machine learning to optimize car offers and inventory management.- Clutch is designed to be a managed two-sided marketplace, differentiating it from competitors.- The logistics of delivering cars across Canada.- Their 100K sqft facility in Mississauga and how they do everything in-house.- Building trust, ads, marketing, partnership with the Raptors.- Building a national brand an industry that is traditional local or regional.- The nuances with financing.- Building for over 9 years and loving the grind.- Bringing Dan Park onboard to be CEO and their strong relationship.Chapters00:00 From Banking to Entrepreneurship: The Journey Begins05:03 Overcoming Regulatory Hurdles: The Halifax Move12:01 The Drive to Succeed: Motivation Behind Clutch14:55 Disrupting the Auto Industry: Clutch's Unique Model20:58 Data-Driven Decisions: Sourcing Quality Cars25:43 Automating Car Purchases: A Data-Driven Approach26:47 Navigating Complex Logistics in the Automotive Industry30:39 Financing Challenges in Used Car Sales35:21 Building a Trustworthy Brand in Used Car Sales39:12 Leadership Dynamics: The Role of a CEO43:07 Personal and Professional Aspirations: Looking AheadKeywordsEvan McCann, Stephen Seibel, Clutch, entrepreneurship, investment banking, auto industry, regulatory challenges, car buying experience, data-driven business, Canadian market, automotive logistics, used car financing, brand trust, leadership, data-driven decisions

Rishi Nayyar is the Co-Founder and CEO of PocketHealth.PocketHealth is on a mission to empower every patient with instant access, control and understanding of their health records while streamlining medical image sharing for healthcare providers. Takeaways- Current Landscape of Medical Imaging- Building a Patient-Centric Platform- Prioritizing Security and Privacy- Navigating Different User Experiences- Understanding Market Differences: US vs Canada- Filling Gaps in Patient Care- The Role of AI in Healthcare- Team Dynamics and R&D Focus- Sales Strategies in Healthcare- Trends in Healthcare Technology- Empowering Patients Through Visibility- Lessons Learned Over a DecadeChapters00:00 The Genesis of Pocket Health02:48 Current Landscape of Medical Imaging05:50 Building a Patient-Centric Platform11:13 Prioritizing Security and Privacy14:17 Navigating Different User Experiences16:17 Understanding Market Differences: US vs Canada19:09 Filling Gaps in Patient Care21:50 The Role of AI in Healthcare24:28 Team Dynamics and R&D Focus26:29 Sales Strategies in Healthcare28:24 Trends in Healthcare Technology31:12 Empowering Patients Through Visibility34:13 Lessons Learned Over a Decade37:22 Cultural Shifts in Patient Engagement39:13 Quickfire Round: Insights and InspirationsKeywordshealth tech, patient engagement, medical imaging, AI in healthcare, startup journey, security and privacy, healthcare innovation, Pocket Health, US vs Canada healthcare, patient empowerment