The Hard Part with Evan McCann

Jonathan Shaanan is the Managing Director of Circle K Ventures.Established in 2020, Circle K Ventures invests in startup companies that are developing and deploying solutions that enhance the experience in our stores while providing team members with the tools and resources that free them up to focus on our guests.Takeaways- From Banking to Venture Capital: A Journey- The Birth of Circle K Ventures- Navigating Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)- Strategic vs. Financial Returns in CVC- Innovations Shaping Retail: Technology and Trends- Global Perspectives: Investing Beyond Borders- Post-Investment Value: Building Relationships- Due Diligence in a Real-World Context- Launching and Testing Technology In-Store- The Future of Corporate Venture Capital in CanadaChapters00:00 From Banking to Venture Capital: A Journey02:46 The Birth of Circle K Ventures06:05 Navigating Corporate Venture Capital08:52 Strategic vs. Financial Returns in Venture11:47 Innovations Shaping Retail: Technology and Trends18:01 Global Perspectives: Investing Beyond Borders24:00 Post-Investment Value: Building Relationships30:02 Due Diligence in a Real-World Context34:04 The Future of Corporate Venture Capital in CanadaKeywordsventure capital, corporate venture, Circle K Ventures, investment strategy, fintech, retail technology, startup ecosystem, innovation, entrepreneurship, investment banking

Eldon Sprickerhoff is the Founder of eSentire.eSentire is the Authority in Managed Detection and Response, protecting the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, representing 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats.Eldon is also an author of Committed: Startup Survival Tips and Uncommon Sense for First-Time Tech Founders and a Strategic Advisor at Caledon Ventures.Takeaways- Starting eSentire during the Dot-Com Bubble- Lessons from 20 Years of Business Growth- Navigating Fundraising Challenges- Scaling Teams and Managing Growth- Understanding People Dynamics in Startups- How to Properly Filter Advice and Mentors- Revenue Milestones and Business Evolution- Building a Sales Team for Success- The Evolution of Sales Messaging- Navigating Growth and Change- Advising the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Startups- The Journey of Writing a Book- The State of Canadian TechChapters00:00 The Genesis of eSentire03:31 Lessons from 20 Years of Business Growth12:26 Navigating Fundraising Challenges14:39 Scaling Teams and Managing Growth17:57 Understanding People Dynamics in Startups21:11 Valuable Advice and Mentorship Experiences24:03 Revenue Milestones and Business Evolution27:24 Building a Sales Team for Success29:50 The Evolution of Sales Messaging31:12 Navigating Growth and Change34:46 Advising the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Startups39:33 The Journey of Writing a Book42:42 The State of Canadian Tech50:51 Personal and Professional Reflections55:29 Coping with Challenges and StressKeywordseSentire, entrepreneurship, business growth, fundraising, team scaling, startup advice, mentorship, revenue milestones, sales strategies, founder experiences, sales messaging, business growth, cybersecurity startups, writing a book, Canadian tech, personal development, entrepreneurship, stress management, startup journey, mentorship

The Friday Show Episode 2!12:10 - Arsham from Ribbon25:30 - Sean from Bold Bar37:30 - Xander Chin50:00 - Antonio from Trails and Bagelhacks

Hassan Ismail is the Co-Founder and CEO of West Tek.West Tek is building the next generation of data and software infrastructure to seamlessly connect traditionally disconnected human systems.Takeaways- The Genesis of a Defense Tech Startup- Autonomous versus Human Systems- Navigating the Conservative Defense Industry- Where Canada Is Investing in Defense- The Human Element in Warfare- What Future Warfare Looks Like- The Taboo of Defense Technology- Data Integration and Future ProspectsChapters00:00 The Genesis of a Defense Tech Startup10:55 Navigating the Conservative Defense Industry20:54 The Human Element in Warfare28:02 The Taboo of Defense Technology34:00 Data Integration and Future ProspectsKeywordsdefense tech, startup, autonomous systems, soldier systems, Canada, innovation, military technology, human element, data integration, manufacturing

Richard Waines is an Investor at DCVC Bio.DCVC Bio invests in early-stage, deep-tech life science companies that are leveraging computational approaches, including AI and automation, to transform existing technologies and accelerate the development of new ones. Chapters/Takeaways03:19 → Journey into Biotech Investing11:53 → DCVC Bio's Focus and Investment Strategy16:19 → Exploring Platform Therapeutics in Biotech20:15 → Nuances of Biotech Investing vs. Other Industries23:11 → Managing Science Risk in Biotech Investments27:58 → Key Personnel Changes During Company Growth30:24 → Geographical Considerations in Biotech Investments34:30 → The Passion for Science vs. Business in Biotech36:08 → The Role of an Associate in Venture Capital41:17 → The Impact of AI on Biotech Investments

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