Startup Canada Podcast

“Once I realized that music was such a healing force for myself, I dug into that. Our goal and dream are to unlock every benefit that music can bring to the mental health space.” Aaron Labbé is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of LUCID, an AI digital music therapy startup. He is a Canada Council award-winning artist with a background in psychoacoustics research & audio engineering. After facing severe mental health battles in his youth, Aaron developed the initial concept for LUCID during his thesis in New Media and Computational Art at Ryerson University. LUCID is working to revolutionize mental health through the power of music and machine learning. Their mission is to transform music into medicine, and create a more empathetic approach to mental health care through personalized music-based interventions. Aaron is the recipient of several Canada Council awards. He has guest lectured at Ryerson University, and spoken at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, Dutch Design Week, Toronto Interior Design Show, and Wallifornia Music Tech. This week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank,  is part of our mental health takeover for mental health awareness month! In this episode, we discuss unlocking the power of music to achieve positive mental health outcomes. The post Softening the Mental Health Space Through Music with Aaron Labbé first appeared on Startup Canada.

“When it comes to mental health and entrepreneurship, the people you surround yourself with are critical. Are they positive influences?” Purdeep Sangha is a business and personal advisor to top CEOs and entrepreneurs around the world. He’s considered a top authority in business and personal performance enhancement as he shares his expertise as the cohost of the newest TV show “Mind Your Own Business.” Ryan Benoit is the owner of The Positive Inception, a clothing brand he created to allow people to be more positive and to help them gain a different perspective on life. The goal and mission of The Positive Inception is to remind people about the amazing things in life and to try and make the world we live in easier for people and more positive.  This week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, is part of our mental health takeover for mental health awareness month! In this episode we discuss how both of their businesses are opening up the conversation around mental health and their advice for entrepreneurs when navigating mental health.The post Mindsets Influence Mental Health with Purdeep Sangha and Ryan Benoit first appeared on Startup Canada.

“I did not want to be tokenized. I wanted to be utilized for my brain, my capacity, and my experiences. I wanted to help him achieve the agenda we had set for Canadians.”  Celina Caesar-Chavannes is a business consultant, coach and international speaker, who currently serves part time as the Senior Advisor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives and Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s University. Celina is an author and her memoir ‘Can You Hear Me Now?” was selected as a finalist for the 2021 Shaughnessy Cohen prize for political writing and a book award finalist for the Speaker of Ontario Legislature. Celina was the former Member of Parliament for Whitby, Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development. During her term as a Member of Parliament, Celina was awarded several distinctions including a feature in the April 2018 edition of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine entitled, “What would you stand up for and named Chatelaine Magazine’s Woman of the Year (2019).  Celina has a Bachelor of Science, an MBA in Healthcare Management, an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management and is currently enrolled in a neuroscience PhD program at Queen’s University exploring the intersection of empathy, leadership and equity.  This week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank,  is part of our mental health takeover for mental health awareness month! We will discuss Celina’s journey with mental health, her passion for diversity and inclusion, and experience working in politics and writing her book.The post Spearheading Change Through Passion with Celina Caesar-Chavannes first appeared on Startup Canada.

“The number one myth we are presented with is that the government doesn’t buy from SMEs, and that isn’t true.” Chantal has been a member of the federal public service since 2010. She has held many roles with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Health Canada related to issues management and strategic advice, including one year as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister of PSPC. Chantal has been called to work on some of the Government’s most urgent and emerging files such as management of the Phoenix Pay System and within the Health Canada/PHAC internal services Covid-19 Response Team. In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we dive into supporting startups through government procurement, how Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC) within PSPC is championing diversity and inclusion, and the plans they have to support more small businesses than ever before.The post Procurement and Partnership with Chantal Potvin first appeared on Startup Canada.

“You have to have a product or service that is going to resonate globally, outside of your borders. What are customers looking for and willing to invest in?” After founding the acclaimed bags and accessories brand WANT les Essentiels in 2007, renowned designers, curators, and brothers Byron and Dexter Peart set out on a new mission, to work exclusively with products and items that make a strong social or environmental impact. Launching in 2019, GOODEE was born, a curated e-commerce marketplace offering sustainable homeware and lifestyle products for better living. GOODEE is a certified B Corp company leading the charge in curating a marketplace that brings together the values of good design and good purpose.  With a fast-growing team based in Montreal, Byron and Dexter act as the lead curators for the global e-commerce platform and storytelling destination. In 2020, GOODEE joined 1% For The Planet, whose members contribute at least 1% of annual sales to environmental causes, and were most recently recognized by Fast Company’s 2021 World’s Most Innovative Companies. In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we dive into what it means to truly do business with purpose, how they’ve built an engaged community of customers, and how the twins work together to build their rapidly growing business. This podcast is powered by Export Development Canada.The post Entering a Value-Based World with Dexter and Byron Peart first appeared on Startup Canada.

“When you have the right brand, you’re doing the right work, and you have the right reasons, the work will come to you.”  Janelle is a Michif and French-Canadian Two-Spirit artist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Bloom + Brilliance, a queer, feminist and Indigenous-led branding and web design studio, creator of the Creative Catalyst coaching program, and co-founder of the womOwned Enterprises. A born entrepreneur and naturally creative, she specializes in helping feminist business owners, community leaders and organizations focus on growth and impact with branding, website design and strategy. Janelle brings an intuitive, collaborative and passionate touch to brand and web design services. Her in-depth approach reflects her values of relationship building, community spirit, and positive impact. As your brand partner, she believes that your vision and involvement are integral to the success of your projects. With her impressive ability to capture and refine your vision, Janelle develops effective and impactful brands and websites to help you create meaningful connections, increase awareness and encourage engagement. Along with over 18 years of experience in visual and new media, Janelle’s extensive project management experience includes design, restructuring and adaptation for various levels of both the private and public sectors. Janelle has worked with a diverse client base, local, national, and international; corporate, non-profit, government and Indigenous organizations; small business owners and entrepreneurs. She has long been a supporter of progressive movements and social justice. In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we dive into the power of team culture, your mental health as a founder, and working with value-aligned clients.The post Entrepreneurship As A Gift with Janelle Desrosiers first appeared on Startup Canada.

Nishant Raina is the Director of Small Business Lead at Mastercard Canada.   As a product leader, Nishant develops and oversees the Small Business segment strategy by commercializing new products and services and supporting new product development with partners. With a strong passion for helping small businesses, Nishant drives the growth of the Small Business segment at Mastercard and within the entire payments ecosystem.  Since joining Mastercard in 2022, Nishant has made a measurable impact on strengthening the Small Business segment within Canada and leading key strategy development projects, supporting partners in product development initiatives, and working with regional and global teams to drive thought leadership. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Their success is our collective success.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we talk about the state of the small business landscape in Canada, the trends, pain points, and exciting opportunities ahead. Resources in this epiosde: Learn more about Digital Main St Learn more about the shopHERE program Learn about Mastercard Changeworks Learn more about Mastercard Trust Centre Learn more about Mastercard CybersecurityThe post The State of Small Business in Canada with Nishant Raina first appeared on Startup Canada.

Christina Gwira is the Founder and CEO of NOYADESIGNS, a Toronto, Ontario-based web design firm for nonprofits and solopreneurs who have social good baked into their offerings. Christina and her team offer a one-stop-design-shop offering everything from web design service to online marketing, and from videography to consulting. At its heart, NOYADESIGNS promises to create beautiful, quality solutions to your marketing problems.  Sheila Hawkins-Bucklew is the Founder and CEO of Hawkins Bucklew Jewelry Designs, an Austin, Texas-based venture creating ‘Women’s Ethos-Chic Statement Jewellery’. The wearable works of art were designed to help customers express their unique voices as well as to empower the collective voice of female creatives, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Sheila is also the founder of Hawkins Bucklew Realty and Showroom 808. “If we could find a way to make Canadian entrepreneurs feel more comfortable across the border, we could build back better in a more impactful way.”  In partnership with The U.S Embassy in Canada, we are celebrating and spotlighting women founders in Canada and the US to learn more about their journeys and the vital role of cross-border collaboration in their entrepreneurial success. The post Canadian and American Stories of Success with Christina Gwira and Sheila Hawkins-Bucklew first appeared on Startup Canada.

As a well-known serial entrepreneur, Sherry Shannon-Vanstone has made a significant contribution to the spectrum of digital industries from information security to telecommunications and technology, while also making a major contribution to the advancement of all women. She is an extraordinary leader and visionary who has made a material difference to the roles women play and their influence in the digital economy. Throughout Sherry’s career, she has been a trailblazer in the fields of STEM, business, and philanthropy.  In honour of her late husband, Scott A. Vanstone, Sherry founded Profound Impact in 2018 — a data driven platform for use by organizations and their stakeholders including alumni, researchers, and students to engage, discover, and measure the worldwide impact that the institution and its community have on technology and the world. It also aims to build a sense of community for a global audience of affinity groups such as women in STEM and entrepreneurs. “There is a talent battle today. We are seeing digital transformation across every industry and with that, there is a huge opportunity and challenge.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we talk about Sherry’s entrepreneurship journey, how she leverages data with her clients, and  the importance of empowering women in STEM.The post Empowering Women in STEM with Sherry Shannon-Vanstone first appeared on Startup Canada.

Serial entrepreneur and author Brian Scudamore has always taken the road less traveled. At just 19 years old, he pioneered the industry of professional junk removal with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, turning a chore people avoid into an exceptional customer service experience. Then he scaled that success into two more home-service brands, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING and Shack Shine, under the O2E Brands banner.  Brian learned the ins and outs of business by running his own, and believes that anyone with a fire in their gut and a vision for doing something incredible can do the same. His philosophy, WTF (Willing To Fail), stems from his belief in the power of dreaming big, taking risks, and learning from mistakes. Through franchising, he’s giving thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to BYOB (Build Your Own Business, Be Your Own Boss), and live their dream of business ownership. “The best way to see the future is to first create it in your mind”. In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we talk about hiring mistakes, treating people well, and the growth and scaling of Brian’s 1800 got junk brand.The post Got A Business Idea? with Brian Scudamore first appeared on Startup Canada.