Startup Canada Podcast

In an age where everyone has a soap-box to stand on, it’s more important than ever to carve out your corner in the digital marketplace – just ask Kevin Chan, Global Director and Head of Public Policy at Facebook Canada. Kevin Chan is the Global Director and Head of Public Policy at Facebook Canada. In his role at Facebook, he has travelled across the country meeting tens of thousands of small businesses, working with his team to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and find new markets both in Canada and abroad using both Facebook and Instagram. “Digital presence is essential, digital presence is easy, and digital presence has zero to minimal cost.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Kevin discusses the importance of treating opening digital channels like you’re opening store doors, especially when local business isn’t so local. The post Reaching Your Digital Audience with Kevin Chan – May 5th 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

Like so many other things, entrepreneurship is easiest with support. Nevin Buconjic will tell you the same thing! Nevin is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, author and startup ecosystem builder. Nevin has started eight companies over his career, and counseled hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses. He is the author of two books, including Starting Your Own Business: An Entrepreneur’s Guide, available on Amazon. He’s also currently Manager of Trade & Investment with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, working to attract business and investment to SSM, and part of the team that attracted a $1 billion manufacturing facility investment to the community in 2019. In 2013 Nevin founded StartUP Sault Ste. Marie – and has been building a supportive community for entrepreneurs in Sault Ste. Marie ever since, hosting over 70 events and meetups. He enjoys working with entrepreneurs, startups and growth companies, and thrives on building ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs and building community.  “If entrepreneurs come together to make a community of support they can make a big impact.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Nevin discusses the importance of community in entrepreneurship. The post Entrepreneurship: The Art of Balance with Nevin Buconjic – April 28th 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

It’s never been more important to tell your story, – just ask Vinod Rajasekaran, Publisher and CEO of Future of Good. Vinod is Publisher & CEO of Future of Good, a new digital content platform with a mission to make the world of social impact smarter through digital content. Future of Good covers stories, innovations, and trends shaping social impact in Canada. Future of Good also produces the Future of Good Summit, the premier gathering of impact-focused leaders who want to navigate the trends, tensions, and transformations shaping how we do good. Vinod was Co-founder and Executive Director of Impact Hub Ottawa, the largest multi-sector social innovation environment in Canada’s capital. He recently oversaw strategy and business model development as the founding Managing Director of Rideau Hall Foundation, chaired by former Governor General David Johnston. Vinod also launched Canada’s social R&D network as a Fellow with SiG working to seed ecosystem conditions to strengthen embedded R&D capacity in Canada’s non-profits. As a result of his work, Canada’s new Social Finance Fund includes capital for social R&D. His ground-breaking work in social R&D is referenced around the world. Vinod is on the Advisory Board to the Equality Fund. He was designated as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, is a member of the Banff Forum community, and is a recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Canada.  “We’re at a pivotal moment in time right now, where this decade will demonstrate to future generations how much we care about the future of humanity and the planet.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Vinod discusses the importance of social entrepreneurship in shaping tomorrow’s world. The post Building Tomorrow, Today with Vinod Rajasekaran – April 21st 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

It’s never been more important to help every Canadian through times like these – just ask Darrell Schuurman, CEO of the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Darrell is an advocate for affecting social change through the economic empowerment of LGBT+ entrepreneurs. Growing up in small town Alberta in an entrepreneurial family, Darrell had a passion for business, and knew the struggles small businesses face.  But as someone who felt that he had to hide his true-self, he knew even more the struggles facing LGBT+ people. He soon realized that he could combine his passion for business and his commitment to supporting LGBT+ inclusion, while leveraging his entrepreneurial background.  In 2003, he co-founded he CGLCC, Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to expand the opportunities and advancement of the LGBT+ business community in Canada. Now with a team of 10, Darrell and the CGLCC is proving that LGBT inclusion is good for business and good for Canada. “For Canada to grow and for our communities to grow, we need to realize and understand the importance of an inclusive economy.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Darrell discusses the importance of inclusivity of entrepreneurs and diversity of thought in Canadian business. The post Empowering by Including with Darrell Schuurman – April 14th 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

Stay off the beaten path, blaze your own trail, whatever the saying is Solon Angel, Founder of Mindbridge AI, says it works! Solon Angel founded MindBridge Ai in 2015, with a seer’s insights into how important artificial intelligence would become for accounting – specifically audits – in just a few years. A true advocate for Ai in the profession, Solon’s company MindBridge AI has played an important part in what is now the inevitable change in audit technology globally. “Unconventional success sometimes requires unconventional thinking – that’s something that people seldom appreciate, which is behind every success.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Solon discusses the business of AI in Canada, and how to stay on the hunt. The post Unconventional Thinking for Success with Solon Angel – April 7th 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

Ever wondered if your business could solve more than just your customers’ problems? Then Tonya Surman, CEO of the Centre for Social Innovation wants to talk! Tonya is one of Canada’s leading social entrepreneurs. Her clients: people and planet. Her superpowers: visionary ideas that inspire, models that harness collaboration, and spaces that accelerate systemic change. Highlights from her 20-year career include co-founding and leading the Centre for Social Innovation, a pioneer in the coworking and social enterprise movements that has catalyzed more than 100 world-changing initiatives; developing the Constellation Model, a multi-stakeholder partnership framework that was used to ban toxic chemicals in baby bottles and organize 40,000+ Ontario nonprofits into a network with policymaking clout; creating the Community Bond, a groundbreaking social finance tool that raised $6.3 million to purchase $25 million in real estate to house 70+ social entrepreneurs; and launching Catapult, a micro-loan fund that galvanizes government, corporate and nonprofit partners. “I hope entrepreneurs reflect on what entrepreneurship is, as it’s ultimately a tactic to get some outcome out of the world, a tool to make the change we want to see in the world.”  In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Tonya discusses how your business can make the change your community needs – whether that community is local, national, or global. The post Business: A Tool for Good with Tonya Surman – March 31st 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

Want to build a business that’s about more than a bottom line? Wayne Miranda, Social Finance Investment Readiness Lead at the McConnell Foundation wants to help you do it! Wayne’s passion is to grow ventures that generate a social and environmental impact. Presently, he’s leading the social finance investment readiness work at McConnell Foundation. This is a new program launched to help nonprofits, charities, co-operatives, and social enterprise for-profits access social finance to enhance their impact.  Prior to joining McConnell Foundation, he was the Director of Growth at the Centre for Social Innovation, Managing Director of TechSoup Canada, and Founder & CEO of Growth Mosaic in Ghana. Wayne has helped put to work over US$21 million to build hundreds of social ventures.  “Business as usual just isn’t good enough anymore – in this next century we need to recognize profit isn’t the end, it’s just a signal you’re onto something good.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Wayne discusses the future of social entrepreneurship, and how to build a better world with business. The post Funding the Future of Social Entrepreneurship with Wayne Miranda – March 24th 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

From the smallest of places can come the biggest of ideas, and Patrick Farrar, CEO of Startup Zone PEI will be the first one to tell you that! As a startup advisor and mentor for several businesses, Patrick has helped launch and foster several social startups, leading efforts in raising millions in financing. Attending Jonkoping International Business School in Sweden, the top school in the world for research on Family Business and Entrepreneurship, Patrick conducted research on developing long-standing businesses. His experience and love for start-ups pull him towards other ventures that bring added value to the Canadian economy through business creation and employment. Drawing on startup experiences, he’s inspired to enhance the support and training of ambitious entrepreneurs. This has led him to the Startup Zone, a business incubator that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. “Everyone underestimates PEI, though we’re one of the smallest provinces in Canada when it comes to entrepreneurs there’s a lot of supports considering our size.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Patrick discusses the future of East Coast entrepreneurship, and keeping an eye on the island! The post Future Trends in East Coast Entrepreneurship with Patrick Farrar – March 17th 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

Everyone has a story they can bring to life – a mantra by which Jeanne Lam, General Manager of WattPad, says the company lives by each and every day! Jeanne Lam is a senior executive with over fifteen years of experience working in technology and high-growth consumer startups. She is the General Manager of Wattpad, a global multi-platform entertainment company that is home to a community of more than 80 million people. Prior to Wattpad, Jeanne led growth and user acquisition at Shapeways, the world’s largest 3D printing service. She has also worked at Yahoo as Director of Platform Strategy, and mobile payments company, GoPago, as Head of Marketing & Business Intelligence. Before her startup career, she spent three years as a management consultant at Accenture. “The business wasn’t driven from sourcing content, it was about creating a network effect that needs to exist for the business to grow, scale, and accelerate without the need for a marketing budget.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Jeanne discusses the importance of building in processes that make your business self-driven, and starting with your eye on a global prize. The post Building the Machine that Drives Your Business with Jeanne Lam – March 3rd 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.

There are business relationships, and then there’s your relationship with your business – and Anne Whelan, CEO of Seafair Capital will tell you that just like in romance, you can fall in, out, and back in love with it! A Canadian entrepreneur, innovator, community and business leader. As the founder and CEO of the Seafair group, she has grown a small, family business into a thriving portfolio of small-and-medium-sized organizations. ​In addition to leading her group of companies, she is also a director of the Bank of Canada, and of CSA Group, a Canadian standards organization with global operations in testing, inspection, and certification. She has received many accolades for entrepreneurship and leadership at the national level, including being named to Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN in 2016 and Atlantic Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year in 2014. “Running a business isn’t that different than a relationship, I’m sure all the listeners have fallen out of love with somebody at some point. That’s where you need to evaluate what you want out of the business and what will bring you fulfillment.” In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Anne discusses the importance of staying true to what you love about your business, and balancing the other aspects alongside it. The post Sustaining Passion for Your Business with Anne Whelan – March 3rd 2020 first appeared on Startup Canada.