
Startup Canada Podcast
On the Startup Canada Podcast, we speak with the movers and shakers of Canada’s entrepreneurship community to give a glimpse into the future of business, and share insights on everything from social innovation to the future of work, investing, and why we need to think bigger to take our businesses global.
Latest episodes

Aug 19, 2024 • 48min
Redefining Office Spaces: Earn the Commute with Kane Willmott
Kane Willmott is a visionary entrepreneur and a recognized authority on the future of work. As the Co-Founder and CEO of iQ Offices, Canada’s largest independent, Canadian-owned coworking operator, Kane has skillfully managed more than 350 private offices across Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal. The post Redefining Office Spaces: Earn the Commute with Kane Willmott first appeared on Startup Canada.

Aug 13, 2024 • 52min
A Capable Team with a Social Mission with Constanza Safatle Ferrari
Constanza is the Founder of Newbornlander. Newbornlander is a premium baby & parents manufacturing company and a social enterprise located in Newfoundland.
Constanza and her team work with eco-friendly fabrics and create handmade products like rain hats, baseball caps, bibs, clothing, car seat covers and more in St John’s, NL. While ensuring the endurance of extreme weather conditions of Newfoundland itself, their products are perfectly suitable and comfortable for the entire Canadian climate.
Constanza is committed to employing immigrant women on her team, easing the path to better careers for them.
The post A Capable Team with a Social Mission with Constanza Safatle Ferrari first appeared on Startup Canada.

Aug 5, 2024 • 48min
Harnessing Trust: Products with a Promise with Roxanne Pettipas and John Haslam
Roxanne Pettipas and John Haslam are the Founders of Buddy Belts – the stylish and safe harness for dogs.
Roxanne conceptualized and designed the first Buddy Belt out of necessity for her miniature dachshund named Buddy. John has over 25 years of business ownership experience and excels at establishing and managing key relationships that are essential to growing a business. Since bootstrapping the company in 2001, Buddy Belts is now a million-dollar, international business with product sold in 20+ countries, and a dedicated Buddy Belts Team.The post Harnessing Trust: Products with a Promise with Roxanne Pettipas and John Haslam first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jul 30, 2024 • 48min
Trust, Therapy and Transparency with Jake Karls
Jake is a different type of business leader – unapologetically authentic, refreshingly relatable, and completely free of BS. His product, Mid-Day Squares, are functional chocolate squares that satisfy sweet cravings. Jake and his team are leading the disruption of an extremely competitive vertical with an innovative marketing strategy and a fearless spirit.The post Trust, Therapy and Transparency with Jake Karls first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jul 23, 2024 • 45min
The Future of Adventure Holidays with Richard Campbell
Richard is the Founder and CEO of 10Adventures, a platform to book customizable and private active vacations. With trips in 85+ countries and travellers from 35+ countries, 10Adventures is a global platform that enables people to create meaningful travel experiences with the people that matter most in their lives. These shared experiences end up as the photos on their walls, the stories that are told at family reunions, and the memories that last a lifetime. The post The Future of Adventure Holidays with Richard Campbell first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jul 16, 2024 • 51min
Chocolate with Commitment with Nesreen Abusultan
Nesreen is the Founder of WUD Chocolate and Gifts. Nesreen’s journey is one of passion, innovation, resilience and offers valuable lessons in caring and love, while giving back to community.
As a resilient refugee, a mother, and an entrepreneur, Nesreen has embedded a mission of giving back and supporting refugees into her business. The post Chocolate with Commitment with Nesreen Abusultan first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jul 8, 2024 • 53min
Paying Canada’s Workforce with Shrad Rao
Shrad Rao is the CEO and co-founder of Wagepoint – a simple payroll software built just for small businesses and backed by the world’s friendliest team. Wagepoint has grown to serve 25,000 small businesses in Canada paying about 200,000 teammates each month. Shrad jokes that building a company is like going to a ridiculously hard school – you are taught lessons every day and the only question is whether you learn them today or tomorrow.The post Paying Canada’s Workforce with Shrad Rao first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jul 2, 2024 • 45min
Take the Mic: Telling Your Story through Audio with Fatima Zaidi
Fatima Zaidi is the Founder and CEO at Quill Inc., an award-winning production agency specializing in corporate audio, and CoHost, a podcast growth and analytics tool. With Quill, brands, businesses and people can tell their story through compelling audio. The post Take the Mic: Telling Your Story through Audio with Fatima Zaidi first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jun 25, 2024 • 38min
Refusing to Be Invisible: A Lesson in Unapologetic Care & Identity with Anita Landback
Athanasius “Tanas” Sylliboy, warmly self-proclaimed as “Your favourite auntie’s favourite auntie”, Anita LandBack, originates from the Eskasoni First Nation in Mi’kma’ki. As a devoted Two Spirit Lnu (Mi’kmaw) Nurse Practitioner and talented Drag Artist, Tanas/Anita is driven by a passion for fostering acceptance, visibility, and representation for marginalized communities. They masterfully balance their careers in nursing and drag to break down barriers and amplify the voices of Indigenous, Black, Asian, 2SLGBTQ+, and other underrepresented groups.
Check out our Resource Guide for 2SLGBTQIA+ business owners, entrepreneurs and folks who want to create safer and more inclusive spaces.The post Refusing to Be Invisible: A Lesson in Unapologetic Care & Identity with Anita Landback first appeared on Startup Canada.

Jun 18, 2024 • 33min
Farming Queer Representation, and Leadership, into Agriculture with Martin Straathof
Martin Straathof is the Executive Director of the Ontario Farmland Trust, a conservation organization dedicated to the long-term protection of Ontario’s food producing landscapes. Martin displays their steadfast advocacy for sustainable agriculture by actively engaging with stakeholders and fostering partnerships to advance community-based solutions – including the diversification of both thought and representation across the industry’s workforce.
Check out our Resource Guide for 2SLGBTQIA+ business owners, entrepreneurs and folks who want to create safer and more inclusive spaces.The post Farming Queer Representation, and Leadership, into Agriculture with Martin Straathof first appeared on Startup Canada.