The BetaKit Podcast Channel

“Be a customer of Canadian startups. This is the thing that every company needs. Nobody died from having too many customers.”  The CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Cam Linke, joins to discuss the next phase of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and how Amii stands apart from other national AI institutes, Vector and Mila. Recorded live from the Upper Bound AI conference. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Motion: the platform helping marketing teams turn ad performance data into creative strategy. Motion makes it easy to analyze what’s working across your campaigns, find winning ideas, and scale creative that converts. If you want to work on hard problems with real impact, explore open roles at motionapp.com/careers. Related Links: Google grants Amii $5 million to help post-secondary schools develop AI curricula Richard Sutton warns against “centralized control” of AI regulation based on fear Evolving Canada’s AI strategy with CIFAR’s Elissa Strome AI regulation is coming. What’s Canada’s approach?

“ Companies have spent a lot of time and money creating really great user experience for humans. And now there's kind of this race to create a really good experience for AI agents.” Erik Reppel, head of engineering for the Coinbase Developer Platform, joins to explain why the x402 open payment standard he helped create might plug one of the oldest holes in the internet, and how the protocol could revolutionize commerce—with the help of cryptocurrency and AI. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. Related links: x402: An open standard for internet-native payments A primer on the decentralized finance stack Coinbase Canada CEO pushes for crypto-friendly government just as company reveals hack that could cost up to $400 million USD

Marcelo Cortes, Co-founder and Chief Architect of Faire, shares his inspiring journey from Brazil to Canada, emphasizing the blend of Silicon Valley's innovation with Canadian entrepreneurship. He discusses how Faire navigates the trade war and leverages AI to enhance the retail experience. Cortes highlights the company's commitment to empowering small boutiques, providing data-driven insights, and the unique challenges of operating across borders. The conversation also touches on the importance of decentralized leadership and building strong relationships in retail.

“Bad actors are weaponizing AI faster than governments and enterprises are using AI to combat it.” New data shows that more than half of all internet traffic comes from bots, and a third of those bots have malicious intent. Koat.ai co-founder Connor Ross joins to discuss the impact of the disinformation and defamation campaigns these bots run, how governments and enterprises are unprepared for this AI-driven explosion, and why the social networks are doing nothing to stop it. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. Related links: 2025 bad bot report Cyber Threats to Canada's Democratic Process: 2025 Update

Joe Canavan, Canada's 2025 Angel of the Year and Principal at Canavan Capital, shares his deep passion for tech investing after a finance career. He discusses the vital role of mentorship and personal connections in fostering startup success. Canavan also highlights the challenges posed by recent tax policies and advocates for cohesive governmental support to enhance Canada's tech ecosystem. His insights on bolstering economic sovereignty and the importance of community support resonate strongly in today’s innovation landscape.

“I think for any entrepreneur that’s navigated the last five years, I don’t know if there was a worse time to be building a company.” Clutch found a new gear for its business after a post-pandemic lull … just in time for tariffs to hit. Dan Park (CEO) and Stephen Seibel (COO) join to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online car retail, how the end of cheap capital pumped their brakes, and how Clutch regained traction after a savvy market expansion. What has this journey taught them about how to prepare for whatever tariffs will do to the auto industry? Let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now, convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related links: Clutch gears up for expansion with $100-million CAD Series B round Clutch cuts staff to extend runway, citing market conditions Clutch cut approximately 65 percent of its staff as online auto marketplaces gear down Clutch recovers valuation and eyes growth with $50-million Series D round

“ Toronto Tech Week belongs to everyone. Toronto Tech Week is by definition a platform, and it succeeds or fails by the virtue of all the hosts and all of the ecosystem in Toronto wanting to participate.” Filling the summer event gap that Collision left in the city, Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people attending over 100 events this June. How did the ‘community-driven platform’ come to be? How will it be different than other tech events? Toronto Tech Week founding partners and co-organizers Ameet Shah (Golden Ventures), Satish Kanwar (Good Future), and Mell Truong (Sage Consulting) join to tell the story. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now, convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related Links: Local leaders launch Toronto Tech Week to accelerate city’s ambitions Chamath Palihapitiya, Sanja Fidler among Homecoming headliners as Toronto Tech Week unveils event calendar BetaKit to launch “Most Ambitious” issue on June 23, 2025

“ At the end of the day, I really wanted a Pebble. It didn't exist. No one was building anything remotely like it. So I, without really knowing what I was doing, decided to go and make it.” Almost 10 years after Pebble’s demise, Eric Migicovsky is back building smartwatches. The Canadian behind some of the largest Kickstarter projects of all time explains why he’s relaunching the device he originally made for himself, the incredible luck that has allowed him to do so, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related links: Why We’re Bringing Pebble Back Kickstarter's all-time most-funded list Eric Migicovsky's blog post on why Pebble failed  

“ It's worth it. Because this deserves to live. We've gotten it far enough that this deserves to actually come to fruition. I don't think there is another company in the world today that actually is closer to this sci-fi dream.” Revisiting BetaKit’s January interview with SRTX founder Katherine Homuth about her company’s ambitious goal to modernize Western textile manufacturing in light of recent news that she will step down as CEO contingent on a deal to secure new financing. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Consensus, where innovators meet investors. This May, crypto’s longest-running conference will welcome 20,000 attendees to shape the future of the decentralized digital economy at its inaugural festival in Toronto, Canada’s largest tech and financial hub. You can’t afford to miss it. Visit go.coindesk.com/betakit to sign up and save 20% off your ticket! Related links: SRTX founder and CEO Katherine Homuth to step down amid fundraising push and tariff threat SRTX temporarily lays off 40 percent of staff ahead of US tariff “worst-case scenario”

“ By the time these companies are ready for B and C [rounds], their cap tables are super clean, too. So it doesn't really make sense that we're not putting money into them.” In a time of global uncertainty, a new report by the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) shows that Canada lags other countries in foodtech funding, relying too much on public funding. CEO Dana McCauley joins to discuss the report, how CFIN’s 6,500 members are navigating tariffs, and why it's important that Canada invests in the tech that feeds us. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX—your pathway to new sales, industry connections, and non-dilutive funding. If you're ready to scale, refine, and lead cybersecurity innovation, apply today at www.thecyberchallenge.ca. The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Consensus, where innovators meet investors. This May, crypto’s longest-running conference will welcome 20,000 attendees to shape the future of the decentralized digital economy at its inaugural festival in Toronto, Canada’s largest tech and financial hub. You can’t afford to miss it. Visit go.coindesk.com/betakit to sign up and save 20% off your ticket! Related links: Foodtech in Canada: 2025 Ecosystem Report