The BetaKit Podcast Channel

“ Subversiveness is a way of changing the system. And I think what we're seeing right now is that all systems are changing.” Entrepreneur and Startupfest founding partner Alistair Croll has co-authored a new book, Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook. Why are Canadian companies so bad with their go-to-market execution and is now really the time to be preaching subversion and disagreeableness? Let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.

“This is worth the pain of attempting to figure out how to do it. But attempting to figure out how to do it required us to basically rethink everything about that traditional outsourcing model.” SRTX founder and CEO Katherine Homuth explains how attempting to solve one problem with tights led her company to attempt solving for all problems related to modern North American textile manufacturing. The BetaKit Podcast is brought to you by the BetaKit Innovation Leaders program. Innovation Leaders are driving Canada’s innovation economy forward. By partnering with BetaKit, you can help support the journalism that keeps Canada’s tech sector in focus.  

 ”It does make me increasingly nervous that one of them really wants to move to Mars and the other one has a legit bunker. Like, what are they preparing for?” Social media expert Amber Mac joins to discuss why two of the world’s richest men, collectively responsible for over 3 billion monthly users, are so quick to blame everyone else for the problems their platforms cause. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.

“ I'm sure if there's one takeaway here is that we can all trust Enron to solve the world's energy problems.”  “With a mere human-sized egg.” A cleantech crisis? The end of VCCI? The rise of centaurs? FinTech IPOs? Quantum leaps? BetaKit reporters Madison McLauchlan and Josh Scott join to review 2024’s biggest tech questions before offering a fresh set for 2025. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.  

The hosts tackle the chaos of the tech landscape as they share bold predictions for 2025. AI agents take center stage, with chatter about their integration in daily life and implications for industries. They also uncover a shocking Canadian tech acquisition and discuss the potential breakup of Big Tech. Navigating search and advertising dynamics amidst rising competition adds another layer of intrigue, while political predictions hint at chaos influencing innovation policy. It's a wild ride through the uncertain future of technology.

“We are about to see a bunch of people who are powerful, successful, and feel like they know the best way to do things bring this approach into government.” The BetaKit Podcast reviews the biggest tech stories of 2024 before doling out annual letter grades for Shopify, Wealthsimple, Cohere, and many more. A podcast so good we had to record it twice. Have a different take on 2024? Let us know: podcast@betakit.com. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by ‘Devious Web,’ a Shelley Grandy mystery novel available in digital or paperback formats. A successful Canadian entrepreneur is offered millions from Silicon Valley for his data analytics business. As CEO Tom Oliver considers the deal, he is targeted by an unknown perpetrator, and his friend, homicide detective Jason Liu, must strive to keep him safe. If you enjoyed ‘Suits’ and ‘Succession,’ this book is for you. Order your copy today.

“SaaS was around, ‘How do you automate business processes in order to empower humans?’ AI is about, ‘How can a machine do the process so that you need less [human] involvement?’” David Appel (Sage Intacct), Bryan Watson (Venbridge), April Hicke (Toast), and Stephanie Lipp (MycoFutures) talk AI, the changing role of the CFO, leadership and hiring, cleantech tax credits, and how to make leather from mushrooms (seriously). Recorded live at SAAS NORTH. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Uber Canada. Uber's driving positive change for riders, drivers, and communities across Toronto. Learn more about how Uber is moving Toronto forward.  

“Browsers aren't a business. Browsers don't make money. These are loss leaders for other connected experiences because no one wants to pay for the window to the web." The DOJ wants to take Chrome away from Google. Arc wants to build a better browser for everyone. Rob Kenedi wants to decelerate tech with his new show, which is not (yet) a browser. Let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is brought to you by Cloudways, the managed hosting platform built for speed and scalability. Take advantage of Cloudways Black Friday Cyber Monday offer: 40% off for 4 months on all plans, plus 40 FREE migrations! 3-day trial with no credit card required! Supercharge your website and focus on what matters most this holiday season.

“I’m using failure with intent today, because I don’t want to be ashamed of saying ‘failure.’" Marie Chevrier Schwartz, founder and former CEO of Sampler, explains how her company lost product-market fit after a decade in business. Recorded live on the BetaKit Keynote Stage at SAAS NORTH 2024. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Quiz. Think you're up to date on the world of Canadian tech? Test your knowledge with The BetaKit Quiz, proudly sponsored by GoDaddy.

Chris Arsenault, CEO of Inovia Capital and a leader in Canadian venture capital, shares his insights on the evolving software landscape in Canada. He discusses how Canada is positioning itself as a global software powerhouse by 2024, highlighting trends in AI, funding, and new business models. Arsenault explores the challenges of securing venture capital and the rise of unicorns, while emphasizing the importance of building flexible business strategies for future growth. His perspective on the maturing tech ecosystem sheds light on the exciting potential ahead.