The BetaKit Podcast Channel cover image

The BetaKit Podcast Channel

Latest episodes

undefined
Mar 31, 2023 • 1h 6min

Ask John Ruffolo Anything: SVB fallout, VC groupthink, government dependence & more

"The [Canadian] venture ecosystem is never going to get to the right level of maturity if they constantly rely upon the taxpayer to provide them with the capital." Maverix Private Equity founder and Managing Partner John Ruffolo joins to answer listener questions on the fall of SVB, its impact on the Canadian venture debt market, regulatory capture by new federal bills, and how many VCCIs are too many. Sponsored by Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP. Read the Deal Points Report: Venture Capital Financings.
undefined
Mar 25, 2023 • 54min

Michelle Scarborough explains why BDC is thinking bigger with Thrive Platform

"We're seeing way more women found new technology companies in the market than we did five years ago. By a magnitude—like three times. It's substantial."   Michelle Scarborough, Managing Partner of Thrive Venture Fund, explains the origins of BDC's $500 million commitment to women-led startups and funds, and the progress she's seen since 2017.
undefined
Mar 17, 2023 • 1h 7min

Raine Maida and Senator Colin Deacon discuss Big Tech's control over digital creators (and the news)

"We are in the midst of a new technological payola." Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida and Senator Colin Deacon join for a frank discussion about Big Tech's leverage over Canadian content as Parliament looks to pass new regulations in Bill C-11 and Bill C-18.
undefined
Mar 10, 2023 • 57min

Dan Breznitz unmuzzled: Canada Innovation Corporation architect explains how we got here

"Let's be blunt about it: we as a country are extremely good at invention ... we're horrible at innovation." Dan Breznitz, co-director of the Innovation Policy Lab at the University of Toronto, walks through the reasons for Canada's failure on innovation, the origins of the CIC, and who he thinks should be its first CEO.
undefined
Mar 3, 2023 • 58min

Panache's Chris Neumann on FounderFuel's return and "shitty" VC behaviour (AMA episode)

"There is a special place in hell for investors who intentionally screw over their founders with no empathy for the journey or the challenges that they are going through." Panache Ventures partner Chris Neumann joins to answer listener questions about his blog writing, the state of Canadian accelerators, and what VCs are talking about. Sponsored by Invest Ottawa.
undefined
Feb 24, 2023 • 44min

Generative AI will test what's worse: biased data or user bad faith

"This whole thing with ChatGPT is just history replaying itself. We need to stop viewing tech and innovation as a veritable silver bullet for all the world's problems and instead understand that it can actually scale inequities at warp speed." Feminuity co-founder and CEO Dr. Sarah Saska walks through the current relationship between DEI and tech, before tracking the dangers of biased data and bad faith users on generative AI. Sponsored by ventureLAB and Invest Ottawa.
undefined
Feb 18, 2023 • 56min

The Indigo hack is bad. Will AI make cyber threats worse?

"The deepfake technology that is part of this new rise of generative AI tools I think will have a very deleterious effect on the current state of cyber defences." Plurilock CEO Ian Paterson discusses the economics of AI cyber threats and Canada's response with Bill C-26. Sponsored by ventureLAB and Invest Ottawa.
undefined
Feb 10, 2023 • 45min

What comes after the attention economy?

"We all want AI to do our jobs for us—the boring parts. What we're doing here is making computers more human-like, and sadly, they're getting all the fun jobs. Because those are the jobs that don't have to be perfect." Entrepreneur and author Alistair Croll joins to discuss what will become scarce and what will become abundant in the new economy created by generative AI. Sponsored by International Women's Week.
undefined
Feb 3, 2023 • 49min

Why I killed my startup

"It's not like a light comes down from heaven and says 'now you shall stop your company.' But, man, was it very difficult emotionally." Entrepreneur and BetaKit Podcast co-host Rob Kenedi explains the process of launching and eventually shuttering his startup, Staid.
undefined
Jan 27, 2023 • 48min

Can Amber Mac explain WTF is happening in tech right now?

"I honestly feel as though 2023 is going to be one of those years in Canadian tech where companies are going to have to be accountable." Award-winning Amber Mac returns to the award-nominated BetaKit Podcast for the first AMA episode of 2023, answering listener questions about: mass tech layoffs and CEO departures; VCs killing rounds because LPs can't (won't?) pay up; opportunities for tech growth in Atlantic Canada; and the essential 10 minutes talking ChatGPT and 'Next Big Things'. Sponsored by Amazon Web Services.    

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode