In this episode, we chat about event management with Sheri Moore, Partner and Creative Director at Moore Carlyle Consulting & MCC Destination Management. Sheri is a self-proclaimed “event geek” and an original founder of the renowned mesh conference. After taking some time off, mesh is now bringing the conference to Western Canada, and Sheri gives us an inside look at what goes into planning an event of this magnitude.

You’ll gain valuable insights from Sheri’s experience in the industry and come away with a better understanding of the ins and outs of event management. Whether you’re a seasoned event planner or just starting, tune in for an informative and engaging discussion on planning unforgettable events.

Read More

In this episode, hear from ViVent Bioprocesses Co-Founders Troy Temple and Griffin Smith, who share their valuable experience of building their start-up with the support of Avatar Innovations. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, their insights and advice will resonate with you. They discuss everything from understanding your intention in building a business or product to the need to have multiple horses in the race.

This enlightening conversation provides valuable guidance on navigating the start-up journey, including building a cohesive team and fostering a positive company culture. You’ll also gain insights into iterating your solutions and how joining an accelerator or incubator can provide invaluable perspectives and support. This episode will leave you feeling inspired and better equipped to take on the exciting challenges of the start-up world.

Read More

In this episode, dive into the cutting-edge ways that Thin Air Labs supports Alberta’s thriving innovation ecosystem. It’s no secret that our province needs a tailored approach that isn’t simply a replica of the Bay Area or Toronto. We’re joined by Andrew Browne, Partner and Funding Catalyst Lead at Thin Air Labs, to shed some light on this topic.

Andrew’s background as an entrepreneur and funding expert gives him a unique perspective, and he explains how Thin Air Labs is shaking up the traditional fund development roadmap. Rather than following the status quo, they’ve built their own parameters to identify the most promising founders, companies, and big ideas worth investing in. And once they’ve found them, Thin Air Labs provides a complete 360 package to help these businesses scale significantly.

Discover Thin Air Labs’ innovative approach, the challenges of fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem in Alberta, and how we can continue to support and uplift our local entrepreneurs.

Read More

In this episode, you’ll be reminded about the joys of recess and play with PlayCity Founder & CEO, Hafiz Mitha. After exiting a role and moving back to Calgary, Hafiz stared at tennis courts outside of his condo day after day, pining for a partner to play with. But he didn’t know anyone and felt some anxiety about showing up and standing around, hoping someone might play tennis with him. Around the same time, dating apps were incredibly popular, which sparked Hafiz’s idea - instead of matching someone for a romantic date, why couldn’t you match someone who shares the same activity interests, skill level, and availability as yourself? After that a-ha moment, PlayCity was born.

Read More

In this episode, learn how four friends in a basement created a business based on the idea that sustainability should be easier, not harder. Alex Todorovic, CEO of Arbor, explains how they leverage first-party and shared data to help companies map out their supply chain and emissions so they can greet changing regulations with a game plan to be compliant. Alex will help you understand the complex realities of environmental management through the lens of data, particularly in our globally connected world, where choices Canadian businesses make can have a real impact in the least developed nations.

Read More

In this episode, get an insider’s look at product development with Katie Underwood, Product Traction Lead at Thin Air Labs. She explains how Thin Air Labs is purpose-built to help start-ups grow — whether they’re already enjoying in-market success and need a little push or a scrappy start-up that needs to de-risk product ideas before anything gets built. You’ll understand how product managers fit into Western Canada’s start-up boom and how an obsession with the right thing for the right customer at the right time underscores every approach in product development.

Read More

In this episode, the President of Sabi Mind, Philippe Lucas, shares insights on a common analgesic’s potential in treating mental health issues. He explains how it can help reduce trauma responses, suicidal ideation, anxiety, lack of connectedness, and depression. Sabi Mind is expanding from Calgary to Edmonton and Victoria to provide access to communities with limited exposure to psychedelic medicine. You’ll learn about ketamine’s therapeutic effects in a clinical setting, Sabi Mind’s innovative psilocybin study for alcohol use disorder treatment, and much more. Join us for a fascinating conversation on the promising developments in psychedelic medicine.

Read More

Join us for the first episode in Sustainable Matters and learn about emissions management with Jessica Shumlich, CEO and Co-Founder of Highwood Emissions Management. Jessica, a trained engineer, brings a wealth of experience from working in heavy industry in North America and Europe, which has contributed to her holistic expertise in greenhouse gas emissions management. As Western Canada aims to balance the imperative need to achieve our ESG goals with a license to grow, telling the positive stories of how Canadian businesses are trending their emissions down will be critical to the future of heavy industry.

Read More

In this episode, hear from Wilson Acton about the first exciting year of building Tall Grass Ventures, a fund he co-created in 2022 to fill the pre-series funding gap while helping founders address their specific challenges in building better businesses. Wilson shares how Tall Grass went from just starting in April 2022 to operating a $20M fund with significant demand, despite softening markets. Wilson also highlights how AgTech can play in future industries, from aviation to cattle production and the importance of having primary producers at the table to help drive the next revolution.

Read More

In this episode, discover the insights of Pascal St-Jean, President at 3iQ Corporation, as he explores the exciting world of digital assets. 3iQ is a leading innovator in the financial industry and was one of the first companies to work directly with regulators to bring secure, quality financial products to institutional and retail investors in a safe, efficient way. Join Pascal as he highlights the similarities between the early days of the internet and the current digital asset landscape. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, with over two decades of scaling companies, to help you understand the impact of regulation and normalization in the digital asset world. Don’t miss this episode if you want to learn more about shifting regulations, where digital assets are headed, and how companies can take advantage.

Read More

In this episode, join us as we delve into the exciting virtual and augmented reality world with the Co-Founders of Red Iron Labs, Rosalinda Hernandez and Lloyd Summers. They share their journey from a gaming company leveraging virtual and augmented reality to a pivot to help other industries unlock their potential. Explore the possibilities and limits of this cutting-edge technology, learn about the innovative use cases developed by Red Iron Labs, and get a glimpse into the future of this captivating field. Get ready to expand your understanding of VR and AR and discover what they have in store for us in the future.

Read More

In this episode, hear from Matthew Burgoyne, Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Learn all about the legalities of cryptocurrencies and how Matthew used marketing techniques to become a sought-after crypto expert with the nickname “Bitcoin Burgoyne.” Matthew first gained interest in the intersection of law and non-FIAT currencies during the Occupy Wall Street crisis of 2008, when trust plummeted in traditional systems. By 2013, Matthew knew he had to build his client base to make Partner and made the bold choice to focus on cryptocurrencies.

Read More

In this episode, learn about the ins and outs of product development with Bruce Alton, Founder of A-Partners Ventures Inc. and Product Opportunity Mapping. As an angel investor and product development specialist, Bruce uses his unique combination of skills to help you understand how four questions are common to all product development, whether you work at a multi-billion dollar corporation or a scrappy start-up.

Read More

In this episode, discover how artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping new home builders get the right demand intelligence to facilitate better homes and experiences for salespeople and buyers. Will Zhang, the Co-Founder and CEO of OpenHouse, guides you through the difficulties of digitizing the home-building and buying process and how a new approach to data collection can drive this transformation. He also explores how gaining a deeper understanding of your customers through direct engagement can significantly advance your business’s success.

Read More

In this episode, learn how drone technology can take industries to new heights. Jordon Cicoria, the President and CEO of Aerium Analytics, shares the positive impact of drones and sensors on various industries, from affordably delivering goods to remote areas to protecting birds from tailing ponds and aircraft on runways. He also highlights how the strict regulations in aviation, which apply to drones, can lead to new and innovative uses for the technology. This optimistic conversation showcases Alberta’s leadership in drone technology and gives insight into what the future holds for this vertical.

Read More

In this episode, explore the realities of the energy sector through an investment lens with Jeremy McCrea, Director of Equity Research at Raymond James Ltd. Jeremy has been covering Canadian energy companies for nearly two decades and brings his expertise to the show to help you understand the landscape and the future of Canadian energy.

Read More

In this episode, Brian L’Heureux, the Owner and CEO of Linestar Utility Supply, takes us on a journey of growing a leading business in the competitive utility industry. Discover the impact of the merger and acquisition trend among Canadian utility companies on Linestar and how Brian and the Partner team navigated these challenges to establish the company as a top player. You’ll also learn how Linestar achieved initial growth without taking on debt and the strategic partnerships with Fort Capital, CAI Capital Partners and CAA driving the company’s future expansion and innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned industry leader.

Read More

In this episode, learn all about the complexities of AI in a simple way with BrainToy co-founder Kwame Asiedu. Braintoy is Canada’s first low code/no-code applied AI platform, making it easy to build, deploy, and monitor machine learning models at scale. Kwame explains this intricate topic with simple analogies to help you understand how we have arrived at this time when AI seems to be everywhere, what that means for improving human lives, and ways to encourage the bias-reduction and positive impact of artificial intelligence.

Read More