Avanti’s founders were looking for a partner who would be supportive and collaborative, rather than one who act like they have all the answers. They felt that some VCs take too much pride in ownership and control, and Avanti’s team wanted to be able to steer the business themselves. Learn how they found the perfect VC partner who helped them to achieve their goals faster than if they had bootstrapped them.
May 25, 2022•50 min•Ep. 239
Calgary-based FinTech company Helcim is a true success story, going from bootstrapped to big funding. In this talk, Nic shares his insights on growing a bootstrapped business, and how it can be beneficial to figure out your company’s identity before seeking outside investment. You’ll also learn about Helcim’s approach to hiring, and how they’ve assembled a team of key talent to help them reach their ambitious growth goals.
May 24, 2022•39 min•Ep. 238
No matter what business you’re in, people are the most critical component. And, in today’s modern world of work, pairing purpose with your business is no longer optional. Muni Boga is an entrepreneurial culture smith who can help you understand the importance of the ‘right’ behaviour at work, along with how to identify and foster it. Because ultimately, if you’re driving an organization through purpose, you’re going to experience better outcomes — faster.
May 19, 2022•50 min•Ep. 237
Albertans are big believers in supporting local businesses — especially when it comes to produce. That’s why Jim was able to take advantage of this opportunity for West Grow Farms. Not only is it better for the environment, but their fresh leafy green produce can last up to three weeks in the fridge. Find out how West Grow Farms has implemented new agricultural technology to create a more environmentally-friendly way to get local produce.
May 17, 2022•45 min•Ep. 236
Fifteen years ago, Calgary wasn’t known as Canada’s tech hub, but Jay Gohill didn’t know that then. He just knew that mid-sized enterprise organizations need help translating their spreadsheets and half-baked processes with technology. To meet this demand, Jay and Joel - Director of Talent Growth and Development - recruited talented, collaborative workers who wanted to prove themselves and have an eye on the end goal. This allowed Arcurve to grow over those 15+ years into a successful enterprise...
May 12, 2022•57 min•Ep. 235
Attracting investors to Alberta hasn’t been easy. With Toronto and Vancouver, it’s not always the first choice for key investments. That’s why the government of Alberta created Invest Alberta - a Crown corporation. From hydrogen to agriculture, aerospace to FinTech, Invest Alberta has brought billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our province. Find out how they are working to attract new jobs and industries in Alberta that can not only keep us competitive but how they’ll keep us ahead....
May 10, 2022•58 min•Ep. 234
Far from the one-trick-pony some may consider Calgary to be, Brad will help demonstrate just how innovative, competitive and collaborative Calgary is. From our glory days as a top energy producer, our workforce has the capital and the know-how to get things done. Our city is working hard to transform its global reputation with thoughtful storytelling and brand architecture to continue to support and drive the entrepreneurs that make Calgary the best place in the world to own and operate a busine...
May 05, 2022•38 min•Ep. 233
With over 9 funds, $6BN of capital and 180+ investments, ARC Financial knows plenty about investing in the energy sector. Brian recognizes that what has historically worked needs to be tweaked to greet the new future of energy. Get up to speed on where Alberta can create significant change (hint: carbon capture and low carbon are going to be huge), Brian’s take on deal flow, and how traditional oil and gas businesses will be the backbone of our energy transition plans now and in the future....
May 02, 2022•37 min•Ep. 232
While working on her Master’s Thesis on the topic of legislating gender parity on corporate board of directors, Amber realized that gender parity is a slow burn to advancement. She has dedicated her professional career to advancing women and the role of Executive Director at Axis Connects was a natural next step. There, she has the opportunity to connect organizations working in the space to take more meaningful steps to solving gender parity issues. Tune in to learn about their annual awards ho...
Apr 29, 2022•49 min•Ep. 231
Whether you wonder what the future of work looks like for you or the next generations, Futurist Sabrina Sullivan will help you get excited and inspired by the changes coming. What is a Futurist? They help systematically explore predictions and possibilities for the future and how they can emerge. She’ll help explain how digital transformation in education ensures students understand what markets they will need to fill and then match their future of learning to those markets. Sabrina also knows t...
Apr 28, 2022•49 min•Ep. 230
At marquee events in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Zack and Tim have helped hundreds of Prairie start-ups have fun, make connections and build companies. Their Investment Summit allow local start-ups to get in front of investors, while simultaneously training and introducing new investors to the ecosystem. Their combined knowledge will give you a snapshot into the Prairie start-up and investment opportunities, and their optimistic outlook will have you itching to get involved.
Apr 26, 2022•44 min•Ep. 229
It feels like our province is on the cusp of a new era, and creating the right atmosphere and ecosystem will help Alberta rebuild, innovate, and reimagine its economy. Sandi understands that entrepreneurs and their giving mindsets have played a huge role in this. Learn about the entrepreneurial community in Alberta, and how scrappy Alberta start-ups have transformed in recent years. Find out more about the founders who led those companies to success, and what you can learn from them.
Apr 21, 2022•40 min•Ep. 228
Buttermilk Fine Waffles had a few brick and mortar locations downtown Calgary, but ongoing major construction and recessions created economic pressure on Sam and his dream. He knows that the idea of never giving up is great, but that sometimes you need to know when to call it off. When COVID hit, his business had to pivot. Instead of giving up on the entrepreneurial life or his dream, he simply began packaging his mix into 500g bags and selling them in stores, such as Blush Lane, and online and ...
Apr 20, 2022•36 min•Ep. 227
Wilson is no stranger to innovative ideas. When he shared his ideas in Alberta, everyone told him and his team they were crazy; but when they took their idea out further, they were told to build it! A seasoned entrepreneur, and new fund creator (Tall Grass Ventures), Wilson Acton shares his experiences founding multiple companies, as well as what he’s learned by observing Alberta’s investment landscape.
Apr 19, 2022•48 min•Ep. 226
Innovative growth may as well be Jason’s middle name. With decades of experience guiding organizations as they work to innovate, grow, adapt, and change, he’s got loads of insights to share. He will inspire you to examine your organization and find ways to improve. Learn about cloud-native solutions, future-ready approaches, and some current examples of companies revolutionizing a need or industry with their innovative approach.
Apr 14, 2022•44 min•Ep. 225
Al-Kharim feels encouraged by what he’s seeing in Alberta’s investment ecosystem. Silicon Valley’s influence over digital technologies and our oil-rich status has led to an influx of money into technology, transforming our economy and making a huge difference. In this episode, you will gain insight into Al-Kharim’s fundraising process, starting with friends and family.
Apr 12, 2022•57 min•Ep. 224
Kinsted Wealth is a Canadian financial institution, specializing in non-public investments. In the current investing landscape, the most profitable investments have shifted to private credit and debt – and Kinsted Wealth has adapted accordingly. Brent Smith, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, understands these new investment opportunities and what they can do for investors of all kinds.
Apr 07, 2022•53 min•Ep. 223
Mark is a focused man - he speaks fluent Mandarin, holds two Master’s degrees, and is a Principal at a global investment and advisory network here in Alberta - Red Thread Ventures. In this new era, your business needs to be focused more than ever before - and Mark is here to help you. Recently, Mark become dedicated to the idea of strategic connections over deal flow. This episode offers advice on how to do that, explains the difference between angel investing and traditional investing, and poin...
Apr 05, 2022•35 min•Ep. 222
The Arts have a huge economic impact on a city, and Alex knows this better than anyone. He shares the goal for Calgary’s Arts Commons and what that means for our city as a whole. He talks about the $450M construction project and how it will transform Arts Commons by being the single largest cultural infrastructure project in recent Canadian history. This project will make the arts more accessible to all Calgarians, and help put Calgary on the map in the way we’ve always wanted it to be — in a wa...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 221
Over the course of his decorated military service, Mark has become a leading expert on developing leaders and teams and applying their use in conflict. Now, he’s using this knowledge to help organizations lead personnel and team transformations at The Gasparotto Group. With his extensive military experience, he is also qualified to help explain the recent war between Russia and Ukraine. Find out more about the origins of Russia, Putin’s geopolitical desires, and how military experts can help a c...
Mar 30, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 220
Bryan shares why private funds are a worthwhile way to invest. Why? Because they offer the same benefits of a mutual fund, just with more diversification and ownership. He also explains why investing with purpose is not just the right thing to do, it’s also good business. It leads to higher performing founders, teams and companies — and ultimately a stronger return. Find out about Alberta’s venture capital fund landscape and how we can make it even more competitive.
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 219
Misfortune can strike at any moment and no one is immune. When it does, people think, “How am I going to get through this?” One way is to have comprehensive insurance. Holding insurance can give you the opportunity to have a new lease on life, should you need it, and protection when the unexpected occurs. We’re fortunate that Canada has incredible public healthcare but privatizing certain aspects of care can create significant benefits, as Greg will explain. Greg’s experience will help you under...
Mar 23, 2022•46 min•Ep. 218
Calgary is a technology leader in many areas and the YYC Data Society proves that data is one of those areas in which our city excels. The sector would benefit from being put more ‘on the map’, so the YYC Data Society created a fun conference where anyone can come learn, regardless of their level of expertise. Find out how Calgary can be a global leader in data science.
Mar 21, 2022•15 min•Ep. 217
The Internet of Things has the capabilities to improve industries as wide-ranging as firefighting to oil and gas to HVAC. Alberta is a primary hub of IoT development thanks to ecosystems like Alberta IoT, and Dr. Liang shares his insights into this burgeoning industry. He spent half a year in Silicon Valley learning from experts and bringing that back to his work in Alberta. Learn how IoT and Alberta’s high tech workforce are building the next generation of industries in our backyard.
Mar 16, 2022•48 min•Ep. 216
Planning your wealth is a very personal process based largely on what you value. Some people prefer to enjoy their money today, while others are more focused on saving for tomorrow. This is why it’s important to make your decisions from a place of knowing what you value. It will help ensure that you have the right plan in place. Rick’s team at Sagium does just that. Learn how a values-based approach to wealth and health planning can give you a competitive edge.
Mar 10, 2022•54 min•Ep. 215
Businesses don’t exist in an emotionless vacuum - the people that work within them complete their tasks with communication and conversation. That’s why ensuring your emotional intelligence is sharpened is critical to a strong workplace culture and team. Learn how to best support your team by curating your own unique playbook with these tips from Jennie Gilbert.
Mar 02, 2022•54 min•Ep. 214
In the new world of AI, AltaML aims to be a valuable partner. They help their clients by developing AI products that optimize their business. To do this, they have developed a mindset that helps them assess the opportunity and develop the right AI strategy. Jil also discusses the importance of keeping biases out of AI. Here are some things to read or to look into for those looking to dive deeper into the digital tools and realm. AltaML Ebook - Why Adopt AI Now and Not Later? - Learn to overcome ...
Feb 24, 2022•54 min•Ep. 213
Alberta is known for its abundant natural resources and agriculture. But what if these two industries could work together? It was the perfect opportunity for a leader like Brad Murray with Enermerge to do just that. His team brought together natural gas and electrical infrastructure to capture co2 and create greenhouses that grow delicious, local produce. This not only helps Alberta become more sustainable but also creates a new Alberta advantage reducing our reliance on imported produce.
Feb 22, 2022•46 min•Ep. 212
Investments are for everyone. Most major investment opportunities are reserved for the wealthy, but every Canadian should have the opportunity to invest in good-quality funds. Brent Smith, CFO at Kinsted Wealth, has decades of investment experience to will help you make sense of investing and protecting your wealth. Tune in to understand Kinsted Wealth’s unique approach, and learn from Brent’s years of experience.
Feb 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 211
Jeff wanted to make a big impact but knew that competing in traditional tech hubs, like Silicon Valley or Toronto, wouldn’t be right for his vision. Instead, he elected to leverage brilliant ideas and top talent in two smaller Canadian cities, both with burgeoning tech scenes. Rather than repeat something that’s been done a hundred times in major cities, he co-founded two start-ups: SkipTheDishes in Winnipeg and Neo Financial in Calgary, demonstrating that great businesses can come from anywhere...
Feb 10, 2022•58 min•Ep. 210
