Float Or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories podcast

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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444- Eloping is Fun with Jenny Mac 1:06:22

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Want to ditch the big wedding and elope? This episode's for you! Jenny Mac, creator of New York City-based Eloping is Fun, joins us this week to chat about the next steps after deciding to elope, as well as the creative ways couples are balancing traditions with a more intimate elopement or micro-wedding. Find Eloping is Fun on Instagram at @elopingisfun and their website elopingisfun.com Visit thebridechilla.com for all the latest news! BriteCo: Modern Insurance for Modern Milestones. Visit brite.co/bridechilla/ for a fast, free quote today and unlock peace of mind knowing you're covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

Beranda serial•Feed

Float or Founder is the Toronto startup podcast. Learn from the career and management experiences of local startup and business entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and venture capitalists in Toronto, Canada. Hosted by Samantha Lloyd and Lisen Kaci.

68 episode

#Business #Startups #Toronto #Canada #Entrepreneurship #MBA #Careers #Tech #Canadian #Entrepreneur #Small #Float Or Founder #Founders #CEOs #Leaders #Investors #IT Management

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

updated 5 tahun yang lalu

Beranda serial•Feed

68 episode

#Business #Startups #Toronto #Canada #Entrepreneurship #MBA #Careers #Tech #Canadian #Entrepreneur #Small #Float Or Founder #Founders #CEOs #Leaders #Investors #IT Management

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Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E26: Ryan Shupak of Jiffy on finding early customers 16:49

5 years yang lalu16:49

16:49

Ryan Shupak is the co-founder of Jiffy, a service that allows you to get on-demand contractors to your home. Building a marketplace always comes with its own set of challenges. The supply side, the contractors, are already doing the work so building up this marketplace was a bit easier and more unique than others. The early day grind of getting sign ups took this former investment banker and his co-founders door-to-door. Scaling and finding early customers happened through all types of channels: Facebook groups, emailing potential users from people they knew, encouraging word-of-mouth marketing with yard signs, and more. 75rYAfSp9btxzvlvVQay Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E25: Shawna Stewart of PostBeyond on people and policies 18:54

5 years yang lalu18:54

18:54

Shawna Stewart is the VP of People and Operations at PostBeyond, a tech startup in Toronto. Being in charge of the operations and people part of any company is a tall order. Shawna's favourite task is to create inclusive and positive policies. In light of Black Lives Matter especially, she believes it is important to take another look at policies and revamp those that have biases. Shawna discusses the misconceptions around what human resources is and which paths to pursue in your career if you're interested in heading up people or operations. Shawna also shares the questions to ask recruitment firms to find out if you align on values and to ensure you hire a diverse team. She says that continuing anti-racist initiatives in the workplace is a marathon, not a sprint, and we have to normalize talking about what is right. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2 Special! David Lloyd Hosts Neil Wainright of UpHabit 29:54

5 years yang lalu29:54

29:54

David Lloyd recorded this episode with Neil Wainright in mid-2019 but never had the opportunity to publish it... until now! David Lloyd takes over the Float or Founder podcast to discuss "the grind" it takes to run a tech startup and turn it into a solid company. David comes from an extensive background in the tech industry in Toronto and is currently the CEO of PostBeyond . Neil Wainright is the founder and CEO of UpHabit. UpHabit is an app that's a personal CRM for super connectors. Neil discusses growing UpHabit for the past 11 years and David takes us on a journey through his exits and past startup growth stories. Neil discusses what first inspired him to launch UpHabit by seeing a gap at a previous company he worked at. He talks honestly about how the pace of business impacts a young founder's mental health. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E28: Kayla Isabelle of Startup Canada on Canadian entrepreneurship 18:37

5 years yang lalu18:37

18:37

What does it take to launch a business in Canada? Kayla Isabelle has had the pleasure of seeing companies from launch through success many times as Executive Director of Startup Canada. She takes us through the joy of coaching and mentoring startups and the similarities she sees between leaders. What does every entrepreneur need? Passion and grit. Kayla takes us through how COVID-19 has reshaped companies or inspired new companies to launch. She tells us her opinion on whether you should launch your ideas now or wait for greener pastures. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E23: Diana Goodwin of Marketbox & Aquamobile on scalable flexibility 21:30

5 years yang lalu21:30

21:30

Diana Goodwin launched Aquamobile eight years ago - a business enabling swim instructors to do at-home lessons on-the-go. Their internal management tool of these instructors and customers/lessons led her to launching Marketbox to other companies facing labour deployment and management challenges. In essense, Aquamobile became a customer of Marketbox! The journey of balancing two companies isn't simple but Diana knew she wanted to focus on the software business. She discusses how she spent time searching for the right person to become the General Manager of Aquamobile and how her amazing team has stepped up to the challenge. She shares the experience of feeling excited about running a new company and specifically a tech startup. Diana also gives her best advice to all other solo founders out there. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E22: Sarah Stockdale of Growclass on data-driven startup marketing 17:46

5 years yang lalu17:46

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Many people think marketing is fluffy but (especially in the tech industry) it's anything but. Marketing is creative, experimental, and data-driven. How do you write copy that connects? How do you create ads that converts? You need to test a hypothesis and see the data to build the most successful marketing strategies. Sarah Stockdale takes us on her decade-long career in the startup industry and why she started Growclass so that other startup entrepreneurs could better understand marketing and customer acquisition in the early days. Sarah goes into details about different strategies to attract customers. We also discuss her newsletter, We Need To Talk About This and how her supportive friends encouraged her to actually launch it to the public. She also opens up about what wasn't working with Valkerie that led to the rebrand! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2 Special! David Lloyd Hosts James Novak of Fiix 21:27

5 years yang lalu21:27

21:27

David Lloyd recorded this episode with James Novak in mid-2019 but never had the opportunity to publish it... until now! David Lloyd takes over the Float or Founder podcast to discuss "the grind" it takes to run a tech startup and turn it into a solid company. David comes from an extensive background in the tech industry in Toronto and is currently the CEO of PostBeyond . James Novak is the CEO of Fiix . Fiix is in the asset maintenance industry within software... an industry not necessarily thought of often! James discusses growing Fiix, how he moved from consumer tech in RIM to this role, and how Fiix has grown to a big, global company. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E21: Kathy Cheng of WS & Co. + Redwood Classics on vertical integration 16:50

5 years yang lalu16:50

16:50

Running a textile factory is challenging but Kathy Cheng of WS & Co. and Redwood Classics Apparel takes us into the world of vertical integration. She shares how her family moved to Canada and started this company to promote made-in-Canada goods. She discusses how they're making fashion accessible through their Redwood Classics Apparel brand and the importance of sustainability and supporting makers in the fashion industry. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E20: Derek Manuge of Corl on picking investments and advisors 21:24

5 years yang lalu21:24

21:24

Derek Manuge is the co-founder, Director, and CEO of Corl.io - a revenue sharing and investment company. He shows us the different types of funding opportunities for businesses and how he came up with the idea of using data to make equitable and fair investment decisions. There is a lot of math that goes into the underlying software! Derek shares the importance of choosing the right team and advisory board for your company to help you move forward and scale. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E19: Faye Almeshaan of Acceleprise on accelerators 18:22

5 years yang lalu18:22

18:22

Faye Almeshaan is the Program Manager and Venture Associate of Acceleprise . Acceleprise is a B2B software accelerator program and investment firm based in San Francisco and Toronto. She talks about how companies pivoted and grew out of COVID and what the investment scene is like. If you're a B2B startup looking to join an accelerator, you can follow along with the current cohort's journey and apply for their upcoming cohort in January 2021! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E18: Zoe Share of Schmooz Media on not being self-serving on social 19:16

5 years yang lalu19:16

19:16

Social media marketing is a necessary component of every company. Zoe saw this a few years back when she started her agency Schmooz at a time when many didn't see social media as a serious pursuit. Zoe offers her insights on how important social media is to provide value and connect with the human side of brands, especially during COVID and Black Lives Matter. She also discusses the recent charitable children's book she has released alongside Gabriella Rackoff: ABC Stay Home With Me . As per Zoe, "You create a legacy in every action you take [on social media]." You need to align your social goals with your company values. Provide value and don't be entirely self-serving." Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E17: Charles Bennett of Triella on digital security 15:45

5 years yang lalu15:45

15:45

Charles Bennett has been running his full-service technology management company, Triella , for 17 years as founder and CEO! Running a company for that long has given Charles insight into the industry. He shares his top security tips for any company during COVID and with remote work becoming the norm. He openly shares the challenges of hiring and mentoring new team members when switching to full remote. Charles also talks about the other business he almost chose to run at a fork in the road 17 years ago - guess what it is! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E16: Paula Teixeira Leite of Caju Winds on the packaged food business 20:10

5 years yang lalu20:10

20:10

Paula Teixeira Leite is the founder of Caju Winds , a cashew spread that is a delicious, vegan alternative to cream cheese and other dairy spreads. She started the business when her daughter started experiencing allergies and reactions to food. Paula shares insights into starting a food business - everything from the regulations, to working closely with (and relying on!) the food inspector, to choosing local versus big box stores, and so much more. She openly discusses the challenges of delivery as a niche product and small business struggles during COVID. If you're launching a packaged food business, Paula has all the insights for you! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E15: Jason Field of Brainstation on lifelong learning 19:45

5 years yang lalu19:45

19:45

Back to school looks a little different in 2020 for most people. Jason Field is the Founder and CEO of Brainstation , an education centre for digital skills. He discusses how they switched to online education during COVID-19 and how they could reach additional markets due to the online switch. They offer 400 instructors - not a small team by any means. Jason explains how they handle company culture, hiring, and management with such a huge team. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E14: Dr. Leeno Karumanchery of MESH Diversity on the science of diversity 17:51

5 years yang lalu17:51

17:51

Trigger Warning: Discussions of racism, George Floyd, police brutality, racism in the workplace. Dr. Leeno Karumanchery is the co-founder and Head of Behavioural Sciences at MESH Diversity . MESH fully integrated anti-racism tool. He is a doctor of sociology and discusses the first class and professor that inspired him to pursue anti-racist work as his profession. He goes into how him and his friend built MESH using science and data as the basis for what they drive forward (and how they hire with their own metrics!). He highlights how to value people in the workplace and why the term "diversity of thought" is a cop-out for companies. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E13: Alyssa Atkins of Lilia on personal pain point 22:32

5 years yang lalu22:32

22:32

When you face a personal pain point, what's the first thing you think to do? Alyssa Atkins of Lilia decided to turn her personal pain point into a business. Lilia is a personal online concierge that gives you clarity and confidence in options about egg security and storage - and celebration! She talks about her time in Y Combinator as it switched to virtual amidst COVID and what Y Com helped her achieve. She also shares Lilia's typical persona and how she talks to each one of her users, which is very important in early stage companies. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E12: Jay Rosenzweig of Rosenzweig & Company on recruiting 18:36

5 years yang lalu18:36

18:36

Jay Rosenzweig of Rosenzweig & Company talks to us about recruiting - in a pandemic and out. He also provides insights on how you can offer your skills to achieve what you want in your career and try new paths. Fun fact: he does songwriting on the side! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2 Special! David Lloyd Hosts Joel Lessem of Firmex 27:56

5 years yang lalu27:56

27:56

David Lloyd recorded this episode with Joel Lessem in mid-2019 but never had the opportunity to publish it... until now! David Lloyd takes over the Float or Founder podcast to discuss the "grind" it takes to run a tech startup and turn it into a solid company. David comes from an extensive background in the tech industry in Toronto and is currently the CEO of PostBeyond . Joel Lessem is the co-founder and CEO of Firmex . Firmex is rapidly becoming a standard for sharing large volumes of highly confidential and sensitive documents for corporate transactions, litigation, and compliance. Joel discusses growing Firmex but also the importance of disconnecting and some of his favourite ways to step back and take a break. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E11: Neel Lukka on timing 20:33

5 years yang lalu20:33

20:33

Timing is everything - or so we're told. Neel Lukka delves into why timing is so important for the success of a company. He talks about the different businesses he's built, his experience in Y Com, and what he's up to now! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E10: Martha Switzer of Sprout at Work on wellness 18:34

5 years yang lalu18:34

18:34

Martha Switzer is the co-founder and CEO of Sprout . Sprout enables businesses to reward their employees for healthy behaviour. She talks about wellness, how COVID-19 impacted wellness initiatives, and why she built a company around wellness and health in the workplace. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E9: Mark Ang of Second Closet on grinding 19:54

5 years yang lalu19:54

19:54

Mark Ang, co-founder and CEO, of Second Closet joins us this week. He discusses the unscalable early days of creating their storage company and how they grinded through those challenges. If you're curious on what goes on behind-the-scenes of early day startups, Mark has incredible insights into what him and his co-founders faced! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E8: Nunzio Presta of BizOn on selling and buying businesses 18:51

5 years yang lalu18:51

18:51

Nunzio Presta runs a business of helping you sell your business with the company he is the CEO of, BizOn. He takes us through the selling process, the best way to approach selling your business, how to buy a business, why people sell, and so much more. He provides really interesting insights into operating this type of marketplace and how it began. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E7: Marsha Druker of F*ckupNights on community 22:18

5 years yang lalu22:18

22:18

Marsha Druker of F*ckupNights talks to us about building a community and what it takes to really form a meaningful one. In light of COVID, she talks about taking a community that typically met in-person to a virtual one. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E6: Dr. Bryan Gelman of St. Clair Vet on location, location, location 21:44

5 years yang lalu21:44

21:44

Starting a new business anywhere is a challenge - but especially if you need a physical space to operate in. Dr. Bryan Gelman runs Yonge & St. Clair Veterinary Hospital. He delved into the tricky world of Toronto commercial real estate, navigating a property sale, and turning the place into his ideal veterinary practice. Dr. Gelman truly values his clients and their furry family members. He shared best practices for maintaining social distancing when you have pets to keep everyone safe as well as some socialization techniques for those new furry family members! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2 Special! Techstars Global Startup Weekend COVID-19 Online Canada 41:08

5 years yang lalu41:08

41:08

Back in April 2020, Techstars Global Startup Weekend COVID-19 Online CANADA took place. People from across the country joined this hackathon-style weekend virtually to help accomplish goals surrounding COVID-19. Float or Founder offered a podcast episode as a prize and from there, this special edition episode was created! In this episode, you'll meet Danielle Torrie, an organizer for the event, plus Bruno Morency who was a judge. Members and leaders from the three winning teams also participated. Introducing Kelsey Muller & Michaela Moore and Omar Mohamed of RestAssured, Sabahat Naureen: Pharos, and Nino Melikidze & Sean Huang of HealthBot. Congratulations to everyone who participated. Thank you to Sunil Sharma and Rob Foxall for organizing the podcast episode with us and to the entire Techstars team for putting together this virtual startup weekend. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E5: Eric Vardon of Morphio on marketing and pivoting 19:54

5 years yang lalu19:54

19:54

Eric Vardon now operates Morphio.ai, an artificial intelligence company for digital marketers. This all grew from his many years operating a digital agency. Eric discusses marketing during COVID and beyond. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E4: Shrad Rao of Wagepoint on building culture remote 19:23

5 years yang lalu19:23

19:23

Shrad Rao built Wagepoint from a unique perspective: seeing a strategic alignment between a product all businesses need and a desire to modernize an older industry. He took on payroll, alongside his co-founders, and they have helped small businesses handle their payroll needs in a modern way. Shrad's company has always been remote-first and he shares exactly what they do to build and maintain a positive and social remote work culture. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E3: Kate Dickson & Sarah Hartkorn of Primped on marketplace creation 21:16

5 years yang lalu21:16

21:16

Launching a marketplace can be difficult in the best times. How are Kate Dickson and Sarah Hartkorn , co-founders of Primped handling their bring-beauty-to-you app during COVID? If you need advice on managing a marketplace during challenging times, tune in! 🎙️ These former finance professionals discuss how they started the company together and how their corporate background supports the work they do. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E2: Jodi Kovitz of #MoveTheDial on going out of your way 22:51

5 years yang lalu22:51

22:51

Jodi Kovitz, founder of #MoveTheDial takes us through the challenges her organization faced during COVID-19 and how she turned these experiences into new projects to lead. Now, Jodi has published her book Go Out Of Your Way and her podcast Joyful Sundays went live on June 14th 2020. We had a lot of fun catching up with Jodi and discuss how you can go out of your way for others during social distancing. Book: https://shop.movethedial.com/products/go-out-of-your-way-book Season 1 episode: https://www.floatorfounder.com/episode/jodi-kovitz-move-the-dial Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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S2E1: Colin Hennigar of SickKids Foundation on Fundraising 21:52

5 years yang lalu21:52

21:52

"At some point, you have to ask for it." Colin Hennigar is the VP of Major Gifts of SickKids Foundation . He talks about fundraising tips for non-profits and startups alike, whether during COVID-19 or not. Colin goes in-depth about how their foundation keeps investors up-to-date on where their charity goes. He shares how the charitable and giving acts of Canadians and around the globe has positively impacted SickKids Foundation. He also discusses Tech4SickKids and the foundation's new podcast ! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Meet startup entrepreneurs in Toronto 1:18

5 years yang lalu1:18

1:18

Float or Founder is launching season two in June 2020! We can't wait to bring you more stories from startup founders and entrepreneurs in Toronto, Canada. Beyond that, we're expanding our guests to include executives, venture capitalists, and other great people that make this city shine. See why Toronto is one of the best places to launch your new startup and build your own entrepreneurial journey here. Visit our website at floatorfounder.com for more information on our guests, our hosts, and our partners that help make our podcast possible. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 34 - Farhan Thawar, Helpful & Pivotal 36:12

6 years yang lalu36:12

36:12

What's it really like to go through an acquisition/merger? What about an aqui-hire? Farhan Thawar shares his experience going through an acquisition not once, but twice! Find out how the process goes, if it's anything like it is on TV, and what it's like to be part of the Canadian tech ecosystem. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Special! #movethedial minisode with Jesse Draper, Halogen Ventures 25:25

6 years yang lalu25:25

25:25

We're back with another #movethedial minisode! Jesse Draper of Halogen Ventures, a firm that invests in co-ed led, early stage consumer technology companies. Jesse discusses the importance of diversity on a team, in a product, and what Halogen looks for in a company they want to invest in! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 33 - Michelle McBane, MaRS IAF/StandUp Ventures 34:24

6 years yang lalu34:24

34:24

Michelle McBane takes us through her experience as a VC in Toronto and what you can do to standout when pitching investors. She provides a ton of actionable advice surrounding your pitch deck, founding team, and company. Whether you dream of securing a big investment or becoming a VC yourself, Michelle has insights for you! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 32 - Devon Leichtman & Prashant Shukla, Origin Ventures 50:03

6 years yang lalu50:03

50:03

Prashant Shukla and Devon Leichtman take us into Origin Ventures - their VC firm based in Chicago. They provide resources to all their investments and believe it's important to support the founders and their companies from origin to exit. Hear why they're excited about investing in the Canadian tech scene, the type of companies they're looking for, and how best to impress. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Special! #movethedial minisode with Eva Lau, Two Small Fish Ventures 20:35

6 years yang lalu20:35

20:35

Eva Lau of Two Small Fish Ventures shares her journey in the Toronto tech scene and supporting burgeoning startups as a VC. We sat down with Eva at #movethedial this past November in Toronto. She discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion early on in products to find product market fit. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 31 - Joanne Fedeyko, Connection Silicon Valley 26:36

6 years yang lalu26:36

26:36

Joanne Fedeyko of Connection Silicon Valley discusses differences between startups, funding, and opportunities in Canada versus Silicon Valley and how she bridges those gaps. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 30 - Melissa & Jonathan Nightingale, Raw Signal Group 35:58

6 years yang lalu35:58

35:58

We've all had managers who just didn't quite know how to... manage. Melissa and Jonathan Nightingale of Raw Signal Group take us on their career paths in tech in SF all the way to promoting proper management training to the Toronto ecosystem. Learn how they encourage companies to implement proper management techniques, co-authored a book together, and so much more. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Special! #movethedial minisode with Dr. Sarah Saska of Feminuity 11:43

6 years yang lalu11:43

11:43

On this special #movethedial minisode, we speak with Dr. Sarah Saska of Feminuity about diversity and inclusion. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 29 - Shane Vitaly of Compound Studio 30:28

6 years yang lalu30:28

30:28

The fashion industry is a challenging one to be in. Shane Vitaly goes deep into building his punk jewelry brand from scratch and everything that entails. From factory mishaps to building a brick-and-mortar Toronto store from scratch to starting another jewelry brand with a new target audience. There are many different aspects to building a successful fashion brand and if you've ever thought of entering this industry, Shane's podcast is one to listen to. Shane talks to us about being on Dragon's Den and being offered a deal from Arlene Dickinson and Bruce Croxon. His team of dedicated individuals help him market the business as he travels between countries, discovering new trends and managing quality control. Shane shares what it takes to build brick-and-mortar shops, managing e-commerce, and creating jewelry for often-ignored markets. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 28 - Mark Graham of commonsku 28:54

6 years yang lalu28:54

28:54

People always tells you to create a business idea out of a personal pain point. Have you ever been running a company and been frustrated by an industry pain point and decided to solve that? That's exactly what Mark Graham of commonsku did. During his days running Rightsleeve, he faced challenges and needed a workflow management platform. That workflow management platform became what commonsku is today and it's made for the promotional products industry. Mark gives a bunch of tips on balancing two companies, going through a successful acquisition, and running the company with his wife and co-founder, Catherine. He shares how they balance and integrate work and family life and their love of bringing work home as well as sharing success and solving challenges together. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 27 - Jodi Echakowitz of Boulevard PR 34:59

6 years yang lalu34:59

34:59

Quick: what happens when some bad news gets released about your company? Do you react or not? When you have good news - how do you spread the word? All these questions and more are answered by the amazing Jodi Echakowitz of Boulevard PR. Jodi has led her PR agency for the past 18 years. She has incredible insight into running a successful B2B PR firm, managing remote teams and events, and helping companies that aren't super-sexy consumer brands get their messages out to the public. If you're looking for PR advice to watch your startup soar, Jodi has the insights for you! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 26 - Carolyn Plater, Stephanie Kersta of Hoame 29:59

6 years yang lalu29:59

29:59

Carolyn Plater and Stephanie Kersta have years of experience in the healthcare and addiction field. They saw a trend of people only seeking help once their lives had crumbled and their stress was too much to manage. They wanted to provide a proactive solution. Out of that, Hoame was born. Hoame is a meditation studio downtown with a variety of rooms of wellness themes. Carolyn and Stephanie discuss finding a place that felt like home, transitioning from their work in nursing to running a company, and top tips for entrepreneurs to handle the stress in their lives. Carolyn and Stephanie are best friends with a well-balanced cofounder relationship who had great insights into finding a space downtown Toronto, building their team when their space wasn't complete, and partnering with McMaster University on wellness courses. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 25 - Derek Hopfner, Shane Murphy of Founded 34:46

6 years yang lalu34:46

34:46

Derek Hopfner, Shane Murphy, and their CTO, Travis Houlette, met years ago while living in Calgary and playing punk rock music. Years later they would create their first business and shortly after, come up with the idea for Founded. Derek and Shane are subject matter experts in the legal profession who saw a gap for small business owners looking for inexpensive and digital legal solutions. Derek and Shane talk about the importance of being subject matter experts, the fortune of running a business with close friends, and how important it is to put your ideas into action. They learned a lot from running their first business which informed their creation of Founded. They share the process of getting investors and advisors, growing their team, and disrupting an old industry to make it accessible to business owners and entrepreneurs. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 24 - Jodi Kovitz of #movethedial 31:26

6 years yang lalu31:26

31:26

Jodi Kovitz started #movethedial with a mission: elevate all women-identified folks in technology. Change the stats for all women-identified individuals in executive and founder roles. Finally, and most important, see the day where her daughter's gender is not a determinant in her success. Jodi openly shares about women in tech, STEM in the education system, and how she created a diverse team at #movethedial. Jodi is quick to credit her team and her community and support system. She talks about the exact books she read, coaching she and her organization have gone through, and good tips and habits that any entrepreneur can use to build a thoughtful team. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 23 - Erin Bury & Kevin Oulds of Willful 45:22

6 years yang lalu45:22

45:22

How do you rebrand death into something a bit more sexy ? Erin Bury and Kevin Oulds discuss the process of making wills and estate planning something that people want to partake in and invest in. From Kevin's early stage business, to rediscovering what customers needed, to becoming what Willful is today, Erin and Kevin share it all. This husband-and-wife duo have interesting insights into building a great company culture early on, how VCs receive them, and how their brand is their true differentiator and how that impacts them. See what it takes to run a company together and positively brand a complicated and somewhat taboo topic. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 22 - Heather Payne of Juno College 32:50

6 years yang lalu32:50

32:50

"Something I always suggest to founders is if you can solve one of your own problems then that's really interesting." Rebranding takes a lot of work. If you've ever pursued this difficult project at work, you know how much work and how many people are involved in the process. Juno College is the newly rebranded HackerYou and the rebrand has been widely accepted and loved! Heather shares how her entrepreneurial mindset changed after she had both of her children and how she stepped back and hired people to fill roles (and succeed in them!). She also discusses how she entered into Y Combinator , and in typical founder fashion, leapt on the last minute opportunity and changed vacation plans to attend. If you've ever considered entering into Y Com, Heather discusses the benefits of being part of it. Find out Heather's journey from Ladies Learning Code (now Canada Learning Code ), to HackerYou, to officially accredited Juno College of Technology. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 21 - Shannon Ferguson & Kris McCarthy, FanSaves 27:14

6 years yang lalu27:14

27:14

Shannon and Kris share all about the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and being startup founders. They know the importance of continuing to push through to where things are really starting to ramp up. Both of these amazing co-founders share how they are supporting diversity in sports and sport tech through highlighting female founders and rural startups. They also discuss being a couple and how that impacts running their company. Learn how they save money when on the road, pitching their Canadian company on a global stage, working with the sports companies they once dreamed of working for, and their rabbit, Jack, who brings joy to the office! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 20 - Erica Pearson of Vacation Fund 31:05

6 years yang lalu31:05

31:05

“There is so much doubt to overcome that can only be overcome by continuing to prove yourself.” How do you retain good employees, prevent burnout, take unused vacation days off the balance sheet? Adopt a wellness program that gets over 80% opt in that provides employer-matched vacation savings. Erica Pearson is the founder and CEO of Vacation Fund. She shares how she started off with a scrappy and manual MVP to prove the concept, strategies for how a new founder can take time off (as best as possible!), and pitching as a first-time founder. She shares about the importance of living as many experiences as possible for a fulfilling life and how that mission fuels her team and her company. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 19 - Justin Thouin, LowestRates.ca 38:39

6 years yang lalu38:39

38:39

Justin Thouin is the co-founder and CEO of LowestRates.ca, a platform that allows you to compare insurance, mortgage, and other rates in Canada. Justin started off as the "Chief Everything Officer" and shares the process of letting go of tasks as the company grew. He knows how difficult entrepreneurship is and the time you need to dedicate to build a successful company. Justin talks about his unique perspective in funding the company slowly rather than through large raises. He also takes us inside how banks and insurance companies work and how his company is attempting to improve financial literacy, access, and convenience for all Canadians. In this podcast episode, we made an error in recording, which meant we lost the last little bit of ur rapid fire round. We wanted to record Justin's answers again, and he kindly obliged, offering great advice for any founder who makes a mistake. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder LIVE @ Dovetail Basecamp: Episode 18 - Kelsey Ramsden 26:21

6 years yang lalu26:21

26:21

Our first LIVE episode happened at Dovetail Basecamp on September 21st! For this special episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Kelsey Ramsden . Kelsey has founded and led many eight-figure businesses and has over fifteen years of experience as an entrepreneur. Kelsey has Tallus Ridge Development, Belvedere Place Development, and SparkPlay under her belt. This multi-faceted founder shares her story and how and why she started these companies. Kelsey discusses running online versus offline companies, how to win business awards and get on the covers of magazines, and how important mentorship and community is to your success. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 17 - Trang Trinh of TREC Brands 35:07

6 years yang lalu35:07

35:07

Please note that this episode pertains to the cannabis industry. It is intended to be educational. "New industries rarely happen in our lifetime. There is a small window of opportunity to create and be part of creating an industry." Trang Trinh, the Founding Director and CEO of TREC Brands, talks about being part of the recently-legalized cannabis industry in Canada. If you've ever wondered what it takes to shape an industry, Trang has great advice for this exciting journey. Trang talks to us about her extensive corporate background shaping her as a CEO, balancing 90 investors, and shaping culture in a fast-growing company that has seen a lot in less than a year. She shares the differences between corporate and startup world and what it takes to be part of or run a startup. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 16 - Chanele McFarlane, Do Well Dress Well 30:34

6 years yang lalu30:34

30:34

Chanele McFarlane is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Do Well Dress Well , a content platform that helps people create remarkable careers and personal brands. She shares with us the challenges and benefits of running a content platform. Chanele has advice for any young entrepreneur looking to launch their next big personal branding item. Chanele has explored monetization, different digital marketing tactics to gain traction, and talks about how she grew her audience in the early days. As a millennial who is all too familiar with how we are balancing a million and one things, Chanele shares how she's grown great initiatives in her spare time and surrounded herself with supportive people. Chanele also shares with us how she's impacting diversity in networking events through her other venture, Confidence Through Conferences . She wants to encourage diversity at conferences by making those (often pricy!) networking events accessible to all. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 15 - Gary Saarenvirta of Daisy Intelligence 37:32

6 years yang lalu37:32

37:32

Gary Saarenvirta is the founder and CEO of Daisy Intelligence . Gary is a technical CEO who built the original software behind Daisy. His math and science background allowed him to launch an AI-based company, way back before it was a well known part of the technology industry. Rather than chasing the revered exit, he discusses growing a big brand - a company that sits up top with the Googles of the world. In this episode, Gary discusses what AI actually is to him and to Daisy - he believes defining AI is important so that customers know exactly what to expect. Gary has funded Daisy with revenues until 2015, when he set out to raise capital from angel and investor networks. He shares the Canadian government programs available to founders, as well. Daisy creates raw, artificial intelligence software and he shares all this company has built over the past 15+ years in business. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 14 - Bobby Umar, DYPB 34:41

6 years yang lalu34:41

34:41

Bobby Umar is the founder and CEO of DYPB, or Discover Your Personal Brand. Bobby is a 5x TEDx, Inc Magazine's Top 100 Leadership Speaker, and a personal branding, networking, digital & leadership expert, and speaking coach. His goal is to help you succeed and discover what really drives you. But to do this, he says, "you need to invest in yourself." Bobby talks to us about his best tips for getting on the speaker circuit, breaks down what a personal brand is and how to create a thought leadership brand around yourself, and how to network whether or not you're an extroverted person. If you're looking for tips on creating a standout brand as an entrepreneur, this is the podcast episode for you! Get in touch with Bobby: LinkedIn Twitter Author of How to Network Anytime, Anywhere, with Anyone Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 13 - Shawn Hewat, Peter Kotzeff, Wavy 33:20

6 years yang lalu33:20

33:20

How do two former marketers go about leading an app-based company? They take their marketing skills, bring in advisors, attend (and win!) pitch competitions, and test, test, test. Their idea for Wavy started from their personal experience navigating a city while traveling. They wondered if this could apply not only to travel, but to finding hidden gems in their own cities. Shawn and Peter started with a simple survey to prove their theory, a scrappy MVP, and great low-budget acquisition strategies to lead their first year into a success. They are currently in Beta. In this episode, Shawn and Peter share the exact tools they use to manage Wavy's product development cycles, a few ideas for how they plan to monetize their app, and the anti-advertising values of their company. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 12 - Alexis Dean of Dovetail Community + Basecamp 31:35

6 years yang lalu31:35

31:35

Special treat for Float or Founder listeners! Save on your ticket to Dovetail Basecamp with promo code FLOAT . Join other female identified entrepreneurs for a weekend in the wilderness packed with workshops, great conversation, and so much more. Register today - we can't wait to see you there! If you've ever experienced imposter syndrome, loneliness, or packed schedules as an entrepreneur, Alexis Dean understands completely. She believes in building a community and surrounding yourself with people who can help lift you up, while you can do the same for them. Alexis started Dovetail Basecamp to bring together her Dovetail Community - a group of women running everything from growth stage startups to seven-figure revenue companies. If you've ever wanted to start an event, check out how Alexis got her start and grew Dovetail Basecamp to what it is today. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 11 - Erik Lloyd of Brink Bionics 25:42

6 years yang lalu25:42

25:42

Erik Lloyd is busy graduating from his Masters at University of Waterloo, but that didn't stop him and his co-founders from launching Brink Bionics. Within the past year, Brink Bionics has moved from a medical prosthesis technology company to a consumer-facing gaming hardware company - using the same machine learning backing to support it. Brink Bionics has big goals surrounding human and robotics/AI interfacing. Erik and his two co-founders are all technical researchers and he spoke to how they built out a business background and how learning that allowed them to pivot to create a better company. Erik discusses re-learning how to pitch a company that has faced a pivot, how to balance education and work, and why you take time for you and step away from work. Learn the intricacies of launching a hardware company (and how you can be an early adopter of the product)! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 10 - Sheba Zaidi of County Wine Tours 38:00

6 years yang lalu38:00

38:00

If you've ever considered getting into business with your best friends, this is the podcast for you. Sheba talks about her positive experience launching County Wine Tours , a Prince Edward County-based cycling wine tour company. Her and her two friends manage their team of more than 15 employees remote from Toronto while handling demanding day jobs of their own. Their background in communications and marketing, their honesty with one another, and their passion for the County and its burgeoning wine scene led them to create a business that was profitable near immediately. Learn from Sheba's experience on how to handle a busy and successful side hustle with two best friends. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 9 - Kerri-Lynn McAllister of Pawzy 39:09

6 years yang lalu39:09

39:09

Ever faced an issue in the real world and thought "I could solve this problem" - and then done it? Kerri-Lynn McAllister takes us on her journey of launching Pawzy, a pet health and wellness marketplace designed to make the pet health industry more transparent. Kerri-Lynn has an extensive marketing background in startups and marketplaces and she has applied those skills to discover the most necessary features to launch her MVP. On this episode of Float or Founder, Kerri-Lynn tells you how you can (easily and cheaply!) do proper market research, why it's important to give some of your company up to the right people, and how you don't need to be a morning person to succeed. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 8 - Edwin Frondozo of Business Leadership Podcast 34:12

6 years yang lalu34:12

34:12

Think you've got what it takes to run a company and host a podcast? It may sound overwhelming, but not to long-time entrepreneur, Edwin Frondozo. He tells us how he's balanced family and achieved happiness during his fifteen year tenure as an entrepreneur. He takes us on the beginning of his journey and tells us where he's at now. Edwin was the co-founder and CEO of Slingshot VoIP and is now the founder and host of the Business Leadership Podcast , as well as a trusted advisor in the startup community. If you have ever wanted to run a company or a podcast (or perhaps both!) but wondered how it will balance with your family life, Edwin has some great advice for you. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 7 - Rachel Kelly of Make Lemonade 37:19

6 years yang lalu37:19

37:19

Rachel Kelly started the co-working space, Make Lemonade , for women downtown Toronto to give them a space - a community - to grow their businesses. Rachel had to endure the skyrocketing Toronto property market, work with different types of contractors, hire a team, and grow her membership numbers all at once. As a result of her hard work, she has created a bustling co-working space, a partnership with Instagram HQ, has played host to master classes and incredible speakers, and has learned some lessons about running a company along the way. Rachel gets to witness other founders launch and scale their companies and takes away the lesson of resilience and having a good attitude. Vote for Make Lemonade in the TELUS Pitch Competition - they're in the finals! https://telus.wishpondpages.com/vote/entries/182396295 Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 6 - Shira Yoskovitch of Handled 39:12

6 years yang lalu39:12

39:12

Making any product is no easy feat. Making a customer-facing business comes with its own set of challenges but Shira Yoskovitch has it handled. 😉 Shira is the founder of Handled, a concierge service for our busy lives. She tells us how her corporate operations background, her ability to put a product out there and accept feedback, and her love of really improving someone's day and helping them has allowed her to succeed. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 5 - Nadeem Nathoo of The Knowledge Society 42:20

6 years yang lalu42:20

42:20

Nadeem Nathoo and his co-founder, Navid Nathoo started The Knowledge Society with a mission: to re-think how people learn and create the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem solvers that will tackle the big problems our world faces. Nadeem discusses founding a company with his brother, the problems he believes we will conquer next, and the importance of teaching wisdom and adaptability to the younger generations to help them succeed. Tune in to find out where The Knowledge Society will be launching next, what the kids in the program are building, and how you (or your kid) can get involved! Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 4 - Jeanette Stock, Simon Mills of Venture Out 35:14

6 years yang lalu35:14

35:14

Founding and building a community is no easy feat. Jeanette talks about launching her community organization in the early days, the double-edged sword of being both a user and creator of a product, and taking a backseat in decision making when moving from active founder to board member. Simon Mills walks us through his involvement and how he became co-chair of Venture Out, a community that connects LGBTQA+ people in tech and how your company can get involved. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 3 - Jennifer Couldrey of Upside Foundation 29:43

6 years yang lalu29:43

29:43

There are many ways to give back through your time, financial contribution, or sharing about your favourite initiatives. While Jennifer Couldrey has given back to non-profits, she sees the Upside Foundation as a way to make a broader impact. The Upside Foundation provides tech or startup companies the ability to pledge 1% of their equity to a cause of their choice upon IPO or exit, locking in that commitment and ensuring social responsibility is part of a startup's broader strategy. Jennifer Couldrey talks about how to contribute, scale your contribution, and why it matters that companies give back. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

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Float or Founder: Episode 2 - Zack Yassin 34:18

6 years yang lalu34:18

34:18

We sit down at home with Zack Yassin, Creative Director of Taizu’s latest album. Zack talks about the Toronto versus LA music scene, diversity in music, and how the music industry is today. Yes, you can hear our dogs in the background. Check out Taizu's new album! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpBs3XYA9Ag&app=desktop Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)…

Float or Founder: Toronto Startup Business Stories

1
Float or Founder: Episode 1 - Fatima Zaidi of Quill 48:20

6 years yang lalu48:20

48:20

Fatima Zaidi, CEO and Co-Founder of Quill , sits down with Samantha and Lisen of Float or Founder to discuss raising seed capital, sourcing an advisory board, finding a CTO, and swimming with the sharks. Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

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