Innovation Fuel: Real-World Business Cases

Concerned about your electric bill? Join us for this week's Innovation Fuel episode to find out about Solar Alliance, an innovative energy solution for homes and businesses. CEO Myke Clark talks about how he never gave up on his goal of being an innovative entrepreneur, the concept of relationship building and the market penetration of the Solar Alliance, and the impact of COVID-19.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Chris Hobbs, Founder and President of TTT Studios, joins Dave and Gelareh to discuss how to improve the user journey through a UX and UI design strategy. Chris also shares the design process and his experience working with industry leaders to solve their problems through technology.

LimeSpot, an online AI plug-in is responsible for a big part of your shopping experience. Its CPO and Executive Chairman, Aidin Tavakkol, shares with us his entrepreneurial journey and the ripple effect of COVID-19 in the ecommerce industry.

On this episode of Innovation Fuel, Ingrid Polini, CEO of SafetyDocs, shares how her experiences and willingness to explore opportunities led her to create a business. Ingrid reveals her business secrets, her process for managing documents, and the security and accessibility of having cloud-based software. She also discusses her clientele and the competitive advantage of being a new business in Canada. Join us to hear Ingrid disclose the solutions to managing your documents for greater efficiency.

On this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Dr. Mohammad Keyhani! Dr. Mohammad Keyhani is an Iranian-Canadian Associate Professor and Area Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. Dr. Keyhani joins Dave and Gelareh to discuss entrepreneurship in technologies and no-code entrepreneurship. He also speaks on his development of tools and resources for startups and entrepreneurs.

Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian chat with Jennifer Lee Gunson, founder of J PodCreations, about her journey from broadcasting to establishing a successful podcasting company. Discover how Jennifer's background in radio has influenced her innovative approach to podcasting and learn about the rebirth of radio through podcasts.Learn more about Jennifer and JPod solutions for podcasters here

On this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Christina Furtado, a Mental Health and Wellness Specialist at Guard.meCARES. Christina joins Dave and Gelareh to discuss the mental health effect of COVID-19 and its impact on our core values in our personal and professional life. She also discusses the definition of living normally and learning how to find balance in adjusting to things beyond our control.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we are excited to welcome back Brazilian entrepreneur Ingrid Polini! Dave, Gelareh and Ingrid discuss how to find accelerators and the benefits of finding a mentor, networking opportunities and startup pitches.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Idan Meir, Co-Founder and CEO of RightHear shares how he started RightHear and how the company uses technology to turn public spaces into accessible environments for people with low vision or orientation challenges. Idan further discusses the process of working with venues to make their public spaces more accessible for people with limited vision.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Raghwa Gopal, President and CEO of Innovate BC, discusses his entrepreneurial journey and networking experiences before and after joining Innovate BC. Raghwa further discusses with us Innovate BC's entrepreneurial ecosystems and how they connect innovators with government funding.

Amir Vohooshi is a serial entrepreneur from a young age and he is best known for understanding start up challenges. In this episode Amir, the Founding and Managing Partner at 7 Gate Venture shares his knowledge and experiences that led to his success and position. As an entrepreneur himself, he speaks about helping people create their own products to grow into a billion-user company. Join us to hear Amir highlights your potential growth through startup investment.

This week, Mat Rezaei, Founder and CEO of Caplet and UPGUYS, talks about a new way to get medication and prescriptions; and a better way for patients to access professional medical advice. Mat also discusses how his career led to a new startup, UPGUYS, a digital health resource for men. Join in to hear this week’s entrepreneur enlighten us on his digital pharmacy that delivers medications right to your door.

Gelareh and Dave wish you happy holidays! They will take a hot cocoa break while season 2 of Innovation Fuel is baking in the oven. Stay tuned!

On this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Greg Ryder, Co-Founder and Vice President of Operations at Bam Digital! Greg joins Dave and Gelareh to discuss strategic decision-making and Bam Digital’s design and engineering strategy-based solutions. Greg also talks about Bam Digital’s clients, services and approach in creating digital solutions for the real estate industry.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Abbie Morris, Marketing Director and Founder of FarOut Wilderness, joins hosts Dave and Gelareh! Abbie shares her entrepreneurial journey and the two key products she currently offers: Vancouver Island Roof Top Tents and FarOut Wilderness.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Samarth Mod, CEO of FreshWorks Studio, talks about his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges he faced launching a tech startup as a student. Sam, Gelareh and Dave discuss what Sam learned along the way and how that journey motivated him to become an entrepreneur.

In this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, guest Carrie Goetz is back to discuss the services she offers and the problems she tackles as Chief Information Technology Officer at StrategITcom. She talks about the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing tech services and discusses providing solutions through data centers and construction management.

On this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, Lili Molavi, a Registered Nutritional Counsellor and health food store owner, talks about how growing up on a diet of organic foods contributed to her passion for nature and food as medicine. Lili shares how her health journey led to dissatisfaction with the side effects of medications and her research on natural healing based on alternative medicine and healing methods. Lili further discusses how she helps clients pick the right products and plan their holistic health.

University Canada West's Innovation Fuel Podcast has returned with its first episode of season 2! Dave and Gelareh have invited back Christina Furtado, a Mental Health and Wellness Specialist at Guard.me, to discuss the life changes and stressors of an international student while adapting to life abroad. Christina also speaks about what it means to be an international student, an expat or an immigrant and how reprioritizing your worries is a helpful tool to navigate the change.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Kim Kaplan, CEO of Snack, a video-first dating platform that looks to merge the popularity and format of TikTok with the dating world. Kim shares her experience working in the dating app industry and how that inspired her to create the innovative app.

In this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome back Chris Hobbs, Founder and President of TTT Studios, who joins Dave and Gelareh to discuss the talent management process.Chris also shares the hiring process and opportunities that TTT Studios has to offer for those wanting to work for a startup company.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, joins hosts Dave and Gelareh to discuss the world of trade and resources in British Columbia. They also discuss the Surrey International Trade Centre, where they create global business connections within a digital environment.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Peyman Chalabi, CEO of Drucker Pro International and a UCW alumnus. International students interested in opening a business may encounter unique risks and unknowns in their journey to becoming an entrepreneur. Peyman delves into every aspect of this, from visas and legal obligations to finances, culture and marketing. Peyman also shares his experience as an international student who has established his own business. Listen to the episode to see how he overcame challenges in his business and how he guides young entrepreneurs.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Curtis Campbell, Vice-President of Business Markets for the BC Region at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)! Curtis joins Dave and Gelareh to share highlights from his journey over the last 24 years at RBC. Curtis discusses business health and the continuous aim to educate, support and advise his business clients while maximizing value.🎙

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel Maryam Mobini, co-founder and CEO of transformative technology company to:Resonate shares her focus on mental, emotional and social wellness. Join Dave, Gelareh and Maryam to discuss human purpose and performance to become our best selves and helping people live a happier and healthier life. Maryam further discusses how she helps individuals develop healthier habits. Hear from this vibrant entrepreneur about the techniques used to raise mental health and emotional well-being.

Innovation Fuel hosts are taking a moment to reflect on this special day and to wish everyone a happy International Women's Day.!

Our guest, Paulina Cameron is back to discuss the ripple effect of gender-based expectations in the workplace, the impact of leadership on business culture and the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership. We believe both students and businesses will benefit from this conversation that hosts Gelareh and Dave had with Paulina.

Have you ever struggled to find places you can take your pet? This is what inspired Aliya Bhatia to start her shared-economy venture. PawSwap allows you to see all pet-friendly events and businesses in Vancouver, and users can earn points that can be redeemed for rewards. Aliya, co-founder and CEO, joins hosts Dave and Gelareh to discuss her journey, the search for a business partner and her personal experience behind the creation of this furry-friendly app.

VIP Parking Solutions' (Total Parking Solutions) Co-founder and Principal Director, Hamidreza Mohammadi shares the pains of importing new technologies into Canada. In this episode, Gelareh, Dave and Hamidreza discuss the importance of partnerships, the struggles he faced with selling an unknown technology as an entrepreneur and the regulations that were involved in the process.

Join Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian as they dive into the world of storytelling with Christian Ray Flores, co-founder of Third Drive. Discover the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship and how it can be used to captivate investors and grow businesses. Learn more about the interesting combination between StartUp incubator and Creative Agency Third Drive here

Welcome to another episode of Innovation Fuel by University Canada West, where we delve into the dynamic world of real estate marketing with Sam Meud, founder and CEO of RoomVu. Where they are transforming the marketing landscape for over thousands of real estate agents!Learn more on how realtors can have automated video marketing in one solution here

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Andry Tanusdjaja, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of MuseFind, shares his experience in connecting brands and businesses with influencers and how to work with an influencer to integrate a product offering for your brand. He further discusses the benefits of personalized strategies and insights that can help build your brand and business to drive effective results. Join us to hear Andry’s tips for rate negotiations and ideal strategies for a brand campaign.

On this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Spiro Khouri, CEO at The Gaming Stadium! Spiro joins Dave and Gelareh to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur and the passion he had for gaming at a young age that led to his success in the industry. Spiro also talks about his goal of connecting fans and brands by creating faster Esports experiences for the future of gaming.

Authentic Stories, Real ImpactDiscover how today's entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into reality. Innovation Fuel brings you unfiltered business cases of determination, creativity, and resilience; designed to inspire and equip the next generation with skills to lead and succeed in business.Join Gelareh Farhadain and Dave Keighron as they dive deeper into the experiences of change makers and innovators, uncovering the lessons learned from building and growing real businesses. These insights are transformed into educational takeaways that educators can use in the classroom, students can apply in their studies, and entrepreneurs can adapt in their own journeys.Subscribe now for real business cases and practical skills you can put into action immediately. Whether you're an educator, a student, or a future entrepreneur, Innovation Fuel bridges business and education to spark real-world learning.Learn more at www.innovationfuel.ca.

Join Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian explores the world of NFTs and blockchain technology with visionary technology leader Mehmet Taskiran Founder of OIX. Discover how OIX is revolutionizing the NFT marketplace by making it more accessible and user-friendly. Learn more about NFT's and how to create digital assets here