The BetaKit Podcast Channel

"Trust, and Indigenous impact measurement, and the wellbeing of Indigenous families sit alongside risk and return. In fact, in our fund, sit significantly above risk and return as investment considerations." Raven Capital Managing Partner Paul Lacerte explains how the firm invests in Indigenous impact entrepreneurs in a culturally safe way. Originally aired September 30, 2021. Sponsored by Diuca.

"Other conferences are phoning it in." Startupfest's Alistair Croll and Olivia Rossi join to explain how Canada's Original Startup Conference has changed in its major return to IRL and the amount of tech they're building to make meeting people easy again. Sponsored by Diuca.

"The worst outcome for Rogers is an actual real competitor, which is what we are. They know we're going to bring prices down and they don't want prices to come down." Globalive co-founder and chairman Anthony Lacavera shares why he was forced to sell Wind Mobile, and explains why it's so hard to repurchase it now as Freedom Mobile as part of the (contested) Rogers / Shaw merger. Welcome to Competitiontown. Sponsored by Linebox Studio.

"So are you saying that Canadian tech is under-appreciated?" A special Collision edition of our monthly AMA episode, answering listener questions about: the current downturn mood, cool tech we saw at the conference, and the ROI of events for the ecosystem. Sponsored by Linebox.

"Everybody I meet keeps asking me 'where's Shopify?'" Collision's Paddy Cosgrave discusses the conference's second first impression in Toronto, tech downturns, and if Canadian startups can handle the pressure. Sponsored by RBC.

"It's like you're getting married and writing your prenup and your divorce agreement on the day you get married." Elizabeth MacRae (Village Wellth) explains how YouTubers, Boomers, and banks with favourable terms are fuelling an explosion in acquisition entrepreneurship. Sponsored by RBC.

"We have really no programming to teach mentors, it's all tribal." Brice Scheschuk (Wind Mobile, Globalive) discusses the CDL session that gave him imposter syndrome, prompting the launch of MindFrame Connect to improve the craft of mentorship and create more resilient entrepreneurs. Sponsored by RBC. Originally aired Nov 8, 2021.

"I have to note the huge sigh that was just expressed through Tony's entire being." RBCx's Anthony Mouchantaf (AKA, Tony Dagger) returns as a special guest to help answer listener-submitted questions about: the potential of no more VCCI funding for Canadian VCs; the bubble-bursting reality currently hitting Canadian tech companies; and whether or not wearables are cool again. Sponsored by RBC.

"The unforeseen consequences of this stuff has ripples throughout society that in the most generous interpretation we didn't see coming, but can no longer deny." Former OneEleven executive director Siri Agrell explains why she believes politicians shouldn't use social media; CCI's Alanna Sokic explains why the Ontario budget is not a budget. Sponsored by Osler.

"That impact that's being felt in the public markets will start to trickle down to the earlier rounds." Damien Steel, managing partner and head of ventures at OMERS Ventures, takes umbrage with how valuations - or more specifically, the sticker price placed on funding rounds - are paraded in the media. Sponsored by Osler.

"We're very social creatures, so human-to-human connection is ultimately what we're craving even if we are working in a digital-by-design or remote-first environment." Shawn Hewat, CEO and co-founder of Wavy, joins to discuss burnout and talent churn in the new remote & hybrid world, and how tech companies are trying to manage and measure culture. Sponsored by Osler and Cisco.

"Potentially it does have the opportunity to create thousands of jobs here in Canada." CCI president Ben Bergen and VP Dana O'Born join to tackle the big talent changes that pre-empted #Budget2022, before channelling our inner Paul Wells to investigate the light on details Canadian Innovation and Investment Agency and Canada Growth Fund. Sponsored by Osler and Cisco.

"That kind of gives me a brain boner. I get pretty excited." Changes to the Competition Act are coming. Can a "whole of government" approach break Canada's oligopolies? Policy wonk Vass Bednar joins to read the tea leaves from Budget 2022. Sponsored by Osler and Cisco.

"I both love and hate this question." BetaKit Associate Editor Meagan Simpson joins for her second AMA episode to answer a complex bunch of listener questions: what did the New York Times get wrong about Toronto tech? Is the Globe anti-competition? What should the banks do with their excess profits? What are the dangers of troll capital? Sponsored by Osler and Cisco.

"What's it like when an app doesn't just connect you to a doctor… it's the medicine?" A4i's Amos Adler and Dr. Sean Kidd join to discuss the difference between telemedicine and digital therapeutics, supporting complex mental health challenges with an app, and the struggles of Canada's healthcare system. Sponsored by Cisco.

"There's such a heavy emotional toll of uncertainty and not knowing what's going to happen with your life." Ilya Brotsky (CEO of VanHack) and Daryna Kulya (co-founder and COO of OpenPhone) discuss Ukraine tech, connections to Canada, and ways to help Ukrainians fleeing war. Related links: Stetsenko Foundation Ukraine to Canada

"Here's something that I didn't anticipate when we began doing these conversations across provinces: they don't talk to each other." CCI's Ben Bergen and Bronte Valk walk through Alberta and BC's latest budget commitments before answering two key questions: what impact can provincial governments have on tech, and how do local tech ecosystems impact their governments?