Start Canada Podcast
69 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsStart Canada podcast features interviews with start-up founders, innovators, and thought leaders from the heart of Canada who are challenging the status quo, scaling their business, and bringing new ideas to life! Tune in with host Margaux Miller to learn exactly how they did it – and get some great tips so you can to. Bi-weekly interview style episodes focus on the tough questions of bringing a business idea to life, and point to resources and ways of thinking that have helped founders of Canadian startups.
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Episodes
39 – From Selling His Snapchat Filter Co. – To a Fashion-First Social Platform Like Never Before w/ Chris Schmidt of Pluto Ventures
July 19, 2021 11:30 - 57 minutes - 80 MBMeet Chris Schmidt, the original creator of Snapchat filters and today, the CEO and Co-Founder of Pluto Ventures - a venture-backed artificial intelligence company that is leveraging the hyper-personalized online world and using our body dimensions as a crucial component to customizing goods and services. The founder, Chris Schmidt, is a pretty unique young guy. He started his first business at the age of ten. And right after university, he founded the world's first Snapchat filter company, ...
38 – Starting a Social Enterprise and Leading With Love w/ Amy Tung of I Am Love
June 28, 2021 11:30 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBMeet Amy Tung, Founder of I Am Love - a social enterprise that is constantly thinking of new and innovative ways to help our community thrive. In this episode, CEO and Founder Amy Tung speaks about her personal journey starting a social enterprise, pivoting due to Covid-19, and how her community minded focus led to genuine personal growth. If you are curious about what it’s like to start a social enterprise, or have simply been dying to get to know Amy Tung, don’t miss this episode of Sta...
37 – Business, Balance, and BIPOC Beauty Brands w/ Felicita Ovadje of Felicheeta Artistry
June 14, 2021 11:30 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MBMeet Felicita Ovadje - a practicing attorney and freelance makeup artist. With an eye for excellence, she identified a gap for products designed for people of color in the North American beauty industry and decided to be that change. Founded in 2014, Felicita launched Felicheeta Artistry - pivoting in 2020 to become both an ecommerce and a brick and mortar space for customers to find makeup brands owned by people of color, created for women of all skin tones. In this episode, Felicita Ovad...
36 – Exceptional Content and User Experience w/ Ben Buckwold of ESL Library
May 31, 2021 11:30 - 53 minutes - 49.7 MBMeet Ben Buckwold, CEO and Founder of ESL Library - a company empowering language teachers to teach their best class, with exceptional content and a custom platform used by language teachers in more than 10,000 schools around the world. In this episode of Start Canada Podcast, Ben speaks about being the first ESL learning app in the world, knowing when to pivot, and the importance of building great content. From the staff side, we get tips for building a great team, remote morale boosting, ...
35 – Take Your Social Media to the Next Level w/ Social Media Expert David Dang
May 17, 2021 11:30 - 54 minutes - 50.6 MBMeet David Dang, Social Media and Digital Marketing Expert whose Instagram business page EntrepreneurshipFacts has over 2.2M followers. In this episode, we cover how to use social media to kick start a business or test a new idea, how to build an audience on Instagram, and how to stay motivated and on track. If you are ready to take your social media to the next level, be sure to catch this episode of Start Canada Podcast with David Dang! Listen now online here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,...
34 – Finding Friends and Building Business w/ Katie Hartle of FriendMatch
May 03, 2021 11:30 - 56 minutes - 52.5 MBMeet Katie Hartle, Founder and CEO of FriendMatch - a unique company that is exactly as it sounds - think online dating but strictly for platonic friendships instead. In a time where loneliness is at an all-time high, Katie has built a community over 100 countries to help tackle just this, answering the question "How to Make Friends" for more than 5 million people - and counting. In this episode, we cover the human side of business, how to build a lean start-up, tips for growing a community...
33 – Believing in Yourself and Your Business w/ Cheryl Zealand of Cranked Energy Bars
April 19, 2021 11:30 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBMeet Cheryl Zealand, Founder and CEO of Cranked Energy Bars - a protein bar company carried by over 100 Manitoba retailers and set for national expansion. If you are starting a food based business from your home kitchen and want to learn to build your brand - tune in to this episode for tips from Cranked Energy Bars! Listen now online here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or find us on most major podcast platforms. Prefer video? Watch now on YouTube! Just search Start Canada Podcast.
32 – Navigating a New Food Business w/ Glenda and Rory Hart of The Canadian Birch Company Ltd.
April 05, 2021 11:30 - 52 minutes - 72.2 MBMeet Glenda and Rory Hart, Co-Founders of the Canadian Birch Company. They create products from organic birch sap and craft the world’s finest pure birch syrup. In this episode, Host Margaux Miller taps into the ins and outs of the birch syrup industry, inquiring into dealing with food products and getting into retailers, and garners advice for working with programs like the Scotiabank Women Initiative. If you are starting a food based business and you want to skip some hurdles of learnin...
31 – Starting a Meal Kit Subscription Box Company w/ Anthony Halyckyj of 204 Meal Prep
March 22, 2021 11:30 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBMeet Anthony Halyckyj, the Founder of 204 Meal Prep - a subscription box meal kit company that delivers convenient meal options direct to your door. In our conversation, Anthony shares with us the hurdles of the subscription business model, the experience of purchasing his main competitor, and even some tips for eating healthy. If you’ve ever wanted to know the ins and outs of a subscription box meal prep company - then this episode is for you! Watch on YouTube or take us with you as you g...
30 – Small Business Funding, Grants, and Mentorship w/ Michelle Leona of Wolseley Kombucha and Caroline Ksiazek of Futurpreneur Canada
March 08, 2021 11:00 - 56 minutes - 78.1 MBMeet Michelle and Caroline, two business leaders from either side of the entrepreneurship coin. From the start-up side, Michelle Leona is the Owner and Head Brewer of Wolseley Kombucha - a women-owned and operated business kombucha brewery. From the support side, Caroline Ksiazek, the Regional Lead in the heart of Canada for Futurpreneur - Canada’s only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18 to 39. Our guests ...
29 – Building a Start-Up Ecosystem w/ Marshall Ring of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator
February 22, 2021 11:30 - 57 minutes - 79 MBMeet Marshall Ring, Founder and CEO of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator - an organization that helps to commercialize disruptive technologies into businesses ready to scale nationally and internationally. Our host picks Marshall’s brain on what it’s like to grow a start-up ecosystem, some exciting success stories from the Canadian prairies, and some really important insight advice for anyone looking to participate in an accelerator. If you’re curious about what it takes to start your own...
28 – Starting an International Charity w/ Darcy Ataman of Make Music Matter
February 08, 2021 11:30 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBFeaturing Darcy Ataman, the founder and CEO of Make Music Matter - an organization using a unique form of music therapy to help survivors of conflict and trauma. Darcy shares about his background as a music producer, what it’s like to start an international charity from the heart of Canada, and how his innovative program created and scaled in partnership with Nobel Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege now operates in 8 countries around the world. If you want to learn about starting an international...
27 – How to Scale Across Canada and Get a Deal on Dragons Den w/ Catherine Metrycki of Callia Flowers
January 25, 2021 11:15 - 55 minutes - 76.3 MBKicking off season 3, we speak to Catherine Metrycki, Founder of Callia Flowers. We cover how she launched and grew her tech business which has reimagined the way we send flowers. We discuss her deal on Dragons Den with Manjit Minhas, which has since provided the support necessary for Callia to be able to open all across Eastern Canada (to be now in 55 cities). And Catherine shares with us some of her experiences in improving customer service and mental health as a leader. If you’ve ever won...
26 - How to Create an App Business
September 28, 2020 09:00 - 50 minutes - 72.7 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Denis Devigne and Kyle Sierens, Co-Founders of VidDay - a web app business that creates personalized video montages as gifts. Since 2015, their app has been used in over 185 countries to celebrate all special occasions. Built from the start as a social enterprise, they give back to the world by donating to different not-for-profits with every video made. These two founders discuss the process of developing a custom app, growing a s...
26 – How to Create an App Business
September 28, 2020 09:00 - 50 minutes - 72.7 MBWatch Episode 26 of Start Podcast featuring Denis Devigne and Kyle Sierens, the founders of VidDay - a web app business that creates personalized video montages as gifts.
25 – The Complexities of Start-Up Life
September 14, 2020 09:00 - 48 minutes - 49.5 MBEpisode 25 of Start Canada Podcast features Matt Schaubroeck and Amanda San Filippo, Co-Founders of ioAirFlow – a software company focused on ‘green’ commercial buildings. They discuss the experience of changing co-founders, finding personal balance in start-up life, and the entrepreneurial impacts of Covid-19. For full show notes and resources directly from our guests, visit www.StartPodcast.ca, and Subscribe Now wherever you’re listening to never miss an episode.
25 - The Complexities of Start-Up Life
September 14, 2020 09:00 - 48 minutes - 49.5 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Matt Schaubroeck and Amanda San Filippo, Co-Founders of ioAirFlow - a software company focused on ‘green’ commercial buildings. These two founders discuss defining your business, Winnipeg as a test market, and the entrepreneurial impacts of Covid-19. On a personal level, they describe the experience of changing co-founders, finding personal balance in start-up life, and coping with anxiety. If you are considering taking the leap ...
24 – Mindfulness in Education
August 31, 2020 09:00 - 49 minutes - 68.4 MBEpisode 24 of Start Podcast features Kailey Lefko and Josianne Barnabé, Co-Founders of Educalme Inc. – creators of a series of tools to help teachers bring mindfulness and social-emotional learning into their classrooms through a bilingual online program called Educalme Classroom.
24 - Mindfulness in Education
August 31, 2020 09:00 - 49 minutes - 68.4 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Kailey Lefko & Josianne Barnabé, Co-Founders of Educalme Inc. – creators of a series of tools to help teachers bring mindfulness and social-emotional learning into their classrooms through a bilingual online program called Educalme Classroom. Educlame’s two female founders explain the benefits of mindfulness for youth and adults alike, and how finding it changed their own path. They describe the experience of selling to the educati...
23 – Finding Your Place in a Niche Industry
August 17, 2020 09:00 - 53 minutes - 74.5 MBEpisode 23 of Start Podcast features the founders of Flipside XR - a real-time animation and XR broadcast company almost purchased by one of the Big 5.
23 – Finding Your Place in a Niche Industry, XR and VR
August 17, 2020 09:00 - 53 minutes - 74.5 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Lesley Klassen and John Luxford, Co-Founders of Flipside XR Inc. (once called The Campfire Union), a real-time animation and XR broadcast company - and creators of Flipside Studio, a virtual production software for animation companies. Think of it as a television studio inside of virtual reality that is used to make animated content. Flipside’s founders talk about choosing to work in a niche industry, difficulties raising capital, ...
22 – Trucks, Mods, and LifeStyle Branding
August 03, 2020 09:00 - 42 minutes - 62.9 MBEpisode 22 of Start Podcast features Mitchel Matthews, the founder of Adrenaline Offroad - a mods and accessories start-up for truck enthusiasts.
21 - Finding Your Role as a Leader
July 20, 2020 09:00 - 48 minutes - 67.5 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller speaks with Duncan Jessiman and Polly Craik, co-founders of Vexxit - an online marketplace that uses machine learning to match people who need professional services with experts to meet their specific needs. Duncan first founded of Exchange Income Corp, a TSX-listed public company reaching a $1B market cap. Polly founded FineLine Solutions, a firm focused on supporting not-for-profit organizations with donor retention, which after 30 years wa...
21 – Finding Your Role as a Leader
July 20, 2020 09:00 - 48 minutes - 67.5 MBEpisode 21 of Start Podcast features Duncan Jessiman and Polly Craik, the founders of Vexxit - an online marketplace for professional services.
20 – Hair Salons, Technology, and Female Leadership
July 06, 2020 09:30 - 53 minutes - 77.5 MBEpisode 20 of Start Podcast features Alicia Soulier, the founder of SalonScale - a bluetooth technology to allow hair salons to calculate hair color costs in real time.
19 – Start-Up Funding, Accelerators, and Clean Tech
June 22, 2020 09:30 - 50 minutes - 73.7 MBEpisode 19 of Start Podcast features Scott Russell, the founder of SolarSkyrise - a data analytics company that provides architects, engineers, and real estate owners with data to generate new revenue streams from unused vertical real estate on buildings.
19 - Start-Up Funding, Accelerators, and Clean Tech
June 22, 2020 09:30 - 50 minutes - 73.7 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller speaks with Scott Russell, Co-Founder and CEO of SolarSkyrise, a data analytics company that provides architects, engineers, and real estate owners with data to generate new revenue streams from unused vertical real estate on buildings. SolarSkyrise's founder explains how to access funding, deal with start-up stress, and exist in the prop tech and clean tech space. Scott believes in doing strong research, knowing your strengths, and concentra...
18 – Obby Khan on Restaurants, Relationships, and Supporting Local
June 08, 2020 09:00 - 54 minutes - 52.6 MBEpisode 18 of Start Podcast features Obby Khan, the founder of online marketplace GoodLocal.ca, and restaurants Shawarma Khan and Green Carrot Juice Co.
18 - Obby Khan on Restaurants, Relationships, and Supporting Local
June 08, 2020 09:00 - 54 minutes - 52.6 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller speaks with Obby Khan, former CFL Football player turned local business entrepreneur – founding two restaurant brands with 6 locations between Shawarma Khan Inc and Winnipeg’s first cold-pressed juice company - Green Carrot Juice Co. In his new 2020 venture, Obby co-founded the new e-commerce platform, GoodLocal. Obby explains the importance of community connections, how he launched multiple brands at once, and how football played a role in b...
17 – Art, eLearning, and 100% Responsibility
May 25, 2020 09:00 - 50 minutes - 47.4 MBEpisode 17 of Start Podcast features Mitch Bowler, the founder of Evolve Artist - a business that takes a unique and modern (and virtual) approach to advanced Art Education.
16 – Drones, Entrepreneurship, and Education
May 11, 2020 00:14 - 48 minutes - 45.2 MBEpisode 16 of Start Podcast features Matt Johnson, the founder of M3 Aerial - a prairie start-up providing specialized aerial imaging services and certified training for advanced drone pilots across North, Central and South America.
16 - Drones, Entrepreneurship, and Education
May 11, 2020 00:14 - 48 minutes - 45.2 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller speaks with Matt Johnson, Founder, CEO, and Pilot-In-Command of M3 Drone Training Zone. A Manitoba start-up providing specialized aerial imaging services and certified training for advanced drone pilots across North, Central and South America. Matt Johnson explains how you can first test the waters, how his army training helped him to push himself, and how to get rid of your perceived limiting factors. When discussing the growth of the busine...
15 – Hockey, Agents, and How A Pandemic Affects Athletes
April 27, 2020 09:00 - 45 minutes - 45.3 MBEpisode 15 of Start Podcast features Carson Shields, founder of Wingman Player Consulting - a Winnipeg-based hockey advisory service and player agency.
15 - Hockey, Agents, and How A Pandemic Affects Athletes
April 27, 2020 09:00 - 45 minutes - 45.3 MBThis week on Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller speaks with Carson Shields, founder of Wingman Player Consulting Inc. - a Winnipeg-based hockey advisory service and player agency. WPC's founder explains how to break into a competitive industry, the role of hockey agents, and the impacts of Covid-19 for professional hockey players. When discussing the business, Carson shares stories of personal sacrifice, tough player-agent conversations, and staying on top of trends. Want to know what it...
14 - VR, AR, and New Tech During a Pandemic
April 13, 2020 07:00 - 52 minutes - 49.1 MBKicking off Season 2 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller speaks with Dan Blair of VR tech start-up Bit Space Development Ltd. - an interactive digital media studio focused on developing high quality Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality experiences. BSD's founder explains virtual reality, innovation during a pandemic, and helping traditional industries adopt interesting new technologies. When discussing the business, Dan shares stories of changes to the local tech and innovation ecosyste...
14 – VR, AR, and New Tech During a Pandemic
April 13, 2020 07:00 - 52 minutes - 49.1 MBOn episode 14 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews the founder of Bit Space Development Ltd - an interactive digital media studio focused on developing high quality Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality experiences.
Live! From Disrupted – Scaling Tech Companies in the Canadian Prairies
February 02, 2020 22:45 - 50 minutes - 72.7 MBStart Podcast – Live Taping – Success on a Human Scale: Margaux Miller, Start Podcast Host, interviews founders of scaling businesses in the Canadian Prairies live at Disrupted (a Tech Manitoba conference) in Winnipeg Manitoba. This special live episode covers re-inventing the technology industry’s culture and impact by focusing on building diverse teams to scale their companies. "It’s going to come down to us; it’s what you do with the technology that matters." According to guests at the li...
13 - Trains, Driverless Cars, and Reducing Transportation Delay
October 21, 2019 19:23 - 51 minutes - 55.3 MBThis week on START Podcast, the Millers speak with Garreth Rempel of Winnipeg-based tech start-up Trainfo. Trainfo is a data driven company that helps reduce accidents and traffic delays at rail crossings. They discuss the company’s inception, pivots, funding streams and influential advisory partnerships with Christian Dandeneau, Robert Hutchison, and Peter Sweatman. Trainfo provides valuable services to drivers throughout North America, including you. Find Trainfo Online Here: www.trainf...
#13 - Trains, Driverless Cars, and Reducing Transportation Delay
October 21, 2019 19:23 - 51 minutes - 55.3 MBThis week on START Podcast, the Millers speak with Garreth Rempel of Winnipeg-based tech start-up Trainfo. Trainfo is a data driven company that helps reduce accidents and traffic delays at rail crossings; a serious concern for Winnipeggers. They discuss the company’s inception, pivots, funding streams and influential advisory partnerships with Christian Dandeneau, Robert Hutchison, and Peter Sweatman. Trainfo provides valuable services to drivers throughout North America, including you. F...
13 – Trains, Driverless Cars, and Reducing Transportations Delay
October 21, 2019 19:23 - 51 minutes - 55.3 MBOn episode 13 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Garreth Rempel of Winnipeg-based tech start-up Trainfo; a data driven company that helps reduce accidents and traffic delays at rail crossings.
12 – Commercials, Pricing, and Perseverance
September 24, 2019 03:20 - 42 minutes - 39 MBOn episode 12 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Noah Palansky and Jordan Davis, co-founders of Taiv, about their advertising tech company that turns commercial breaks into marketing opportunities through their hardware and software ad replacement solution.
12 - Commercials, Pricing, and Perseverance
September 24, 2019 03:20 - 42 minutes - 39 MBThis week on START Podcast, the Millers speak with Noah Palansky and Jordan Davis, co-founders of Taiv, about their advertising tech company that turns commercial breaks into marketing opportunities through their hardware and software ad replacement solution. They discuss finding their co-founders, taking a leap of faith, and their lessons learned from failure. When it comes to starting a business, they stress how important it is to get detailed feedback at the early stages of tech developme...
#12 - Commercials, Pricing, and Perseverance
September 24, 2019 03:20 - 42 minutes - 39 MBThis week on START Podcast, the Millers speak with Noah Palansky and Jordan Davis, co-founders of Taiv, about their advertising tech company that turns commercial breaks into marketing opportunities through their hardware and software ad replacement solution. They discuss finding their co-founders, taking a leap of faith, and their lessons learned from failure. When it comes to starting a business, they stress how important it is to get detailed feedback at the early stages of tech developme...
#11 - International Modeling, Advocacy, and Supporting Women in the Community
September 12, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 35.2 MBThe Millers speak with Elizabeth Crawford, Founder of Swish Productions, Swish Model Management, and new co-working space Swish Co-Create. Liz speaks about the organic journey from International Modelling to CEO of multiple companies spurred by passion. When it comes to starting a business, the Swish brand is willing to commit resources to fill gaps in the market based on intuition. Liz focuses on the social connections to help build her brand and support others in the community. Find Eli...
11 – International Modeling, Advocacy, and Supporting Women in the Community
September 12, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 35.2 MBOn episode 11 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Elizabeth Crawford, Founder of Swish Productions, Swish Model Management, and new co-working space Swish Co-Create. Liz speaks about the organic journey from International Modelling to CEO of multiple companies spurred by passion.
10 – NHL Athlete’s Safety, Innovative Foot Protection, and Founding Multiple Startups
August 20, 2019 22:32 - 46 minutes - 45.6 MBOn episode 10 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Steven Pham and Matt Olson, Founders of Askja, an innovative protective technology company focused on skate armor for hockey players.
#10 - NHL Athlete’s Safety, Innovative Foot Protection, and Founding Multiple Startups
August 20, 2019 22:32 - 46 minutes - 45.6 MBThis week on START Podcast, we speak with Steven Pham & Matt Olson, Founders of Askja, an innovative protective technology company focused on skate armor for hockey players. Their custom fit carbon fiber gear was quickly adopted by the NHL due in part to the founders extensive networking efforts within Manitoba. They discuss prototype testing with the Winnipeg Jets and the surprisingly low barriers to entry. When it comes to starting a business, Askja would rather ask forgiveness than permis...
9 – E-Commerce, Series A Funding, and Large Growth from a Small Town
August 05, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBOn episode 9 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Jason Myers, founder of Bold Commerce, about his business building the leading Shopify applications and plugins, and how it all started in a basement with his 3 co-founders.
#9 - E-Commerce, Series A Funding, and Large Growth from a Small Town
August 05, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBIn this episode of START podcast, the Millers speak with Jason Myers, founder of Bold Commerce, about his business building the leading Shopify applications and plugins, and how it all started in a basement with his 3 co-founders. They discuss their successful scale up in Manitoba, and what it means to accept a major round of Series A Funding after 8 years in business. Jay believes the future of tech will evolve with AI and explains how Bold has incorporated computer and machine learning in ...
8 – Charity, Gambling, and Technology
July 22, 2019 10:00 - 36 minutes - 84.5 MBOn episode 8 of Start Podcast, host Margaux Miller interviews Nicholas Tenszen, Co-Founder of Funding Change, about starting a charitable online gaming business in Canada. They discuss the hurdles of regulations, his focus on not for profits, and his take on tech and starting out.