Building Blocks With Brendan Herjavec

Join us as we explore the journey of Two Bears Coffee, a Canadian brand dedicated to crafting moments and embracing sustainability. From humble beginnings in a basement to becoming a leader in the specialty coffee space, this podcast dives into the world of slow coffee, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Featuring David Schneiderman 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, we’ll discuss how Two Bears is redefining coffee culture by promoting clean products and connecting with eco-conscious consumers across North America. Perfect for coffee lovers, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking inspiration in business and sustainability. https://www.twobears.ca/

In this episode, we sit down with Suzanne Mason, COO and co-founder of Sprout Family, a trailblazing virtual care platform helping Canadians navigate the diverse and deeply personal paths to building a family. Sprout partners with Canadian employers to offer modern family-building benefits that reflect the evolving needs of today’s workforce. Suzanne shares how Sprout provides a holistic approach, covering everything from surrogacy and adoption to fertility care, supported by expert advisors, financial guidance, and invaluable resources. As Canada lags behind the U.S. in offering comprehensive family-building benefits, Suzanne and her team are on a mission to bridge this gap and empower Canadians to take control of their health and future. We explore the importance of accessible family-building solutions and how Sprout is shaping a new era of family support across Canada. https://www.sproutfamily.ca/

In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Patrick Monnot, Founder & CEO of Pod, to explore the intersection of AI and sales. With a background in advising startups at McKinsey & Company and leading product teams at Zinier, Patrick brings a wealth of experience in product development, go-to-market strategies, and growth operations. We dive into how AI is reshaping sales, boosting productivity, and empowering reps to close deals smarter and faster.Join us as we discuss Patrick's journey from consulting to startups, the challenges of AI in business, and actionable insights for improving sales performance. Whether you're in RevOps, leading a sales team, or a sales rep looking to crush your quota, this episode offers valuable takeaways on using AI to enhance, not hinder, your success.Don’t miss this chance to learn how to build the future of selling!https://www.workwithpod.com/

For the first time ever, we welcome back a returning guest to the podcast! Join us as we sit down once again with Katie McLaughlin to explore the art of building a vibrant team-based culture. Katie has recently developed a powerful new assessment to help teams understand their health, addressing challenges before they become toxic and finding opportunities for continuous improvement. In this episode, we dive into Katie's innovative approach that integrates theater into workshops, helping teams reconnect, have fun, and build lasting relationships rooted in empathy and collaboration. Forget the traditional team-building events—Katie’s method goes beyond trust falls and happy hours to create truly transformative experiences. Wondering if your team could benefit from this approach? Take Katie's "What’s My Team Health Score?" quiz at www.teamhealthscorequiz.com to gauge your team’s culture and discover areas for growth. We also discuss the key elements of a strong corporate culture, explore generational differences in workplace dynamics, and reflect on our own experiences working with some of the best—and worst—teams. What common traits define a truly healthy culture? Tune in to find out! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with more conversations on creating thriving workplaces!

Join Brendan Herjavec on Building Blocks as he delves into the entrepreneurial journey with Matt Cohen, CEO of PlaySpace. PlaySpace specializes in customizable, secure playrooms designed for therapists working with children and teens. In this episode, they explore the genesis of PlaySpace, inspired by the challenges therapists faced during the pandemic's shift to virtual therapy sessions. Matt shares his personal journey with mental health and how it led to the creation of PlaySpace to make care more accessible. Key Takeaways: Origins of the Idea: Discover how the concept of PlaySpace evolved, driven by the need to replicate the engaging, therapeutic environment of physical playrooms in a virtual setting. Entrepreneurial Spirit: Matt reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, from early ventures like high school businesses to founding PlaySpace, driven by a passion to solve a pressing need in the mental health space. Navigating Startup Challenges: Gain insights into the unexpected challenges of entrepreneurship, from managing day-to-day operations to grappling with the weight of leadership responsibilities. Work-Life Integration: Explore the nuances of work-life balance in the startup realm, especially crucial in the mental health space where burnout prevention and self-care are paramount. Tune in for an insightful discussion on entrepreneurship, resilience, and innovation in the evolving landscape of mental health technology. https://www.playspace.health/

Dive into the captivating world Sam Paisley has created, a seasoned sales rep, a masterful storyteller, and now the visionary Author behind "The Elements of Time," the compelling first installment in a riveting three-part series. Drawing inspiration from both classic and modern science fiction and fantasy, Sam weaves a tale enriched with timeless themes of destiny and personal responsibility. "The Elements of Time" beckons to all who yearn for an escape into a world that is not only rich and deep but also profoundly resonant. With influences from iconic works like Star Wars (the Original Trilogy), Avatar: The Last Airbender, Stargate SG-1, Supernatural, and more, this series is a delightful action-adventure, boasting a distinctive magic system and exploring the essence of growing up and facing life's challenges. In this episode, Sam takes us on a fascinating journey, drawing parallels between the worlds of entrepreneurship and book launch. Uncover valuable insights, including: - Discerning and leveraging feedback effectively, and knowing when to trust your instincts. - Gauging the readiness of your product for the market. - The synergy between the creative process and analytical thinking in navigating your unique journey. If you seek inspiration for writing a book or launching a company, this episode is tailor-made for you. Join us as Sam reflects on his remarkable 10-year journey, sharing the trials and triumphs of bringing a book to life. Gain valuable insights into the lessons learned, the evolution from ideation to publication, and discover what Sam wouldn't change for the world. Don't miss out on this illuminating exploration of creativity, perseverance, and the pursuit of dreams.

Join Brendan Herjavec in this episode of Building Blocks as he sits down with Josh Nielsen, the visionary CEO of Zencastr. Dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship and discover the incredible journey of building a company that has become a podcasting game-changer. From unexpected pivots to solving real problems for creators, learn how Zencastr evolved to empower podcasters worldwide. Gain insights into the challenges of transitioning from a solo venture to leading a growing team, and explore the future of podcasting, including the rise of short-form content and the quest for true audience engagement. Don't miss this candid conversation with Josh Nielsen, where the building blocks of success are unveiled. Key Takeaways: Discover the unexpected origin story of Zencastr and how it shifted from a music collaboration platform to a podcasting solution. Learn how solving a specific problem for podcasters led to the creation of a revolutionary product. Uncover the challenges and triumphs of scaling a business from a solo endeavor to a thriving team. Explore the impact of the digital nomad lifestyle and the surge in podcasting during remote work. Gain insights into the future of podcasting, including advanced editing tools, monetization strategies, and the importance of short-form content. Stay tuned for valuable lessons, inspiring anecdotes, and a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of Zencastr on this episode of Building Blocks!

Join us in this captivating episode as we dive deep into the entrepreneurial odyssey with Parker Olson, a dynamic individual who seamlessly transitioned from conquering Ironman challenges to steering the helm of a successful functional food company, FORIJ. In our conversation, Parker reflects on the startup journey as a profound adventure, emphasizing the importance of self-focus and passion. Discover how his dedication to health, manifested through intense Ironman training, unexpectedly heightened his productivity and focus in business. Parker shares insights on the invaluable lesson that results, not just effort, matter in the business world. From building a Twitter following of over 750,000 in just 8 months to steering a profitable blog, Parker's journey is marked by strategic shifts and calculated risks. His exploration into the impact of nutrition on quality of life, fueled by a love for mushrooms and whole foods, culminated in founding FORIJ. Learn how this journey led him to a board seat at the largest mycological society in the US, and how mushrooms became the AI trend of recent years. Parker's transition from consulting to founder, coupled with his experiences as an Ironman athlete, offers a unique perspective on the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship. Discover how his passion for mushrooms evolved into a thriving business, inspiring fellow entrepreneurs to embrace calculated risks in their own ventures. Tune in for an engaging discussion that delves into the intersection of fitness, business, and the unexpected rise of mushrooms in the entrepreneurial landscape. Whether you're an aspiring founder or a seasoned business mind, this episode is packed with valuable insights to fuel your own entrepreneurial journey. 🎙️ Subscribe now and join us on The Entrepreneur's Journey Podcast for more inspiring stories from founders who dared to dream and turned their passion into success! #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #BusinessMindset #FoundersStory #MushroomSuccess #IronmanToFounder

🎮 Dive into a special episode as a guest to explore the fascinating intersection of gaming, content creation, and money-making strategies! 🌟 Join us as we unravel the secrets behind the gaming and content industry, drawing parallels between traditional business models and the rapidly evolving landscape of online content. Sy, the Meme Master, The Gold King, Terraria Fact Guru, and the charismatic host of Past The Pixel, shares insights from his unique journey — transforming from an MBA and thought leader to a thriving content creator. In this episode, discover the powerful synergy between startups and content creation, exploring how a simple idea can blossom into a multimillion-dollar venture with the right blend of work ethic and visionary thinking. Sy's perspective offers a fresh take on bridging the gap between the business world and the dynamic realm of gaming and content. Whether you're a gaming enthusiast, aspiring content creator, or someone intrigued by the behind-the-scenes of this booming industry, this episode is a must-listen! Join us as we delve deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that shape the fascinating world of All Things Gaming. 🚀💰

Join us in this riveting episode as we delve into the dynamic world of marketing, branding, entrepreneurship, design thinking, and the cutting-edge realms of tech, including Web3, AI, and the metaverse. Our special guest is Pete Sena, the Co-Founder of Digital Surgeons, a global innovation and design experience consultancy. Pete, a design-led entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience, shares his insights and expertise in partnering with forward-obsessed founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to unlock new possibilities and foster growth. Having built and led cross-functional teams for ventures spanning from startups to Fortune 50 companies, Pete's wealth of experience is unparalleled. In this episode, we tackle the profound impact of AI on the job landscape, exploring how it may reshape industries and potentially elevate the greater good while challenging the average. Pete also sheds light on the crucial aspect of bringing value to startups, emphasizing the significance of substance over trendiness when building the next big thing. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding startup enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of technology and innovation, this podcast is a must-listen. Join us for an engaging conversation that transcends the conventional boundaries of business and technology, and discover the keys to unlocking innovation in today's rapidly evolving landscape. 🎙️ Subscribe now and stay ahead in the world of business, tech, and design! Don't miss out on the wisdom shared by Pete Sena, a Venture Mentor at Yale University and an entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Connecticut's Technology Incubation Program. Let's dive deep into the realms of possibility and growth mindset together! 🌐💡 #innovationunleashed #TechTalk #EntrepreneurshipJourney #AIRevolution

Assembly believes that a powerful intranet is the heartbeat of any thriving team. Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of modern intranets with Jonathan Fields, the visionary behind Assembly. Assembly is on a mission to unite teams by creating seamless spaces where information flows effortlessly, communication becomes second nature, and genuine connections among employees flourish. Discover how Assembly's platform not only streamlines day-to-day operations but also fosters a culture of celebration and mutual success, transforming the workplace from a task-oriented environment to a community-driven hub. 🌐 Jonathan's Journey: From ZipRecruiter to Building Assembly Our special guest, Jonathan Feilds, shares his remarkable journey from being an early employee at ZipRecruiter to co-founding Assembly in the midst of the Covid era. Witness the profound shift he experienced, transitioning from investment banking to the dynamic world of scaling startups. As ZipRecruiter expanded, Jonathan identified the challenges in maintaining a vibrant culture amidst growth, leading him to embark on a mission to revolutionize the process through the power of technology. 🚀 Key Takeaways from the Episode: From Side Project to Series A: Gain insights into the pivotal steps and strategies Jonathan employed to steer Assembly from a promising side project to a successful Series A round. Navigating Business Scaling: Explore the nuances and challenges that businesses face as they scale, drawing from Jonathan's hands-on experience in adapting to a constantly evolving landscape. AI-Powered Culture Development: Uncover the ways companies can leverage AI to enhance their cultures, fostering a work environment that thrives on innovation and collaboration. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that goes beyond the surface, providing actionable insights for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone passionate about building thriving company cultures.  🌐 Learn more about Assembly: https://www.joinassembly.com/ 🎧 Listen to previous episodes and subscribe:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nYPfEFxYG8v1zOWk1Fw50 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-blocks-with-brendan-herjavec/id1558897987?uo=4 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80Y2YzOWZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Antler is the investor backing the world’s most driven founders, from day zero to greatness. Founded on the belief that people innovating is the key to building a better future, they partner with people across six continents to launch and scale high-potential startups that address meaningful opportunities and challenges. Antler has offices in 25 cities, including Austin, New York, Toronto, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Bangalore, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and Sydney. The global community backs people from the beginning with co-founder matching, deep business model validation, initial capital, expansion support, and follow-on funding. Antler has created and invested in more than 600 startups across a wide range of industries and technologies, with the goal of backing more than 6,000 by 2030. Bernie Li is a General Partner at Antler Canada, joined in October 2021. Former co-founder of PURE Energies, acquired by NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG). Former MaRS Sr. Advisor. Former Principal and Entrepreneur in Residence at iNovia Capital. The Atmospheric Fund, Investment Committee Member. Investor and Advisor at Rally Assets. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. What it Takes to be an exceptional founder 2. The differences between being an investor and being a founder 3. Why and How Canada has become a powerful force in the startup world https://www.antler.co/

Today we connected with Mike Wood, the Co-founder of MintList. MintList is a platform that makes hundreds of dealers compete for your business aka your car. You can sell your vehicle to any dealer who makes the best offer, and you can use the offer as a trade-in to save you thousands. Because MintList allows you to use the value as a trade-in you only pay tax on the difference.    Mike Wood has been in the automotive industry for more than 30 years and has accrued $500 million in auto sales. He has worked the gamut from large auto groups to starting, building, and growing both a vehicle leasing company and an independent high-line auto dealership from the ground up. He shares his insight into how having success in the traditional auto world has enabled him to disrupt it from the inside.   In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Difference between tech and traditional businesses from someone who grew both 2. How tode-risk your idea by building a go/ no-go plan 3. How building industry knowledge can help you grow faster  

Lee-Anne Reuber is the Founder of Sekond Skin Society. Sekond Skin Society is a health and fitness app designed to be accessible for everyone and inclusive of all. It allows those with vision loss, hearing loss and other physical disabilities to access health and fitness in a way that works for them. The content is designed so people with disabilities/older adults and their family/friends/caregivers can participate in wellness content together, while still meeting each individual's needs.  Lee-Anne Reuber has worked in the developmental services sector for more than 20 years, supporting people with disabilities in a variety of capacities. Starting her business in 2018 and starting in brick and mortar she quickly transitioned and learned to adopt the digital format due to covid. Sekond Skin Society launching their new app over National Accessibility Week 2023! In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Embracing the digital ecosystem as a nontechnical founder 2. How to build a community and grow from the grassroots. 3. How to create a positive environment through accessibility.

Arda Erturk is the Founder of  DAOhub, a platform that is Empowering Decentralized Communities with AI-Powered Data Insights and Advanced Governance Tools.   Arda has had success since his first startup, Roll Technologies Inc. which is the leading Canadian-owned, developed, and operated shared e-scooter and e-bike company. Arda has participated in TechStars and founded his first business while an undergraduate at the University of Toronto. On this podcast, we talk about the differences between being a first and second-time founder, the challenges with growing a business within a bleed-edge industry, and how people are able to turn a passion and curiosity into a business. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Benefits of Being A Second Time Founder 2. How To Raise And Build In DeFi, Crypto, Web3 3. The Value Of Incubators, Accelerators, and School Website: https://www.daohub.xyz/

Giorgio Delgado is the Founding Engineer at Caribou. Giorgio has been involved with entrepreneurship for over a decade! He has taken part in the Next 36, Setter, and created BykMe during his undergrad. Bykme is a sustainable form of bike sharing in the Waterloo region. In his role as the founding engineer at Caribou, he has applied his early learning and experience. He has scaled his team, and raised an early round funding. Caribou is a comprehensive healthcare planning and navigation solution for financial advisors. They recently raised seed funding to help expand their mission within healthcare. We speak about how Giorgio ended up this position starting from a mental shift in 2011.  We conclude that in hindsight journeys may seem straight forward, but a journey is never that simple. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. What 10 year of working with startups teaches you 2. How Giorgio found his passion for coding and tech 3. How to prevent burnout during the marathon of life

OneEleven is a hub that offers vital missing-middle support to help ventures grow from seed to Series A, including flexible office spaces and online programming. Some of the most notable companies that have been a part of the program include Wealthsimple, Maple, Koho, Humi, and many others. Matthew Lombardi is the Managing Director at OneEleven. Matthew spent his career at the intersection of the private and public sectors, living and working in Rome, London, and Toronto to design and deliver business solutions that drive social impact. In this episode, we speak about the Canadian identity within the tech and startup world and how Canada has been building a strong reputation for strong entrepreneurs and businesses. We address the changes in financing and how although the news seems grim there is still funding out there for businesses but the requirements have changed a bit. Hope you enjoy this episode and learn a bit more about the startup world Canada and specifically, Toronto has to offer. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Canada VS USA Startups 2. The Changing Financing Ecosystem 3. What Makes A “Good” Entrepreneur

Mariam is a global speaker on Human Machine Futures, strategic consultant to start-ups around the world, a neuro-tech philosopher focusing on the future of humanity and a quantum-analog artist nonlinear thinker, she offers unique transdisciplinary systems perspectives. The focus of her work is on systems thinking, the development of human potential and creative leadership. Mariam incorporates insights from neuroscience, social psychology, quantum physics and futurism in her practice and enjoys designing innovative environments for strategically aligned, purposeful action, and artful play. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. The Future of Art, AI, And Ethics 2. Human Nature and The Adoption of Tech 3. Building a Future with XR

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely   Founders Beta is Global Tech Community for Founders to Connect with Talent, Funding, and Resources. It allows members to get connected with marketers, designers, developers, and others to work on something epic.  Whether you are trying to discover startup jobs, events, or courses, or just want to have coffee chats, Founders Beta is developing the community.    In this episode, you will learn the following:  1. How a Community can aid your growth  2. Why Entriprunship can be lonely   3. How you can form a service/community-based business    Website: https://www.foundersbeta.com/   Recorded with Zencastr & Anchor  Host: Brendan Herjavec Guest: Eric Rafat

Vork is a mental health wellness software to help managers and employees analyze and combat job burnout. Managers can increase their team's mental wellness by using Vork to manage and assess their team's job burnout.  Vork integrates with the user's work calendar (currently Google Calendar), task management system (i.e. Notion, Jira, Trello, etc.), Slack, Email, and other work tools to analyze their day (assigned tasks, meetings, etc.) for job burnout and suggest ways to structure their day to keep job burnout low.   Abbas Safdari is the co-founder of Vork and an entrepreneur at heart and has started other ventures in the past. He met his current founder through Y- Combinator platform where they both realized the issues burnout can have not only on employee well beings but for the company as well.   In this episode, you will learn the following:  1. How Burnout is a culture Issue, not an employee issue  2. Why burnout is growing and what actions need to be taken to stop it  3. How you can take an idea to a real problem and build a business around it.    Website: https://vork.app/  Recorded with Zencastr & Anchor  Host: Brendan Herjavec  Guest: Abbas Safdari

Socks are how we inspire and express ourselves. Outway set out to create a pair of socks that meet the technical demands of professional athletes, paired with premium design and comfort for any occasion. Rob Fraser is the CEO and founder of Outway. Robs is a Former pro cyclist and 5 Time team Canada Downhill MTB National Team Athlete. Having the approach of a pro athlete he bet on himself and knew the activewear market was developing but socks were being left behind. As a biker, socks were a way of expression and Rob knew he could add his own vision and create a performance brand for an item he enjoyed throughout his career. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. The skill transfer from pro athlete to founder/entrepreneur 2. Challenges growing from 1 employee to many 3. Why work-life balance is not possible to succeed Resources: [00:01:42] - Why Socks? [00:03:37] - How Rob Thought About Starting the Business [00:05:25] - Why Socks? [00:08:52] - Robs Families and friends' reaction to Him starting a business [00:12:41] - Mental Shift from Athlete to Founder [00:15:35] - Ideas are Cheap Go Build [00:18:45] - There is No such thing as work-life balance [00:25:18] - Doing Vs Planning [00:29:32] - Shifting your role of a founder as your company grows [00:36:32] - What do you learn from sports that help you in business [00:40:32] - What makes or breaks a successful entrepreneur Website: https://outway.com/

It's tough to balance the work grind, relationships, your health, and all your other hobbies. Health usually falls off first, because it's not an issue yet. You're young, right? Nathan Farrish is the Owner of  Ripple and Surge Training and a Studio Account Executive at  Trainerize which is the #1 coaching platform and mobile app for fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle. Nathan helps men aged 25-45 in corporate jobs fix their posture, shed fat, get rid of brain fog, and live healthier, happier lives BEFORE their health becomes an issue. And with the move to a more digital-first workforce, the need to focus on health is becoming an even bigger priority We spoke about the changes WFH has brought to our health and how we can develop a holistic approach to not only be more healthy but to be more productive, energetic, and focused to push harder and go farther. This was even more relevant to the world of tech and entrepreneurship where with long hours we sometimes forget that rest and health are also part of working hard especially if you are on a multi-year journey to achieve greatness. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Developing a better workspace to eliminate distractions 2. What low-hanging fruit you can look at first to make changes 3. How to develop a holistic approach to food, mental health, and fitness so it's not a fad Resources: [00:00:37] - Who is Nathan and Ripple and Surge [00:01:50] - Remote vs In office effect on health [00:05:10] - Vancouver VS Toronto lifestyle for health [00:07:20] - Your Home environment affects you [00:09:33] - How to start a fitness and health journey [00:12:00] - Dealing with willpower and creating a routine [00:13:50] - How to create change [00:20:32] - What differentiates the people who succeed and fail [00:22:20] - How to view food as a tool [00:25:20] - How to become fulfilled and stick with goals [00:28:10] - Changes in corporate spending and corporate wellness

Most traders lose sleep because they don't know what tomorrow holds. Predicting Alpha provides you with game changing education, powerful options analytics and the community you need to trade with confidence.   Sean Ryan is the CEO and one of the founders of Predicting Alpha, the new where the  next generation of traders will come from.   Predicting Alpha is a platform we all wish existed when we started trading. PA is built off hard work, so everything you get is directly applicable to your trading. Big Funds with billions of dollars can afford to pay $100,000+ for data and consulting. It's affordable to them, but not to everyone else.  PA created the same dashboards they us but at a fraction of the cost.    In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Going from a wantrepreneur to a entrepreneur   2. In world of Gurus and schemes  how to stand out  3. Creating Work Life separation   Website: https://www.predictingalpha.com/

It’s your money, make it work for you. Abtine Monavvari is the CPO and one of the co-founders of Chexy, the new standard for paying rent. Chexy is the first tenant-facing payments platform that allows renters to earn rewards & build credit on rent, all while bringing rent payments into the 21st century. We know renting can be hard. Month after month, an eye-watering sum leaves your bank account leaving you very little to show for it. Unlike your everyday purchases, when it comes to rent, you don't benefit from travel incentives or the convenience of paying online... That's all about to change. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. The challenges in solving a double-sided marketplace? 2. How going direct to the consumer may be the best business model? 3. Why build in public an focus on your health? Resources: [00:00:33] - What is Chexy [00:05:27] - Who did you transition from consulting to entrepreneurship [00:08:10] - Pivot the idea in the early days [00:15:40] - How to know what products to build [00:20:30] - Why focus on tenants/ B2C [00:26:32] - Why is building in public more common today [00:32:00] - Execution is what matters not ideas [00:34:20] - How do you manage work-life balance Website: https://www.chexy.co/

In a world of online surveys and customer feedback, one company is changing the game by making it easy for customers to speak their mind, literally. Here's a breakdown of what is covered: [00:00:13] - The power of ai and voiceform. [00:01:37] - Who is philip. [00:19:48] - The importance of accelerators. [00:25:57] - 6 months to build a product. [00:29:47] - How did you build collective voice. [00:32:35] - How do you collect feedback. [00:34:13] - Can you create surveys using voice. [00:40:09] - What does the future look like for voiceform.

Ethereum is a once-in-a-generation asset that will power the future of finance and the internet (Web3). Today we speak with Brian Mosoff, CEO of Ether Capital. Ether Capital is a publicly-traded company (NEO: ETHC) that offers an access point to Ethereum through the capital markets. Whether you are interested in entering the world of DeFi, or are an expert on the subject, this is a great conversation to listen to. We speak with Brian about where he thinks the industry is heading, how to evaluate projects and how his story all started with a used iPad from Craigslist. Hope you enjoy this episode and check out http://ethcap.co to signup for their corporate updates or newsletter to follow along with their growth. http://ethcap.co

Alleviate Labs uses live actor simulations to help you Master Advanced Interpersonal Skills!  Their mission is to help individuals become a more empathetic and human version of themselves, one conversation at a time. In this episode, we speak about they were able to test hypotheses and get a paying customer in only a few weeks to ensure they were solving a real problem. Hope you enjoy this episode and look at improving your own interpersonal and speaking skills.

Esports has been one of the fastest-growing industries over the past years, attracting 100’s of millions of dollars of investment from some of the largest companies. Today we speak with Tim Sevenhuysen about how he was able to start and grow a career in esports which includes starting Oracle's Elixir, becoming a content creator, and consulting.  Since its creation in 2015 Oracle's Elixir has been used by professional coaches, analysts, broadcasters, writers, daily fantasy competitors, and hardcore fans. Analytics provided by Oracle's Elixir is routinely featured on professional broadcasts around the world and used in coverage from ESPN Esports, Dot Esports, Inven Global, theScore esports, and many other outlets. If you enjoy esports, or sports in general and are interested in how the data works this is a great podcast to learn more about the insides of the esports industry. https://oracleselixir.com/

Femi founded dodo in 2020 with the conviction that getting access to healthy and nutritious West African ethnic foods in North America shouldn’t be difficult. Growing up in Lagos Nigeria, Femi was accustomed to eating delicious plantains 3 to 4 times a week, all year round, without having to wait a day for them to get ripe enough for consumption. When he moved to Canada, sadly that was not the case. We speak about how he started the business over the past few years and the challenges and success of bringing a loved food to the Toronto market. https://dodofoods.ca/

The future is here,  where are you? Gen Z is no longer just a talking point - they are real consumers, creating drastic change, and driving brands to do better. Today we speak with Jake Bjorseth the founder of Trndsttrs a Gen Z Ad Agency focused on working with Fortune 1000 companies to connect with the next generation. We speak about how Jake was able to use his youth to his advantage by not only connecting with his demographic but by being able to think differently compared to the tenured corporate employees. Hope you enjoy the episode and learn how you can bootstrap your way to success.   https://www.trndsttrs.com/

With any new space, the ability to rely on experience is a must. Today we spoke with Jesse, one of the cofounders of the NFT Agency and Laid Back Llamas. We speak about the development of web 3.0 NFTs and how important it is to stay ahead of the curve when becoming an expert in new domains. We go over how he and the NFT agency have been working with some of the biggest brands and how important it is to build a community, especially with discord. Hope you enjoy this episode, learn more about web 3 and NFTs, and keep an eye out for how they will change our future. NFT Agency: https://www.thenftagency.com/ Laid Back Llamas: https://www.laidbackllamas.com/

Today we speak with Katie McLaughlin about how a background in the theater with a mix of corporate experience has allowed her to create the Mclaughlin Method to help put an end to boring, theory-based training. We go over the value of developing a strong culture and the benefits it brings. As well as how important it is to experiment and grow to push the boundaries in developing better teams. At the end of the day, a company is really just a group of people and the better they can communicate the better the company and culture will be. Hope you enjoy this episode and learn about how to develop strong teams and become better leaders. https://www.mclaughlinmethod.com/

Today we speak with Zachary Ronski, the cofounder of InHouse Creative. InHouse Creative is Toronto based creative marketing agency working on Building Tomorrow's Brands Today through top-tier brand strategy, creative design, & digital advertising for innovative clients with trendsetting goals. We speak about the importance of building relationships and treating every customer with respect to ensure that a connection is always made to bring more value. Hope you enjoy this episode and learn how to grow a revenue generation business from the ground ups to compete with the titans in any industry. https://inhousecreative.ca/

Today we speak with Lexi Kaplin the cofounder of ConversationHEALTH. ConversationHEALTH uses best-in-class conversational AI technology and medical expertise, they help global Life Sciences companies deliver medical conversations at scale, through text, voice and digital humans, across markets and languages. We speak about Lexi’s journey from developing caffeine strips with Lumos Energy Strips to entering the world of tech and transferring her knowledge of the medical space from one venture to the other. Hope you enjoy this episode and hear from another entrepreneur running a fast growth startup. https://www.conversationhealth.com/

Over the past few years, we have seen the rise of the content creation industry. Individuals are getting more attention, having higher viewership and creating better content than traditional media outlets. But like with any industry as the money grows so does the ecosystem. Merch is a polarizing word with many viewers picturing an itchy tshirts. Juniper is breaking this mold allowing content creators to develop high-quality merch that is custom to them. Juniper helps with the ideation all the way to the creation of the item ensuring the content creators are able to focus on what they do best. Hope you enjoy this episode learning a bit more on how to start and run a business without the need to raise funding and how merch can be as high quality as any brand you buy from. https://junipercreates.com/

Close your eyes and relax, but that damn streetlight is shining in your eyes. Having a dark room is one of the keys for getting a good night sleep and light leak is an annoyance many of us face. Today we speak with Mark, the co-founder and Ceo of Sleepout the world's best portable blackout curtain. Mark and Hannah started sleepout over a year ago during the benign of covid, like many others they wanted a change and saw a problem they believed they could fix and bring innovation to. On today's episode we go over how they came up with the idea, how they got to manufacturing and developing a product as well as some of the surprisingly difficult things that come with being a founder let alone a founder with a partner. Hope you enjoy the episode, please subscribe and get your darn sleep to live a healthy and productive life. Sleepout: https://sleepoutcurtains.com/

Today we speak with Chelsie Hodge, the CEO and Founder of Blender Bites. Blender Bites are 100% organic superfood pucks for smoothies with National distribution across Canada in both retail and foodservice. She created her first prototypes in her kitchen and then moved manufacturing to a rented popsicle shop in North Vancouver, where she had the help of her family to make every bag of blender bites by hand for the first 3 years. We get to learn about how Chelsie went from the corporate world and built experience that helped launch the successful publicly traded company Blender Bites is today. Hope you enjoy the episode. https://blenderbites.com/

Having one success is impressive but having multiple shows a skill. Today we speak with Ron Glozman who has started ventures such as Chisel AI, Knote, and Freeingmusic. We chat about some of the uses of AI and when it may be smart NOT to include it in a product. We talk about the wild journey Ron has been on since we met at Next 36 and how he came up with the idea of Chisel AI. Just like many entrepreneurs, the journey can be just as unique as the destination. Hopefully, you enjoy this episode, learn more about what it means to be a serial entrepreneur, and keep an eye out for new ventures Ron will be starting.

The journey of life is never as linear as it seems. Going from getting a PhD in behavioral economics, starting a bacon-flavored hot sauce company to starting Mozart Data, Peter has had a unique journey. Today we speak about how his diverse experiences can be extremely beneficial when it comes to starting a business.  We touch on how covid was the impetus for change and talk about some of the challenges that come with founding a company. Hope you enjoy the episode and learn more about Peter’s journey and how Mozart data allows you to go from siloed and messy to analysis-ready in hours.

Helping Entrepreneurs capture their audience's attention and emotionally connect people to their brand is Capsho’s mission. In today’s episode, we learn how Deirdre went from making Australia's best lava cakes to developing software to help entrepreneurs become the ultimate sloth bosses. We learn how Deirdre went from the hospitality business to the software business including the learning curves and challenges along the way. Some of the key takeaways from this episode, besides the term “sloth boss”, is the importance of developing an effective MVP to get feedback from your customers and not requiring a large development team or large upfront cost. Hope you enjoy this episode and check out Capsho to see how it's allowing entrepreneurs to get more done in less time. https://capsho.com/

Over the past few years, we have seen a change in how media has been consumed. However, not much has changed in regards to the medium even with the rise of mobile devices and their gyroscopes. Today we speak with 2Immersive4u to learn how they produce 360°/180° animated videos optimized for mobile devices with no VR headset needed. They have worked with musicians, show creators, and marketers to allow individuals to venture into the forms of media to take the viewing experience to the next level. In today's episode, we speak to Dusan Simic & Filip Milinković about how they were able to take advantage of this new technology and grow from an idea to a business. We also speak about their new product launch of Watchroom which is a social streaming service platform for bite-sized and immersive animated content.

Having had success in the early days of Kickstarter, Josh became very family with the challenges of creating and developing a product overseas. He knew that he wasn’t the only one and the growth of crowdfunding would create a high demand of entrepreneurs attempting to develop products in China. From here, he developed MorphoMFG, a product designed to collaborate with your team through every step (design, prototyping, sourcing, mass production, shipping & logistics, etc.) until it arrives at your doorstep. Today, MorphoMFG is aiming to build the Rolls Royce of products in China. MorphoMFG is focused on providing a wide range of services to help bring your product idea to market and grow your business. https://www.morphomfg.com/ To work with MorphoMFG and turn your ideas into products contact bryant@morphomfg.com with the subject line: Building Blocks X MorphoMFG 21.

Over the past few years, we have seen a shift of individuals wanting to take more control over their finances, this is no more apparent than with the rise of retail investors and crypto. We have also seen a shift in how media and learning is consumed with the ever-growing interest in live streaming and content creation. Trading.tv looked to combine these worlds to allow financial content creators to have a platform built for them while also having a place for individuals looking to gain financial knowledge. We speak about some of the challenges of founding a startup such as creating an in-house development team and how Trading.tv is able to monetize a social platform without needing to rely on advertisements. Check out Trading.tv and sign up for the beta to learn about new ways to invest. https://www.trading.tv/ 

Turning a passion into a business is always challenging, especially when you are solo in this journey. In this episode I connect with Erica to learn how she turned tasty treats into healthier alternatives, creating Bro Dough. We learn about some of the challenges that come with being a solo entrepreneur and how to navigate the complex world of entrepreneurship. We hear about how Erica started in business and overcame challenges such as having to use a balcony as a fridge and a dining room as a conference room. If you are interested in how to start a CPG company or want to know more about starting without a cofounder, this is a wonderful and “sweet” episode. Hopefully, you enjoy this episode and pick up some guilt-free cookie dough.

Data has become a part of everyone's role, no longer is it just a single team who works with numbers, the whole company and especially business teams need to learn how to harness and derive insights. Today we connect with Dave Hurt the Co-founder of Verb Data: Dashboards made easy for your SaaS platform. We speak about how Dave went from the 9-5, to developing a service business that focused on creating custom software solutions, all the way to co-founding Verb data. We hear his stories of the differences between a product and service business as well as the challenges of raising capital. Hope you enjoy this episode, learn a bit more about data visualizations, and take some key learnings about other experiences that can help you as an entrepreneur. An interesting story is how Dave's experience of being a part of a band allowed him to realize the power of trusting employees to get work done and become better prepared for remote work.

Networking is not fun and is often ineffective, what it misses is the ability to connect on a deeper level and have a candid conversation in a low-stress environment. What Karan learned was that hosting dinners not only allows for a better networking environment but also provides a catalyst for better conversations. Karan took this format and developed a successful coaching business along with hosting a variety of international business retreats. Today we speak about how and why he switched from his successful 9-5 to pursue JUBE and other entrepreneurship endeavors as well as how his new entrance into acting has allowed him to become a business leader. Hope you enjoy this episode and take some tip from Karan on how to create your own networks as well as see the value in taking acting classes to be a better entrepreneur.

With the ever-changing world of social media, what is “hot” can change year over year. Keeping up with trends can not only be intimidating but risky for organizations. Adam saw this and wanted to make an avenue for content creators and organizations to connect for mutual benefit. Adam started Hot Media, which has been acquired by Wondr Gaming where he now is the Head Of Media. One of the big takeaways was that while others may have looked down at TikTok Adam realized that the retention and viewership were high and at the end of the day no matter what platform attention is worth money. In this episode, we speak about how Adam was able to find an opportunity in a new platform, grow a business from the ground up, and how he was able to bring value to large clients.

Today we speak with Mark Harrison, a content creator, YouTuber, and growing social media star.  When Mark posted his first videos he did not expect much except to share his moments with friends and family, however, when one of his videos got picked up by the algorithm and reached over a quarter of a million views opportunities started to come. With the growth he had organizations reaching out to license his content and this is when things clicked, he could make money and a living from being a content creator. Mark quit his job and decided to dedicate his time and future to make this dream a reality. Today we talk about how the heck you can make money as a content creator, some of the challenges he has faced, and how he is able to stay healthy and in shape while still traveling the world.

Networking is often challenging because 25 or more people are competing for the attention of one VP and inquiring about the same employment opportunities. Only the extroverted people speak and the loudest people seem to be the only ones heard and remembered. Guests leave with little to no value unless they are one of the lucky few to get a coffee chat to network after the networking event. Rachel and Istiana have a similar perspective on networking and wanted to create an event they would want to attend. It started with a small event over brunch then grew larger and larger over the years with events reaching over 250+ people and speakers are being flown into Toronto. Rachel and Istiana have created Monday Girl. Monday Girl is Canada’s first career platform built for ambitious and diverse women. During Covid Monday Girl started a digital “social club” a “ A Boy’s Club, But For All The Women”. Today we talk about how Monday Girl was started over one coffee a few years ago as well as some of the learnings they both have from being women in the entrepreneurial world. https://www.mondaygirl.ca/

Today we speak with Saarim Asady, the founder of Influence Digest Media. Saarim has not only created a success page averaging 50,000 readers a month but also has created a successful coaching business. Saarim works with individuals using the power of digital marketing to help coaches and consultants get more customers. In today's episode, we speak about how Saarim has never worked a typical 9-5 workday and how he has always found ways to be a successful entrepreneur. Going over the origin story of influence digest and how a school project to earn one dollar created a chain of events that got to where we are today. Hopefully, you enjoy this episode and take some of the tips Saarim has to not only help grow your brand or business but also how to navigate the world of outreach, marketing, and social media.