Founder Journey: Recent Episodes
Ray Walia
Ray Walia, CEO of Launch.VC, interviews entrepreneurs in our network and dives deep into each founder's journey. Each interview is unique. They discuss topics that range from the hardships they've overcome, lessons learned, rewards, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Whether you are starting your first startup or are launching your 10th business, this podcast is for you!
Episode NotesIn this episode, Ray Walia interviews Ali Tajskandar, the founder and CEO of Wishpond. Wishpond is a marketing tech company that specializes in helping small businesses thrive in the online marketing realm. Tajskandar discusses the challenges faced by small businesses and how Wishpond's comprehensive marketing platform bridges the gap by providing essential tools for effective online marketing. Learn how Wishpond empowers small businesses with features like attracting new customers, nurturing leads, managing customer relationships, and tracking campaign effectiveness. Discover how Wishpond adapts to industry changes and supports small businesses in navigating the online marketing landscape. Join us for insights and inspiration on how small businesses can achieve success with Wishpond's powerful marketing platform.
Learn more about us at launchacademy.ca
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Episode NotesDive into "Founder Journey" with host Ray Walia, as we traverse the entrepreneurial terrains of diverse markets. This episode spotlights Tosin Ogunyemi from "Pay My Rent", a platform that's reshaping the way Nigerians save for their annual rent. Learn how this solution, birthed from unique African challenges, is now navigating the Canadian mortgage environment. Plus, get insights into the nuances of managing a global remote team amidst cultural shifts. If you're intrigued by how startups pivot, adapt, and thrive across continents, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧
Learn more about PayMyRent here: https://paymyrenthq.com/
Learn more about Launch Academy: launchacademy.ca
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .
Episode NotesJoin Ray Walia as he embarks on a captivating exploration of Syed Ahmed's transformative journey from a fresh-faced entrepreneur to the driving force behind OnTraccr, a game-changing proptech startup. In this episode, Syed candidly recounts the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that have marked his path, shedding light on the resilience and adaptability required to pivot a business based on customer needs. Beyond the tech, it's a deep dive into the heart and soul of entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of mental well-being, community support, and the relentless pursuit of innovation. Whether you're an aspiring founder, a seasoned business veteran, or simply intrigued by the stories behind startups, this episode offers a unique blend of personal narrative and industry insights, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards of the founder's journey.
Learn more about how you get can involved with Launch Academy by going to launchacademy.ca
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .
Join us in this eye-opening episode of 'Founder Journey,' where we explore the cutting-edge world of hyperspectral imaging and delve into the highs and lows of being a founder with Francis Doumet, CEO of Metaspectral. From the exciting advancements in technology, including 100 times more information collection than conventional cameras, to the real-life challenges faced by entrepreneurs, this episode offers a holistic view.
Learn about Metaspectral's significant impact on recycling, space exploration, and even naval technology, while also uncovering the personal tactics that help founders endure the rollercoaster of startup life. Doumet shares insights into the advantages and challenges of having a co-founder, the importance of passion, maintaining sanity, avoiding burnout, and how to find joy in the ups and triumph over the downs.
This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the real journey of building a company.
Learn more about us at launchacademy.ca
Metaspectral #HyperspectralImaging #Recycling #SpaceExploration #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #AI #Technology #Innovation #NASA #FounderJourney #CoFounderChallenges #PostPandemicCulture #NavyTechnology #HighsAndLowsOfBeingAFounderFind out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
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Episode NotesJoin Cecelia Zhou, co-founder of ICTUS Audio, as she shares her remarkable journey of building ICTUS Audio, a dynamic production house and education center. Discover how Cecelia and her co-founders navigated challenges as friends and co-founders, establishing a strong corporate structure and implementing efficient systems. Gain insights into the world of corporate governance, legal documents, and financial management. Explore the exciting realm of XR (Extended Reality) technology and its impact on the sound design and music industry. Dive into discussions on AI in music and education, emphasizing the fusion of human creativity and technological advancements. Tune in for invaluable advice on effective communication, conflict resolution, and building a strong foundation as a co-founder. Don't miss this insightful episode packed with practical tips and inspiration for entrepreneurs.
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .
Join us on the Founder Journey podcast as we delve into the entrepreneurial journey of Manny Bahia, co-founder of the successful media company, Daily Hive. Starting as a humble blog, Vancity Buzz, in 2008, Daily Hive has since expanded across multiple Canadian cities, attracting millions of unique visitors and page views each month. In this engaging conversation with Ray Walia, CEO of Launch Ventures, Manny shares insights into the evolving media landscape, including the pivotal role of platforms like Instagram and TikTok in news distribution. They also tackle the pressing challenges of misinformation, underscoring the critical need for accuracy and fact-checking in today's fast-paced media world. Tune in to learn about the transformation of Daily Hive into a thriving media powerhouse and gain valuable insights from Manny's inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss out on this enlightening episode!
Tune in to “Founder Journey” Season 4 for invaluable insights, actionable advice, and inspiring stories from exceptional founders who dared to dream big and create innovative solutions. Don’t miss this captivating episode that sets the tone for an incredible season of “Founder Journey.” Embark on an enlightening and empowering entrepreneurial adventure today!
Check out Daily Hive: https://dailyhive.com/
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Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .
Episode NotesJoin Sam Chan, VP of Programs at Launch, as he hosts an enlightening episode of Founder Journey. In this episode, Sam is joined by the innovative team behind Defang, including CEO Lio Lunesu, Antoine Cote, and Prakash Sundaresan. Listen as they delve into their diverse experiences working at tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, and how these experiences have shaped their approach to business. Discover how Defang is revolutionizing the startup landscape by creating a platform that simplifies product development at scale, making services more resilient, affordable, and user-friendly. Learn about the unique challenges and rewards of transitioning from builders in large corporations to startup founders. Get inspired by Defang’s mission to empower small teams to build products at scale, akin to Facebook or Twitter. Gain insights from their journey in the tech startup landscape, the importance of team diversity, and their genuine interest in problem-solving. Also, get a sneak peek into Vancouver’s thriving tech ecosystem and Defang’s upcoming project set for release in 2023. Tune in to this episode of Founder Journey for a deep dive into the world of tech startups and the journeys of the folks behind them!
Check out Defang here: https://defang.io/
Tune in to “Founder Journey” Season 4 for invaluable insights, actionable advice, and inspiring stories from exceptional founders who dared to dream big and create innovative solutions. Don’t miss this captivating episode that sets the tone for an incredible season of “Founder Journey.” Embark on an enlightening and empowering entrepreneurial adventure today!
Check out more episodes of Founder Journey here: https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
Follow us on all out socials: https://linkin.bio/launch-vc
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .
Episode NotesWelcome to Season 4 of “Founder Journey,” the podcast that uncovers the hidden aspects of startup founders’ unique journeys. In this enlightening first episode of Season 4, join host Ray Walia, CEO of Launch Ventures, as he engages in an insightful conversation with Josh Lopour, Co-Founder of EveryState, to unravel the remarkable journey of a visionary entrepreneur.
From television to the tech industry, Josh’s diverse background shaped his entrepreneurial path. Explore his experiences with PixSpree, a startup that overcame challenges and discovered a breakthrough in real estate through Facebook apps. Discover how they realized the untapped potential of their real estate data management infrastructure, exceeding the value of the app itself. Listen to the pivotal moments when Josh and his team identified an unmet market need during real estate conferences, leading to a successful business model pivot and eventual sale of their company to Zillow. Then, discover how EveryState leverages data to assist clients in identifying properties of interest at a national scale. Ray and Josh also dive into the challenging world of marketing, revealing strategies for companies to stand out and thrive in a fast-paced, competitive landscape. Prepare to be inspired as Josh’s entrepreneurial journey unfolds, shaped by his industry experiences and his ability to address pain points.
Tune in to “Founder Journey” Season 4 for invaluable insights, actionable advice, and inspiring stories from exceptional founders who dared to dream big and create innovative solutions.Don’t miss this captivating episode that sets the tone for an incredible season of “Founder Journey.” Embark on an enlightening and empowering entrepreneurial adventure today!
Check out more episodes of Founder Journey here: https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
Follow us on all out socials: https://linkin.bio/launch-vc
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .
This episode of the Founder Journey features Igor Debatur, Launch member and Uploadcare’s Co-Founder & CEO. The company helps engineering teams to launch new products faster and remove annoying loading times for websites and apps.
In the episode, Igor shares how they started to build a solution for their web development agency and then commercialized it for others, how the idea of scaling and finding people with similar mindsets brought them to Vancouver through the Start-up Visa Program, and why focus is the mantra of entrepreneurs.
Connect with Igor Debatur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debatur/
Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Joanne Chang, Co-Founder at PicCollage. PicCollage is a creativity app that allows 200+ million users around the world to create fun and playful designs combining photos, text, drawings, and stickers.
In the episode, Joanne shares what mindset shift is required when you become a founder, which ups and downs you experience while building a startup, and what makes a perfect founding team.
Connect with Joanne Chang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjobear/
Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This episode of the Founder Journey features Anjani Duddukuru and Rachana Kapadia, Co-Founders of Suppliers Cave, the online platform that connects suppliers and buyers of industrial products and services. The company helps contractors and stockists liquidate surplus material, rent equipment and machinery, whereas suppliers can improve their online presence.
In the episode, Anjani and Rachana talk about how they have shifted from the corporate to the startup world and have dealt with black swan events, why meditation is a powerful tool for founders, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur in Dubai.
Connect with Anjani Duddukuru and Rachana Kapadia:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjani-duddukuru/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachana-kapadia/
Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Hani Abu Ghazaleh, Co-Founder & CEO of Mental VR.
Mental VR is a software company specialized in creating immersive & engaging VR experiences for education, training and entertainment. It is headquartered in the UAE with a core technology studio in Montreal, Canada.
In the episode, Hani shares how his company adopted VR for the energy sector and helped the clients save money on training, what he gained from a study at Vancouver Film School, and why UAE is the right place for building an innovation business.
Connect with Hani Abu Ghazaleh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hani-abu-ghazaleh-7774bb
Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This episode of the Founder Journey features Matt Bailey, Founder & CEO of GameOn.
The company started as a B2C free-to-play prediction app with 20-30k monthly users. After having lost almost all of them due to COVID, GameOn has successfully transitioned to a B2B game technology company and gone public.
In the episode, Matt shares how he coped with the ups and downs in business, what made him leave Australia for the US, and why Miami is the place to be.
Find Matt Bailey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gameonmatt/
Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This episode of the Founder Journey features Alejandro Martinez, Administrative Manager at Parvada Cowork & Co, a coworking space in one of the biggest tech hubs in Mexico, Monterrey.
In this episode, Alejandro talks about the benefits of coworking spaces for entrepreneurs, the latest startup trends in Monterrey, popular tech sectors, and exciting local startups to keep an eye on.
Find Alejandro Martinez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexjmtz/
Learn more about Parvada Cowork & Co: https://parvada.work/
Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
This episode of the Founder Journey podcast features one of Launch's own Maple companies, Local Adventures! Local Adventure is a travel tech company based in Guadalajara, Mexico. In this podcast cofounders Daniel Peña, Moisés Vera and Sebastián Rodríguez talk about their love for adventure travel and how that converted into building a successful company. They also share their unique approach to how they successfully navigated through tough times during the pandemic when the entire travel industry came to a standstill. LinkedIn: Daniel Peña Zepeda, Moisés Vera and Sebastián Rodríguez Romero.
Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.LaunchAcademy.ca
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
The 2nd episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Ytzia Belausteguigoitia, Co-founder and CEO of Troquer, a digitally native, omnichannel luxury re-sale platform in Mexico that has developed and inspired the Latam market into adopting a circular and sustainable consumption model.
In this episode, Ytzia talks about the 'circular economy', sustainability, opportunities and challenges of doing business in Latin America and much more.
Find Ytzia Belausteguigoitia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytziabelausteguigoitia/ Episode brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.LaunchAcademy.ca
Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co
Hosted by Ray Walia, CEO Launch Ventures and Launch Academy, this episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Alejandro Gonzalez, Managing Partner at Redwood Ventures from Guadalajara Mexico.
At Redwood Ventures, Alejandro Gonzalez focuses on portfolio and investment strategy, leveraging his experience as an entrepreneur, investment banker and angel investor. With a degree in finance and administration, Alejandro is certified as an investment strategy advisor by the Mexican Investment Association and for trading derivatives by the Chicago Stock Exchange. He is the founder of Cosechando, an NGO that promotes entrepreneurship in young people and is an active promoter of educational and disability care NGOs.
In this episode, Alejandro talks about his journey in building a venture fund from scratch and the challenges of bringing high net worth individuals out of the woodworks in Mexico and getting them to invest aggressively in tech.
Connect with Alejandro Gonzalez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-redwood/
The episode is brought to you by:
Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.
Launch Academy: One of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.LaunchAcademy.ca
Malte Bucken caps off Founder Journey Series Season 2! Malte discusses building a company with a distributed work force, challenges before the pandemic and his entrepreneurial journey with Tripcombi, a travel metasearch engine!
Turgay Birand is the CEO and Co-founder of Edition Guard, a secure eBook sales platform. They are also a Launch Academy startup visa success story! Turgay is an international entrepreneur who now calls Canada home. In this episode we discuss the misconceptions and advantages of bootstrapping your business, and the culture of hustle porn and how it contradicts the goal of being your own boss as a founder.
Henry Bee is the CEO and Co-founder of CoPilot AI. CoPilot AI makes it easy to find and engage with high value leads using LinkedIn. Henry discusses the struggles and frustrations when things just don't seem to be working out. He also discusses the opportunity to pivot and how to navigate that.
Tea is the CEO and Co-founder of CI Direct Investing (previously Wealthbar) a company that makes it easy to build your financial future with convenient online savings, investing tools, and financial advice at your fingertips. Tea gets real and talks about obstacles in entrepreneurship, benefits of mentors, her personal experience of how stress affected her behaviour and what steps she took to help her function better as an entrepreneur. The challenges are a lot more common then you think and the best thing to do is talk about it!
Boris Lau was previously the co-founder of Pathful, a 2013 Techstars company that allows retailers to understand how visitors interact with their content. Pathful was acquired by Mobify, which got acquired by Salesforce. Boris shares his experience working with his co-founder, how they make decisions together and the importance of trusting each other. He also discusses what drives and motivates him. What motivates you in your entrepreneurial journey?
Bosko is the Founder and CEO of Keeprop. Keeprop is software for companies that want to automate services and optimally manage workforce and assets. He was also a part of Launch Academy's Maple program! Originally from Serbia, Bosko talks about the sacrifices he has made as an entrepreneur, work life balance, and being prepared to fail. Get inspired by Bosko!
Kenny Huang is currently the CEO of Tiny Rex Games. From EA to Bluebat to Tiny Rex Games, Kenny shares his lessons learned leading up to the ultimate exit!
Bluebat games were part of the Growlab cohort, where Launch Academy started! Kenny touches on the emotional rollercoaster of startup culture, starting a company for the second time and the differences he noticed from the first and more.
Roger Patterson is the CEO of Later Media and Co-founder of Launch Academy! Later is an all in one social media marketing platform for the top social networks. Roger initially worked for large companies for 4 years but realized he wanted to make more of an impact, so he made the jump into the startup world. On the way he faced several challenges, like a founder fallout and the importance of having co-founders. Listen in to see how Ray's Launch Academy co-founder has navigated through the challenges he faced in his entrepreneurial journey!
Dejan Pralica is the CEO and co-founder of SoleSavy, a marketplace and tight knit community for sneakerheads! In this episode Dejan tells us how he managed to build SoleSavy without a technical cofounder, how members of the SoleSavy community are changing eachothers lives in more ways than just shoes, and how difficult fundraising was during the pandemic.
Nicole is CEO of Gunkii, the worlds sexiest tongue scraper saving relationships one breath at a time!
Nicole jumped into the tech industry full force. She moved to San Francisco and dove head first into growth hacking and marketing. Prior to that she has written several books that can be found at Indigo. Now she is CEO of Gunkii alongside her partner.
In this episode we touch base on Nicole's journey, advice for entrepreneurs, what it's like working with your partner, and what it's like co-parenting a blended family! She is a wonder woman like no other.
Hirad Motamed is the CTO of Dr. Bill, a medical billing solution for physicians in Canada. Initially they tried to build an expense tracker for small business which turned out to be a horrible idea. How did they make the pivot? In this episode, Hirad also talks about how he realized he didn't need a typical career, feeling extremely pressured in his entrepreneurial journey, and how he dealt high pressure situations. Sometimes entrepreneurs can feel alone in their journey with no one to talk to. We hope we can bring a light to you in these podcasts by opening up about the challenges entrepreneurs face and help you feel like you are not alone.
Alex Popa is the co-founder of BOAST.ai and Launch's Traction conference. Thousands of companies use BOAST.ai to get more money faster for less time and audit risk. In this episode, we learn about Alex's beginnings, how he got into R&D Tax, and how he raised an impressive $30 million with one investor!
Kris has been in the tech industry for a long time. He is the founder of Dooly, a connected workspace that allows people to focus on their high value tasks by helping speed up the process of the tedious yet important tasks that need to be done. Kris touches on the importance of knowing who you are, never forgetting where you came from and the importance of helping others. Kris is a great leader and shares some tips of what he does to help his company succeed further. If you are a founder or in a leadership role, this one is for you!
Alex Benjamin, an Australian-Canadian entrepreneur who has started multiple companies. He grew up with a father who worked at the bank, was always interested in the stock market and was constantly surrounded by people trying to raise money for their business'.
At one point in his journey he wasn't enjoying his work and the people he was surrounded by. How did he deal with that? By creating an organization that represents his values. He started, Lendful which makes personal loans very simple, and has since sold the company.
Currently, he is President of You Move Me, a fast growing North American premium moving and home services franchise. Through his entrepreneurial journey, Alex now knows what he values and shares with us how it has shaped the person he has become now.
Tune in to hear more of his journey.
Collin Stewart is a resilient entrepreneur who co-founded Predictable Revenue, a company that helps business' grow with outbound sales development. Collin has gone through some serious f*ck ups and shares them all with us. He talks about the problems he faced as an early founder and knows that many can relate. This episode may help a lot of early startup founders avoid these challenges!
This entrepreneur is currently building an elevated private office space concept in Coal Harbour where you can eat, workout and work in the same building. How did Sylvia Rayner get to where she is now? She started with humble beginnings of working at a print shop in Kits to owning her own picture shop in Squamish to starting a hypnotherapy business. She has gone through a lot, and you will learn a lot from her experiences!
We are concluding our last episode in our #FounderJourneySeries Season 1 with Lloyed Lobo. He is the Co-founder and President of Boast.AI and our Traction conference Co-founder!
Lloyed walks us through his humble beginnings growing up in Kuwait, the switch that made him jump ship into starting his own company, building a tech company in San Francisco, work life balance and of course, some solid entrepreneurial advice.
Gary is an expat South African, former Olympian, and experienced entrepreneur.
Currently, he is CEO and co-founder of PlayWize, previously SportsTech.io. Playwize allows professional and non professional athletes to create, find and score sporting, educational and brand opportunities all over the world.
This seasoned entrepreneur and former athlete has got many years of insight and advice into the world of sports and business.
One of his biggest tips is having a good network. He loves to connect. So if you would like to connect with Gary, his LinkedIn inbox is always open!
James Clift has been building companies for 15 years. He started his first company when he was 15, importing cars from the US and flipping them in Vancouver. Currently, he is the founder of Holopod, an app that helps you get your best work done on Slack. In this weeks episode, he talks about challenges he has faced as a founder, how to not fall into the trap of thinking small, and wants to encourage YOU to build something in the next 3 months.
Jayesh is a Canadian entrepreneur who has built some great companies. He was the founder of Picatic, a Launch Academy company, which has now been acquired by Eventbrite. In episode 12 of Founder Journey Series, Jayesh talks about his beginnings, how he started his first startup, exited, became an angel investor, and is starting another business but this time in consumer packaged goods.
His kickstarter has just been launched this week! Check it out: https://gunkii.com
Kelly Hoey is the author of Build Your Dream Network. She is also one of the most influential women in the tech industry. She's an entrepreneur, speaker, one of the most well connected people in New York's startup scene, and a proud Canadian! In this episode Kelly gives us examples of how to stand out from the crowd, why you should build a business on limited resources, and how to create some great opportunities for yourself.
Greg Smith is the CEO and Cofounder of Thinkific, the #1 online course creator. With Thinkific, you can turn your expertise into a thriving business by creating your own courses. Greg Smith talks about how covid has impacted business', the importance of revenue, the proper entrepreneurial mindset, and gamevchanging advice.
https://www.thinkific.com/
Charlyne Fothergill is the Sr. HR Business Partner at CTO.AI, a serverless Kubernetes platform for building, deploying and managing Cloud Native workflows. Charlyne, who is constantly surrounded by entrepreneurs, brings a meaningful HR perspective in this episode. She has seen and dealt with many cofounder issues. She talks about what to look for in a cofounder, the steps you should take to ensure a successful cofounder relationship, and what you need to do when there are disagreements.
Ian Mackinnon is the CTO and Co-Founder of Later Media, the worlds favorite Instagram marketing platform, where you can plan your social posts visually, post automatically and get tailored insights to help you and your brand grow. He is also a Launch Academy alumni and Launch Ventures portfolio company.
In this episode of our #FounderJourneySeries. He talks about how he got started, from interning at google and then starting his own company at 29!
Try out his platform here and let us know what you think. https://later.com/
Not only is Dr. Alexandra Greenhill a physician with her own practice, but she is the CEO of 2 tech companies as well. Dr. Greenhill dives deep into the needs of the medical industry, a favorite book that has helped her in her entrepreneurial journey, and how she leverages Traction conference to her benefit.
https://careteam.tech/
Jason Smith is the CEO and Co-founder of Klue, a new way to capture, manage, and communicate market insights from the web and across the company, in platforms you already use. Jason talks about the importance of company culture, the effects of covid on him and his company, the endless opportunities in the B2B world,
Want to join the KLUE team? They're hiring! https://jobsatklue.pinpointhq.com/
Boris Wertz is the founding partner of Version One Ventures. Version One Ventures is an early-stage venture fund investing in the next generation of mission-driven founders. He is also a mentor of our CEO Ray Walia! In this weeks episode, Boris discusses his journey from entrepreneur to investor, how he built his fund, what he looks for when he invests in entrepreneurs, and what makes Version One so successful. Are you thinking of becoming an investor? You may want to listen to what Boris has to say first!
https://versionone.vc/
Darius is the President of Fans Unite, a sports and entertainment company focussing on technology related to regulated and lawful online sports betting and other related products. In this episode, a few things we discuss are how to bounce back from an idea that doesn't work, the importance of work-life balance, the ability to be vulnerable with your team and more. Ray and Darius also reminisce about their adventures together from learning about horse studding in Kentucky and a work trip to vegas. You might learn a few things you didnt know before!
https://www.fansunite.com/
Melissa is the CEO and co-founder of eWebinar, an automated webinar solution which combines pre-recorded video with real-time interactions and live chat to deliver a delightfully engaging experience for attendees. Ray and Melissa chat about what it takes to start a company, what it means to be successful, the importance of surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs, and when you should quit your job and go full time. Melissa tops off the the discussion with some great advice about what it means to be happy as an entrepreneur. Excuse the glaring light as we interviewed Melissa while she was in her new home across the world!
https://www.ewebinar.com/
Daniel, a serial entrepreneur, is the CEO and Founder of Koho, a company that is helping Canadians take charge of their finances without a bank. Learn about his journey before Koho, what inspired him to start Koho, the realities of raising money, the importance of coaching and therapy for yourself and your business, and his co-founder fallout at Koho.
www.Koho.ca
Natalie Cartwright is the Co-Founder and COO of Finn.AI, a conversational AI company that strives to improve the financial lives of 100 million people by 2025. Natalie shares a lot of valuable insight with us and her best advice as an entrepreneur. From navigating difficult moments, learning how to gain a great support network, dealing with rejection, copycat business models, and of course artificial intelligence.
www.Finn.ai
What is required to start a startup? What defines a successful startup? How do entrepreneurs navigate difficult moments? Do I want to run a company that becomes venture fundable? What do you do after you've raised venture capital? How do you succeed?
STAY TUNED! We are launching on February 5th on IGTV!
Featured in this episode: Natalie Cartwright from Finn.AI, Daniel Eberhard from Koho, Melissa Kwan from eWebinar, Ian Mackinnon from Later Media, and Boris Wertz from Version One Ventures, and Darius Eghdami from Fans Unite