AfternoonT - Stories from Successful Canadian Founders

Taufiq Rahim is one of Canada’s global citizens. He is an investor and an international problem solver. Over the last two decades and in over 20 countries, Taufiq has driven investment, convened conversations and brought together public and private partnerships addressing the most pertinent global issues - from disruptive technology to economic development to geopolitics to global health.

His current focus is on shifts in the global order and how individuals and institutions can capture opportunity in a time of rising challenge. He is also building 2040 Ventures, a global platform with a strong belief in the transformative power of the technology of decentralization. This was inspired by the venture syndicate he founded with two partners, YVRDXB to help put a global spotlight on Vancouver’s tech start-ups.

Taufiq is a senior fellow in the International Security Program at New America and a fellow at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. He has previously worked with McKinsey & Company, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the United Nations, and was the founder of Globesight, a global development firm. 

Jen Lee Koss is an entrepreneur and investor, passionate about supporting, uplifting, and changing the lives of entrepreneurs and working families. She is a founding partner of Springbank Collective, an investment fund that supports early-stage companies re-imagining work, building the care infrastructure, and developing solutions for working families. Through Springbank, Jen is actively shaping the future of work and family life, by backing startups that leverage technology and community to make life more manageable, fulfilling, and equitable.

In 2012, Jen co-founded BRIKA, an innovative retail agency focused on creating curated retail experiences. BRIKA was acquired in 2022 by Salt XC and has been featured in numerous publications, and has won several awards for its mission-driven approach to retail. Before BRIKA, Jen worked in management consulting, investment banking and private equity. She serves as a board member of both public and private companies in North America and Europe. In addition, she is a Juilliard-trained cellist, a mother of 4 young children and a graduate of Harvard University, Oxford University, and Harvard Business School. Join us as we learn from her wisdom, and discover what it takes to build successful and meaningful businesses in today's world.

Anthonia Ogundele is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ethos Lab Educational Society. Ethos Lab is a non-profit STEM and culture-focused Innovation Academy for youth ages 13-18 that provides access to emerging technologies, culture, and a community of innovators. 

Antonia’s career has been as a resilience professional. Most recently, she was with VanCity Credit Union. And has held various positions in Emergency Management within the Ontario Government and continues to consult with the World Bank.

Antonia has a passion for community. In 2016, she founded the Hogan’s Alley Land Trust, which evolved into the Hogan’s Alley Society and was the former Chair of the Coal Harbour Residents Association. In 2016, she founded the Cheeky Proletariat gallery, an accessible and inclusive space for the free expression of all people.

In episode 80 of the Afternoon T Podcast, Chris sits down for a chat with the Consul General of Canada in San Fransisco, Rana Sarkar.

Rana has also held various senior leadership positions in the public and private sectors. He served as the National Director for High Growth Markets at KPMG Canada, where he advised Canadian companies on how to expand into emerging markets. He also worked as the President and CEO of the Canada-India Business Council and had various roles in multiple great organizations in London, UK. He is a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto and has served as an advisor to several Canadian political leaders. Rana holds a Master's degree in Government from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Queen's University.

This week TTT president and co-founder Chris Hobbs sits down with the CEO of Startup Canada, Kayla Isabelle for Episode 79 of the Afternoon "T" Podcast.

With over a decade of experience in the startup ecosystem, Kayla is an expert in supporting entrepreneurs and building thriving startup communities across the country. During our conversation, we'll be discussing Kayla's insights on the challenges facing Canadian entrepreneurs, the latest trends and innovations in the startup world, and how Startup Canada is working to support entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey.

As a special bonus, for a limited time, and in limited quantities listeners can use promo code SCTOUR20 for free tickets to the Startup Canada Tour

Episode 78 of the Afternoon "T" Podcast finds Chris Hobbs chatting with the founder of Lions Gate International, Maninder Dhaliwal.

In addition to being the President and Co-founder of Lions Gate International Maninder is also the Managing Partner at Startup Studio - an Accelerator & Early Stage Venture Capital Fund, the Founding Chair of TiE Incubation Lab with a focus on supporting Canadian Pre-seed Startups, and serves on the steering committee for TiE Global Angels, the largest angel investor network in the world.

Maninder has been recognized by several awards including: Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 under 40, Diversity 50 - Canada’s most diverse and eligible board candidates, and Thomson Reuters' Canada's Top 40 influencers in Finance, Innovation and Risk Management.

For episode 77 of the Afternoon "T" Podcast Chris sits down to chat with Canadian VC legend John Ruffolo.

John is the founder and Managing Partner at Maverix Private Equity, as well as the former CEO of OMERS Ventures, one of the largest and most active venture capital firms in Canada. Under his leadership, OMERS Ventures invested in several successful Canadian startups, including Shopify, Xanadu, Jobber, Hootsuite,  Desire 2 Learn, Hopper,  League, and Wattpad. 

John also co-founded the Council of Canadian Innovators with Jim Balsillie, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping high-growth Canadian technology firms scale globally.

As an active board member, John works with many leading innovative organizations including AI Partnerships Corp., engineering.com, Ether Capital, and OneEleven.

John is equally recognized for his involvement in the non-profit sector, including serving as a member on the boards of the David Suzuki Foundation, the CIBC Foundation, and the Royal Ontario Museum to name a few.

Andre Charoo is a prominent figure in the venture capital industry, known for his expertise in early-stage investments and his ability to identify promising startups.

Andre Charoo began his career in finance before transitioning to the venture capital industry working with some legendary companies on the way. He was one of Uber’s first 25 employees and led Hired’s expansion into 16 markets across 6 countries. In 2016 he founded Maple VC where he has backed some great startups including Neo, Layer Zero, and Reno Run.

On top of this, Andre is the Co-Chair of the C100 tasked with helping organize the world’s most influential Canadians in tech.

Sam Gharegozlou of Axiom Zen and Dapper Labs joins Chris Hobbs to for episode 75 of the Afternoon "T" Podcast.

Sam Gharegozlou is a true innovator in the tech world, and his impact on the industry has been undeniable. With his passion for technology and entrepreneurship, he has been able to turn his vision into reality, co-founding multiple successful companies that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in their respective industries.

Dapper Labs, the blockchain-based company that Sam co-founded, is best known for creating CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot, two of the most popular decentralized applications on the Ethereum blockchain. The company's mission is to make blockchain technology accessible and user-friendly, and they have become a leader in the crypto space.

Axiom Zen, the tech studio co-founded by Sam, is a hotbed of innovation and creativity. The company specializes in developing cutting-edge technologies and products such as Zen Hub and Routific.

David Helliwell of Thrive health joins Chris Hobbs to launch season 6 in episode 74 of the Afternoon "T" Podcast.

Join us as David discusses lessons from his time working in government, being humbled by professional windsurfers, and how there comes a time when an entrepreneur needs to "throw away the crutches" to find success.