From the very beginning of a child's life, the natural instinct of parents is to "shape them". This mentality is passed along to educators, as kids enter pre-school, K-12 and eventually post-secondary. It's no wonder that, by the time they enter college and careers, their curiosity and wonder has been sucked out of them, as educational expert Sir Ken Robinson suggests.

Dina Ottoni Battistessa and Tristan Katz founded Akidamy Early Learning and Care, with the vision of a pre-school attempting to give kids a different start to their educational journey. A pre-school founded on the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach, where curiosity and creativity flourish. And where the design of everything, from classroom to curriculum, is largely based upon interaction with every child who walks through their door.

This empathy-based concept not only guided Dina and Tristan through their first 6 years of Akidemy, it also sparked an innovative solution to the unique challenges presented to them and their clients during the Covid 19 pandemic. And in the process, triggered a new product line - Akidemy Play.

Website:

www.akidemy.ca

Instagram:

akidemypreschool

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The concept of collaboration has taken on a different meaning in the era of social media, and specifically, social media influencers. In that world it's all about favor-swapping. But the original meaning of collaboration, the one that makes it a universally recognized skill for success in business and in life, it means exchanging a mutually beneficial value for two or more participants.

The Covid 19 pandemic has placed extra emphasis on the need and use of "the collab" as small businesses scrambled for ways that would just allow them to keep the lights on. In Calgary, like any big city where the entrepreneurial economic impact is immeasurable, and its spirit even bigger, small businesses began ratcheting up partnerships looking for new ways of getting their product to customers who had been told to stay indoors. Out of the ashes of this came a variety of one-on-one collaborations, but also the concept of collaboration gift boxes.

Calgary's Shauna Vowel, a crystal jewelry artisan herself, decided to be a part of the solution, rather than the problem. She put out the word that she would give of her time, talent and passion, to organize, curate, package, take orders, and deliver boxes featuring hand made gifts by a number of Calgary makers. It was an enormous effort, matched with very encouraging success, not only for recipients of the gift box (released just in time for Mother's Day), but also, of course, for the artists and designers, who had lost their distribution channel.

At the time of this broadcast, June 17, 2020, YYC Collab Box is selling its "Dude Box" days ahead of Father's Day. Details on how to get one for the dude in your life are below.

https://awakenthegems.ca/products/yyc-collab-dude-box

https://www.instagram.com/yyc_collab_box/

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Happy Fats is a health food brand with a twist. Actually, it's more of a squeeze. Macadamia nut butter combined with a growing list of other wholesome, delicious and natural flavors, packed into snack-sized pouches. Perfect for tossing into backpacks, lunch kits, brief cases, or sliding into your pocket. Health benefit and portability were just two of the requirements Bonnie and Aaron Vandersteen had when they came up with their idea. But the list didn't stop there.

In this episode, Bonnie talks about launching a health food brand in the middle of a global health crisis, the need for entrepreneurs to ask a lot questions, and to have a lot of faith in themselves and the world around them. But in addition to what she says, there's something uniquely inspiring about "how" she presents herself and her brand story. Childlike curiosity, endless gratitude, fearlessness toward failure, and genuine values all come through.

At the very least you'll want to try the Happy Fats product, but you may also find yourself feeling an extra nudge to take your own wild entrepreneurial idea one step further.

Website:

www.happyfatsnacks.com

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While cider is rapidly gaining traction in the alcoholic beverage market, Brodie Thomas, founder of Calgary's Uncommon Cider Co. is unconcerned with hopping on a bandwagon in the name of profit. Instead, he is intent on positioning cider in its traditional English form, with real ingredients, made the old-fashioned way. Mashing, fermenting, waiting. Each batch unique.

But aside from sticking to traditional process, and a steadfast adherence to an "apples-in-sweeteners-out" philosophy, Uncommon is unafraid to experiment with different flavorings, so long as they are natural, and support the brand's bold philosophy.

Uncommon is also resourceful and socially-mindful, making use of apples collected from the backyards of Calgarians, to create an annual, but limited batch of "YYC Cider" - keeping true to its claim as Western Canada's only "urban cidery".

Website:

www.uncommoncider.com

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Entrepreneurs are audacious. They sense a missing, and have the audacity to think they were born to fill it. Or, they’re audacious enough to think THEY can do something better than what’s already available. Robyn Taylor, of Raw By Robyn, is both…and she’s got insanely healthy, fuel injecting drinkables to prove it. 

She thought she was following a traditional career path. You know, university and a corporate job. The problem was, there was an entrepreneur within, along with a passion for fitness and hyper healthy eating, that, once ignited, was impossible to snuff out.

Like most successful entrepreneurial stories there was an intersection between wanting to fly solo, doing so with passion and purpose, and flavoured with just the right amount of serendipity. Robyn Taylor’s frequent visits to a smoothie truck, temptingly parked near her workplace, not only cost her a fortune, but triggered an idea which became an obsession. A smoothie company that goes beyond smoothies. But not just with ingredients - although you'll find tremendous innovation in her pre-made smoothie pouches and juices. Nope, her vision, is really more like the Starbucks of superfood..

She had just opened her first location in Calgary when the Covid 19 pandemic struck. But it's a model nonetheless, from which she plans to build a brand people love not only for the super healthy products served, but the community it creates. One that goes way beyond smoothies.

Website:

www.rawbyrobyn.com

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Colton Nason grew up like many other kids in Canada. Active, loving sport, and dreaming of one day making the big leagues. But like the vast majority of those same kids, his dreams fell short. Years later, having recognized and researched the role that nutrition plays in a competitive athlete's trajectory, he couldn't help but wonder if his lack of awareness, and financial access to proper nutrition might have played a role in those unfulfilled dreams.

As a university student, with an entrepreneurial instinct, he began researching the extent of the nutrition gap in Canada's potential athletes. At the same time he was developing an interest in athletic apparel, and somehow those two worlds met, resulting in Clothes With Benefits.

But the benefits extend beyond quality, competitively priced gym wear. 5% of all sales help fund better, healthier eating for Canada's up and coming athletes. Purchasers of CWB apparel also become eligible for discounts from partner companies in Calgary's health and fitness community.

Colton places his mission in the hands of his customers: "Make a purchase, make a difference". This, he feels, benefits customers and beneficiaries of his vision...to see more athletes' dreams realized.

Website: www.clotheswithbenefits.com

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Craft is king. In many consumer categories, we're trending away from big brands and toward small ones. Local proprietors making awesome alternatives to mainstream brands are capturing hearts, minds and money of consumers who seek more than just a product.

Calgary's Skunkworks Distillery is the brainchild of energy industry professionals Faye Warrington and Marty Lastiwka, who recognized this trend was forming, but first saw a gap in the market for a premium distilled product, that came with a chill, approachable vibe. They also wanted to create a beverage with a story, and one which would spur new stories each time it was enjoyed.

Faye and Marty share stories about the unlikely connection between big corporate boardroom project management, to backroom moonshine making. They recall their own unique social-responsibility pivot during the pandemic, and dream entrepreneurial dreams in this episode.

Website: www.skunkworksdistillery.com

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The supply chain behind that cup of coffee you enjoy is an endless, and sometimes ruthless, array of growers, buyers, sellers and resellers. Trekking through this complex jungle, to discover the best, and most ethically sourced coffee beans, is top priority for Five'21 Roasters. Cracking the code of that perfect roasting formula, then becomes the obsession of the company's founder Trevor Huggins, a Calgary firefighter.

But while Trevor's roasting the beans in his family's repurposed garage, his wife Carina is evangelizing the brand. "We want to fuel an intentional life", she states emphatically. "Coffee's coffee, but we really believe in the ritual of that morning coffee. As a time to think about what your intention is, with your day and with your life."

Dealing with a string of adversity, while raising a young family, would prove to be inspiring, rather than hindering, to the idea, the launch and the mindset of Five'21 Roasters. And as the Covid 19 pandemic rolls on, that intentional life Trevor and Carina speak so passionately about, becomes all the more purposeful.

You'll appreciate both, your coffee, and the ritual of drinking it, just a little bit more, after listening to the Five'21 Roasters story.

Websites:

www.five21roasters.com

Socials:

@five21roasters

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Any and all business success stories can be traced to one common denominator - an unmet need. Calgary entrepreneur Jason Zaran has identified two such gaps, but he's never satisfied in his quest for new discoveries.

The founder or Fit Kitchen, a healthy and nutritious meal plan service in Calgary, talks about his journey to this point, his ups and downs, and insights for survival as an entrepreneur, as well as how being nimble and proactive can sometimes position you for success, even in the throws of a global pandemic.

www.fitkitchen.ca

Instagram: @fitkitchenyyc

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While we are all shut in, trying to keep on top of the clutter, the chaos...and cleanliness, today's podcast may make you want to restore order yourself. Or, you could arrange to have cleaning done differently, by a different kind of cleaning company.

Ukraine-born Mariya Podeyko, caught our attention by her unconventional way of branding a house-cleaning business. We're glad we fell for the bait, because the story of her entrepreneurial journey, her pandemic-related pause in activity, and her refreshing sense of home will put a sparkle in your day...and your house-keeping regimen.

www.amcleaning.ca

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