Between Meetings

In Between Meetings, Victoria Bennett shared how a Calgary Boy Choir campaign sparked her path into crowdfunding after nearly two decades in marketing with Pampers, Tide, ENMAX, TD, and the University of Calgary. She explains what crowdfunding really is, the five main models, and where it fits alongside bootstrapping, angels, grants, and VC. Victoria busts myths about messy cap tables, shows how crowdfunding validates businesses, and highlights the power of storytelling and community in turning one-time backers into long-term supporters. Looking ahead, she discusses blended rounds, community raises, and the future of crowdfunding with AI, blockchain, and secondary markets.

Takeaways:

• Democratization of capital opens early-stage investing to all
• Crowdfunding bridges bootstrapping and VC
• Cap tables stay clean with nominee/trust structures
• Campaigns validate demand and attract institutional investors
• Storytelling connects emotionally with backers
• Modest goals create momentum
• Community matters more than money

Victoria Bennett is the founder of The Crowdfunding Hub and a longtime marketer with experience at Pampers, Tide, ENMAX, TD, and the University of Calgary. She helps startups and growth companies design and execute crowdfunding campaigns to validate markets, attract capital, and convert backers into long-term advocates.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In Between Meetings, Neeraj Gupta shared his global journey and why he believes Calgary can become the startup capital of North America. He spoke about Alberta as a validation hub, the rise of aerospace and defense, deep-tech investing, and the importance of aligning IP with business goals. Neeraj also discussed the CDL focus model, founder red flags, and why time, money, and equity are the three resources every entrepreneur must guard.

Takeaways:

• Ecosystems need seven ingredients: data, domain, talent, research, IP, infrastructure, capital, markets
• Calgary can be a validation hub and gateway to North America
• Aerospace and defense are Alberta’s next bet
• Deep-tech investing requires patience and corporate validation
• IP must serve business strategy, not vanity metrics
• Focus on one market beats chasing five
• Time, money, equity are the most limited founder assets

Neeraj Gupta is an investor, entrepreneur, and mentor whose career spans scaling deep-tech ventures, advising governments, and guiding founders on strategy and intellectual property. Based in Calgary, he plays active roles in investment, mentorship, and ecosystem building—helping position Alberta as a rising hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In Between Meetings, Matt Wilson shared his path from founder to investor and the lessons that shape how he leads Allied Venture Partners today. He explained the importance of balancing empathy with objectivity, building a strong investment thesis, and why early traction matters. Matt also reflected on Calgary’s angel ecosystem, his early investments in Lyft and Pinterest, the dangers of predatory angel terms, and why “the opportunity is in the imperfection.”

Takeaways:

• Best investors are often former founders but objectivity is key
• Clear investment thesis removes emotion from decisions
• Founders should build before raising, traction wins
• Calgary’s ecosystem is growing but funding gaps remain
• Predatory angels can ruin cap tables for future VC rounds
• Perfectionism is a trap, MVPs matter most
• AI is here to stay, but hype isn’t a strategy

Matt Wilson is Managing Director at Allied Venture Partners, an angel group of 2,000 investors that has deployed over $6 million into tech startups. A founder turned investor, he has built and exited companies, led sales at Nestlé and Coca-Cola, and co-founded Calgary Beer Week. An early investor in Lyft and Pinterest, Matt now helps founders scale and contributes to shaping Alberta’s startup ecosystem.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In Between Meetings, Craig D’Cruze shared his path from professional chef to venture capital, beginning with his teenage stock trading. He discussed the firm’s investment thesis targeting legacy industries, how he evaluates founders, and the strengths of Calgary’s collaborative startup ecosystem. Craig also emphasized the importance of celebrating realistic $20M–$50M exits to attract more local investors and keep capital flowing into the region.

Takeaways:

• From chef to VC — turning a love for food into a passion for investing
• Started trading at 14, turning $50 into $4K to help pay for culinary school
• Core thesis: back first movers in slow, legacy industries
• Looks for founders he can have a beer with, who show honesty and humility
• Sees ~800 deals/year — quick “no” saves everyone time
• Calgary’s ecosystem is collaborative and relationship-driven
• “Screw the unicorns” — celebrate realistic $20M–$50M exits to attract investors

Craig D’Cruze is COO at Inverted Ventures with 15+ years in equities markets and a strong belief that emerging technologies can solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Before investing, he built a successful career as an award-winning Executive Chef, leading large teams for Marriott, Delta Hotels, and the University of Calgary. Today, his passion for numbers and finance fuels his work in early-stage venture capital and cryptocurrency portfolio development.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In between meetings, Nima Najand, reflected on Calgary’s fast-changing innovation landscape. From starting as a volunteer intern after a PhD in medical genetics to launching the Life Sciences and Aerospace Innovation Hubs, Nima’s journey mirrors the ecosystem’s growth. He highlighted stronger early-stage support, a persistent gap in scaling capital and mentorship, and the qualities academic entrepreneurs need to succeed: speed, risk tolerance, and coachability. The conversation also touched on Canada’s cautious investment culture and the challenge of losing promising companies to U.S. acquisitions.

Takeaways:

• Nima joined Innovate Calgary as an intern and, over 12+ years, grew into his current role as Senior Director of Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary
• Calgary’s innovation scene grew from a few players to 50+ organizations, gaining global recognition
• Strong early-stage support, but a lack of scaling capital pushes startups to look elsewhere
• Moving fast and embracing risk — skills often rare in academia
• Canada’s risk aversion limits bold ventures, unlike the higher-risk appetite in the U.S
• Early exits to U.S. buyers cost Canada future industry leaders and ecosystem growth

Nima Najand brings a unique mix of scientific expertise, commercialization strategy, and startup experience, backed by a PhD in Medical and Molecular Genetics. With over a decade supporting ventures and contributing to Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, he blends research insight with business know-how. As Senior Director of Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary, Nima helps lead and grow a network of hubs that support innovators and entrepreneurs.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In Between Meetings, Clark Lai, CEO of Motiv, shared how his journey from self-taught programmer to entrepreneur led to founding a venture builder tackling slow corporate innovation. Motive helps companies identify opportunities, build products, and drive results through diverse teams, tailored strategies, and a focus on quick wins.

Takeaways:

• Tech + finance skills make a strong foundation for venture building.
• Solving slow innovation in big orgs creates high-impact opportunities.
• Full-stack innovation—from idea to scaled product—is key.
• Diverse teams fuel innovation; clear communication is vital.
• Corporate innovation needs change management and local insight.
• Start with strategy, end with actionable outcomes.
• Quick wins build trust and momentum in innovation projects.

Clark Lai is the founder and CEO of Motiv Innovation Group, a global venture builder behind $2B+ in client value. With 16+ years in tech and multiple ventures launched, he’s a frequent speaker on innovation, AI, and emerging technologies.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In a recent Between Meetings episode, Kimberly Rothenberg, president of Lagree YYC, shared her transition from financial services to personal training after the birth of her first daughter. She opened Lagree YYC after discovering the Lagree workout in New York, seeing it as a perfect fit for Calgary. Kimberly discussed balancing business growth with family life, staying hands-on in the studios, and ensuring high standards. She also emphasized the importance of employee retention through fair pay and a strong team culture, while hinting at plans for a potential fourth location.

Takeaways:

• Kimberly shifted from finance to fitness for more personal fulfillment after becoming a mother.
• She built a flexible personal training business to balance work and family life.
• Balancing entrepreneurship and family requires organization, collaboration, and family time.
• Kimberly stays hands-on in daily operations to ensure consistent quality.
• Employee retention relies on fair pay, a team-oriented culture, and recognition.
• Scaling a brick-and-mortar business presents challenges in maintaining quality.
• Kimberly values the strong social communities formed in physical studio spaces.

Kimberly is the president of Lagree YYC, a fitness studio with multiple locations. After starting a family, she transitioned from a career in finance to follow her passion for fitness. She introduced a unique workout method from New York to Calgary and now focuses on maintaining high-quality classes and creating a supportive, community-driven environment in her studios.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I interviewed Stephanie Horner from RBCx in Calgary about her work supporting startups within the growing tech community. She explains RBCx's unique approach to assisting high-growth tech companies, the key factors that determine whether startups thrive or struggle, and the advantages of the Canadian startup landscape for early-stage founders.

Takeaways:

• Startup success is a multifaceted outcome dependent on the founder, circumstances, and economic climate, including the founder's long-term vision.
• Effective cash flow management is paramount for a startup's survival and sustained growth.
• For early-stage companies, a lean and cost-effective banking approach is beneficial, adapting as the business scales.
• The Canadian startup ecosystem possesses distinct advantages in its smaller size, offering greater access to resources and a collaborative environment.
• The framework of "Startup Alive, Startup Dead, Startup Zombie" serves as a useful lens to assess a company's current viability and trajectory.
• RBCx provides specialized support for high-growth tech startups by focusing on venture capital backing and offering comprehensive banking and ecosystem connections.

Stephanie Horner is AVP, Banking at RBCx. As a tech financing & capital growth specialist, she is passionate about helping entrepreneurs thrive. With expertise in strategic education, adaptability, and scalable frameworks, Stephanie empowers entrepreneurs to build lasting success and contribute to a stronger entrepreneurial economy in Alberta, Canada, and beyond.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

On Between Meetings, I interviewed Ed Kang, CSO of Startups.com, about his startup journey, Startups.com's unique non-dilutive model, and his passion for helping founders (especially with pitch decks via his YouTube channel). He also shared insights on AI in startups/consulting, emphasizing investor understanding and the current AI saturation.

Takeaways:

• Startups.com: Non-dilutive accelerator supporting underserved founders & raising significant capital.
• Pitch Decks: Avoid mismatching investors, customer-focused language, lack of clarity, and problem misidentification.
• AI in Startups: Essential but facing "AI washing" and solution saturation. Focus on future AI applications.
• AI Productivity: Automates tasks, boosts efficiency in consulting & other fields.
• Democratizing AI: Start with conversational AI (ChatGPT) and explore from there.
• Startup Community: Startups.com offers community, advice, and support.
• Founder Content: Ed Kang's YouTube channel provides free pitch deck resources.
• Value Exchange: Free content is plentiful, but direct consulting is limited; consider community engagement.

Ed Kang is a startup advisor, executive coach, and Registered Organization Development Consultant (RODC) with a long history of serial entrepreneurship, including raising over $100M. He advises and consults for startups, accelerators, and funds, and serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Startups.com. He has guided over 600 founders through all stages of venture building, from launch to funding and scaling.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Cree. Our conversation delved into his experiences leading the mission-driven venture Common Good, the challenges he faced along the way, the growth of Calgary's startup ecosystem, and his aspirations to bring innovation to city governance as a city council candidate.

Takeaways:

• When we started COMMONGOOD, we thought we understood the problem.
• When someone has a mission, they put their heart into it.
• To run a profitable business, you must listen to customers to understand where the product-market fit is, but that doesn't always align closely with the mission.
• We could save significantly more money by being more innovative, but we are not.
• I am going to run for city council to bring the innovative mindset we've learned to the council.

David Cree is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with a rich career driving impactful campaigns and building effective teams. He specializes in helping startups, particularly those addressing sustainable development goals, acquire and retain major clients. Combining strategic thinking, creativity, and relationship-building expertise, David has a proven track record of breaking organizations into new markets and securing high-value clients. His specialties include Social Enterprise, Mental Health, Marketing and Sales Strategy, Branding and advertising.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.