Founder In Progress

From corporate strategy to canned cocktails, this episode dives into Jacob’s journey from American Airlines and Princess Cruises to founding Bold Move Beverages and creating Cold Brews—his vision for “America’s boozy coffee.” He shares how growing up around entrepreneurial parents, falling in love with coffee after college, and craving a drink that could “energize and socialize” pushed him to leave the safety of Fortune 500 jobs, move to Austin for his MBA, and plug into the CPG and startup ecosystem that helped turn a kitchen experiment into a multi-state alcohol brand.

We get into the realities behind the brand: R&D in his apartment, food science and pasteurization, navigating the three-tier alcohol system, choosing the right distributors and channels, crowdfunding on Wefunder, and growing into six states while staying true to quality and community. Jacob talks candidly about burnout, failed manufacturing runs, car accidents, and what it really takes to keep going—leaning on mentors, co-founders, and a strong support network. If you’re building in CPG, beverages, or just trying to make your own “bold move,” this conversation is packed with lessons on product-market fit, brand building, and defining success beyond just the exit.

LEARN MORE about Jacob

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/boldmovebevs/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-guss/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/bold-move-beverages/

Website - https://boldmovebeverages.com/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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In this episode, we sit down with Tara, founder and CEO of Splice Software, to explore her 19-year mission of proving that data, when handled responsibly, can be used for good. Tara breaks down what trust-led personalization actually looks like, why preference design matters, and how secure, localized AI can strengthen—not replace—human connection. She shares the early influence of growing up around 1970s database systems, the psychology behind voice and language tuning, and why the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn’t compute power or infrastructure, but human comfort, privacy, and trust. From the decline of text messaging to the rise of secure chat and natural voice experiences, Tara explains how consumer behavior is shifting and what companies need to do to keep up.

We also dive into the realities of scaling: expanding into Europe too early, growing without external funding, and the massive gap between Canadian and American tech maturity. Tara talks about why security is the number-one non-negotiable for founders, why companies should only build preference systems if they’re willing to respect them, and how the next decade will feel exponentially faster than anything we’ve seen so far. Beyond technology, she opens up about volunteering, elevating the Canadian ecosystem, passing the right values to her kids, and redefining success as making the world small—people helping people. If you care about AI, personalization, entrepreneurship, trust, security, or the future of human-tech interaction, this is an interview you don’t want to miss.

LEARN MORE about Tara

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-kelly/?originalSubdomain=ca - https://www.linkedin.com/company/splice-software-incorporated/

Website - https://www.splicesoftware.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/splicesoftware/ - https://www.instagram.com/tara.kelly77/

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

Meet Samantha, founder of Fresh Ideas Club and strategy-first marketer who cares more about building fandom than pumping out campaigns. In this episode, we sit down at her Calgary ceramics studio to talk about the overlap between craft and brand building, why happy mistakes matter, and how a 13-year ceramics practice shaped the way she sees story, patience, and permanence in marketing.

Sam shares how founders can turn community into a real channel, move audiences off rented platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and build durable relationships through email, storytelling, and mission-driven brands. She breaks down the creator economy (and why it’s just the artisan economy with new tools), the risks of relying on algorithms, and why even camera-shy founders need to lead the story of their business. We also get into Calgary’s underrated community culture, her move to Victoria and back, and what it means to choose people and place over a “perfect” lifestyle.

LEARN MORE about Samantha

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DK08AR2xzwP/

- https://www.instagram.com/sam_lillian/?hl=en

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sambeck1/

Website - https://www.freshideasclub.com/

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

From a small kitchen in Syria to grocery aisles across Texas, Farrah and Yassin’s story is one of resilience and purpose. What began with a few handwritten recipes in a black notebook became Afia Foods — a frozen-food brand built on authenticity, family, and culture. Starting at local farmers’ markets, they sold out week after week before building their own manufacturing line to protect quality and stay true to their roots. When the pandemic disrupted supply chains, that decision kept Afia Foods producing when others couldn’t.

Now stocked in over 200 stores and recognized through H-E-B’s “Quest for Texas,” Afia Foods stands as a symbol of craftsmanship and community. Beyond business growth, Farrah and Yassin have created jobs for refugees and newcomers, offering the same opportunity they once needed. This episode dives into how they scaled with discipline, stayed grounded in culture, and turned a family recipe into a purpose-driven food brand inspiring a new generation of immigrant entrepreneurs.

LEARN MORE about Farrah & Yassin

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/afiafoods/

Website - https://afiafoods.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/afiafoods/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/farrahsibai/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/yassinsibai/

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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From throwing underground events in Normandy to running a cross-continental creative agency — this is Eva Wolf’s journey of instinct, risk, and reinvention.

Eva didn’t plan to be an entrepreneur. A neighbour asked her to host a party; within a year she was running 20 events and working with the city. Then COVID hit and her entire business model collapsed overnight. Instead of stopping, she rebuilt — shifting from nightlife and culture to digital creative services, hiring globally, and building a 12-person agency serving France and the U.S.

She talks candidly about leaving her home country, learning English to survive in business, building and trusting a team, dealing with burnout, and losing $100K when a CTO vanished mid-product. This episode is raw founder truth — zero filters, real stakes, hard pivots, and a mission-driven approach to growth.

LEARN MORE about Eva Wolf

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsevawolf/

Website - https://www.askwolf.agency/the-founder-eva-wolf

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/evawolf.fr/?hl=en

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

From college intern to agency owner, Kristin shares her remarkable journey leading ECPR Texas, one of Austin’s most respected PR and digital firms. What started as an internship turned into a decades-long career defined by mentorship, risk-taking, and learning how to lead with empathy. In this honest and inspiring conversation, Kristin opens up about the realities of business ownership — from buying the firm from her boss to managing growth, raising a family, and finding balance when work and life collide.

She also dives into the evolution of Austin’s business landscape — from light rail and major infrastructure projects to the rise of Austin FC — and explains how ECPR became known as a connector that brings organizations, communities, and causes together. Kristin shares how her team uses AI (“Liz”) as a strategic thought partner, why kindness is a non-negotiable in hiring, and what it truly means to build a purpose-driven company rooted in relationships, not just results.

LEARN MORE about Kristin Marcum

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-marcum-3036604/

Website - https://ecprtexas.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ecprtexas/?hl=en

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

Entrepreneur and data veteran Ed Vincent (Founder & CEO, Festival Pass) joins us to unpack a 20-year journey that bridges finance, technology, and live experiences. From investment banking and e-commerce to building analytics platforms for TV and film—and later helping scale MoviePass—Ed’s path reveals how data and storytelling can reshape industries.

We dive into unit economics, how credit-based pricing (inspired by ClassPass) became the foundation for Festival Pass, and why the Lifetime Pass—$1,200 in yearly credits for life—is built to be both valuable and sustainable. Ed also explains how blockchain quietly powers true ownership and transferability behind the scenes.

Beyond the model, Ed shares lessons on resilience, leadership, and reinvention—from navigating major market shifts to balancing ambition with founder well-being. We close with Festival Pass’s AI concierge (AWS-backed) and the next phase: selling out Lifetime Passes and scaling a community-driven platform redefining how people connect through live events.

LEARN MORE about Ed Vincent

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/edvincent/

Website - https://www.festivalpass.com/events/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getfestivalpass/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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After growing up in his father’s small pharmacy in Calgary, Arif knew entrepreneurship was in his DNA — he just didn’t know what form it would take. Years later, that foundation of hard work and service would fuel the creation of Qopia Financial, one of Alberta’s fastest-growing advisory firms.

In this conversation, Arif shares how early lessons in customer care shaped his leadership philosophy, why he quit his job after his first $11K commission, and how he scaled Qopia through trust, culture, and acquisitions. From hiring before burnout to building a “no Sunday Scaries” team culture, Arif opens up about balancing risk and intuition while leading with purpose.

He also dives into how Qopia Financial integrates AI and tech to streamline operations, the power of DISC in communication, and what it really means to build a company that lasts beyond its founder.

LEARN MORE about Arif Kanji

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arifkanji/?originalSubdomain=ca

Website - https://qopiafinancial.ca/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/qopiafinancial/?hl=en

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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After decades leading Fortune 500 tech companies, Joel thought retirement would be fulfilling—until he realized he hated it. Searching for purpose led him to co-found Human, a company tackling cardiovascular health, the world’s #1 health issue.

In this conversation, Joel shares why building with purpose feels different than chasing profit, the lessons he brought from scaling Dell, and how Human earned credibility in a skeptical supplement market. From hiring as the “chief talent officer” to avoiding “hope-cast” financials, Joel reveals what it takes to adapt, grow, and stay true to a mission that changes lives.

LEARN MORE about Joel Kocher

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkocher/

Website - https://humann.com/blogs/explore/neo40-the-humann-origin-story?srsltid=AfmBOopA50VlkZorPX8xIwSuNunE0zLHJuyE0zQfjM4L3ths_zizC8LH

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

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Casey is a father, musician, and biotech founder who turned heartbreak into hope. After years as a touring artist—and the ups and downs that came with it—his world shifted when his daughter Rose was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. Faced with the words, “There’s nothing we can do,” Casey refused to accept the status quo.

Drawing on grit from his music career and the hard lessons of loss, sobriety, and rebuilding, he taught himself the science and business of drug development. He launched the Takira Rose Foundation, built Rare Labs to accelerate patient-specific treatments, and now leads Alpharose Therapeutics, a public benefit biotech company creating faster, more affordable therapies for ultra-rare diseases.

LEARN MORE about Casey McPherson

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/casey.mcpherson/?hl=en

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseymcpherson/

Website - https://www.startengine.com/offering/alpharose

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/

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Website - https://2cmedia.ca

Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact