Invested in our New Reality

Founder Gym is the first online training program designed specifically to help underrepresented tech start-up founders raise money to scale their start-ups. Founder, Mandela SH Dixon is paving the way for underrepresented business owners to find a path to success through advisement and expertise. In this episode we find out how Mandela has created a community where ALL entrepreneurs can thrive.

Naomi Haile, intrapreneur, QuakeLab consultant, and host of ‘The Power of Why’ podcast talks about what she has learned about impact and intention and how they play into a sense of fulfillment and a path to success.

Roger Eacock, CEO of Spartan Bioscience talks about Spartan's remarkable hand-held COVID-19 rapid testing technology. Spartan recently received authorization from Health Canada for their made-in-Canada solution but the journey wasn't always easy. Eacock takes us through their story and walks us through the ins and outs of rapid testing.

The pandemic has impacted all of us but for racialized and marginalized communities the adverse effects of COVID-19 have been disproportionate. As a result, there has been an increased focus on championing and supporting diverse businesses and entrepreneurs. Kevin Bourne, Chief Executive Officer at SHIFTER Magazine and well-known PR and marketing whiz, seeks to bridge the business barriers that many members of the Black community face — specifically Black artists struggling to navigate the industry — by advising and providing them with a platform to market music, draft content, and build their business. Kevin’s story is one of leadership, talent, and dedication.

Focal Ottawa is a student-led initiative dedicated to promoting and supporting local Ottawa businesses. By now we all know too well how COVID-19 has adversely impacted small businesses throughout the Ottawa community. While Ottawans across the city are working diligently to support the businesses they love most, a group of students took it upon themselves to create awareness about local businesses and amplify their message using web traffic. Steve Georgopoulos sits down with Shavonne Hasfal-Mcintosh to explain how the initiative was born, and discuss the role that leadership, education, and inspiration play in bringing small businesses back into focus.

Mark Kaluski, Chair of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA), talks about the challenges small businesses have faced since the pandemic began, and how critical the shift to digital is for survival. He explains why some government programs are too complicated for business owners to consider, and others are met with skepticism. Digital Main Street, he explains, is the real deal which is why he's decided to become an ambassador and champion the program.

Breaking into the food and beverage industry is difficult during the best of times. With the added challenges of COVID-19, it can prove to be exceptionally more difficult. Despite these challenges, Marie Pierre Faye has adapted her beverage business, Faye Beverage, swiftly to successfully continue serving customers the exotic flavours of hibiscus flowers and fresh fruits from West Africa. Thanks to a strengthened digital strategy and a passion for sharing all that her West African culture has to offer, Marie has managed to build a successful and delicious juice business. Marie’s story is one of adaptability, courage, and enthusiasm.

Since the pandemic, home improvements and renovations have been booming. In this episode of Invested Pod, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh speaks to Justin Assaly of PerfectPRO Painters about how the Digital Main Street program helped enhance their online presence and streamline their digital assets to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic and beyond.

As a relatively new entrepreneur, Good Eats Cafe owner Karen Marcotte has learned a few things in a short amount of time. Leaving a stable career in mechanical engineering to take a chance on a café, she knows all about risks. Having faced many challenges which forced her to shift her business model before the pandemic, she's now navigating her business through COVID-19, Karen’s story is one of resilience, staying creative and embracing change.