Startup Canada Podcast

Laura Tolhoek of Essential HR shares her journey from HR professional to founder, emphasizing the importance of proactive, relationship-driven HR support for small businesses. Discover practical strategies for flexible HR solutions, effective hiring, and leveraging AI in HR processes.

The post Modern HR for Small Business Success with Laura Tolhoek first appeared on Startup Canada.

Janine Felst is the Founder of Hooky. In a world obsessed with hustle, Janine is selling the permission to rest. Tune in hear about developing products from scratch, building a brand around comfort and self care and why founder led storytelling leads to business growth.

The post Permission to Rest: Slowing Down in Hustle Culture with Janine Felst first appeared on Startup Canada.

Emily O’Brien is the Founder of Comeback Snacks, a specialty popcorn company that challenges the status quo. After being sentenced to a four-year federal prison term following her arrest at Pearson International Airport, Emily set out on a mission to transform herself and make her time in prison as meaningful as possible. 

The post From Criminal to Kernels: Popcorn and Purpose with Emily O’Brien first appeared on Startup Canada.

Tune in to this mini epiosde as we chatted with Barb Stegemann before she took the stage as our Startup Canada Halifax Tour keynote speaker. Barb Stegemann launched The 7 Virtues from her garage on a Visa card, armed only with a dream to help communities in war ridden nations rebuild. Today, The 7 Virtues is an award winning social enterprise and the only Canadian perfume brand sold at Sephora, now available in over 2,100 stores worldwide across 19 countries. It is also the only B Corp certified perfume brand at Sephora, committed to paying employees a livable wage and leaving a better footprint on the planet.

The post Turning Personal Deficits into Superpowers with Barb Stegemann first appeared on Startup Canada.

Warren Thompson is the Founder of Ollo Metrics. Warren shares insights on building scalable, autonomous businesses, the importance of measurement in marketing, and how authenticity helps strategy.

The post The Shift Back to Brand and Authenticity with Warren Thompson first appeared on Startup Canada.

Hunter Scharfe if the CEO of Juno Industries. Hunter discusses Canada’s defence technology sector, the importance of passion in entrepreneurship, and the strategic opportunities in national defence innovation.

Learn more about Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy 

The post Startups, Sovereignty, and the New Defence Economy with Hunter Scharfe first appeared on Startup Canada.

Lily Bond shares her inspiring journey from starting Spyce Girlz Seasonings at age 13 to overcoming legal challenges and rebranding. Tune in to hear about authentic branding, product innovation, mentorship, and giving back in entrepreneurship.

The post The Growth of Spyce Girlz with Lily Bond first appeared on Startup Canada.

Andrew Cordssen-David if the co-founder and CEO of Headfirst. Andrew emphasizes the importance of passion in entrepreneurship, the challenges of funding and product development, and the role of accelerators in supporting startups.

The post Breaking Barriers in Concussion Screening with Andrew Cordssen-David first appeared on Startup Canada.

It’s not just about LEGO. Jenn Just has created products that adults were missing and can now collect and love. Jenn Just is The Brick Chick, this conversation covers Brick Chick’s business model, the importance of authenticity, navigating cross-border logistics, and embracing neurodiversity as a strength in entrepreneurship.

Shop custom LEGO at The Brick Chick

The post Not Your Kid’s LEGO Story: The Rise of Brick Chick with Jenn Just first appeared on Startup Canada.

Kathy Tran-Riese is the Founder of Kay Tran Eyewear. In this episode, Kathy shares her journey of creating stylish and inclusive eyewear designed specifically for individuals with low nose bridges. She discusses the importance of embracing niche markets, the challenges of launching a product, and the evolution of her business.

The post Ignored by the Market: Building for the Overlooked Customer with Kathy Tran-Riese first appeared on Startup Canada.