Anthony Lacavera is best known for being the Founder and CEO of Wind Mobile. Not only has Anthony built Canada’s fourth largest phone carrier, he has also invested in some of Canada’s most promising startups. As an active leader in Canada’s entrepreneurship community, Anthony is often a fixture at some of Toronto’s hottest incubators, including MaRS,OneEleven and Creative Destruction Lab. “We expect to win gold when we play hockey, so why can’t we bring that same mentality to our business world? This is what we have to do for Canada to be prosperous. We have to strive for the gold medal”. Anthony Lacavera is the founder and chairman of Globalive Capital, a venture capital firm. He is a regular commentator on Bloomberg TV, a is the best selling author of “How We Can Win.” In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Anthony about his latest book and what’s next for this Canadian icon.

Founded as a non-profit organization in 2013, Aki Energy has successfully installed over $6 million in renewable energy systems in the First Nations communities in Manitoba, leading to over a quarter of a million dollars in annual bill reductions. The company has also greatly contributed to the community by providing local tradesmen with new skill sets and employment opportunities.“I got into this work because I know we are all treaty people in Canada and I think it is our responsibility as Canadians to heal this relationship.”Kate Taylor is the Director of Projects and a co-founder at Aki Energy, Aki Energy was the recipient of the Social Innovation Award at the 2016 Startup Canada Awards for its renewable energy development in Indigenous communities in Manitoba. By combining green energy practices with the restructuring of energy systems, Aki Energy is leading the way for social innovation in Canada. In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Kate about how Aki Energy developed renewable energy systems for Indigenous communities and how their success can be replicated by other social enterprises.

Vicki Saunders is an entrepreneur, an award-winning mentor and an advisor to the next generation of change makers. A sought-after speaker, Vicki has graced the stages of TEDx Conferences, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Women of Influence Series in Canada and was selected...

What does it take to build a wildly successful Canadian technology company? For Bruce Croxon, it took over a decade of entrepreneurial endurance. “It’s never all pleasure, it was a 15 year overnight success story.”  Bruce Croxon is one the most sought-out mentors and investors among aspiring entrepreneurs in Canada, as he regularly shares the wisdoms from having founded Lavalife, an early tech startup that was sold for 180 million dollars in 2004, and having interacted with numerous business cases on CBC’s Dragons’ Den as the featured Dragon.  Bruce Croxon currently co-hosts the Disruptors on BNN and CTV, and, as the Managing Partner, helms Round13 Capital, where he invests millions of dollars in the next wave of Canadian tech growth-stage companies. In 2017, Bruce and Round13 Capital raised 95 million dollars funds for Canadian growth-stage startups. In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Bruce about why it is precisely our time to shine in Canadian tech industry.

You don’t become a multi-pageant winner and successful business owner without learning a few life lessons. For Siera Bearchell, one of her biggest realizations was the importance of overcoming the fear of risk. “What’s the worst thing that’s going to happen? You’re going to learn from it, it’s going to be an experience, and you move on. Sometimes you have something to lose, but far more you have something to gain.” Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Siera’s a multi-pageant winner as she was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2016 in Toronto and Miss Supranational 2015 as she represented Canada in Poland. When she isn’t gracing pageant runways, Siera’s entrepreneurial side shines through as she works to grow her company, Watered Down Apparel. With an ingrained passion for Indigenous culture, Siera’s been recognized by the Native Women’s Association of Canada when she won the 2014 Helen Bassett Student Award for her work.  In his week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Siera about how she’s working to exemplify the power of self love and how she’s thriving in entrepreneurship, law, and global pageants.

As an award winning tech entrepreneur and the National Spokesperson for CanWIT Women in Technology, Cindy Gordon is a national champion calling for better strategies and laws to increase the representation of women on tech company boards and in executive level offices.  “The tech sector specifically...

One of the deepest connections humans can make is sharing stories close to their heart. Komal Minhas, Producer of Dream, Girl, has shared the real, complicated and empowering stories of women and girls across the globe.  “Stories are at the heart of everything … it’s the authenticity and vulnerability that you are willing to put forward in that moment.”  Komal is an award winning Indo-Canadian film producer, entrepreneur and investor, whose passion for women and girls rights led her to produce and distribute Dream, Girl. Dream, Girl is an inspiring film that tells the stories of women entrepreneurs and was premiered at the White House as part of the United State of Women Summit in 2016.  In this week’s #StartupPodcast, our host Rivers Corbett talks to Komal will share how she channeled her calling into her own entrepreneurial success story and how her passion for human rights has inspired and educated women around the world.   In this week’s #StartupPodcast, our host Rivers Corbett talks to Komal about her passion for human rights for women around the world.

Michelle’s hands-on experience spans 20 years as she’s led over six startup teams and continues to champion companies to get their products to market. When she isn’t traveling the Globe or working with her team, Michelle mentors with The Next36 and is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Ryerson DMZ in Toronto.  “I believe that the best way to solve problems is to have different perspectives on the problem and this comes from having different life experiences. The best team is a diverse team, no only in their backgrounds, but in their skill set”.  Michelle is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Toronto-based DesignedUX. DesignedUX is a design and strategy firm that provides companies at a variety of stages, from startups to Fortune 500’s with the tools and products to make their customer’s experience second to none. Michelle has built a global customer base from the ground up at DesignedUX, working with clients from Beverly Hills to New York to London and Delhi along with some of the hottest startups in Toronto.  In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Michelle about her journey as a Founder and CEO and how she’s mentoring entrepreneurs to take their startups to the next level.

Not every 21 year old can start a blow-dry bar empire, let alone create a new market category in an age-old industry. For Devon Brooks, it came down recognizing a problem and providing a solution through simplification.   “We didn’t realize it at the time, but we had really defined a new market sector. For us, it was really about identifying the need.”   Devon accomplished international success as the Founder of Blo Blow Dry Bar. With over 90 locations in 4 countries, Devon grew her innovative hair styling empire through strategic partnerships with brands like Mattel and Gwyneth Paltrow. Devon is also the Co-Founder and CEO of sphereishere.com, a world class coaching company you can sign up for today. On top of being an entrepreneurial powerhouse, she is a socially conscious activist who is passionate about giving a voice to those who have experienced trauma. In early 2017, Devon built baberally.org as a digital information platform for women to share their experiences and gain resources on sexual trauma.   In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Devon about identifying market gaps and how she’s using business as a medium for positivity and change.

Emily Rose Antflick is on a mission to live an integrated life, where her entrepreneurial work is a journey of her soul.  “I started dreaming of what a workplace would be like where I could show up and be myself.”  Emily Rose Antflick is the Founder and...