Michael Litt is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vidyard. As a thought leader, serial entrepreneur, and a surfer, Michael has scaled one of the most innovative video analytics technologies. “We didn’t start this business with any financial background,” says Michael. “We had to learn.” An authority on entrepreneurship, Michael knows how to connect with the audience in the age of customer experience, and regularly contributes to Fast Company. Forbes, WSJ, NY Times and TechCrunch have quoted his insights numerous times, and he has also been called upon to speak at TEDx, The Digital Collective, and Y Combinator’s Ad-Innovation Conference. Michael is an engaging and inspiring public speaker with the global experience, presenting to both large and intimate audiences. In this week’s #FinancePodcast, host Dr. Sean Wise talks to Michael about the arts and the science behind scaling a tech company. 

How do you meet investors? How do you pitch them and stand out from the crowd?  “Building relationships is the key,” says David Nault, a seasoned venture capitalist, and the former principal at iNovia Capital, a $500M VC firm based in Montreal, Toronto and the Valley. “Whether you’re a VC or an entrepreneur, it all starts with the relationship.” David has invested in a number of companies including Busbud, Tracktik, Chronogolf, VarageSale, and Busbud. He has more than 20 years of experience in building companies and advising entrepreneurs. He is currently working on a new fintech venture. In this week’s #FinancePodcast, host Dr. Sean Wise talks to David about his experience as a venture capitalist, and other tips on how to ace the first meetings and build the lasting relationships with potential investors.

Bob Gauvreau is the founding partner of Gauvreau & Associates CPA, a firm that works with entrepreneurs to help them grow their business, increase profits, and pay fewer taxes. Gauvreau & Associates has been recognized as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies. “People should know that working with a good advisor can make your life easier,” says Bob. “They can provide you the advice and guidance you need to take your business to the next level.” Apart from his advisory work, Bob has also won many awards such as the alumni leadership award in 2017 recognized by Trent University and the entrepreneurship award in 2009 from the chamber of commerce. He is a partner at Venture North, which is a 40,000 sq ft. entrepreneurship incubation facility in Peterborough and a founding member of StartUp Peterborough. Besides that, Bob is the vice-chair of the city’s 2018 United Way campaign and a founding member of the H.O.P.E charity. In this week’s #StartupFinance, host Dr. Sean Wise talks to Bob about finding the right advisor for your SME and other tips on how to effectively manage your personal finance.

As the managing partner and co-founder of Two Small Fish Ventures, Eva Lau is passionate about her job and hopes to nurture Canadian companies to scale and become next-generation tech giants. “Canada needs more tech giants and it needs more aspiring entrepreneurs who are not afraid to transform the world.” Based in Toronto, Eva was an entrepreneur until she turned angel investor in 2014. Working alongside her husband Allan Lau, CEO and Co-Founder of Wattpad, Eva is actively contributing to the angel ecosystem in Canada. In this week’s #FinancePodcast, host Dr. Sean Wise talks to Eva about her first angel investment and why she’s so passionate about bringing up future generation leaders in Canada.

Failure is part and parcel of entrepreneurship. With every failure, you grow. Yet, many of us still don’t know how to master the art of failing with grace. In this week’s #FinancePodcast, host Dr. Sean Wise talks to Nicole about dealing with failures and other tips and tricks to building the perfect pitch, sealing the deal, and making sales. Nicole is a serial entrepreneur and a Dragon on CBC’s Next Gen Den. She is the CEO and Founder of Offset Market Exchange, a tech company that supports businesses to be more efficient, reduces costs, and reap the highest economic benefit from government procurement contracts. Nicole became an entrepreneur at the young age of 23 where she started her first manufacturing business selling to the government. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Commercial Corporation and has a reputation for being a tenacious problem solver and a true paragon of her generation.