Startup Talk The Canadian Startup Podcast

In this exciting interview with Elad Barak, CEO and co-founder of Djot, a Toronto-based startup that is revolutionizing the cannabis industry with its precise dosing technology. Elad will discuss Djot’s proprietary Dispenser and Pod technology and how it allows users to enhance any beverage with the tap of a finger, creating a personalized and convenient cannabis experience without smoking or inhalation. Elad brings a wealth of experience in business development, fundraising, and general management, having raised more than $30 million from institutional and retail investors.

 

Automated Transcript of Djot on the Startup Talk Podcast

Announcer  00:02

Direct from the sixth world renowned Canada’s largest city, with Canada’s biggest thinkers, visionaries and hustlers. This is startup talk featuring the founders, funders, innovators and community leaders who’ve led Canada’s startup ecosystem right here in Toronto. You’ll hear the challenges, the failures, the successes, Toronto StartUp podcast gives you the full story direct from the entrepreneurs and influencers who’ve made a difference. Now, the host of startup talk, the founder of Toronto starts this startup coach.

 

The Startup Coach  00:37

Welcome back to startup talk. I’m your host, startup coach, founder of Toronto Star. It’s one of the largest startup communities in Canada. With me today is Elad Barak, CEO and co founder of Djot, welcome Elad.

 

Elad Barak  00:48

Hey, thanks. Thanks for having me.

 

The Startup Coach  00:50

Can you tell us about your background and how it led to you co founding DDOT?

 

Elad Barak  00:55

I’m actually doing this podcast back from from where I grew up, which is in Israel, came for a quick visit. But I as I mentioned, grew up in Israel did the military service was an officer in the military. After that I got an opportunity to work abroad for Israeli embassy. So I worked for a year and a half in Mexico and another year in Ukraine. Back to Israel. I got my undergrad and Master’s in system engineering and worked for five years in the Israeli aerospace industry mainly with spacecrafts, a bit jet planes. At that stage, they felt things were too big for me. And that company is the biggest company we have in Israel. And I moved to a very small startup that builds robots for the US military here in Israel. And that really kind of started up my passion with startups. I then went to Toronto to get my MBA at U of T. And after that kind of led my career through smaller scale companies, and one of the cleantech then in the cannabis industry. And then that stage I decided to start my own company, John, which is what we’re talking about today. So that’s kind of my path and 60 seconds. So jot, jot, yes, the silence. What inspired the creation of jobs, I was working in the cannabis industry, for a company that was trying to do beverages. And after a year, that kind of didn’t work anymore. I wasn’t too hireable, probably. And we separated our paths. And I wanted to do also a cannabis beverage company, I thought things were done wrong. So a friend joined me and we started this company. And we want to do a cannabis beverage. And we tried to think what beverage should we do what dose and as we were working on it, our NBA hat kind of came to place. And we felt we’re not solving the right challenge for consumers. Consumers want the cannabis beverage, but they’re not asking us to choose the beverage or the dose. So we thought maybe a solution is to give them small vials where they can make their own beverages. And we thought, okay, that’s smarter, but it was still missing something. And that something was the dosing, as we’re all different. And there’s a lot of regulations that don’t allow you to sell more than 10 milligr...

In this episode of Startup Talk, we delve into the world of AI-powered content creation with Max Sinclair, the co-founder and CEO of Ecomtent.ai. Drawing from his extensive background at Amazon, Max shares how he and his co-founder were inspired to revolutionize e-commerce by harnessing the potential of AI-generated content. Max’s journey unfolds as he discusses the inception of Ecomtent in 2022, fueled by a belief that AI could shape the future of online marketplaces. Discover how Max’s experience at Amazon shaped Ecomtent‘s approach to customer obsession and innovation. Max provides insights into the intriguing world of generative AI and how Ecomtent’s self-service tool is empowering businesses to effortlessly create captivating product images. He unveils success stories of customers who have witnessed remarkable transformations in their content strategies. Delve into the challenges Ecomtent faced during development, their approach to pricing, and their mission to democratize quality content creation for e-commerce sellers of all sizes. Max also candidly shares his perspective on the AI debate, highlighting the need for caution while considering regulatory measures. Join us in exploring the evolving e-commerce industry, the power of creativity, and the future of AI in product content with Max Sinclair on this episode of Startup Talk.

Links:

* Ecomtent Website

* Max Sinclair on LinkedIn

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Automated Transcript of Ecomtent on the Startup Talk Podcast

The Startup Coach  00:01

Welcome back to startup talk. I’m your host and startup coach, founder of Toronto Star. It’s one of the largest startup communities in Canada. And with me today is Max and Claire, co-founder and CEO of Ecomtent. Welcome, Max.

 

Max Sinclair  00:12

Thank you. Nice to be here.

 

The Startup Coach  00:14

Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to start ecomtent?

 

Max Sinclair  00:19

In this captivating episode of Startup Talk, we delve into the world of startups and venture building with Bernie Li, general partner of Antler Canada. Join our host as he sits down with Bernie to uncover the secrets behind the Antler program’s success in nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs.

Discover the essentials of identifying the right time to join a startup accelerator, the qualities Antler looks for in founders, and the unique strategies they employ to help entrepreneurs transform their ideas into thriving businesses.

Bernie shares invaluable insights into the selection process, the ideal stage for applicants, and the type of commitment they seek from founders. Gain a deeper understanding of Antler’s supportive community, which fosters an environment for peer learning and collaboration.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a first-time founder, this episode is packed with valuable advice and inspiration to navigate the startup landscape. Tune in now to get a behind-the-scenes look at Antler Canada and the path to entrepreneurial success.

Links:

* Antler Website

* Antler Canada on Twitter

The Pain Removers Maximum Strength CBD Pain Relief Balm is the ultimate solution for fast, long-lasting pain relief. With its powerful blend of natural ingredients, this balm is designed to provide relief that lasts 4-6 hours. Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

TorontoStarts Entrepreneur and Startup Community

Angel Investor List

Venture Capital List

Join us on Reddit

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Starting A Business in Ontario: A Resources Guide For Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Scaleups

The Startup List

 

Join us on this exciting episode of Startup Talk as we delve into the world of innovative job applications with the co-founders of CoverQuick, Divine and Tosin. Discover how two ambitious entrepreneurs transitioned from a sock-selling venture to revolutionizing job hunting through the power of AI. With personal insights, engaging anecdotes, and a passion for solving real-world problems, Divine and Tosin share the journey of CoverQuick’s development, its AI-powered approach to crafting tailored resumes and cover letters, and the inspiring success stories of job seekers who landed their dream roles using this cutting-edge platform. Get ready to unlock the secrets to standing out in a competitive job market and learn about the future plans and partnerships that make CoverQuick a game-changer in the world of job applications.

Links:

* CoverQuick Web site

* CoverQuick Instagram

* CoverQuick YouTube

* CoverQuick Twitter

* Cover Quick Discord

The Pain Removers Maximum Strength CBD Pain Relief Balm is the ultimate solution for fast, long-lasting pain relief. With its powerful blend of natural ingredients, this balm is designed to provide relief that lasts 4-6 hours. Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

TorontoStarts Entrepreneur and Startup Community

Angel Investor List

Venture Capital List

Join us on Reddit

TorontoStarts YouTube Channel

Starting A Business in Ontario: A Resources Guide For Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Scaleups

The Startup List

Automated Transcript of CoverQuick on The Startup Talk Podcast

SPEAKERS

CoverQuick, Craig Major

Craig Major 

Welcome back to startup talk. I’m your host, startup coach, founder of Toronto starts one of the largest startup communities in Canada. And with me today are the co founders of CoverQuick welcome, Divine. And Tosin.

CoverQuick 

Thank you very much.

Craig Major 

Can you tell us a bit about your backgrounds and how you got into the world of startups?

CoverQuick 

Yeah, I think I’m currently a bio grad from the roots Alberta in Edmonton. And I kind of got the startup world kind of accidentally, I kind of went to a startup events in my city and gone to the entrepreneurs, they’re talking about different coaches there. And it’s a really cool world, like being able to start your own business and being able to do something that you’re passionate about solve a problem that you’re really passionate a...

In this episode of the Startup Talk Podcast, the Startup Coach sits down with  Neil Weitzman, an entrepreneur who is passionate about helping immigrant entrepreneurs succeed in Canada. Neil is the CEO and Co-Founder of PORCH, an exclusive community for immigrant entrepreneurs and professionals, and the Founder of revenue•x, a Fractional CRO service that helps CEOs build and execute a robust Go-to-Market strategy for revenue acceleration.

Neil’s passion for helping immigrant entrepreneurs succeed in Canada is evident in both his work with PORCH and revenue•x. Through PORCH, Neil is building a community that provides valuable resources and connections to entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to get their businesses off the ground. And through revenue•x, he is helping CEOs build and execute effective Go-to-Market strategies that drive revenue growth. We hope that this interview will inspire our listeners and provided them with some valuable insights and advice for their own entrepreneurial journeys.

Links:

* PORCH Community on LinkedIn

* PORCH Community URL

* PORCH on Instagram

* PORCH on YouTube

* PORCH on TikTok 

* PORCH on Facebook

* Neil Weitzman on LinkedIn

The Pain Removers Maximum Strength CBD Pain Relief Balm is the ultimate solution for fast, long-lasting pain relief. With its powerful blend of natural ingredients, this balm is designed to provide relief that lasts 4-6 hours. Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

TorontoStarts Entrepreneur and Startup Community

Angel Investor List

Venture Capital List

Join us on Reddit

TorontoStarts YouTube Channel

Starting A Business in Ontario: A Resources Guide For Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Scaleups

The Startup List

Unleashing the Power of AI in Cannabis Cultivation with GrowDoc.  In this episode of the Startup Talk Podcast we’re speaking with Daniel Lirette, founder and CEO of GrowDoc, a cannabis tech startup that uses artificial intelligence to revolutionize the way commercial cannabis growers approach cultivation problems. In this interview, Daniel shares his insights on the cannabis industry, the challenges he’s faced as an entrepreneur, and the future of GrowDoc.

Key Takeaways:

GrowDocAI is a powerful platform that offers real-time data and insights into plant health, growth patterns, and potential issues.

With access to the latest and most accurate information available, growers can make informed decisions and maximize their success.

GrowDocAI is a valuable tool for commercial cannabis growers of all sizes who are looking to achieve their cultivation goals, eliminate diagnosing guesswork and maximize their success.

GrowDoc is a cannabis problem identification app that uses artificial intelligence to identify plant diseases, pests, and nutrient deficiencies.

GrowDoc is backed by scientific research and partnerships with top cannabis research institutions.

The cannabis industry is constantly evolving, and GrowDoc is at the forefront of innovation with its machine learning AI technology.

GrowDocAI ensures user privacy and security of their data.

Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start a business in the cannabis industry should focus on education and awareness, as well as staying ahead of the competition through innovation.

Links:

* GrowDoc Website

* GrowDoc on Twitter

* GrowDoc on Instagram

* GrowDoc on YouTube

* GrowDoc on LinkedIn

* GrowDoc on Facebook

* GrowDoc on Reddit

The Pain Removers Maximum Strength CBD Pain Relief Balm is the ultimate solution for fast, long-lasting pain relief. With its powerful blend of natural ingredients, this balm is designed to provide relief that lasts 4-6 hours. Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

TorontoStarts Entrepreneur and Startup Community

Angel Investor List

Venture Capital List

Join us on Reddit

TorontoStarts YouTube Channel

Starting A Business in Ontario: A Resources Guide For Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Scaleups

The Startup List

 

In this interview, Nabil Tayeb, the co-founder of Draft and Goal, shares his thoughts on the topic of AI-generated content and its impact on human creativity. He believes that AI-generated content does not replace human creativity, but instead enhances it by augmenting the possibilities of the human brain. Tayeb also emphasizes that AI models are limited as they have been trained on internet data, which is not a copy one-to-one of the real world, and they have a bias that does not represent the real world. Therefore, humans still have a huge playing field to be creative because the AI will help them enhance their creativity, but will not replace them.

Regarding the future of content creation, Tayeb sees a shift from focusing on writing the content to focusing on the abstract ideas of the concepts. He also predicts that copywriters will not be eliminated, but rather become chief editors, spending less time writing and more time working on the ideas and correcting what AI generates.

Finally, when asked about the fear around AI, Tayeb believes that unrealistic expectations about what AI can do right now have led to fear. He believes that the fear is not justified and that humans have control over AI and its development.

Links:

* Draft and Goal Website

* Draft and Goal on Twitter

* Draft and Goal SEO Group on Facebook

* Next AI

Quotes

“The biggest obstacle to success is fear of failure. If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.” – Nabil Tayeb

“Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords or nice-to-haves. They are critical to the success and sustainability of any organization. Without diversity, you lack the creativity, innovation, and perspective necessary to stay ahead in today’s fast-changing world.” – Nabil Tayeb

“I believe that AI is going to change everything that we do. Every industry will be transformed, and I think we are only at the beginning of that transformation.” – Nabil Tayeb.

“I really think that finding new ideas, finding new opportunities, there’s a huge field that’s seen only possible to be done by human brain.” – Nabil Tayeb.

“What we say from our side is that all copywriters they are not going to be eliminated, they are going to become chief editors.” – Nabil Tayeb.

 

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Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

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In this episode of Startup Talk, we talk to Will Greenblatt, founder of OutLoud Speakers School and author of “Transform Your Speaking Skills: Gain Confidence, Captivate Audiences and Advance Your Career.” Will shares his journey from child TV star to professional actor to entrepreneur and coach, and discusses the power of storytelling and the signature OutLoud Method for improving public speaking skills.

Links:

* Connect with Will Greenblatt on  Instagram:  Text ink -https://www.instagram.com/willgreenblatt/

* Connect with Will Greenblatt on LinkedIn: text link – https://www.linkedin.com/in/willgreenblatt/

* Get the Book “Transform Your Speaking SKills:  Gain Confidence, Captivate Audiences and Advance Your Career” on Amazon:  Text link – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1989737803/

* Work with Will and OutLoud Speakers School

Segment 1: Will’s background and the inspiration behind OutLoud Speakers School

Will talks about how his experience as an actor led him to start OutLoud Speakers School

He discusses the importance of effective communication and the challenges that many business professionals face in this area

Will shares some of the success stories of clients who have worked with OutLoud Speakers School and improved their speaking skills

Segment 2: The power of storytelling and the OutLoud Method

Will explains why storytelling is such an important element of public speaking and how it can help individuals connect with their audience

He introduces the “Five Acts” of the signature OutLoud Method and explains how it can help individuals create, rehearse, and deliver a powerful pitch or presentation

Will also shares some tips for overcoming stage fright and impostor syndrome, two common obstacles that many people face when speaking in public

Segment 3: The challenges and rewards of coaching

Will talks about some of the challenges he faced in building and growing OutLoud Speakers School, including how to effectively engage and retain clients

He also discusses the importance of empathy in coaching and how it can help speakers connect with their audience

Will shares his personal and professional goals for the future of OutLoud Speakers School and how he plans to stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in public speaking and coaching

Conclusion:

Will leaves us with some advice for aspiring public speaking coaches and anyone who wants to improve their speaking skills. He emphasizes the importance of practice, persistence, and a willingness to learn and grow. He also encourages listeners to check out his book, “Transform Your Speaking Skills,” for more insights and practical tips on how to become a powerful public speaker.

The Pain Removers Maximum Strength CBD Pain Relief Balm is the ultimate solution for fast, long-lasting pain relief. With its powerful blend of natural ingredients, this balm is designed to provide relief that lasts 4-6 hours. Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

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Angel Investor L...

In this episode of Startup Talk, we’re joined by Philippe Beaudoin, the CEO of Waverly, the innovative deep tech artificial intelligence company building a mobile reader that understands you based on your waves.

During the interview, Philippe shares his thoughts on:

The inspiration behind the creation of Waverly and its mission to cut through the noise and provide a personalized content experience.

How Waverly’s Empathetic AI and its recommendation algorithm set it apart from other AI-powered news and content platforms.

The process of how Waverly personalizes the user experience and the sources it uses to gather content.

The future plans for Waverly and where he sees the company heading in the next 5 years.

The challenges Waverly has faced and how it overcame them.

The role of artificial intelligence in the future of the news and content industry.

Waverly’s commitment to user privacy and data security.

The response from users since the launch of Waverly and plans for expanding its reach globally.

The future updates and features that Waverly has in the works.

This episode is packed with valuable insights and information for anyone interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and the news and content industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Waverly and its mission to revolutionize the way we consume content.

Article The perils of a huge pre-PMF Series A: My story at Element AI

https://philbeaudoin.com/2022/12/05/the-perils-of-a-huge-pre-pmf-series-a-my-story-at-element-ai/

* Waverly 

Know someone on pain?  Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Other Great Podcasts:

* Who Are These Investors

* Who Are These Startups

* Open Your Energy Guided Meditation

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

TorontoStarts Entrepreneur and Startup Community

Angel Investor List

Venture Capital List

Join us on Reddit

TorontoStarts YouTube Channel

Starting A Business in Ontario: A Resources Guide For Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Scaleups

The Startup List

In this episode of The Startup Talk Podcast, I chat with Anthony Chiaravalloti and Daniel Francavilla, the co-founders of CreatorClub, a company that makes content production simple. They share their insights on producing high-volume content at an efficient cost and converting long-form video into platform-specific micro content. Listen in to learn how they can help your brand boost its content production game.

CreatorClub Links:

CreatorClub Website: https://www.creatorclubstudios.com/

CreatorClub on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreatorClubTO

Daniel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Francavilla

CreatorClub on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorclubstudios/

Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonychiaravalloti/

Daniel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielfrancavilla/

Show Notes Introduction:

Brief overview of The Startup Talk Podcast and today’s guests, Anthony Chiaravalloti and Daniel Francavilla, partners at CreatorClub.

Background on CreatorClub:

Explanation of what CreatorClub is and how it helps brands and thought leaders with content production.

Discussion of the inspiration behind the company and how it is changing the industry.

Challenges and successes of starting a business in Canada:

Insight into the challenges faced by the founding team  in starting a business in Canada and how they overcame them.

Discussion of any lessons learned and advice for other entrepreneurs.

Innovations in the content production industry:

Explanation of CreatorClub’s unique approach to producing “pillar” content and converting it into platform-specific micro content.

Discussion of the role of technology in the content production industry and how CreatorClub is utilizing it to improve the process for brands.

Future plans for CreatorClub:

Sneak peek into the team’s future plans for the company and how they see it evolving in the coming years.

Working with a network of creators:

Discussion of the process of balancing working with a network of creators while ensuring consistent quality and brand identity for clients.

Insight into any unique or particularly challenging projects the team has worked on and how they approached them.

Differentiation from other content production companies:

Explanation of what sets CreatorClub apart from other companies in the market.

Discussion of how the company is helping businesses of different sizes and industries with their content needs.

Conclusion:

Final thoughts from the co-founders and wrap-up of the interview.

Know someone on pain?  Try The Pain Removers Pain Relief Balm a product we love and use regularly!

Other Great Podcasts:

* Who Are These Investors

* Who Are These Startups

* Open Your Energy Guided Meditation

Join us monthly for Startup Investor Drinks

Register for Startup and Entrepreneur Events here

TorontoStarts Entrepreneur and Startup Community