The ONSIDE Podcast

Sheena Russell is a born-and-raised Prince Edward Islander and founder of Made with Local, a Maritimes-based snack foods company that creates simple, nourishing foods that are real & organic, for people and the planet. Made with Local was started at a Halifax farmer's market in 2012 and now their Real Food Bars can be found at over 3000 grocery stores across Canada and the US.

The two chat about how Sheena started and scaled a sustainable food business. Sheena shares her challenges and priorities, including ethical and sustainable practices, diverse representation, and balancing work and family responsibilities. The two discussed the importance of gathering customer feedback and highlighted the value of having a supportive partner and taking advantage of opportunities.

For more information:
https://www.madewithlocal.com/
https://onsidenow.ca/
http://www.startnowincubator.ca/

Your host Alex McCann sits down with Vicki Saunders, Founder of Coralus, for the very first Start Now Incubator, Fireside Chat of 2024!

The two discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women entrepreneurs in Canada, emphasizing the need for inclusivity, mentorship, and community support. Vicki shares her personal experiences as an entrepreneur and leader, highlighting the importance of generosity and kindness in creating a safe and supportive community for women. Alex and Vicki also discuss the potential for entrepreneurship to drive positive transformation, with a focus on creating a new economic model that values different assets and supports businesses in thriving under different conditions.

Vicki Saunders describes herself as an entrepreneur committed to building businesses that have a positive impact on the world. She has co-founded and run several companies; 2 in Europe, 2 in Canada (one of which went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange,) and one in Silicon Valley. Vicki identifies her strengths as integrating diverse concepts, creative problem-solving, and connecting people and ideas.

For more information:
https://coralus.world/
https://onsidenow.ca/
http://www.startnowincubator.ca/

Today, we welcome back Jennifer Angel, CEO of Evergreen, to chat about building sustainable futures. We discuss her Future Cities programs, why challenging communities to solve problems is important, what's required for sustainable living, and Indigenous co-governance.

Jennifer Angel is a builder of community, momentum and places people love. As CEO of Evergreen, Jen leads the creation of inclusive public spaces that foster connection and are sustainable at their core. At Evergreen Brick Works, the organization’s headquarters and community hub in Toronto, and through national partnerships like Future Cities Canada, Jen and her collaborators are building resilience in schools, public spaces, housing and communities as a whole. Prior to Evergreen, Jen contributed to creating some of Nova Scotia’s best loved places by land and sea. Her professional portfolio includes real estate, infrastructure and program development, participatory planning and design. She was recognized in Atlantic Business Magazine's Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada in 2021 and as one of the Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada in 2022. She recently received the Inaugural Wije’winen Allyship Award 2022 – Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre.

For more information:
https://www.evergreen.ca/
https://onsidenow.ca/

"A lack of access to clean drinking water results in about 50% of the world's medical issues."

In this episode we welcome back Matt Mizzi, Founder & CEO of Drinkable, the world’s first accurate, affordable, and easy to use handheld water testing device. This time, we are discussing why a lack of clean water is leading to massive world problems, the social purpose behind drinkable, working with venture capital and the landscape of sustainable technology.

Matt has a degree in Environmental Science from Acadia University. Raised by electrical engineer and turned CEO of his own company, Matt is a venture capital enthusiast and is passionate about ethics, truth, environment, and humans living their best lives.

For more information:
https://www.drinkable.tech/
https://onsidenow.ca/

Our guest today is Jennifer Angel, CEO of Evergreen, a builder of community, momentum, and places people love. Together with partners, Jen builds inclusive, sustainable places that attract people and investment, enhance resilience, and contribute to well-being for all.

Jennifer Angel is a builder of community, momentum and places people love. As CEO of Evergreen, Jen leads the creation of inclusive public spaces that foster connection and are sustainable at their core. At Evergreen Brick Works, the organization’s headquarters and community hub in Toronto, and through national partnerships like Future Cities Canada, Jen and her collaborators are building resilience in schools, public spaces, housing and communities as a whole. Prior to Evergreen, Jen contributed to creating some of Nova Scotia’s best loved places by land and sea. Her professional portfolio includes real estate, infrastructure and program development, participatory planning and design. She was recognized in Atlantic Business Magazine's Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada in 2021 and as one of the Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada in 2022. She recently received the Inaugural Wije’winen Allyship Award 2022 – Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. 

For more information:
https://www.evergreen.ca/
https://onsidenow.ca/

Drinkable is the world’s first accurate, affordable, and easy to use handheld water testing device that strives to make water testing accurate, easy, and affordable.  In this episode, we're taking a look at the journey to create a climate adaptive technology company here in Nova Scotia.

Our guest  is Matt Mizzi, founder and CEO of Drinkable. Matt has a degree in Environmental Science from Acadia University. Raised by electrical engineer and turned CEO of his own company, Matt is a venture capital enthusiast and is passionate about ethics, truth, environment, and humans living their best lives

For more information:
https://www.drinkable.tech/
https://onsidenow.ca/

In today's episode, welcome back Beth Mason, President & CEO of the Verschuren Centre. We discuss the role of the bioeconomy in the rural areas, the opportunities and resources for traditional industries, the importance of connections and more.

In 2017, Dr. Mason was appointed CEO of the Verschuren Centre. Her forward-thinking mindset helps connect large industry and community partners to develop and demonstrate innovative clean solutions. Beth's background brings a mix of industry, research and business approaches to problem-solving from many sectors, private business and government. She is committed to enabling our clients' success by ensuring our core business activities and growth plans align with our clients' needs. Beth has also held positions with Saputo, as a Manager Dairy Derivatives, and also as an Industrial Research Fellow at Cape Breton University.

For more information:
https://www.verschurencentre.ca/
https://onsidenow.ca/

Steve Matier, Founder and CEO of Maritime Launch, is driving the collaboration and partnerships that will support the development of a safe and environmentally sustainable commercial space market in Canada.

In today's episode we welcome back Steve for a chat about the power of community, collaboration and why a local commercial spaceport will be groundbreaking for innovation here in Canada.

A mechanical engineer by training, Steve is a skilled international spaceport licensing specialist. As an expert analyst of spaceports and launch vehicles, Steve shares extensive knowledge and experience in matching clients with the infrastructure and technology to meet their business needs.

Maritime Launch Services, headquartered in Nova Scotia, was founded in 2016 as Canada’s first commercial satellite launch company. 

For more information:
https://www.maritimelaunch.com/
https://onsidenow.ca/

In today's episode, we are showcasing the biomanufacturing sector and the larger bioeconomy. Our guest is Beth Mason – President & CEO of the Verschuren Centre. She joins us to talk about what brought her to Canada, her work with the Verschuren Centre, moving into a research focus, challenges in the industry and exciting future of the bioeconomy.

Beth Mason brings a mix of industry, research and business approaches to problem-solving from many sectors, private business and government. She is committed to enabling our clients' success by ensuring our core business activities and growth plans align with our clients' needs. Beth has also held positions with Saputo, as a Manager Dairy Derivatives, and also as an Industrial Research Fellow at Cape Breton University.

For more information:
https://www.verschurencentre.ca/
https://onsidenow.ca/

Maritime Launch Services, headquartered in Nova Scotia, was founded in 2016 as Canada’s first commercial satellite launch company. Maritime Launch is building Spaceport Nova Scotia and will place satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits using a medium class launch vehicle.

In today's episode we are shining a spotlight on the space and satellite sector here in Nova Scotia. Our guest is Steve Matier, Founder and CEO of Maritime Launch. A mechanical engineer by training and former NASA contractor, Steve is a skilled international spaceport licensing specialist. As an expert analyst of spaceports and launch vehicles, Steve shares extensive knowledge and experience in matching clients with the infrastructure and technology to meet their business needs. As part of Steve’s work with Maritime Launch, he is driving the collaboration and partnerships that will support the development of a safe and environmentally sustainable commercial space market in Canada. Steve is a recipient of the prestigious “Silver Snoopy” award for excellence in flight safety and mission success.

We talk with Steve about what inspired him to work in the industry, the exciting initiatives happening in NS and Canada and why he chose near Canso, NS as the location to build Canada's first commercial spaceport.

For more information:
https://www.maritimelaunch.com/
https://onsidenow.ca/