Dear Canadian founders, your time is now!
There’s a tired talk track in the Canadian startup ecosystem that somehow our system here is broken. That you, as founders, aren’t ambitious enough,…
opinion
My journey to parenthood as a founder and CEO
If you told me two years ago that I’d be able to take an extended leave from our business to spend time with my…
Three barriers to innovation in insurance
Innovation in insurance is a complex, yet invigorating challenge. Canadians living and working in the fast-paced digital economy are looking for products that reflect…
How the CRA is supporting innovation through SR&ED during COVID-19
In 2019, I wrote an article on how the CRA had become tougher on SR&ED claims despite the declining number of reviews. However, the…
Why 2021 will be an exciting year for FinTech
Last year, the world was crippled by COVID-19. But for the FinTech sector, it was just a speed bump. After the initial stun and…
11 Canadian tech companies to watch in 2021
Every January for the past few years, thanks to the team at BetaKit, I’ve had the opportunity to share my thoughts on some of…
Review of 11 Canadian tech companies to watch in 2020
For the past few years, thanks to the team at BetaKit, I’ve had the opportunity to share my thoughts on some of the companies…
Virtual events provide opportunity for minority-focused organizations, underserved communities
The COVID-19 pandemic forced in-person events to seek out virtual venues. Not that virtual event platforms didn’t exist before, but their customer value propositions…
Pilots over pitches: how to accelerate growth through corporate-startup collaboration
“Always be pitching” has been the startup mantra for years, and for good reason. Pitching helps improve and validate ideas, understand customers, and accelerate…
How COVID has re-routed Canada’s mobility future
In February of this year, I wrote about what mobility could look like in 2020 and beyond, based on trends that had emerged over…
Out-collaborate your competition: The growth formula for FinTechs
This is the decade where businesses must take on large societal problems. From healthcare, education, climate change, to finance, every industry will need to…
How SAFEs can be dangerous: what early-stage entrepreneurs should know
As a VC, lawyer, and entrepreneur, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of issuing SAFEs. The Simple Agreement for Future Equity,…
Why Canada lags in the global Deep Tech race
These are two key questions that my partner, Colin Webster, and I discussed when we were establishing RiSC Capital to make seed investments in…