I’m sure most Canadians have experienced it this year: you’re at the grocery store checking labels, making sure your meat, vegetables, and ketchup chips all come from Canada.
In 2025, ‘buy Canadian’ is a thing.
“If you’re a founder in Canada, you have a playbook, which is: try to get outside of the country as soon as possible. Try to sell outside of the country.”
Raymond Luk
Source Canada
But in tech, the accepted truth is that Canadians are the worst customers. Across sectors, Canadian startups find themselves looking outside of the country not only for revenue, but also for the validation required to successfully sell back home. It’s a pain point that even the most successful entrepreneurs in Canada feel.
Entrepreneur Raymond Luk is trying to change that, launching a new summit called Source Canada so buyers and sellers can speed date. His hope is to combat the “cultural belief” that Canadian tech isn’t good enough to buy early and often.
But is a cultural kick in the pants enough to solve our nation’s longstanding procurement woes? As Luk notes in this episode of The BetaKit Podcast, procurement touches R&D, productivity, national sovereignty, and talent retention. Right now, “ambitious founders” are fleeing the country at an alarming rate. We won’t have to worry about Canadian startups selling in Canada if there are no startups in Canada left to sell.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RSS
So, Canada doesn’t buy Canadian tech. What are we going to do about it?
Let’s dig in.
PRESENTED BY
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX: Your pathway to new sales, industry connections, and non-dilutive funding.
Ontario’s critical sectors depend on operational technology systems that weren’t designed for today’s cyber threats. Unlike IT, operational technology environments demand specialized solutions—and startups can lead the way. Join our free webinar on October 24 to learn about the risks critical sectors face, and how startups can seize this opportunity.
When: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 12 – 1 PM EST | Where: Virtual (Zoom) | Cost: Free
Register today at thecyberchallenge.ca.
PRESENTED BY
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Xero: The global small businesses platform, designed to make life easier for small businesses–anywhere, any time.
Running a business is demanding enough without the burden of bookkeeping. Xero’s global platform is designed to take accounting off your plate, giving you the freedom to focus on what you do best. By unifying essential tools like accounting, payroll, and payments, Xero helps you automate tasks and gain the clarity you need to make smarter decisions.
Join a global community of forward-thinking businesses. Discover what Xero can do for you.
Recorded and edited at Toronto Podcasts.