39 – From Selling His Snapchat Filter Co. – To a Fashion-First Social Platform Like Never Before w/ Chris Schmidt of Pluto Ventures

39 – From Selling His Snapchat Filter Co. – To a Fashion-First Social Platform Like Never Before w/ Chris Schmidt of Pluto Ventures

Meet Chris Schmidt, the original creator of Snapchat filters and today, the CEO and Co-Founder of Pluto Ventures – a venture-backed artificial intelligence company that is leveraging the hyper-personalized online world and using our body dimensions as a crucial component to customizing goods and services.

The founder, Chris Schmidt, is a pretty unique young guy. He started his first business at the age of ten. And right after university, he founded the world’s first Snapchat filter company, Geofilter Studio. In this episode, CEO and Founder Chris Schmidt speaks about his innate entrepreneurial nature, how to build a strong workplace culture, and what it’s like to be creating modern – some may say millennial and even Gen Z – tech solutions.

Listen now online here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or find us on most major podcast platforms. Prefer video? Watch now on YouTube! Just search Start Canada Podcast.

36 – Exceptional Content and User Experience w/ Ben Buckwold of ESL Library

36 – Exceptional Content and User Experience w/ Ben Buckwold of ESL Library

Meet Ben Buckwold, CEO and Founder of ESL Library – a company empowering language teachers to teach their best class, with exceptional content and a custom platform used by language teachers in more than 10,000 schools around the world.

In this episode of Start Canada Podcast, Ben speaks about being the first ESL learning app in the world, knowing when to pivot, and the importance of building great content. From the staff side, we get tips for building a great team, remote morale boosting, and the positive people effects of giving back to the community.

If you are building an online resource based business, or you want to pivot to one, be sure to tune in to this episode of Start Canada Podcast with the founder of ESL Library!

If you prefer video format, watch now on YouTube or take us with you as you go by Subscribing Now wherever you get your podcasts.

34 – Finding Friends and Building Business w/ Katie Hartle of FriendMatch

34 – Finding Friends and Building Business w/ Katie Hartle of FriendMatch

Meet Katie Hartle, Founder and CEO of FriendMatch – a unique company that is exactly as it sounds – think online dating but strictly for platonic friendships instead. In a time where loneliness is at an all-time high, Katie has built a community over 100 countries to help tackle just this, answering the question “How to Make Friends” for more than 5 million people – and counting.

In this episode, we cover the human side of business, how to build a lean start-up, tips for growing a community, and so much more. If you have an idea you believe in – be sure to catch this episode to be inspired to get started today!

Listen now online here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or find us on most major podcast platforms. Prefer video? Watch now on YouTube! Just search Start Canada Podcast.

29 – Building a Start-Up Ecosystem w/ Marshall Ring of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator

29 – Building a Start-Up Ecosystem w/ Marshall Ring of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator

Meet Marshall Ring, Founder and CEO of the Manitoba Technology Accelerator – an organization that helps to commercialize disruptive technologies into businesses ready to scale nationally and internationally. Our host picks Marshall’s brain on what it’s like to grow a start-up ecosystem, some exciting success stories from the Canadian prairies, and some really important insight advice for anyone looking to participate in an accelerator.

If you’re curious about what it takes to start your own start-up hub or if you are looking to join one – then don’t miss this episode!

If you prefer video format, watch now on YouTube or take us with you as you go by Subscribing Now wherever you get your podcasts.

27 – How to Scale Across Canada and Get a Deal on Dragons Den w/ Catherine Metrycki of Callia Flowers

27 – How to Scale Across Canada and Get a Deal on Dragons Den w/ Catherine Metrycki of Callia Flowers

Kicking off season 3, we speak to Catherine Metrycki, Founder of Callia Flowers. We cover how she launched and grew her tech business which has reimagined the way we send flowers.
We discuss her deal on Dragons Den with Manjit Minhas, which has since provided the support necessary for Callia to be able to open all across Eastern Canada (to be now in 55 cities). And Catherine shares with us some of her experiences in improving customer service and mental health as a leader.

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale a business, or whether Dragons Den is worth it – than this episode is for you! For full show notes and resources directly from our guests, visit www.StartPodcast.ca and Subscribe Now to never miss an episode.

25 – The Complexities of Start-Up Life

25 – The Complexities of Start-Up Life

Episode 25 of Start Canada Podcast features Matt Schaubroeck and Amanda San Filippo, Co-Founders of ioAirFlow – a software company focused on ‘green’ commercial buildings.

They discuss the experience of changing co-founders, finding personal balance in start-up life, and the entrepreneurial impacts of Covid-19.

For full show notes and resources directly from our guests, visit www.StartPodcast.ca, and Subscribe Now wherever you’re listening to never miss an episode.

24 – Mindfulness in Education

24 – Mindfulness in Education

Episode 24 of Start Podcast features Kailey Lefko and Josianne Barnabé, Co-Founders of Educalme Inc. – creators of a series of tools to help teachers bring mindfulness and social-emotional learning into their classrooms through a bilingual online program called Educalme Classroom.