Episodes
Shawn Freeman is not your average entrepreneur; he is a man with a heartfelt mission to improve lives through technology, community engagement and mentorship. His distinctive background in tech, coupled with a genuine passion for service, has paved the way for a unique career marked by innovation, leadership and advocacy. Our discussion explores the story of Shawn’s transition from a tech background to venturing into an entirely different industry, leading to the eventual sale of his...
Published 03/13/24
Published 03/13/24
As consumers, we don’t think enough about water. It's a resource we often take for granted, especially in North America where access to fresh water is incorporated into all facets of our daily lives. So when businesses or cities start facing water shortages or a lack of infrastructure - what are you supposed to do? Riggs Eckelberry, CEO of OriginClear joins us for this week’s episode to discuss the many lucrative opportunities within the water industry, and how OriginClear is taking the...
Published 02/28/24
In this episode, we chat with Inventa Capital's Co-Founder and Partner, Craig Parry, a luminary in the mining and resource industry. With a prolific career spanning across companies such as Vizsla Resources, IsoEnergy Ltd. and NexGen Energy Ltd., Craig unveils his strategic insights on value creation, investment decisions, and the art of learning from industry leaders.  Join us for an exploration of Craig’s journey to success, including fascinating anecdotes such as his dinner with Vladimir...
Published 02/14/24
There’s a lot to be learned from working at a global industry-leading firm. These lessons are especially useful when you decide to take on a new challenge, and switch to a smaller, more selective company. This is the experience of today’s guest, Evan Curtis, who shares his decade-long journey from PIMCO, a major real estate firm, to leading multifamily investments as Executive Director at Vanamor. Join us as we learn what it takes to transition from a large corporation to a nimble...
Published 01/31/24
Whether you have an existing Investor Relations strategy in place or you’re just starting to devise one, this episode is for you! Today I am joined by Tom McMillan, the Founder and Principal of Market Climber - an award winning strategic communications, investor relations, and capital markets advisory agency. Over the last two decades, Tom has partnered with some of North America’s most successful companies to address their capital market challenges, maximize valuations, strengthen their...
Published 01/17/24
Have you ever felt that legal processes are stuck in the past? How pricing for legal counsel can feel like more of a problem than a solution? This week, we are proud to feature the Founder and CEO of Good Lawyer, Brett Colvin to discuss his revolutionary approach to the legal system. Tuning in, you’ll hear about the underlying reasons behind lawyer dissatisfaction, and Good Lawyers’ approach to prioritizing both efficiency and lawyer well-being. Together, we delve into how AI is not just a...
Published 01/04/24
Tax season can be a stressful time for anyone, especially if you’re an entrepreneur or small to medium sized business owner. Many Canadians are confused by the complex tax system we have in place, and this lack of understanding could pose challenges to the growth and success of your business. Don’t worry though - you’re not alone. This week’s episode features Faisel Syed, Founding Partner of Square Law Group, a boutique law firm specializing in tax planning, defense and litigation for...
Published 12/20/23
They’re called precious metals for a reason - they are rare, high in economic value and provide investors with a means of storing wealth. Today's guest is Cam Currie, senior investment advisor at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, and leader of Currie Metals & Mining Group. Cam joins us today to share his experience investing in gold and why everyone should consider it a portfolio staple but only a few understand when the time is right to start looking at equities. Is now the time? In...
Published 12/06/23
Selling your business is often an emotional and strenuous process, but it doesn’t always have to be. In today’s episode, special guest and expert closer, Jacob Koenig shows us how to navigate the complexities of selling a business and key considerations for business owners preparing for acquisition. Jacob is a managing director and partner at Woodbridge International, a company that has specialized in helping clients sell their businesses for the past 30 years. His role and focus at the...
Published 11/22/23
Have you taken a serious look at how royalties can be an effective vehicle to finance mining projects? If you'd like to learn how a successful gold royalty company is built and how it can support the mining industry, investors and management teams, this episode is for you! Sandstorm Gold Royalties holds a portfolio of 250 royalties on mines worldwide. David Awram, Geologist and Senior Executive Vice President, is at the helm of their leadership. In this episode, he shares his experience of...
Published 10/25/23
How is a company evaluated by a professional investor? What are the first factors the consider before diving into the details? If you're curious, this episode is for you! The resources sector is cyclical by nature. As a result, commodity prices can be volatile, with fluctuating levels of demand occurring at various stages of excess or restricted supply.  As you’ll learn from today’s guest, however, there are some attractive valuations to be found! Gabriel Alonso-Mendoza is the Co-founder and...
Published 10/12/23
Choose your side – debt or equity financing and get ready for battle! Aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners looking to scale operations, this episode is for you. On this special episode of the Insider’s Guide to Finance, we dive deep into the heart of one of the most contentious topics in the business world. Tom Klausen, President of True Viking Finance, and Scott Sinclair, President of Sinclair Range are back on the show to discuss the nuances of debt and equity. Debt and equity are...
Published 09/27/23
When you think of the American dream, do you think of the white picket fence? A swanky downtown job? In today's evolving world, the American dream has shifted, especially when it come to building businesses and investing. We unpack the changes in today's episode.  Todd Piggott is a remarkable self-made investor and financier. He's here to share insights into building his company from the ground up. Todd is the Principal and Managing Member of ZINC. The ZINC brand involves 4 separate entities...
Published 09/13/23
Are you a business owner at a stage where you need to either raise capital or sell your business but don't know how to evaluate options? You need to listen to this episode! Today’s guest, Arthur Petropoulos is here to help. His career began on Wall Street at an investment banking firm. Today, Arthur is the founder and managing partner at Hill View Partners. Hillview Partners focuses exclusively on the sell side and is there for clients through every phase of a deal. Executives turn to Hill...
Published 08/30/23
What would it take to pitch investors the idea of high-quality wine investing and not only be successful at raising capital, but also turn it into a profitable project for all involved? Anthony Zhang is the Co-founder and CEO of Vinovest and he joins us today to share his method for financing this and past companies. He shares why Vinovest is an incredible investment opportunity as it democratizes fine wine investing and provides clients access to a once-exclusive market. Their unique blend...
Published 08/09/23
Without good leaders at the helm of a company, how can your team succeed? Mistakes can often lead to personal growth if you can identify the opportunity! That's where today's guest, Peggy Klaus steps in. Peggy is an author, executive coach, and speaker. Her professional background spans the fields of law, theatre, healthcare, and finance. She coaches leaders on how to be compelling and captivating in their public speaking. Her background in theatre is a guiding tool! In our discussion,...
Published 07/26/23
As the world shifts to a digital landscape, the stress of spending thousands on flights, lodging, and wining and dining with your investors is gone. In fact, you don't even need to leave your couch to reach them. Connecting with investors has never been easier thanks to technology. Joining us today is IR practitioner and Principal of Momentum IR Corps., Nisha Hasan. Nisha has over 15 years of experience specializing in investor communications and shareholder engagement. Information from...
Published 07/19/23
Do you see people yawning when presenting your investor pitch in a boardroom? It's likely not the heavy lunch, you need to learn how to tell a good story. In this episode, we’re speaking with Alyssa Barry, co-founder of irlabs.  Alyssa is an experienced capital markets and communications professional. She specializes in corporate communications, investor relations strategy, and shareholder engagement. Throughout her career, Alyssa has raised over $1 billion of capital as well as led some of...
Published 07/12/23
As an entrepreneur looking to raise capital, you'd be surprised to know that the cheque is not the main focus of an opportunity when investing in change and make a difference. It should come secondary to the value you and your team are bringing to the table.  This is the mentality of our guest Manish Nayar, Founder of OYA Ventures when it comes to investing in ventures. The OYA Ventures team helps entrepreneurs find opportunities to address climate change. With a background in investment...
Published 07/05/23
Finding a tax advisor that fits your needs as an entrepreneur is often a difficult task. Especially in jurisdictions like Canada as an example, where the role of a tax advisor isn't regulated and hiring a tax lawyer is a luxury many can't afford. Sound familiar? Kim Moody is the CEO and Director of Moodys Private Client and Moodys Tax. Two professional service firms focused on tax law. Moodys Private Client and Moodys Tax is one of Western Canada's largest taxation teams. They provide fresh...
Published 06/28/23
What does it take for a t-shirt company to become a brand that is recognized on a global scale? If you are having trouble finding the key to rising above your competitors, here are some insights from a success story that will broaden your perspective. Dustin Paisley is the co-founder of the Calgary-based apparel brand Local Laundry and he's here to tell us how he turned it into something more than just clothing.  Local Laundry is a company that builds community. They have raised over...
Published 06/21/23
Today, Neil Johnson, Founder and CEO of Duke Royalty joins us on the show to speak about how to deliver a pitch in order to be memorable. Duke Royalty is a leading royalty investment company that provides a unique financing solution without taking on traditional debt or raising equity. Neil has over 30 years of experience in research analysis, merchant banking, and investment banking in Canadian and UK Capital Markets. He rose through the ranks of Canaccord Genuity Inc. to become the...
Published 06/14/23
Being a public company is not easy. Many companies celebrate when they IPO, what they don't realize is how hard the capital markets road will be. Darrell Heaps, Founder and CEO of Q4 Inc. joins us today and shares how the decision to go public to understand the pains of his customers, turned out to be something he was not expecting. Q4's purpose is to help its clients achieve investor relations goals and build confidence in the capital markets. They partner with public companies to...
Published 06/07/23
Raising capital is a difficult endeavour for all founders, doing it as a minority in an unpopular sector like EdTech can add another layer of complexity. Sydney Montgomery, CEO and Founder of Outline It breaks down who she's doing it in this episode. Outline It uses AI and machine learning to assist users in creating compelling writing and crafting ideas. Her goal has been to assist first-generation minority students with acceptance into post-secondary and law school.  We discuss bridging...
Published 05/31/23