John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen break down the federal budget proposal announced yesterday and its implications for investors, founders, and entrepreneurs. The increase in the capital gains tax and the lack of appreciation for founders and owners of businesses are driving the narrative of taxing success and the impact this will have on young founders, corporations, and very mobile individuals who can leave the country. The potential negative knock-on effects this will have on innovation and productivity gains and that damage to the startup ecosystem and investment landscape across Canada. The conv ..read more

John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen survived the eclipse and are back discussing the week’s news. Topics discussed: (01:08) Canada's new $2.4 billion AI initiative, positioning the country as a future AI powerhouse with a comprehensive investment plan (07:13) Jamie Dimon's enthusiastic endorsement of AI's transformative potential in his shareholder letter, emphasizing JP Morgan's massive AI investment and ambitious plans (12:56) Paddy Cosgrave's return to Web Summit after a brief hiatus what’s the impact on his reputation and the event's future (14:46) Queen's University introduced a lottery system fo ..read more

Topics John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen discuss: * (00:00) Cohere's significant fundraising efforts, competing in the LLM space, and the notable involvement of Canadian pension funds at a valuation of $5 billion. * (03:29) Canada's strategy in artificial intelligence emphasizes the critical role of government in education and talent development, but is direct governmental involvement in AI businesses effective? * (06:09) A $4.5 billion lawsuit has been filed against major social media companies by four Canadian school boards * (11:15) Canadian public tech companies like Nuve and Lightspeed consider ..read more

On this week’s Tank Talks, we're joined by Pascal Britt-Cote from Export Development Canada (EDC). Pascal breaks down how EDC supports Canadian tech globally, far beyond just physical goods, aiding software and service sectors with knowledge, connections, and financial support to scale internationally. EDC's initiatives include specialized tech units, engagement at key tech events, and partnerships with tech bankers and associations. Utilizing its worldwide offices, EDC connects Canadian firms with global partners and customers. Pascal also highlights EDC's investment matching program for mids ..read more

This week we welcome Randy Garg, Founder and Managing Partner of Vistara Growth. Randy shares his journey from his beginnings at PwC and Discovery Capital to co-founding Beedie Capital in 2010, and launching Vistara Growth in 2015 with support from the Beedie family as his first LP. Randy discusses the challenges tech companies face in securing growth capital and how Vistara Growth offers a mix of Growth Debt and Growth Equity to meet these needs, highlighting successful investments in companies like Zafin and Kore.ai. He delves into the state of private credit, public tech companies, and Vist ..read more

We are excited to have Alex Kolicich, the founding partner of 8VC, on the pod this week. Alex shares his journey from working at Google and Palantir to joining Peter Thiel's hedge fund, Clarion Capital, and later co-founding 8VC. Alex discusses 8VC’s mission to significantly impact their portfolio companies by leveraging their unique blend of industry insight and investment expertise. And we get Alex's take on the recent AI boom in venture capital, dissecting the mega funding rounds in the AI space and providing a forward-looking perspective on startups and fundraising. We also have a news rou ..read more

This week we are joined by Elio Narciso, founder of ScaleStack, who discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges of building and selling companies.He shares insights from his time at AWS and the lessons he learned about go-to-market strategies. Elio explains the creation of ScaleStack AI and the importance of problem-solving before incorporating AI. He emphasizes the significance of founder-led sales and building trust with customers. Finally, Elio introduces the Revenue Engine Masters podcast and its focus on revenue operations and sales operations professionals. About Elio Nar ..read more

Lots of news to discuss with John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen: (00:21) The significant downturn in venture capital, the early reset signs, and the impact of a conservative approach to business and fundraising in 2023, especially in Canada (02:09) The fate of companies that struggled to raise funds in 2023 and the shift towards supporting perceived winners and the inevitable challenges for "B" companies (05:29) Private equity's large market and diverse opportunities (06:48) Foundry Group's shutdown and the lack of structure for succession in VC (09:20) The effectiveness of CEO shakeups and the high ..read more

This week, we dive into the exciting world of defense tech with Jake Chapman from Marque Ventures. Jake shares his journey into VC, why Marque Ventures was born, and how shifts in geopolitics and advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and autonomous tech are driving VC interest in defense tech. He opens up about the hurdles of long development cycles, regulatory landscapes, and ethical dilemmas while offering insights into DoD procurement strategies, the importance of a defense-first approach, and the power of public engagement for raising sector awareness. Wrapping up, Jake touches on the signifi ..read more

In this week's episode, we're thrilled to host Alex McIsaac of Northside Ventures. With a diverse background in venture capital, cleantech, and global investing, Alex shares invaluable insights from his tenure as a Partner at Global Founders Capital. We explore why Alex believes it's the right time to launch Northside Ventures and the specific pre-seed market gaps he aims to address. We also delve into the prospects for Canadian AI startups, discussing strategies for outperforming established players and securing Canada's victory in the tech arena. About Alex McIsaac:Alex McIsaac is the Founde ..read more