In this 200th episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen reflects on the podcast's journey and the lessons learned. The episode features a discussion with John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity, about major events in the tech and investment world, including recent funding rounds, the impact of AI, a significant cybersecurity outage, and political developments. In this episode, we discuss: (01:04) Tips for aspiring podcasters: embrace mistakes, maintain consistency, and stay curious (01:49) Introduction to guest John Ruffolo (02:00) Discussion about Clio’s $3 billion valuation Series F round (03:00 ..read more

In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen and John Ruffalo delve into the current political landscape in the U.S., the ongoing housing affordability crisis in Canada, and the burgeoning investments in generative AI. The discussion touches on the recent U.S. presidential election debate, the potential impact of a Trump administration on Canada, and the controversial proposal to tax home equity in Canada. The episode also examines Andreessen Horowitz's strategic investment in GPU capabilities and the implications of the Google acquisition of Hubspot shutdown. They conclude by discussing the chal ..read more

On this week's episode, we welcome Mike McLean, CEO of Innovation Asset Collective, to talk about the importance of intellectual property (IP) for startups and Canadian companies. Mike explains how founders can prepare for IP challenges when entering global markets and how to use IP to create value. Mike talks about how the government helps Canadian tech companies protect and use their IP, and he points out that Canada is not doing as well as it should in creating and using IP, with many Canadian patents owned by foreign companies. He shares advice on building a defensive patent portfolio and ..read more

This week, John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity is back with Matt to talk about the latest news in the tech and capital ecosystem. They discuss the surprising results of the Toronto by-election, the commercialization of AI in Canada, and strategic investment moves by pension funds. Additionally, they delve into AI's impact on Hollywood, Apple's strategic partnerships, and the European Union's fines on big tech. In this episode, we discuss: (00:23) Toronto By-Election Results (05:05) Commercialization of AI in Canada (08:09) Investment Strategies of Pension Funds (11:00) AI in Hollywood and M ..read more

This week, John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity is back with Matt to talk about the latest news in the tech and capital ecosystem. They discuss the end of the Collision Conference in Toronto, TD Bank's new initiative for tech entrepreneurs, and big moves in AI. They also cover Jerome Nycz's retirement from BDC Capital and Raquel Urtasun's new funding round for her company, Waabi. In this episode, we discuss: (00:00) Impact of Collision Conference on Toronto Ecosystem (01:33) Opportunities for Vancouver Ecosystem (05:52) TD Innovation Partners launch (08:28) Jerome Nycz' retirement from BDC C ..read more

This week John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity is back with Matt to talk about the news affecting the venture capital and financial sectors including Cohere's recent $450 million fundraising, featuring investments from Nvidia, Salesforce Ventures, and others. The conversation shifts to the resurgence of crypto interest, Vista Equity's write-off of Pluralsight, private equity firms targeting individual assets within companies rather than entire companies, and how that could present opportunities for venture capitalists to recover some value from underperforming investments. They also cover Ca ..read more

This week, we welcome Rob Kumer, CEO of KingSett Capital, to share his journey from Analyst to CEO, the evolution of KingSett Capital, and the strategic moves that have shaped the firm into a $17 billion private equity real estate powerhouse. Rob provides insights into the impact of global experiences on his career, the challenges and opportunities of zero-carbon buildings, and the future of office spaces amid market bifurcation and work-from-home trends. About Rob Kumer: Rob Kumer is the Chief Executive Officer of KingSett Capital. As the chair of KingSett’s Investment Committee, Rob oversees ..read more

This week's guest is Nolan Bederman of Bederman Capital discusses the evolving landscape of private equity, emphasizing the importance of strategic growth, innovation, and building strong management partnerships. He highlights the need to balance technology and business operations, address regulatory challenges, and prioritize psychological insight in investment decisions. Bederman also critiques the Canadian regulatory environment, calling for a more supportive approach to entrepreneurship to drive productivity and economic growth. About Nolan Bederman:Nolan Bederman is the Executive Chair of ..read more

On this week’s episode, we welcome back Dan Park, CEO of Clutch, for his second appearance. Dan shares how his team navigated the recent downturn in the startup world and the valuable lessons they learned from the experience. Since his last visit in October 2021, Dan and his team faced significant economic turbulence in the tech and automotive ecosystems. After securing a $100 million Series B and $150 million in debt financing, Clutch had to make tough decisions, including a 30% reduction in workforce. Dan walks us through these pivotal moments, discussing the strategies Clutch employed to ad ..read more

Jordan Nahmias shares his journey from law school to lawyer to know coaching others on how to change careers at Unstuck Consulting. He discusses his dissatisfaction with his law career and the moment he realized he needed a change. Jordan talks about the fear and terror he experienced when deciding to leave his law practice and the support he received from his family and friends during his career transition from being a lawyer to becoming a coach and therapist. He shares his passion for helping people and his ability to listen and understand others. About Jordan Nahmias:Jordan Nahmias is Found ..read more