"Everything that happened over a four to five-month period in '08 has happened in a four-week period this time around."
The Canadian tech ecosystem is facing a black swan event: extremely rare and extremely severe. BetaKit spoke with Matt Roberts, partner at ScaleUP Ventures, about the federal government's response to support Canadian businesses, and what entrepreneurs can do to ensure their companies survive.
Hosted by Douglas Soltys & Rob Kenedi. Edited by Kattie Laur. Produced with support from TWG.
Patrick provides a recap of his first-ever Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and then the team dives into their 2019 tech predictions. The results may surprise you!
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Kids" by PUP
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Sage Franch (Crescendo) and Rohan Nair (Highline BETA) join to explain why the recent (and continual) Facebook revelations have the two developers so upset - and why they don't know what to do about it. A special conversation about developer ethics ensues.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Everything You've Done Wrong" by Sloan
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
CanCon provides the top list of tech you should be asking for this holiday season... or giving to others, if that's your thing.
Plus: Shopify takes a big slice out of Black Friday as Canadians transition away from Boxing Day shopping. Plus plus: Douglas' Black Friday 'horror story'.
Erin Bury lists the grants Canadian entrepreneurs could and should be using (with some pro tips). ScaleUP Ventures partner Matt Roberts joins to answer the question 'when is it wrong for an investor to ask a company to sell?' following BetaKit's exclusive on the curfuffle around EVP and Uken Games.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Canada in my Pocket" by Michael Mitchell / "Coins" by Tri Angels
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
200 of those Canadians were part of a tech delegation to Web Summit. BetaKit tagged along. Hear from delegates from Jauntin', RBC, and the City of Toronto on why heading to Lisbon was so important, and what it means for Collision in Canada in 2019.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Flying" by Bryan Adams
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Two Canadian wearable tech companies - InteraXon and Thalmic/North - have survived the tech hype cycle to release new products. Wearables expert Tom Emrich joins to explain why hardware startups are the hardest startups.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Quite Like You" by Andy Shauf
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
HelloFresh has acquired Chefs Plate. Ritual has raised the cash to go big-time. Can Canada compete at food tech? Urbery founder Mudit Rawat joins to answer the question. Plus: our favourite food apps!
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "A Thousand Ways" by Steve St. Pierre
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
USMCA is the new NAFTA, raising old concerns about Canadian tech as a 'branch plant' economy. Why is everyone angrily yelling in The Globe and Mail? We provide three reasons (no, it's not all about IP).
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Valley Boy" by Wolf Parade
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Why everyone listening to this podcast should read James Wallace's story about how running his tech company almost killed him. Tech reporter Josh McConnell also joins to explain why people keep referencing our FOMO episode after Apple's new phone announcements.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "The Silence Came After" by Claude Munson
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Futurist Nikolas Badminton joins to explain the elements required in the smart cities of the future, while evaluating the political and practical tensions surrounding the smart cities currently being built - like the Sidewalk Toronto Quayside project.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Modern World" by Wolf Parade
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Patrick O'Rourke joins to walk through the latest Apple leaks ahead of the company's September event. We also break news about new animojis (not really).
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Street Car" by Hayden
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Tech can't help you manage your productivity unless you're also managing yourself. Here's a bunch of tips to help you do both.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Old Man" by Neil Young
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
It's a Canadian coding extravaganza! A special guest lineup joins to answer two questions:
- Can coding education save Canada from tech brain drain?
- Do 'top developer' lists contribute to toxic coding culture?
Special guests:
Melissa Sariffodeen - co-founder/CEO, Canada Learning Code
Jeremy Shaki - co-founder, Lighthouse Labs
Rohan Nair - Senior Technology Director, Highline BETA
Sage Franch - co-founder, Crescendo
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Give It Up" by The Beaches
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Tech reporter Josh McConnell joins to discuss four types of tech where there is no longer a 'fear of missing out' on the latest and greatest.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Afraid Of Heights" by Billy Talent
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
The CanCon team provides its tech summer reading list and recommends a bunch of vacation and travel apps so you can get the most out of you summer.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Patrick explains how Lime and Bird ruined his last trip to SF right before they come to ruin Canadian cities; Erin commits to starting a Google doc and praises the federal government; Sarah Stockdale joins to discuss how Toronto can improve support for women entrepreneurs; Douglas says goodbye to his adopted son.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Know Yourself" by Drake
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Live from Startupfest: Patrick Gagné joins to explain how OSMO and the Québec government plan to build a Communitech in Montréal; Lauren Robinson and Jill Earthy join to parse the recent Female Funders report on the lack of diversity in Canadian venture capital.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Gathering Storm" by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Communitech's Chris Plunkett joins to help give shine to the Canadian tech stories we don't often discuss: the great Canadian tech apps that rarely make the headlines; the dearth of Canadian tech reporting; an ecosystem more in love with its own narrative than winning.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Tokyo Summer" by Mounties
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave shares how the Prime Minister and a former diplomat convinced him to bring Collision to Canada; the team ponders how many lives the CryptoKitties have left; is IGTV the new YouTube for the 'gram generation?
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "The Cat Came Back" by Fred Penner
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
Patrick returns from E3 and WWDC to talk about the Canadian tech sector that never gets any love from Canadian tech; Erin digs deep into #SportsTwitter PR snafus; Rob is upset at Apple for its lack of innovation. Guest stars: Freelance tech reporters Josh McConnell; the Premier of Bermuda (wait for it).
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "I'm upset" by Drake
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
This week: 500 Startups is back in Canada - what does that mean for the ecosystem and is everyone cool with Dave McClure still (kinda) being involved? Why did Microsoft buy GitHub? Plus, Erin provides tech PR tips on when not to "have the D."
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Spokane" by The Tourist Company
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
CanCon interviews BuzzFeed fake news expert Craig Silverman, and Pando Media founder and CEO Sarah Lacy, at True North 2018.
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "O Canada" by Calixa Lavallée (English words by Robert Stanley Weir)
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud
CanCon's Tech AMA returns, answering the questions: should I unplug my Amazon Echo? How should the government support the Canadian tech ecosystem? Why did the Essential Phone fail? Is wireless charging for real? Will automation replace your job?
Canadian Content music clip (under fair dealing): "Money City Maniacs" by Sloan
Ad music: "Dreams" by Joakim Karud