Why Faire’s co-founder wants to bring Silicon Valley’s DNA to Canada
“ I think every ecosystem is different, but we can learn a lot from Silicon Valley, and we can merge what we have here.” Faire co-founder and Chief Architect Marcelo Cortes explains his journey from Brazil to Canada, how working in Kitchener-Waterloo connected him to Silicon Valley, and the process of applying the lessons learned there to his company. We also discuss how Faire's wholesale marketplace for retailers is navigating the trade war, its use of AI, and how it convinced former Uber CTO Thuan Pham to join the company. -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. -- The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by The BetaKit Guide: Wildfire. Explore the role of Canadian technology in helping to predict, prevent, and adapt to the global reality of wildfire.
--------
52:52
Half of the internet is bots and they’re feeding you lies
“Bad actors are weaponizing AI faster than governments and enterprises are using AI to combat it.” New data shows that more than half of all internet traffic comes from bots, and a third of those bots have malicious intent. Koat.ai co-founder Connor Ross joins to discuss the impact of the disinformation and defamation campaigns these bots run, how governments and enterprises are unprepared for this AI-driven explosion, and why the social networks are doing nothing to stop it. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. Related links: 2025 bad bot report Cyber Threats to Canada's Democratic Process: 2025 Update
--------
44:47
2025’s angel investor of the year has a plan for Canadian tech
“I feel like doing this is one of the greatest gifts of my life. Working with these people energizes me.” Joe Canavan, principal at Canavan Capital, is Canada’s 2025 Angel of the Year. Recorded live at the NACO Summit in Ottawa, Canavan discusses his passion and enthusiasm for investing in tech after a career in finance, and what Canada should do to bolster its productivity and economic sovereignty. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. Related links: Dragons’ Den’s Arlene Dickinson, Build Canada’s Daniel Debow recognized as Nation Builders at 2025 NACO awards Why empowering Canadian high-growth companies is more critical than ever “Can we just write the cheque?”: angel investors encouraged to be bold amidst economic uncertainty at NACO Summit
--------
34:28
How does an online car retailer survive a trade war?
“I think for any entrepreneur that’s navigated the last five years, I don’t know if there was a worse time to be building a company.” Clutch found a new gear for its business after a post-pandemic lull … just in time for tariffs to hit. Dan Park (CEO) and Stephen Seibel (COO) join to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online car retail, how the end of cheap capital pumped their brakes, and how Clutch regained traction after a savvy market expansion. What has this journey taught them about how to prepare for whatever tariffs will do to the auto industry? Let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now, convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related links: Clutch gears up for expansion with $100-million CAD Series B round Clutch cuts staff to extend runway, citing market conditions Clutch cut approximately 65 percent of its staff as online auto marketplaces gear down Clutch recovers valuation and eyes growth with $50-million Series D round
--------
56:10
How Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people this June
“ Toronto Tech Week belongs to everyone. Toronto Tech Week is by definition a platform, and it succeeds or fails by the virtue of all the hosts and all of the ecosystem in Toronto wanting to participate.” Filling the summer event gap that Collision left in the city, Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people attending over 100 events this June. How did the ‘community-driven platform’ come to be? How will it be different than other tech events? Toronto Tech Week founding partners and co-organizers Ameet Shah (Golden Ventures), Satish Kanwar (Good Future), and Mell Truong (Sage Consulting) join to tell the story. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now, convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related Links: Local leaders launch Toronto Tech Week to accelerate city’s ambitions Chamath Palihapitiya, Sanja Fidler among Homecoming headliners as Toronto Tech Week unveils event calendar BetaKit to launch “Most Ambitious” issue on June 23, 2025
Canada - english