Startup Instinct

This episode is part two with Shatha Qaqish-Clavering. Zaeem and Shatha discuss how Canada loses billions of dollars every year through the loss of intellectual property and the inability to commercialize early stage technology. Shatha explains her passion for women in entrepreneurship including the work she's done with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Shatha also talks motivation and lists some female role models that h...

In this episode, we discuss what venture capitalists and angel investors look for before investing in early stage entrepreneurs and the questions you need to ask yourself before raising money. Sometimes, it may be too early to raise money. Our guest on the show, Shatha Qaqish-Clavering has over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs and startups raise money, grow, and meet milestones. In addition, we dive into the core featur...

In this episode, we dive into discussions on money, sustainable compliance, and the impacts of money laundering. Today's guest is Shubhradeep Nandi, Founder of PiChain. Which is a sustainable compliance startup that uses AI and Blockchain to provide seamless and effective regulatory compliance to enterprises. We talk about Shub's unique perspectives and experiences as an entrepreneur. Reflecting back on early profound les...

In this episode, we dive deeper into the discussions initiated with Christian Varriale, co-founder of Moralyzer. Zaeem starts the discussion with emphasis on the importance of connecting with a customer or consumer of an entrepreneurs products and/or services. Outlining the devastating events that took place while running his first startup QuadCulture Technologies. Discussing why it may not be a good idea to start a business with f...

To start the season off, we delve into the fundamentals of early stage entrepreneurship with the co-founder of Moralyzer, Christian Varriale. Moralyzer is the first social activism platform of its kind, allowing users to take action alongside their friends. Their mission is to make the recent push for systemic change be not just a trend, but a permanent discussion that is not forgotten. Moralyzer was founded during the peak of the ...

This episode concludes season one (E10-19). Entrepreneurship can be tough and the journey is a lifelong process with plenty of room for improvement. The moments chosen in this episode represent the struggles, challenges, and lessons one may face in life and business. The importance of self-reflection and self-care are also displayed throughout this episode. Additionally, mental health is also discussed. Lastly, crucial advice for e...

This episode includes selected discussions from season one (E1-E9). The beginning of this episode includes a statement from the host. As he states some critically important aspects of entrepreneurship and life that he has struggled with and learned from along the way. Outlining the importance of accepting that life is full of problems and the more problems one faces, the easier problem solving becomes and the less devastating they ...

In this episode, we delve into journalism with Charla Huber. She is of Chipewyan and Inuit ancestry. Charla is the Director of Communications and Indigenous Relations for M’akola Housing Society in Victoria, British Columbia. She writes a weekly column in the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper which often highlights important humanitarian, social and Indigenous issues. She is also a member of the Victoria-Esquimalt Police Board. We ...

In this episode, we will be talking about Entrepreneur First, a program that was established in Europe and Asia in 2011 and has recently launched in Canada. Entrepreneur First was founded by Alice Bentinck and Matt Clifford, and is the world’s leading talent investor. They help entrepreneurs find a co-founder, develop an idea, and start a company. To date, Entrepreneur First has worked with over 2000 individuals to initiate more th...

In this episode, we talk about building a startup from its earliest stages to the moment when it is acquired. We consider the importance of conducting adequate research on a particular problem before one embarks on their startup journey. Further, we discuss the effectiveness of repeatedly asking oneself, "What problem am I solving?" In conversation, we split the startup life cycle into multiple stages and talk about them ...

In this episode, we continue discussions with Douglas P. Pflug, the retired sergeant who served 28 years with the Guelph Police Service. Douglas is also the founder of Ironwill 360, where he focuses on pushing his clients out of their comfort zones to build mental agility and strengthen the mind and body to overcome the adversities of life. Douglas reflects on the importance of mental readiness in correctly managing a crisis; we di...

In this episode, we talk about how startups and small businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. Discussing raising money during a pandemic and that it depends on the industry as some startups hold a strong position to raise money, while some are unable unless they give out more to investors through a lower valuation. The discussion then bleeds into incorrect assumptions and false ethical narratives with business operations, raisin...

In this episode, we talk about mental health, crisis management, and living a meaningful life driven by a sense of purpose. Our guest for today is Douglas P. Pflug, a retired police sergeant who served in the Guelph Police Service for 28 years. Douglas is also the Founder of Ironwill 360, helping people live life to the fullest and meet their personal goals through coaching and content across multiple platforms. We discuss one of t...

In this episode, we talk about personal branding and the positive changes needed to build a successful personal brand. Today's guest Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, is from Hanover and lives in Dubai. She started as a Social Scientist,  then became a Doctor of Philosophy. Today, she is a bestselling author, a LinkedIn learning author, and the Middle East’s leading Edutainer. We talk about the struggles, routine, mental health, and exe...

In this episode, we dive into artificial intelligence and learn how the space works. 

• Can artificial intelligence do it better than humans? 
  
  
• Does age matter when it comes to building a successful startup? 
  
  
• Why are B2B (business-to-business) startups not as popular as B2C (business-to-consumer) startups? 
  
  
• How do you build relationships that lead to the first deal and healthily beyond?
  
  

All of us have unique lives which comprise of non-replicable personal experiences. The journey towards success can be driven by many variables. I have seen that times of adversity are when the most significant changes occur from within and at the core of our being. We all handle hardships faced during the course of our lives differently, but learning about the difficulties faced by others gives us a perspective that is crucial for ...

This episode will bring forth the strength you need to power through life, because we have an extremely uplifting, hardworking, and driven guest on the show. Jason Rasevych is a social impact entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience working with First Nations, community economic development corporations, and various government departments. He is of Oji-Cree ancestry and a member of The Ginoogaming First Nation, a signatory Jam...

In this episode, we continue augmented reality discussions with Neil Mathew, CEO of Placenote. He narrows down on how Placenote strives to make life easier for others. We discuss how difficult it is for companies to restructure operations and work from home. Neil provides some insight and tips on keeping productivity high and motivating employees. We talk about the real estate market and the solutions Neil and his team have to maki...