Podcast
The BetaKit Podcast Channel
Hosted by BetaKit Podcast Network · EN
The BetaKit Podcast Channel features weekly podcasts discussing both Canadian tech and innovation, as well as global tech from a Canadian perspective.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What killed your startup? (LIVE from Startupfest 2026)
2d ago01:02:37Tap to summarize"There has never been a more exciting time to found and build a company in Canada." A *killler* lineup of Startupfest speakers joins for a live recording of The BetaKit Podcast at the Startupfest village in Montréal's Grand Quay. In a rapid-fire talk show format, these luminaries discuss the leading causes of startup death, hard-won lessons in company scaling, the virtues of AI, and why now is the most exciting time to build a company in Canada. Featuring: Johnathan Nightingale - Co-founder of Raw Signal Group Fatima Khamitova - Director, Startups at Vector Institute Vishar Yaghoubian - CEO / Co-founder of Toothpod Melissa Nightingale - Co-founder of Raw Signal Group -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by MaRS Connect. Discover ground-breaking solutions on MaRS Connect, a curated digital platform designed to accelerate real connections between Canada's top startups and serious adopters, investors, and ecosystem leaders. Visit MaRS Connect to learn more.
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Cory Doctorow on using AI without letting AI use you
1w ago01:12:01Tap to summarize"I am Tron-pilled: I fight for the user. I want people to be in charge of their technology, not the other way around." Award-winning Canadian science-fiction author, journalist, and tech activist Cory Doctorow is back with a new book, "The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI." He joins The BetaKit Podcast to discuss healthy ways people can be assisted by AI rather than conscripted in service to the tech, before pitching the need to jailbreak Canada to help the country reclaim its digital sovereignty. What exactly is a reverse centaur? Let's dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by MaRS Climate Impact 2026: early bird tickets are now on sale! On November 17 and 18, learn more about climate innovations engineered for scale and join founders, investors, policy-makers, researchers, and industry leaders for two days of breakthrough startup pitch sessions, curated networking opportunities, panel debates and live podcast recordings. Register today, and meet the people accelerating the transition to a more resilient, low-carbon economy. Secure your early bird tickets now!
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How Dominion Dynamics is building Canada's first line of Arctic defence
3w ago00:49:46Tap to summarize"The Arctic is the hardest operational environment on Earth for anybody. For any country." Dominion Dynamics CEO and BetaKit Most Ambitious honouree Eliot Pence joins to discuss his company's plans to become the general contractor for Canada's defence needs, why the Arctic is so important, and why he came back to Canada to build. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now.
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Minister Evan Solomon on Canada's AI strategy, sovereignty, and social media
Jul 101:04:16Tap to summarize"Either we build the innovation here with our entrepreneurs, or we buy it from someone else. And either we make the rules here, or we follow someone else's. Those are the choices we've got as a country." It's a special Canada Day edition of The BetaKit Podcast! Canada's Minister of AI and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, joins for an extended conversation to discuss the country's refreshed AI strategy, digital sovereignty, and forthcoming social media and privacy regulations. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now.
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Cohere's Nick Frosst on sovereign AI and Star Trek
Jun 1601:02:33Tap to summarize"If your entire technology is coming from a single country, and that country decides that every now and again they're going to shut off access to you, that's not a foundation you can build on." The US government just ordered Anthropic to ban access to its most advanced AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Seems like now is a good time to talk about sovereign AI. Cohere co-founder Nick Frosst joins to discuss how Canada's AI champion is built different than the other frontier LLM providers, how Star Trek informs the type of AI future the company is trying to create, and why he doesn't make a point of listening to Marc Andreessen about AGI. Did the Anthropic model ban prove Cohere is right about sovereign AI? Let's dig in. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now.
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Physical AI and economic nationalism at BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall
Jun 801:02:33Tap to summarize"You guys have done what you've done with the wind in your face. Imagine if you had the wind at your back. Wow." Couldn't attend BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall? Don't worry. Enjoy Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun explaining how the future of transportation will be driven by physical AI before sitting down to discuss Canada's AI ecosystem with University of Toronto president Melanie Woodin. Then we have former RIM co-CEO and CCI chair Jim Balsillie talking about the need for economic statecraft to drive Canadian prosperity before sitting down with BetaKit editor-in-chief Douglas Soltys to discuss the strategies entrepreneurs should consider to get the wind at their back. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now.
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AI sovereignty & defence tech at BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall
Jun 101:07:33Tap to summarize"Everywhere I go, BetaKit is there. They grill me. Every time I say something, I say 'I wish I didn't say that' because BetaKit recorded it." Couldn't attend BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall? Don't worry. Enjoy our Vantage Points panel on Canadian defence and dual-use tech, featuring leaders from Dominion Dynamics, Sentinel R&D, and Xanadu, followed by a fireside chat with AI Minister Evan Solomon. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now.
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How Toronto Tech Week became Canada's largest grassroots tech event
May 2200:47:58Tap to summarize"You could start your day paddleboarding on Lake Ontario, then you could go to a workout class, then you could go to a session on what VCs want to hear." Last year, a decentralized community experiment led to 15,000 people attending over 300 events in the middle of June. With nearly 600 events welcoming people from around the world set to begin Monday, this year's Toronto Tech Week promises to be much bigger and bolder. Co-directors Julia Konefal and Mell Truong join The BetaKit Podcast to ensure you are eventmaxxing all week long in Toronto. -- Clio is proud to present the BetaKit Guide: Toronto Tech Week 2026. This guide is your ultimate shortcut to navigating all 600 events, from panels, mixers, and competitions, taking place across the city from May 25th to 29th. Read the full guide here.
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Harjit Sajjan reports for duty
May 1501:05:51Tap to summarize"I know people with amazing ideas, but they don't have the right investment to take their idea to the prototype stage. At the prototype stage, they don't have the ability to take it to the manufacturing stage. So guess what happens? Another company from outside the country comes and snatches 'em up. It was heartbreaking to see that our amazing talent is being sucked away." After decades in public service roles, former Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan is reporting for duty once again as a defence-tech entrepreneur with Vancouver-based Juno Industries. Sajjan joins this week to offer a SITREP for Canada, including his thoughts on the Defence Industrial Strategy and Juno's plans to become an innovation hub for defence in Canada. -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Zoho, developers of a unique and powerful software suite that transforms the way you work. Zoho's flagship user conference, Zoholics Toronto 2026, is coming May 21-22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre! Join hundreds of business leaders, customers, and Zoho experts for two days of learning, inspiration, and connection. Explore the latest in AI, automation, and cloud-powered collaboration—and see how Zoho's all-in-one suite helps organizations work smarter and grow faster. Go here to learn more and secure your spot. -- Solve for X is back! The latest season of the MaRS podcast is exploring more world-changing ideas. Join journalist Manjula Selvarajah as she talks to the people behind the latest innovations in tech and science. Get a jump on the future. Listen to season 4 of Solve for X wherever you get your podcasts.
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Evaluating Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy
Apr 2700:59:14Tap to summarize"There's a lot in this document… Do we feel the urgency and the threats are covered here?" After months of waiting, the Defence Industrial Strategy offers clarity for $7 billion worth of spending commitments in Budget 2025. Is that enough? What's missing? What comes next? Vass Bednar (Canadian Shield Institute) and Matt Lombardi (The Icebreaker) join to evaluate the strategy, the spending, and some sticky questions about canola oil and Canadian sovereignty. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall, the marquee opening event of Toronto Tech Week 2026. Taking place on May 25 at the iconic TIFF Lightbox, BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall will bring together over 500 leaders from across Canada's tech and innovation ecosystem for meaningful conversations about strengthening the nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Get your tickets today before they sell out. -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter: BetaKit's flagship newsletter. Every Sunday, The BetaKit Newsletter serves up in-depth analysis and insights on Canadian tech and innovation news, piping hot and straight to your inbox. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.
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