Invested in our New Reality

Helping others is always a good idea, and for one Ottawa entrepreneur, it makes good business sense, too! On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, Heather Desjardins sits down with Sam Laprade to discuss her growing company, Open Door Educational Services. A teacher by trade, Heather built her now-thriving business after identifying a need for additional support for students who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Listen to this inspiring interview and learn how this local CEO found her voice as an entrepreneur in Ottawa, the business-friendly city she is proud to call home.

Why Ottawa? Let us count the ways! For the team behind Ekidna Sensing, they are: talent, funding, mentorship, R&D support, and lab access – and that is just the beginning. On Season 13 of Invested in Our New Reality, our host Sam Laprade is speaking with the brightest minds in business and tech to uncover why so many leaders choose to set up shop in Ottawa. In this episode, she interviews Nic Boileau, CEO of Ekidna Sensing, a local start-up whose rapid, accurate, and decentralized cannabis testing technology helps licensed producers eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce operational costs, and bring their products to market faster.

Howling winds and icy roads? Perfection! For one company, Ottawa’s famously distinct four-season weather is driving their success. In Season 13 of Invested in Our New Reality, Ottawa radio legend Sam Laprade is uncovering why so many companies choose the National Capital Region as their home base. In this episode, she speaks with Dana Borschewski, VP Aviation Products and Operations for Aurrigo, a leading international provider of transport technology solutions. As a global company with offices in five countries, Ottawa, with its Area X.O, is the right place to develop cutting-edge autonomous vehicles built to face any weather or road conditions. Aurrigo is able to test its products throughout our sunny summers and bitterly cold winters, ensuring its team and technology are ready for anything.

A well-known tech hub since the dial-up era, Ottawa is the first choice for companies looking to put down roots. On Season 13 of Invested in Our New Reality, we’re diving into the many advantages of building a business here, including a big pool of potential employees, R&D support, and all-around work-life balance. On this episode, host Sam Laprade interviews Harpreet Geekee, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Shabodi Telecommunications. This award-winning company helps organizations build and develop apps that take advantage of the advancements that come from the latest 5G wireless networks, and they do it from right here in the National Capital Region.

Reinventing the grocery store? Now, that’s an idea! Season 13 of Invested in Our New Reality, the hit podcast from Invest Ottawa, is back with an incredible new episode. Guest host Sam Laprade sits down with local business leader, Geoffrey MacKay, the CCO and co-founder of The Aggressive Good, a rapidly growing enterprise betting big on creating green-tech supply chain solutions for the grocery marketplace. From consumer packaging woes to food waste frustrations, this wide-ranging conversation is lively, informative, and chock full of business insights.

Welcome to Season 13 of Invested in Our New Reality, The Ottawa Advantage. This season, we turn our focus to Ottawa as a thriving business hub, delving into the reasons companies and business leaders intentionally choose the Capital Region to call home. From stories of loyal entrepreneurs who have flourished, to the strategic advantages that Ottawa offers, we'll uncover the unique elements that contribute to the city's impact on the success and growth of businesses. Join us as we explore the dynamic landscape of Ottawa, a globally recognized, innovative, and future-ready city that stands out as the optimal destination for learning, working, living, and playing. In this vibrant metropolis, a diverse pool of tech talent converges with world-class research and development, flourishing innovation ecosystems, access to larger markets, and an exceptional quality of life.

Want to know what the future has in store? A crystal ball may help, but car companies like to call Studio 63. President Miles Hammond sits down with host Petrina Gentile on the Season 12 finale of Invested in Our New Reality to share how this local industrial design firm is working with cutting-edge companies around the world to create the automotive technologies of tomorrow. Experts in industrial design and champions of imagination, members of the Studio 63 team are known for designing, building, and integrating custom components, parts, and software to showcase the future of design. Lucky for us, they do their innovative work from offices right here in the National Capital Region.

The future is unknown, but tor Andrew Miller and his collogues at Hatch Global, the unknown is their whole job. He joins host Petrina Gentile on this episode of Invested in Our New Reality for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of mobility and transportation around the world. Listen as these two industry experts discuss the changes new technologies are bringing to transportation and the ways those advancements will change how society moves people and goods from Point A to Point B.

Episode Description: Plugging in an electric vehicle is as easy as it sounds, but what if there is no plug? On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Petrina Gentile interviews Jorge Pantoja, the Founder and CEO of JPlug.io, a future-forward company focused on bringing the convenience of charging electric vehicles to condominium and multi-family dwellings. This exciting new company is making a name for themselves for their cutting-edge technology, speedy installation and — best of all — efficient communication with the powers that be, also known as: the condo board.

Ottawa-based company GBatteries is leading the charge on, well, charging. Founded in 2014, the team of scientists at GBatteries is revolutionizing electric vehicle batteries and is the first to achieve a new, more efficient energy transfer regime. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Petrina Gentile interviews CEO Kostyantyn Khomutov about the company, its pioneering technology, and the team’s mission to help make electric vehicles a convenient, speedy, and reliable option for trips of any distance.

Thanks to its cutting-edge engineering simulations, ANSYS makes it easy for the auto industry to work harder and test smarter. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Petrina Gentile interviews Laila Salman, Principal Technical Specialist at ANSYS. They discuss how the company’s simulation software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries using the predictive power of simulation. With an office in Ottawa and projects at the Area X.O Simulation Discovery Portal, ANSYS is helping other companies bring their smart-tech and automotive products to market faster and more safely than ever before. Listen now!

Let’s take a look behind the curtain, shall we? On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Petrina Gentile interviews Sonya Shorey, Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Communications at Invest Ottawa. A global powerbroker, Sonya has brought hundreds of millions of investment dollars into the National Capital Region and is the engine behind the success of Area X.O: a secure research and development complex created for all-weather experimentation. In short, she is the exact person you want in your corner if you’re an innovative tech company trying to, say, make autonomous vehicles safer or revolutionize the smart mobility market.

Detect. Deter. Delay. Deny. Those are the four principles of physical security and the foundation of Ottawa-based company, Four DRobotics. This pioneering business is busy developing products that address end-to-end requirements for deploying autonomous vehicles. Equipping vehicles with hardware and software capable of making more reliable and safer decisions than a human is hard work, and testing is key. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Petrina Gentile interviews CEO Jeremy James about the company: what they make, why it matters, and why safety always comes first.

It’s time to get this show on the road! We’re back with Season 12 of Invested in Our New Reality and are focused on the innovative automotive and smart mobility industry, starting with Sensor Cortek, a local company creating software solutions for advanced driver-assistance and autonomous vehicles. Their goal? Autonomous vehicles capable of carefully perceiving the environment and able to operate more safely under all weather conditions by using radar and lidar technologies. COO and Director of Engineering, Fahed Hassanat, joins this episode to discuss the origin of the company, its success so far, and why Ottawa is the perfect city in which to build a vehicle capable of facing any weather.

Season 12 of Invested in Our New Reality has arrived and will explore Ottawa’s thriving and innovative automotive and smart mobility industry. Award-winning national automotive journalist and author Petrina Gentile is joining as this season’s guest host. Gentile has been covering the industry for almost twenty years and will interview leaders and entrepreneurs from the National Capital Region who are revolutionizing smart mobility and driving the future of transportation.

What do you do with your most precious possessions and – in today’s world – most private data? In a perfect world, you stick it in a vault. Meet Audrey Bond, Founder and CEO of Vaultt, a local company ushering in the health revolution with the tools this generation needs. An ultra-secure and straightforward platform, Vaultt is a collaborative healthcare tool that makes it easier to store and share vital health information. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, listeners will learn how this innovative app supports patients, families, and caregivers.

Nuclear medicine is … what exactly? They say if you don’t know something, ask someone who does, and that is exactly what we did. A global leader in nuclear medicine, BWXT Medical Ltd. develops, manufactures, and supplies products for diagnostic imaging and radiotherapeutic treatments, including medical isotopes, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. With teams in Ottawa and Vancouver, the company is responsible for maintaining a reliable nuclear medical supply in Canada and Rachel Pickering, Vice President of Operations, is on hand to explain how it is done ¬— and why it matters — on this episode of Invested in Our New Reality.

Invested in Our Next Guest: Kelly Gregoire. Connection, compassion, empathy, and dignity. For the team at TryCycle Data Systems, wellness isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the whole business model. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Avis Favaro sits down with Kelly Gregoire, Senior Vice President of Operations, to discuss how the company is harnessing the power of data and technology to reduce the risks associated with mental health and substance use disorders. Buoyed by a compassionate mission and a sound business plan, TryCycle supports health professionals and their patients with technology-based tools to provide ongoing support when and where it’s needed most.

Invested in Our Next Guest: Rafal Iwasiow. Talk about a success story! Introducing DNA Genotek, an Ottawa-based, multinational company with numerous innovative product lines, a global footprint, and high praise from the current POTUS himself. On this week’s episode of Invested in Our New Reality, Avis Favaro interviews Rafal Iwasiow, the company’s Vice President of Innovation and Technology. They discuss the company’s cutting-edge technology, the importance of home-testing in expanding access to health care, and how the COVID pandemic changed the marketplace for the better.

Invested in Our Next Guest: Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau - Don’t like bingo? Uh-oh. For elders living in senior living facilities, a lack of interest in certain recreational activities can greatly impact their quality of life, happiness, and friendships. That’s why staff and caregivers at these facilities are turning to Welbi, innovative software that captures the information staff need to better provide person-centred services for residents and their family members. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, CEO and Founder Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau joins host Avis Favaro and shares the inspiration behind this ground-breaking company and her big plans for its future.

Caregiving is beautiful, meaningful, and tremendously difficult. Ottawa-based company Trualta created a platform that brings professional-level healthcare education directly to loved ones caring for those in need. They deliver evidence-based training via a proprietary, interactive online learning environment and ensure caregivers have the information and training necessary to deliver home-based care – with providers and insurers footing the bill. Trualta CEO Jonathan Davis joins Avis Favaro for episode 3 on IONR: Season 11.

For our aging loved ones, only the best will do. That’s why Evoke Health, an Ottawa-based med-tech company led by CEO and Co-Founder Varsha Chaugai, is trying to make sure the best is better than ever. In January 2020, she and her co-founder had the idea for a platform they knew would transform long-term care, providing residents, caregivers, and families with the tools they need to communicate clearly, directly, and often. Then along came the COVID-19 pandemic, and suddenly, a nice-to-have product became a downright necessity. Today, Evoke Health provides families with access to their loved ones’ health and wellness data, plus a digital platform to communicate with the healthcare professionals overseeing their care.

IONR: Season 11 - The Health Tech Revolution Episode 1: Invested in Bringing Patient Care Into the Virtual World Practice makes perfect, and surgery has been a tough discipline to... well, practice. Enter Ottawa-based med-tech firm Realize Medical. Led by CEO Justin Sutherland, this cutting-edge technology company pioneered innovative ways of using virtual reality in healthcare: virtual reality. The company is on a mission to improve the advanced 3D modeling, visualization and communication tools doctors need to enhance patient care. And with a rapidly growing client list and rave reviews from doctors the world over, they are well and truly reimagining care for the better.

Invested in Our New Reality is a dynamic podcast where business leaders offer honest observations about navigating our ever-evolving reality. Each episode provides a space for entrepreneurs to speak candidly about the challenges and opportunities they’ve faced, arming listeners with practical advice on how to thrive in the future. Season 11 of Invested in Our New Reality will introduce listeners to some fascinating innovations taking place in Ottawa’s vibrant health technology and life sciences sector. This season is guest hosted by acclaimed national journalist Avis Favaro, who has spent the past four decades covering every kind of issue that impacts the health of Canadians, from the rise of HIV/AIDS through to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Good news, marketing teams, this episode is for you! Host Manjula Selvarajah sits down with Mychelle Mollot, the Chief Marketing Officer at Solace, a local company known for building a complex technology that is, essentially, something simple: peace of mind. Listen now and find out how this leading marketing expert oversees the public face of a company some project will hit $1B in annual revenues.

Sanja Mitar is the Talent Acquisition Lead at Noibu, an error-monitoring platform that helps ecommerce teams detect, prioritize and resolve revenue-impacting errors. A bona fide expert in recruitment and retention, she joins host Manjula Selvarajah on this episode to discuss the ins and outs of hiring – and keeping – talented people at a modern tech workplace.

Keira Torkko is the Chief People Officer at Assent, an Ottawa-based company and the leading supply chain sustainability management solution for the world’s most responsible complex manufacturers. She sat down with Manjula Selvarajah on this episode of Invested in Our New Reality to talk about her role and share insights gleaned from her experience as a leader for this global company.

Pierce Ujjainwalla is CEO and Co-Founder of Knak and the next guest on Invested in Our New Reality. In this episode, he sits down with host Manjula Selvarajah and shares the story behind launching and growing the company from a cost-conscious start-up to a leading tech company with $25 million in Series A funding.

This guest has a big job. You might even call it massive. Meet Nia Bruno-Gibson. On this episode, host Manjula Selvarajah interviews Nia Bruno-Gibson, the Head of People, Culture and Operations at MASV, a file transfer platform that gives creative professionals the flexibility to send and receive large amounts of data. Full of insights, advice and first-hand experience, this episode is a must-listen.

One Ottawa-based tech company is shortening to-do lists everywhere – thank goodness. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Manjula Selvarajah interviews Peter O'Blenis, Co-Founder and CEO of DistillerSR, a tech company that securely automates the management of evidence-based research and the analysis of its data. To put it another way: they make something complicated, simple.

Delivery Status: ARRIVED. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Manjula Selvarajah interviews Alok Ahuja, the Co-Founder and CEO of Trexity, an Ottawa-based technology company. Find out how he and his team turned a bad day into a flat-rate, on-demand delivery service with global potential.

This is the story of a big meeting, a broken hard drive, and (surprise!) a happy ending. Host Manjula Selvarajah interviews Mike Potter, the CEO of Rewind. Launched in 2015, Rewind enables companies to back up, restore, and copy the critical data that drives businesses. Listen to the full episode and hear all about the real-world catalyst for Rewind, why data matters, and lessons on scaling from a start-up to a global company with over a hundred thousand customers.

Big or small, all businesses have one goal: growth. With the close of its recent Series A investment round netting a total consideration of over $13 million, Lytica is certainly on the right track. An Ottawa-based company, Lytica is armed with the data, insight, and analysis its customers need to improve procurement and build a reliable supply chain. President & CEO Martin Sendyk joins host Manjula Selvarajah on the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality and shares how Lytica became the world’s only provider of electronic component spend analytics and risk intelligence using real customer data.

From Season 8: Time for a coffee break! The latest episode of Invested in our New Reality is now live and this one is for coffee lovers. On this episode, Host Karla Briones interviews Muna Mohammed the founder of Ottawa’s Eight50 Coffee, a local coffee supplier who provides responsibly sourced, locally roasted coffee from around the world, right here in the capital city.

From Season 7: Tooting Canada’s horn within the international business community is a big job. Luckily, Niloo Boroun, Executive Director of the Consider Canada City Alliance, is here to do it, and do it well. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh talks to Boroun about her work overseeing the CCCA and positioning Canada as the country of choice for global companies looking for a North American outlet.

From Season 6: Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh chats with Nick Quain, Vice President of Venture Development at Invest Ottawa, where he leads all programming and support for start-up, early stage and scaling companies. Previously, Nick was co-founder and CEO at CellWand, a company which pioneered the use of abbreviated dialing codes in North America. Tune in to hear Nick talk about why he’s committed to supporting Ottawa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

From Season 6: Kirsi Maharaj is the Manager of People at Rewind, a company that builds apps that protect critical SaaS and cloud data. Kirsi joins Shavonne on the podcast to chat about the growing importance of human resources in the modern world, and how companies can strategically adapt to the future of work to cultivate increased mental and physical wellbeing of employees as well as foster equitable and inclusive internal work cultures.

From Season 6: Don Liberty, GM at You.i TV (now WarnerMedia Ottawa), joins the podcast to chat about the company’s growth and what it means for the future of streaming. You.i TV, now WarnerMedia Ottawa, is an Ottawa-based technology company that prides itself on helping media companies build better streaming apps and enhance user experience. Having recently been acquired by WarnerMedia Ottawa, Don chats about the company’s transition and what the acquisition means for the future of WarnerMedia Ottawa and the streaming industry.

From Season 5: Mathias Ganzmann, Vice President of Manufacturing with Siemens Healthineers, talks about the company's planned expansion of its Ottawa, Ontario manufacturing facility. He explains what makes Ottawa the ideal place for such an expansion, what it will mean for the company and the local economy, as well as his hopes that some effects of the pandemic continue on in the future.

From Season 2: Ellie Ardakani, accomplished geoscience advisor and award-wining energy-tech entrepreneur, talks about disruption. How her company is disrupting the way the oil and gas sector uses data, how the pandemic disrupted the company's path, and how she is tackling the realities of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and an immigrant facing systemic bias.

First up on our Best of Invested in Our New Reality series: Andrea Winter, VP, People at Martello Technologies. In this episode she talks about the critical role of HR departments during a crisis such as COVID-19 and how organizations can put the "human" back in Human Resources.

Canada might not be ready for the mobile banking services offered by Dunia Payment, but it’s the perfect place to build the company behind them. Jean Nabolle, co-founder, CCO & CFO at Dunia, joins host Karla Briones to talk about the company’s innovative fintech, designed for Africa’s booming digital generation. The company’s mobile wallet lets users send and receive money, pay in stores with a simple QR Code, pay their bills, and more. Tune in to find out how it works and how the startup was born in Ottawa.

Decarbonizing the concrete jungle is a big job and, luckily, one Ottawa-based company is up for the challenge. On the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Karla Briones interviews Pouria Ghods, the Co-Founder & CEO of Giatec Scientific. The company is working to bring disruptive, knowledge-based, and sustainable technologies to the concrete industry by identifying current challenges in testing and design and developing innovative solutions.

Good advice is a great business. On the latest episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Karla Briones interviews Lissa Appiah, a second-generation Canadian and founder of WeApply. WeApply is a consulting business that helps talented professionals increase their marketability and visibility through career coaching and workshop facilitation.

A good idea is a nice thing to have. A great idea? That’s a business. On the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Karla Briones interviews Shanaz Sigouin, the Co-Founder and Chief Administrative Officer of AirShare Inc., a local company that designs and manufactures drone interceptors and control systems to detect, track and safely mitigate wayward or malicious drones.

Time for a coffee break! The latest episode of Invested in our New Reality is now live and this one is for coffee lovers. On this episode, Host Karla Briones interviews Muna Mohammed the founder of Ottawa’s Eight50 Coffee, a local coffee supplier who provides responsibly sourced, locally roasted coffee from around the world, right here in the capital city.

Mixing social good with good business sense? Yes, please. On the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Karla Briones interviews Dr. Diana Gimba, the Principal Partner and CEO of iRadar, an Ottawa-based data company fusing immigration and technology. Listen and discover how iRadar is improving service access by developing an immigration marketplace where newcomers can search for, and safely connect with, everything they need to resettle quickly and easily.

Electric vehicles are the way of the future, and you’ll be all charged up after listening to GBatteries CEO Kostya Khomutov – who joins Karla Briones’ on the next episode of Invested in Our New Reality. Khomutov, who co-founded GBatteries, brings over 15 years of experience in the global technology sector. He with Karla about the innovations which are powering GBatteries success, as well as his commitment to Ukraine to Canada, the new charity he co-founded to support those fleeing warn in his homeland of Ukraine.

Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh is joined by serial entrepreneur Karla Briones as the host baton is passed in Hasfal-McIntosh’s final episode of Invested in Our New Reality. The Season 8 opener introduces Briones, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the podcast as a graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program, owner of multiple Ottawa-based businesses, and an Invest Ottawa independent business advisor. Invested in Our New Reality’s new host also brings a fresh, unique prospective as a first-generation Mexican-Canadian immigrant.

On the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh sat down with Genna Elvin, Co-founder and Chief Tada Officer of Tadaweb, to discuss the origin of this innovative tech company and its journey to becoming a global business with four offices in cities around the world, including Ottawa.

Ottawa is a city with a reputation – and that’s a good thing. On the latest episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh interviews Darrell Wellington, Senior Vice President at Syntronic: A Global Design House. In a short but sweet conversation, they discuss why this Swedish company is flourishing in Canada, and why so many technology companies and innovators are flocking to Ottawa.

The sky is not the limit for Thales Canada. On the latest episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh welcomes Cara Salci to the podcast. Salci is the Vice President, Strategy and Government Relations at Thales Canada, and she offers a first-hand account of why Thales loves Ottawa, and Canada, and how their new ventures are making a difference right here at home, and around the world.

2G, 3G, 4G, 5G: Parallel Wireless offers it all, part and parcel. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh welcomes Maxime Dumas to the podcast. As General Manager of Parallel Wireless Canada, Dumas is overseeing the company’s expansion into Canada and is happy to talk about how much he and the rest of the company love Ottawa, and their ambitious plans for the future of wireless telecommunications.

Tooting Canada’s horn within the international business community is a big job. Luckily, Niloo Boroun, Executive Director of the Consider Canada City Alliance, is here to do it, and do it well. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh talks to Boroun about her work overseeing the CCCA and positioning Canada as the country of choice for global companies looking for a North American outlet.

Italy comes to Canada on the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality. Host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh welcomes Francesco Norante to the podcast. Norante is the President and Chairman of the Board of Leonardo Canada, a position he took over in 2018 after nine years with the company. Listen in as he offers a detailed account of the work his company is doing throughout Canada, and the world, and what they have on deck.

On this episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh talks to Kari Simpson, Vice President of Product Management and Strategy, Contact Centre Products at Upland Software. Simpson-Anderson gives a first-hand account of the growth strategy InGenius Software employed leading up to their 26.4-million-dollar acquisition by Upland Software.

We’re back! Season 7 of the Invested in Our New Reality podcast kicks off with Jens-Michael Schaal, the Vice-President of Global Expansion for Invest Ottawa. Find out why Ottawa is such an attractive city for growing global companies. Schaal outlines the city’s key industries and benefits and introduces the newly launched online resource whyottawa.ca.

To close out Season Six of Invested in Our New Reality, Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh chats with Aydin Mirzaee, CEO and co-founder of the Ottawa-based company Fellow. Fellow has created a tool designed to revolutionize meetings which recently secured $24M US in series-A funding and was also selected as one of the city’s top employers. Aydin joins the podcast to talk about the company’s remarkable success and its big plans for the future.

Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh chats with Nick Quain, Vice President of Venture Development at Invest Ottawa, where he leads all programming and support for start-up, early stage and scaling companies. Previously, Nick was co-founder and CEO at CellWand, a company which pioneered the use of abbreviated dialing codes in North America. Tune in to hear Nick talk about why he’s committed to supporting Ottawa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Alida Burke is the Co-Founder of Growcer, a company that sells plug-and-play hydroponic systems that grow fresh produce year-round in any climate, with a focus on schools, universities, non-profits, and northern and Indigenous communities. COVID-19 has affected many things, including our relationship to food. Alida joins the podcast to chat about how Growcer is helping communities rebuild and re-think their local food supply.

Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh chats with Tunch Akkaya, an entrepreneur and former University of Ottawa Gee-Gees football player who runs his own innovative sports software company called GameStrat. Tunch shares how his software helps coaches around the world improve their team and player performance in real time and how they’re revolutionizing the use of video for coaches and their players.

Kirsi Maharaj is the Manager of People at Rewind, a company that builds apps that protect critical SaaS and cloud data. Kirsi joins Shavonne on the podcast to chat about the growing importance of human resources in the modern world, and how companies can strategically adapt to the future of work to cultivate increased mental and physical wellbeing of employees as well as foster equitable and inclusive internal work cultures.

Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah is the Executive Director at the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity (CCGSD), a national 2SLBTQ+ organization that focuses on empowering gender and sexually diverse people through education, research, and advocacy. Debbie joins Shavonne on the podcast to chat about how Ottawa’s business community can create truly progressive, inclusive, and equitable workplaces that make our broader community better for everyone.

Don Liberty, GM at You.i TV (now WarnerMedia Ottawa), joins the podcast to chat about the company’s growth and what it means for the future of streaming. You.i TV, now WarnerMedia Ottawa, is an Ottawa-based technology company that prides itself on helping media companies build better streaming apps and enhance user experience. Having recently been acquired by WarnerMedia Ottawa, Don chats about the company’s transition and what the acquisition means for the future of WarnerMedia Ottawa and the streaming industry.

We’re turning the tables on our hardworking host, Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh, for an extra special episode. Michael Tremblay, the President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, takes the mic for a one-on-one interview with Shavonne herself. We look back at the many Invested in Our New Reality milestones and guest highlights since its inception.

Mathias Ganzmann, Vice President of Manufacturing with Siemens Healthineers, talks about the company's planned expansion of its Ottawa, Ontario manufacturing facility. He explains what makes Ottawa the ideal place for such an expansion, what it will mean for the company and the local economy, as well as his hopes that some effects of the pandemic continue on in the future.

Lisa Aucoin is the CEO of Spring: Cheer, Dance & Tumbling an international instructional cheerleading company and choreography business. In this episode Lisa tells listeners about how her business’s transition to digital and adoption of creative and practical solutions helped them leap forward during COVID-19.

Hoppier, began in 2016 as a platform to provide healthy snacks to workplaces across North America but recently Hoppier reinvented its business model to account for unexpected changes in consumer behaviour brought on by COVID-19. In this episode Hoppier CEO, Cassy Aite, joins the podcast to chat about how his business was able to adapt during these unprecedented times.

This week’s guest is taking food delivery to the next level, literally. Mohammad Abu-Shaaban is the Technical Lead at JAMZ Drone Delivery, a food delivery service which aims to provide high-frequency fully autonomous delivery via drone drop off. In this episode Mohammad chats about how he will be working with Area X.O to test and validate the company’s very first 21st century solution.

Julie MacDonell is the Co-Founder and CEO of Heirlume, an online self-serve trademark search and registration service that prides itself on being “better than the best lawyer.” In this episode Julie shares her advice for underrepresented entrepreneurs, chats about her experience as a business owner, and provides advice on how to navigate the red tape when it comes to business.

In this episode Alexander Schmidt, VP of Marketing at the Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN), tells listeners about the strategy at the core of CBN’s almost 125 years of success. From global online immigration systems to lottery tickets, CBN is a leader in creating functional and customer-centric IT solutions.

Jessica Lim, Owner of Hippie Mylk, started her business to fulfill a personal need. Living with severe allergies, Lim was struggling to find a plant-based milk alternative that aligned with her dietary restrictions. This led Lim to develop Hippie Mylk, which prides itself on being all-natural, locally made, and free from carrageenan, fillers, and synthetic additives. On this episode, Lim walks us through her Hippie Mylk journey, tells listeners about her experience going digital in the Digital Main Street program, and how customers can support small even when economically strapped.

Manny Otero, CTO at Turnstone Biologics, uses innovation and science to develop practical and pragmatic clinical research that results in breakthrough cancer technology. In this episode Otero tells listeners about the up-and-coming biopharmaceutical industry in Ottawa and makes the case for fostering biotechnology hubs in a growing tech city.

Dimple Thomas, Engineering Manager at Ericcson, discusses the importance of empathy, diversity, and inclusion when it comes to new tech.

David Bell, Author of Location Is (Still) Everything and Co-Founder of Idea Farm Ventures, breaks down the three crucial steps for future proofing any business. COVID-19 has meant more consumers are online and in turn more businesses are developing an online presence, but Bell explains why it’s often still critical to maintain a physical presence for consumers.

Access to capital is a major hurdle for female entrepreneurs. Capital Angel Network Chair and SheBoot Co-Founder, Jennifer Francis, is using her lifetime of expertise in STEM to help other women access the mentorship and funding they need to succeed. In this episode, she talks about SheBoot, an Ottawa-based 6-week entrepreneur bootcamp, that helps more women access the tools, network, and knowledge they need to pitch their businesses successfully.

Brad Rollo is the CEO and Co-Founder of GoFor an Ottawa-based company that helps North American businesses of all sizes get their products into the hands of customers faster. GoFor delivers any package — no matter the size — locally within three hours. In addition to their speedy services, GoFor has also recently announced that they will be providing delivery services for COVID-19 vaccines across North America. Simply put, GoFor is making waves in the delivery industry and they’ve got the numbers to prove it, this year alone GoFor saw a 500% growth in revenue. In this episode, Brad Rollo gives listeners the inside scoop on the company’s success.

Founder Gym is the first online training program designed specifically to help underrepresented tech start-up founders raise money to scale their start-ups. Founder, Mandela SH Dixon is paving the way for underrepresented business owners to find a path to success through advisement and expertise. In this episode we find out how Mandela has created a community where ALL entrepreneurs can thrive.

Naomi Haile, intrapreneur, QuakeLab consultant, and host of ‘The Power of Why’ podcast talks about what she has learned about impact and intention and how they play into a sense of fulfillment and a path to success.

Roger Eacock, CEO of Spartan Bioscience talks about Spartan's remarkable hand-held COVID-19 rapid testing technology. Spartan recently received authorization from Health Canada for their made-in-Canada solution but the journey wasn't always easy. Eacock takes us through their story and walks us through the ins and outs of rapid testing.

The pandemic has impacted all of us but for racialized and marginalized communities the adverse effects of COVID-19 have been disproportionate. As a result, there has been an increased focus on championing and supporting diverse businesses and entrepreneurs. Kevin Bourne, Chief Executive Officer at SHIFTER Magazine and well-known PR and marketing whiz, seeks to bridge the business barriers that many members of the Black community face — specifically Black artists struggling to navigate the industry — by advising and providing them with a platform to market music, draft content, and build their business. Kevin’s story is one of leadership, talent, and dedication.

Focal Ottawa is a student-led initiative dedicated to promoting and supporting local Ottawa businesses. By now we all know too well how COVID-19 has adversely impacted small businesses throughout the Ottawa community. While Ottawans across the city are working diligently to support the businesses they love most, a group of students took it upon themselves to create awareness about local businesses and amplify their message using web traffic. Steve Georgopoulos sits down with Shavonne Hasfal-Mcintosh to explain how the initiative was born, and discuss the role that leadership, education, and inspiration play in bringing small businesses back into focus.

Mark Kaluski, Chair of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA), talks about the challenges small businesses have faced since the pandemic began, and how critical the shift to digital is for survival. He explains why some government programs are too complicated for business owners to consider, and others are met with skepticism. Digital Main Street, he explains, is the real deal which is why he's decided to become an ambassador and champion the program.

Breaking into the food and beverage industry is difficult during the best of times. With the added challenges of COVID-19, it can prove to be exceptionally more difficult. Despite these challenges, Marie Pierre Faye has adapted her beverage business, Faye Beverage, swiftly to successfully continue serving customers the exotic flavours of hibiscus flowers and fresh fruits from West Africa. Thanks to a strengthened digital strategy and a passion for sharing all that her West African culture has to offer, Marie has managed to build a successful and delicious juice business. Marie’s story is one of adaptability, courage, and enthusiasm.

Since the pandemic, home improvements and renovations have been booming. In this episode of Invested Pod, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh speaks to Justin Assaly of PerfectPRO Painters about how the Digital Main Street program helped enhance their online presence and streamline their digital assets to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic and beyond.

As a relatively new entrepreneur, Good Eats Cafe owner Karen Marcotte has learned a few things in a short amount of time. Leaving a stable career in mechanical engineering to take a chance on a café, she knows all about risks. Having faced many challenges which forced her to shift her business model before the pandemic, she's now navigating her business through COVID-19, Karen’s story is one of resilience, staying creative and embracing change.

If there’s one thing entrepreneur Resa Soloman-St. Lewis has taken away from 2020, it’s that nothing is guaranteed and you have to be ready to adapt to change. Learn more about how she pivoted her popular Ottawa restaurants Baccanalle and Capital Fare Café over the course of this pandemic and why she became a Digital Main Street Ambassador

Season 3 of Invested in Our New Reality will focus on Digital Main Street, a new program to help businesses reach new customers, build or improve their website, create a marketing campaign, and find innovative ways to boost revenue - all at no cost to the business owner. It's Invest Ottawa as well as the provincial and federal governments' ways to help businesses make it through these difficult times. In our first episode, Paula Hopkins explains more about the program and what it can do for entrepreneurs.

Invest Ottawa President & CEO, Michael Tremblay, joins Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh to talk about Area X.O, Ottawa's futureplex of innovation and collaboration. Find out how the facility will help Canadian SME's and attract multinationals to our region as well as drive the development of future tech.

She's an interviewer, impact investor, and resilience educator. In this episode, Komal Minhas talks about how she has grown in the face of adversity caused by the pandemic, lessons learned through the people she interviews, and offers concrete advice for women looking to start their own business.

With so many workers shifting to a work from home model, digital transformation during COVID-19 put networks to the test. Gigamon, a worldwide leader in network visibility, analytics, threat detection and response, is helping companies and organizations respond. President and COO, Shane Buckley, talks to Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh about how COVID-19 has affected Gigamon's business and explains why the company is expanding its international footprint into Ottawa with a new R & D centre.

Jeff Baxter, President & CEO of VBI Vaccines talks about research being done in Ottawa toward the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, and how companies and governments around the world are working together in unprecedented ways as the world anxiously waits.

Ellie Ardakani, accomplished geoscience advisor and award-wining energy-tech entrepreneur, talks about disruption. How her company is disrupting the way the oil and gas sector uses data, how the pandemic disrupted the company's path, and how she is tackling the realities of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and an immigrant facing systemic bias.

Erin Kelly, CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc., talks about how market research changed during the pandemic, how her company is disrupting the way it's done, and how entrepreneurs can use the insights they have to decide when to stay the course and when to pivot.

The Royal Canadian Navy has existed for over 100 years, but technology and innovation remain integral to its survival – and to the safety and security of the people who serve in it. In this episode, Shav is joined by Lieutenant Commander John Faurbo to discuss collaboration and modernization in one of Canada’s most venerable institutions.

Ashleigh Kennedy, founder and CEO of Neurovine talks about concussions and how her technology aims to empower concussion patients by measuring brain health and optimizing their recovery process.

Howie Kahn is a best-selling author, journalist and successful podcaster focussed on the food industry. He talks restaurant re-invention & re-opening on the latest episode of Invest Ottawa’s popular new podcast Investing In Our New Reality.”

sweatcrew CEO Russell Coltess talks about adapting his business model through COVID-19, his experiences as a black business leader, and what has to happen to truly move the needle on racial bias and diversity in the workplace

Cynthia Labelle, Vice President Of Engineering at Syntronic R&D Canada talks about the challenges of doing R&D during a pandemic, and the key to successful communications during a crisis.

Andrea Winter, VP, People at Martello Technologies talks about the critical role of HR departments during a crisis such as COVID-19 and how organizations can put the "human" back in Human Resources.

Sheena Brady, Founder and CEO of Tease Tea talks about her business journey, how COVID-19 affects women entrepreneurs, and what companies should focus on now to ensure they can thrive post-pandemic.

Laura Mindorff, COO of Wicket and industrial, talks about the impact of COVID-19 on her companies, and what new approaches being taken now are here to stay post-pandemic.

An honest discussion with Derick Cotnam, owner of My Catering Group, about how COVID-19 has affected his business and how he plans to ramp back up when he's able.

Shavone Hasfal-McIntosh talks to TryCycle's VP of Operations, Kelly Gregoire, about how the company is helping doctors, therapists, and clinicians reach people in treatment for addiction, substance use, mental illness, depression or trauma through this pandemic.

Invest Ottawa's President and CEO talks about how Ottawa businesses are evolving in the face of the new realities brought on by COVID-19 pandemic.