Founder Journey

Episode Notes In this episode, Ray Walia interviews Ali Tajskandar, the founder and CEO of Wishpond. Wishpond is a marketing tech company that specializes in helping small businesses thrive in the online marketing realm. Tajskandar discusses the challenges faced by small businesses and how Wishpond's comprehensive marketing platform bridges the gap by providing essential tools for effective online marketing. Learn how Wishpond empowers small businesses with features like attracting new customers, nurturing leads, managing customer relationships, and tracking campaign effectiveness. Discover how Wishpond adapts to industry changes and supports small businesses in navigating the online marketing landscape. Join us for insights and inspiration on how small businesses can achieve success with Wishpond's powerful marketing platform. Learn more about us at launchacademy.ca Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Episode Notes Dive into "Founder Journey" with host Ray Walia, as we traverse the entrepreneurial terrains of diverse markets. This episode spotlights Tosin Ogunyemi from "Pay My Rent", a platform that's reshaping the way Nigerians save for their annual rent. Learn how this solution, birthed from unique African challenges, is now navigating the Canadian mortgage environment. Plus, get insights into the nuances of managing a global remote team amidst cultural shifts. If you're intrigued by how startups pivot, adapt, and thrive across continents, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Learn more about PayMyRent here: https://paymyrenthq.com/ Learn more about Launch Academy: launchacademy.ca Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Episode Notes Join Ray Walia as he embarks on a captivating exploration of Syed Ahmed's transformative journey from a fresh-faced entrepreneur to the driving force behind OnTraccr, a game-changing proptech startup. In this episode, Syed candidly recounts the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that have marked his path, shedding light on the resilience and adaptability required to pivot a business based on customer needs. Beyond the tech, it's a deep dive into the heart and soul of entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of mental well-being, community support, and the relentless pursuit of innovation. Whether you're an aspiring founder, a seasoned business veteran, or simply intrigued by the stories behind startups, this episode offers a unique blend of personal narrative and industry insights, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards of the founder's journey. Learn more about how you get can involved with Launch Academy by going to launchacademy.ca Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Join us in this eye-opening episode of 'Founder Journey,' where we explore the cutting-edge world of hyperspectral imaging and delve into the highs and lows of being a founder with Francis Doumet, CEO of Metaspectral. From the exciting advancements in technology, including 100 times more information collection than conventional cameras, to the real-life challenges faced by entrepreneurs, this episode offers a holistic view. Learn about Metaspectral's significant impact on recycling, space exploration, and even naval technology, while also uncovering the personal tactics that help founders endure the rollercoaster of startup life. Doumet shares insights into the advantages and challenges of having a co-founder, the importance of passion, maintaining sanity, avoiding burnout, and how to find joy in the ups and triumph over the downs. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the real journey of building a company. Learn more about us at launchacademy.ca Metaspectral #HyperspectralImaging #Recycling #SpaceExploration #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #AI #Technology #Innovation #NASA #FounderJourney #CoFounderChallenges #PostPandemicCulture #NavyTechnology #HighsAndLowsOfBeingAFounder Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Episode Notes Join Cecelia Zhou, co-founder of ICTUS Audio, as she shares her remarkable journey of building ICTUS Audio, a dynamic production house and education center. Discover how Cecelia and her co-founders navigated challenges as friends and co-founders, establishing a strong corporate structure and implementing efficient systems. Gain insights into the world of corporate governance, legal documents, and financial management. Explore the exciting realm of XR (Extended Reality) technology and its impact on the sound design and music industry. Dive into discussions on AI in music and education, emphasizing the fusion of human creativity and technological advancements. Tune in for invaluable advice on effective communication, conflict resolution, and building a strong foundation as a co-founder. Don't miss this insightful episode packed with practical tips and inspiration for entrepreneurs. Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Join us on the Founder Journey podcast as we delve into the entrepreneurial journey of Manny Bahia, co-founder of the successful media company, Daily Hive. Starting as a humble blog, Vancity Buzz, in 2008, Daily Hive has since expanded across multiple Canadian cities, attracting millions of unique visitors and page views each month. In this engaging conversation with Ray Walia, CEO of Launch Ventures, Manny shares insights into the evolving media landscape, including the pivotal role of platforms like Instagram and TikTok in news distribution. They also tackle the pressing challenges of misinformation, underscoring the critical need for accuracy and fact-checking in today's fast-paced media world. Tune in to learn about the transformation of Daily Hive into a thriving media powerhouse and gain valuable insights from Manny's inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss out on this enlightening episode! Tune in to “Founder Journey” Season 4 for invaluable insights, actionable advice, and inspiring stories from exceptional founders who dared to dream big and create innovative solutions. Don’t miss this captivating episode that sets the tone for an incredible season of “Founder Journey.” Embark on an enlightening and empowering entrepreneurial adventure today! Check out Daily Hive: https://dailyhive.com/ Check out more episodes of Founder Journey here: https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Follow us on all out socials: https://linkin.bio/launch-vc Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Episode Notes Join Sam Chan, VP of Programs at Launch, as he hosts an enlightening episode of Founder Journey. In this episode, Sam is joined by the innovative team behind Defang, including CEO Lio Lunesu, Antoine Cote, and Prakash Sundaresan. Listen as they delve into their diverse experiences working at tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, and how these experiences have shaped their approach to business. Discover how Defang is revolutionizing the startup landscape by creating a platform that simplifies product development at scale, making services more resilient, affordable, and user-friendly. Learn about the unique challenges and rewards of transitioning from builders in large corporations to startup founders. Get inspired by Defang’s mission to empower small teams to build products at scale, akin to Facebook or Twitter. Gain insights from their journey in the tech startup landscape, the importance of team diversity, and their genuine interest in problem-solving. Also, get a sneak peek into Vancouver’s thriving tech ecosystem and Defang’s upcoming project set for release in 2023. Tune in to this episode of Founder Journey for a deep dive into the world of tech startups and the journeys of the folks behind them! Check out Defang here: https://defang.io/ Tune in to “Founder Journey” Season 4 for invaluable insights, actionable advice, and inspiring stories from exceptional founders who dared to dream big and create innovative solutions. Don’t miss this captivating episode that sets the tone for an incredible season of “Founder Journey.” Embark on an enlightening and empowering entrepreneurial adventure today! Check out more episodes of Founder Journey here: https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Follow us on all out socials: https://linkin.bio/launch-vc Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

Episode Notes Welcome to Season 4 of “Founder Journey,” the podcast that uncovers the hidden aspects of startup founders’ unique journeys. In this enlightening first episode of Season 4, join host Ray Walia, CEO of Launch Ventures, as he engages in an insightful conversation with Josh Lopour, Co-Founder of EveryState, to unravel the remarkable journey of a visionary entrepreneur. From television to the tech industry, Josh’s diverse background shaped his entrepreneurial path. Explore his experiences with PixSpree, a startup that overcame challenges and discovered a breakthrough in real estate through Facebook apps. Discover how they realized the untapped potential of their real estate data management infrastructure, exceeding the value of the app itself. Listen to the pivotal moments when Josh and his team identified an unmet market need during real estate conferences, leading to a successful business model pivot and eventual sale of their company to Zillow. Then, discover how EveryState leverages data to assist clients in identifying properties of interest at a national scale. Ray and Josh also dive into the challenging world of marketing, revealing strategies for companies to stand out and thrive in a fast-paced, competitive landscape. Prepare to be inspired as Josh’s entrepreneurial journey unfolds, shaped by his industry experiences and his ability to address pain points. Tune in to “Founder Journey” Season 4 for invaluable insights, actionable advice, and inspiring stories from exceptional founders who dared to dream big and create innovative solutions. Don’t miss this captivating episode that sets the tone for an incredible season of “Founder Journey.” Embark on an enlightening and empowering entrepreneurial adventure today! Check out more episodes of Founder Journey here: https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Follow us on all out socials: https://linkin.bio/launch-vc Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-cc5b6f for 40% off for 4 months, and support Founder Journey .

This episode of the Founder Journey features Igor Debatur, Launch member and Uploadcare’s Co-Founder & CEO. The company helps engineering teams to launch new products faster and remove annoying loading times for websites and apps. In the episode, Igor shares how they started to build a solution for their web development agency and then commercialized it for others, how the idea of scaling and finding people with similar mindsets brought them to Vancouver through the Start-up Visa Program, and why focus is the mantra of entrepreneurs. Connect with Igor Debatur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debatur/ Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/ Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

This episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Joanne Chang, Co-Founder at PicCollage. PicCollage is a creativity app that allows 200+ million users around the world to create fun and playful designs combining photos, text, drawings, and stickers. In the episode, Joanne shares what mindset shift is required when you become a founder, which ups and downs you experience while building a startup, and what makes a perfect founding team. Connect with Joanne Chang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjobear/ Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/ Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

This episode of the Founder Journey features Anjani Duddukuru and Rachana Kapadia, Co-Founders of Suppliers Cave, the online platform that connects suppliers and buyers of industrial products and services. The company helps contractors and stockists liquidate surplus material, rent equipment and machinery, whereas suppliers can improve their online presence. In the episode, Anjani and Rachana talk about how they have shifted from the corporate to the startup world and have dealt with black swan events, why meditation is a powerful tool for founders, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur in Dubai. Connect with Anjani Duddukuru and Rachana Kapadia:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjani-duddukuru/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachana-kapadia/ Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/ Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

This episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Hani Abu Ghazaleh, Co-Founder & CEO of Mental VR. Mental VR is a software company specialized in creating immersive & engaging VR experiences for education, training and entertainment. It is headquartered in the UAE with a core technology studio in Montreal, Canada. In the episode, Hani shares how his company adopted VR for the energy sector and helped the clients save money on training, what he gained from a study at Vancouver Film School, and why UAE is the right place for building an innovation business. Connect with Hani Abu Ghazaleh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hani-abu-ghazaleh-7774bb Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/ Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

This episode of the Founder Journey features Matt Bailey, Founder & CEO of GameOn. The company started as a B2C free-to-play prediction app with 20-30k monthly users. After having lost almost all of them due to COVID, GameOn has successfully transitioned to a B2B game technology company and gone public. In the episode, Matt shares how he coped with the ups and downs in business, what made him leave Australia for the US, and why Miami is the place to be. Find Matt Bailey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gameonmatt/ Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/ Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

This episode of the Founder Journey features Alejandro Martinez, Administrative Manager at Parvada Cowork & Co, a coworking space in one of the biggest tech hubs in Mexico, Monterrey. In this episode, Alejandro talks about the benefits of coworking spaces for entrepreneurs, the latest startup trends in Monterrey, popular tech sectors, and exciting local startups to keep an eye on. Find Alejandro Martinez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexjmtz/ Learn more about Parvada Cowork & Co: https://parvada.work/ Episode brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.launchacademy.ca/ Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

This episode of the Founder Journey podcast features one of Launch's own Maple companies, Local Adventures! Local Adventure is a travel tech company based in Guadalajara, Mexico. In this podcast cofounders Daniel Peña, Moisés Vera and Sebastián Rodríguez talk about their love for adventure travel and how that converted into building a successful company. They also share their unique approach to how they successfully navigated through tough times during the pandemic when the entire travel industry came to a standstill.  LinkedIn: Daniel Peña Zepeda, Moisés Vera and Sebastián Rodríguez Romero. Episode brought to you by:  Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.  Launch Academy: One of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.LaunchAcademy.ca Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

The 2nd episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Ytzia Belausteguigoitia, Co-founder and CEO of Troquer, a digitally native, omnichannel luxury re-sale platform in Mexico that has developed and inspired the Latam market into adopting a circular and sustainable consumption model.  In this episode, Ytzia talks about the 'circular economy', sustainability, opportunities and challenges of doing business in Latin America and much more.  Find Ytzia Belausteguigoitia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytziabelausteguigoitia/   Episode brought to you by:  Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in.  Launch Academy: One of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.LaunchAcademy.ca Find out more at https://founder-journeys-by-launch-vc.pinecast.co

Hosted by Ray Walia, CEO Launch Ventures and Launch Academy, this episode of the Founder Journey podcast features Alejandro Gonzalez, Managing Partner at Redwood Ventures from Guadalajara Mexico. At Redwood Ventures, Alejandro Gonzalez focuses on portfolio and investment strategy, leveraging his experience as an entrepreneur, investment banker and angel investor. With a degree in finance and administration, Alejandro is certified as an investment strategy advisor by the Mexican Investment Association and for trading derivatives by the Chicago Stock Exchange. He is the founder of Cosechando, an NGO that promotes entrepreneurship in young people and is an active promoter of educational and disability care NGOs. In this episode, Alejandro talks about his journey in building a venture fund from scratch and the challenges of bringing high net worth individuals out of the woodworks in Mexico and getting them to invest aggressively in tech. Connect with Alejandro Gonzalez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-redwood/ The episode is brought to you by: Launch Ventures: Launch Ventures owns and operates a network of proprietary accelerators, innovation labs, and investment funds positioned to identify entrepreneurs and technologies that will transform the world we live in. Launch Academy: One of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://www.LaunchAcademy.ca

Malte Bucken caps off Founder Journey Series Season 2! Malte discusses building a company with a distributed work force, challenges before the pandemic and his entrepreneurial journey with Tripcombi, a travel metasearch engine!

Turgay Birand is the CEO and Co-founder of Edition Guard, a secure eBook sales platform. They are also a Launch Academy startup visa success story! Turgay is an international entrepreneur who now calls Canada home. In this episode we discuss the misconceptions and advantages of bootstrapping your business, and the culture of hustle porn and how it contradicts the goal of being your own boss as a founder.

Henry Bee is the CEO and Co-founder of CoPilot AI. CoPilot AI makes it easy to find and engage with high value leads using LinkedIn. Henry discusses the struggles and frustrations when things just don't seem to be working out. He also discusses the opportunity to pivot and how to navigate that.