The crew is back around the table to unpack the AI tidal wave reshaping how companies are built, funded, and run. Eleonore, Nectar, Ian, and Gabriel dig into Shopify's AI-first memo, Jack Dorsey's bet at Block, and what "AI-native" actually means when every company claims the label.

From there: the once-in-a-generation opportunity hiding inside Quebec's 16,000 annual SMB successions, why the future may belong to the trades as much as the technologists, and whether the classroom can survive a tool that's smarter, more patient, and more personalized than any teacher.

Then the gloves come off on Canadian venture: should the federal $750M tech envelope go to growth or early stage? Why raising your seed from a US fund quietly exports the company. And the brutal stat nobody's talking about, emerging manager funding in Canada collapsing from $1.8B to $249M in a single year.

Plus: who's switching from ChatGPT to Claude, why Notion is becoming the OS of the firm, and a few predictions that may not age well by the time you press play.

Tech Poutine is back and so is the energy.

The Tech Poutine crew is back for the first episode of the year. Recorded straight from the Startup Fest studio , Eleonore, Ian, Gabriel, and I dive into the rapidly shifting landscape of venture capital and the local tech ecosystem. The market is moving incredibly fast, and we break down the most exciting, and terrifying, trends hitting the industry right now.

• Stay22's Massive Win: We kick things off with a massive shoutout to Andrew and Hamed from Stay22 on their $122 million raise led by Summit Partners. We discuss their incredible grit through multiple near-bankruptcies , how they navigated revenue going to zero during COVID , and the legendary story of Hamed pitching Dave McClure in a taxi.

• Is SaaS Dead? We explore the dramatic shift away from the traditional SaaS playbook. The crew analyzes how public markets are repricing software companies with shrinking multiples , while AI-native foundational models are commanding massive valuations based on incredibly high revenue per head.

• 10x Engineering & The End of Backlogs: AI tools are sending developer productivity through the roof, allowing tiny engineering teams to do the work of much larger traditional teams. We share real-world stories of engineers coding features from their phones while on vacation in Japan and AI product managers automatically generating backlogs by listening to meetings and reading Slack.

Mila Ventures & Canada's Opportunity: Gabriel shares the inside scoop from his new office at Mila, detailing the announcement of Mila Ventures' new fund and the return of a highly entrepreneurial buzz to the ecosystem. We close out with a call for the Canadian ecosystem to abandon its conservative tendencies and move fast to capitalize on this once-in-a-lifetime tech cycle.

In this episode, the team reunites to discuss the current state of venture capital and the tech industry. The discussion highlights the significant events and reports shaping the industry, including the Web Summit in Vancouver and the CVCA conference in Calgary. The conversation touches on the differences between the Canadian and U.S. markets, drawing parallels to the U.S. market 15 years ago. They delve into the impact of AI on the industry, the evolving landscape of VC funding, and the importance of international capital. Notably, the podcast also honors John Stokes from Real Ventures, who recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting on his contributions and the dynamics of his work with startups. The episode wraps up with optimism about the new generation of founders and the need for the older generation to share insights and resources to foster growth in the ecosystem.

In this episode, the team reunites to discuss the success and impact of the recent North Star event in Montreal. They reflect on the feedback from various attendees, including student founders, experienced entrepreneurs, and VCs. The discussion highlights the unique atmosphere and notable speakers at the event, as well as the need for continued engagement and inspiration within the startup community. The conversation then shifts to broader topics including the evolving dynamics of venture capital, the implications of AI on business models, and the increasing trend of tech entrepreneurs turning to traditional businesses. The episode concludes with thoughts on the importance of strong leadership in times of geopolitical tension and the potential for future tech-focused events in Montreal.

In this North Star panel discussion, Gabriel Sundaram, a co-founder of Attain, hosts successful CEOs and founders to share their entrepreneurial journeys and key strategies for building and scaling startups. Panelists include Andrew from Stay 22, Anna from Dialogue and Coral, Malik from Nesto, and Joanne from PemPem. They discuss the importance of speed, intensity, and obsession in growing a business, the balance between rapid execution and maintaining personal well-being, and the role of mentorship and coaching. The conversation also emphasizes the value of storytelling in media, adapting to market realities, and the significance of teamwork and finding joy in the entrepreneurial journey. The session ends with advice for students on leveraging academic skills in the business world and maintaining a healthy balance while pursuing their passion.

In this engaging talk, Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the significance of passion, necessity, and grit in building successful businesses. He recounts his early ventures, the foundational role of Montreal in his career, and the evolution of Shopify into a global powerhouse. Addressing a room of entrepreneurs and students, Harley emphasizes the importance of knowing one's mission, leveraging technology, and persevering through failures. He also discusses personal growth, the concept of life's work, and the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Montreal. The talk concludes with Harley's perspective on the importance of grit and the belief that entrepreneurship is central to solving problems and creating value.

In this North Star panel discussion, Eleonore Jarry from Brightspark Ventures sat down with student founders. The conversation highlights the experiences of various student founders, their innovative projects, and the challenges they face in the startup ecosystem. Key topics include raising initial funds, the importance of team and mission, navigating the academia-industry transition, pivots and finding product-market fit, and the unique advantages and support systems available to young entrepreneurs. The panelists also engage in practical discussions on retaining talent within Montreal's ecosystem and fostering stronger ties between academic institutions, startups, and the broader venture capital landscape.

The band is back together! Eleonore is back from mat leave and we had the chance to record an episode with Ian Jeffrey and Gabriel Sundaram - all while eating a good poutine. 

We spoke about: 

• How the industry can improve for young moms 

• Stage of early stage in Canada and what it takes to uplevel 

• Latest events & news (Lightspeed, AI startups, Kaufman Fellows)

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Sophie Boulanger, CEO @ 1Valet. Sophie is one of Canada's most innovative and dynamic entrepreneurs. She has 20 years of experience in the strategy, performance, growth and value creation of organizations, brands and retail operations in the consumer goods industry. She's the co-founder of Bonlook which was acquired in 2021. 

On the second day, we spoke with Julie, she is a serial entrepreneur and current venture capital partner at Amiral Ventures. She's the co-founder of Tracktik, an innovative company specialized in optimizing the management of security agencies, she led the company to international success.

We spoke about their respective founder journeys, building companies that exited and the lessons they learned along the way

We have an amazing TechPoutine episode to share with you today. Ian Jeffrey, Gabriel Sundaram and I sat down with Kyle Braatz, co-founder & CEO @ Fullscript.

We spoke about: 

• How Kyle built his business from the ground up to over $1BN in annual revenue servicing 100,000 practitioners and 10 million patients
• How Kyle balanced growth and profitability
• Management principles scaling from 0 to 800 people (culture, board of directors)
• Working with private equity sponsors
• His thoughts on the recent capital gains changes
• Why he joined a group to purchase the Ottawa Senators

Last week, we recorded a TechPoutine podcast from the Somo Lounge at Notman House. We were joined by the magnificent Sophie Forest, Managing Partner at Brightspark Ventures. She graciously stepped in for Eleonore Jarry who is enjoying her mat leave. 

Ian Jeffrey, Gabriel Sundaram and I had the pleasure of asking Sophie a bunch of questions about her thoughts on the latest developments in technology (yes, we spoke about AI), the current fundraising environment, what it takes to succeed as a founder and how more women can get into venture capital.

Ian Jeffrey, Gabriel Sundaram and I had the pleasure of being joined by Mark MacLeod who has sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker since 1999. He served as CFO for software companies including Shopify and Freshbooks. ‍ He was also a General Partner in Real Ventures and founded SurePath Capital Partners. 

Mark is a coach to startup CEOs and was nice enough to share some great advice on the podcast. We spoke about: 

Mark's journey from CFO to investor to coach

Why coaching is important for high level executives just like elite athletes

Being intentional about work-life balance

The notion of intentionality in one's work

The Tech Poutine crew returns with a live episode featuring an engaging discussion on the strengths and challenges of Montreal's tech ecosystem. The episode kicks off with reflections on a networking lunch held at Hotel Neligan, where 20-25 attendees (ranging from LPs to founders) conversed about vital topics like Canadian tech, scalability, AI, converting service businesses to product businesses, and the importance of team dynamics. Key takeaways include the significance of coaching, the unique advantages of Montreal's size and accessibility, and the necessity for the ecosystem to nurture belief and ambition in young founders. The participants emphasize the need for collaboration over competition, celebrating successes, and maintaining connections within the tech community for sustained growth and global competitiveness.

This is a special episode where we discussed the ongoing saga of Notman House and why it's important to keep it in the hands of the community. 

We were joined by Gabriel Lesperance, a serial entrepreneur that benefited greatly from Notman.

He wrote a great op-ed in Le Devoir which we recommend you read. We spoke about: 

• The history of Notman House

• Its pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship and driving innovative breakthroughs in technology

• Notman as a symbol of inspiration for countless startups, providing a dynamic and collaborative environment that sparks creativity and innovation

• The importance of preserving its heritage

This is the last episode of Tech Poutine before Eleonore Jarry's maternity leave! Ian Jeffrey, Gabriel Sundaram and I wished her the best of luck. We also celebrated the occasion by eating some good poutine together. 

On the show,  we spoke about: 

• The promises and risks of AI

• Polarization in media 

• The mission of Techaide and getting together to give back

• Upcoming events in the ecosystem

New episode of TechPoutine with Gabriel Sundaram, Eleonore Jarry and Ian Jeffrey is live! 

On the show, we spoke about: 

• A slew of new funding announcements

• iNovia's discovery program, Luge Capital Fund 2 and Front Row Ventures 

• The trend of solo GP

• Latest innovations of AI and All In conference

TechPoutine with Gabriel Sundaram, Eleonore Jarry, Ian Jeffrey and Nectarios Economakis

On the show, we discuss: 

• Harley moving back to Montreal

• Damien Steel's appointment as the new DeepSky CEO

• Fred Lalonde's keynote about DeepSky (must watch!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Baz2OsoIOPs 

• The impact of Bill C18 on the Canadian media industry

On this episode, Gabriel Sundaram, Eleonore Jarry,  Ian Jeffrey and Nectarios Economakis talk about: 

• Recap of FounderFuel and StartupFest

• Climate Tech and Deep Sky

• Building companies that have a purpose

Canadian Technology news with industry veterans: Eleonore Jarry, Gabriel Sundaram, Ian Jeffrey, Nectarios Economakis

The show is four friends getting together and talking about the Canadian technology ecosystem. We wanted to share an insider's perspective and have some fun while doing it.

On this first episode, we spoke about

• Why we decided to start a new show

• Founderfuel, its founding history and its impact on the ecosystem

• How we can collaborate more and

In this live podcast episode of Tech Poutine, four innovative entrepreneurs from Quebec Tech share their journeys, challenges, and insights. The discussion was held at Ax.c in downtown Montréal, We kicked off with introductions from the hosts and the panel members: Nectarios, Ian, Catherine and Gabriel, and entrepreneurs Marc-Olivier, Laurent, Marc-Antoine, and William. 

They collectively highlight their motivations for starting their companies, the importance of understanding their customers' pain points, and the role of innovative technologies in their respective fields. Marc-Olivier discusses Gaia, a platform aimed at improving telecom operations, while Marc-Antoine shares his journey with Enthnocare, focusing on advanced prosthetics. Laurent from Innodal speaks about biotechnologies in food safety, and William from Mechasys explains their solutions for the construction industry. 

The conversation also addresses the significance of securing funding, the critical role of high-quality talent, and the challenges of navigating regulatory landscapes. The episode concludes with an engaging Q&A session with the audience, where the founders reflect on what Montreal needs to better support its startups.

In this interview, William St-Pierre discusses his innovative business in the field of tech hardware and software, focusing on a laser projector system designed to display construction plans at full scale on job sites. He talks about the challenges of traditional methods, the development process, and the importance of finding the right partners for capital raising. William highlights the difficulties and solutions in adopting new technologies in the construction industry, particularly in overcoming resistance to change. He emphasizes the necessity of perseverance, the importance of good partnerships, and the impact of regional differences on the adoption of their product.

In this episode, Laurent discusses his work in biotechnology, specifically focusing on the development of antimicrobials for food processing to eliminate harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Laurent explains the significance of his innovation in preventing foodborne illnesses and the rigorous regulatory environment they navigated, culminating in approval from Health Canada and the FDA. Laurent outlines the challenges of commercializing biotechnology, the importance of education within the food industry, and the impact of new technologies on food safety. He also shares insights into the evolving landscape of food technology and the future of the industry.

In this interview, Marc-Antoine shares the inspiring story behind his company, which develops advanced medical prosthetics. He explains how the company brings cutting-edge sports, textile, and manufacturing technologies to the traditionally artisanal field of prosthetics. Marc-Antoine delves into the personal motivation behind his work, inspired by his experience with his mother using uncomfortable orthopedic products. He discusses the importance of co-creation with users and healthcare professionals, challenges in commercialization, and the necessity of building a team with the right expertise from the start. The episode highlights his journey from university research to selling thousands of units in 29 countries, emphasizing the mission to enhance the lives of those with amputations.

In this interview, we discover Gaïa, an innovative startup in the telecommunications sector. Marc Olivier discusses their unique approach to service management for telecom companies, offering an integrated platform to optimize operations and improve the user experience. They share their journey, from founding their previous company to creating Gaïa, and how they conquered the US market. The challenges of rapid growth, customer retention, and the company's future ambitions are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of innovation and adaptability in developing technological solutions.

In this special live recording of the Tech Poutine podcast, we welcome John Rikhtegar, Director of Capital at RBCX, to discuss the current state of venture capital and investment in Canada. John shares insights on market cycles, the impact of AI on investments, and the challenges and opportunities facing fund managers and entrepreneurs. 

We explored historical patterns in venture capital, discussed the importance of credibility and early-stage investing, and debated the pros and cons of building startups in today's economic climate. The conversation highlights the potential for technology firms and the future growth of the Canadian tech ecosystem.

In this episode, we spoke with Philip Telio, founder of Startup Fest, about the 15-year anniversary of the renowned event. Phil reflects on the origins of Startup Fest, the transition from smaller events like Startup Camp, and the pivotal moments that have marked the festival's evolution. He shares anecdotes about influential figures like Andy Nulman and events like the elevator pitches and the memorable tornado incident. 

The discussion also covers the importance of community, the introduction of new initiatives like mentor offices, and the festival's enduring impact on the startup ecosystem. The episode concludes with a look at the new startup hub Ax-C and its potential role in fostering innovation in Montreal.