Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009. 

The Entrepreneur: Brett Huneycutt, CPO and co-founder, Wealthsimple

Founded by friends aiming to democratize investing for a new generation of Canadians, Wealthsimple has shown remarkable growth over the past decade with three million users and is arguably already one of the country's top ten financial institutions. Mike and Dan wanted to delve into the product and tech with co-founder Brett Huneycutt, an Oxford graduate and Rhodes Scholar who still isn't certain the company will ever need a brick-and-mortar branch.

Mike also wonders if the US President-elect is bluffing, and Dan shares a story about Canadian brain drain in tech with the sudden departure of chipmaker Tenstorrent; the duo also discuss content marketing and PR amid a chaotic media environment, preview the holiday Movers & Shakers Alum show, and talk about a pivot toward more podcasting and other online content for the new year.

For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.

For more information about Inspiring Entrepreneurs programming in the new year, contact TNKR Media.

Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009. 

The late Harry Rosen started a menswear boutique from a modest 500 sq. ft. retail space in Toronto's Cabbagetown, growing it to a national luxury retailer that remains among Canada's most iconic brands. His son Larry Rosen and grandsons are now running the operation as the family remains a market leader amid mounting e-commerce competition. Mike and Dan also unpack the latest trade news, in particular the US president-elect's threat to impose a heafty 25% tariff on Canadian goods if policy demands are not met; a new Gallup poll also reveals some concerning statistics on employee engagement. 

The Entrepreneur: Larry Rosen, CEO, Harry Rosen Inc.

For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Samer Saab, Founder and CEO of insights solutions company Explorance. He tells them about listening to your employees to drive higher impact and performance. They are also joined by Mia Barouki, Senior Specialist, People Experience Advisory at BDO Canada to discuss AI in the workplace.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Richard Mabley, Co-Founder and Vice President of business development at Transformer Table. He tells them about his innovative table that went viral on TikTok and selling his product at Costco. They are also joined by Anthony Marinelli, Assurance Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss board of directors; what they are and how your business might benefit from one.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Marina Pavlovic Rivas, Co-founder and CEO of Eli Health. She tells them about the company's mission to be the first at-home technology that gives real-time and lifelong health insights from the hormones in your saliva.

In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Dan Ahmarani, Director of Sales & Strategic Partnerships at ARC Group Benefits, who tells them about the use of their technology platform to shake-up the industry, and the tribulations of a second-generation family business. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax season and how to prepare efficiently.

In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar welcome Fauve Doucet, President and CEO, Partage Club. She tells us about the concept of collaborative economy and the social, financial and environmental impacts offered by her digital solution to borrow what you need from your neighbours. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Senior Manager, Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss how outsourcing can help you achieve your business goals. 

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar Earth & Space, whose technology helps manage new space economy traffic in the sky, and support the sustainable management of natural resources on earth. They are also joined by Kareen Tea, US Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss some common misconceptions on sales tax for foreigners.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Camille Deslauriers, in charge of Marketing at Pick Pack, to talk about revolutionizing the world of ecommerce and more with their sustainable, reusable envelopes. They are also joined by Uros Milekic, Business Services and Outsourcing Partner at BDO Canada to discuss bill S-211 on new ESG reporting requirements in Canadian supply chains.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Steven Kiekeman Fontaine, co-founder of BoKEA.  He tells them about making high-end cabinet fronts for IKEA products, enabling customers to build a custom kitchen while saving money. They are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, Eastern Canada Leader and Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss the importance of digital transformation for manufacturing companies. 

In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Anna Martini, CEO of men's fashion brand Psycho Bunny. They talk about her move from the Montreal Canadians back to retail, what’s behind the Psycho Bunny name and why she wants more brick and mortar stores. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss updates to the Underused Housing Tax.

In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Andrew Pimentel from Groupe Powerstone. This 25-year-old tells them about his entrepreneurial journey from cutting grass as a preteen to landscape design, modern inground pools and creating dream backyards. Our hosts are also joined by Marc-Antoine Chaput, Senior Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss cloud accounting and how it can help your business.

Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009. 

Monsieur Cocktail took off in the early days of the pandemic when at-home mixology was a popular trend, but then the elixer business was targeted by a sophisticated and costly form of fraud known as the President's Scam. The scam nearly sunk the business but Patrice Plante persevered and pivoted toward B2B. Mike and Dan explore what it took to identify the scam, repair the damage, and get back on track, with the help of Sacha Blasiak-Priestley, Director, Cloud Security for BDO Canada's cybersecurity team; they also discuss whether or not temporary sales tax holidays can stimulate the economy, and signs of optimism in Canadian tech and IPOs, with positive news from Shopify and Dynamite.

The Entrepreneur: Patrice Plante, founder, Monsieur Cocktail

For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Philippe Choinière and Stacey Lecuyer, co-founders of Oneka. They tell us about their organic plant farm in the Eastern Townships, working with people who match their values, and committing to truly organic skincare. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss communicating with your accountant during tax season.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Pierre-Étienne Bousquet, President and Co-Founder of Thirdbridge. He tells them about building the apps that many Montrealers use on a daily basis, and how AI can help entrepreneurs level up their online presence. They are also joined by Carlo Lupo, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss scientific research and development credits.

In this episode Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stephan Kouri, president of Union Coffee. Stephan tells us about fair trade coffee, conquering the Montreal market, custom blends and the iconic baby Gaccia. They are also joined by Pierre Taillefer, Partner and ESG Leader at BDO Canada to discuss environmental, social and governance in the food industry. 

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Fred Morin, chef, co-owner and co-founder of the Joe Beef Group, comprised of several iconic Montreal restaurants. They are also joined by Bernard Cormier, Managing Director and Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions at BDO Canada to discuss transactions and what adds value to your business.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Sarah Seddiki, co-founder of Teameo.io. She tells us about her thirst to feel “useful”, identifying an opportunity to pivot during the pandemic, and navigating the challenges posed by managing growth in the EdTech market. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, senior manager of business services at BDO Canada to discuss improving leadership skills and teamwork, and how to avoid common errors.

In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar receive Karl Magnone, president and founder of Les Franchises Tite Frette. We learn about the advantages of the franchisor business model, the importance of excellent customer service, and how his company’s CRM helped them grow from 0 to 45 stores across Quebec in 5 years. Amanda Khoury, managerfor estates and trusts at BDO Canada also joins Ernie and Dan to discuss digital assets, virtual intellectual property, and five life events that should prompt Canadians to revisit their estate plan.

In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar receive Jack Dell'Accio, CEO and founder of natural memory foam mattress company Essentia. Jack tells to us about the “mattress in a box” frenzy, the importance of deep sleep, and how toxic products in your bedroom can negatively impact your health. They are also joined by Greg McDonald, Director at BDO Canada, who shares some advice on research and development tax credits opportunities that you shouldn’t leave on the table.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello receive Chloe Ryan, CEO and founder of Acrylic Robotics. Her intelligent robots enable artists to replay their brushstrokes with real paint on canvas, making it easier for them to make a living and democratizing artwork. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss the Canadian underutilized housing tax.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Patrice Demers and Marie-Josée Beaudoin from Sabayon. They tell us about their journey from offering Montreal’s finest patisseries to leaving it all behind, guesting at a pop-up restaurant in New York City, and now, reinventing themselves with a 14-seat restaurant in Pointe Saint-Charles.

They are also joined by subject matter expert Carlo Lupo, Tax partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax considerations and credits for professionals in the restaurant business.

In this episode, Sandrine Rastello and Michael Newton receive Adelle Tarzibachi, co-founder of food company les Filles Fattoush. She started with an import business and now sells Syrian ready-to-eat specialties and ingredients. Her business gives women refugees a job and a chance to start a new life in Canada. And most recently, her expansion plans have won her an offer from a dragon.

In this episode, we are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, BDO Partner and Eastern Canada leader to talk about entrepreneurial growing pains: from finding capital to meeting compliance requirements.

Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009. 

A group of high-profile recent guests on Inspiring Entrepreneurs return to give Mike and Dan updates on their growth and to offer some advice for businesspeople on preparing for uncertain times; speaking of, Mike breaks down news of more cabinet appointments from the US, a weakening Canadian dollar, and two public sector strikes creating shipping havoc. 

The Entrepreneurs:

• Mohamed Hage, CEO, Lufa Farms
• Robert Marzin, co-founder, Manmade Brand
• Fabio Zeppilli, co-founder, Bad Monkey Popcorn & Zeppilli Group

For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing  Jean Bédard, President and CEO of restaurant turned food business Groupe Grandio. He is also behind the revival of iconic Montreal steakhouse Moishes, and more recently rescued microbrewery Brasseurs du monde.

We are also joined by Jean-François Audet, partner of financial advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss franchises and things you should consider before becoming a franchisee.

In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Boivin, CEO, Grizzly Fumoir. She is an entrepreneur at heart who bought a Quebec City-based company to grow it as one of the top 5 producers of smoked and ready-to-eat fish in Canada.

We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager in people advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss the various roles of HR leaders when your business is going through transformations. 

For the launch of the 2023-2024 season, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dominique Nadeau, CEO of Safari Condo, a successful family business that for 25 years has found its niche making vanlife a reality for customers dreaming of living, and working, on the open road. 

We are also joined by Uros Milekic, partner at BDO Canada Business Services to discuss how income is taxed when you incorporate your business.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Keana Gomes, founder of Cocktail Bomb Shop. She left journalism school, started experiments in her kitchen during the pandemic, went viral and even got an offer from four dragon investors. 

We are also joined by Julie Côté, Senior Tax Manager at BDO Canada, to discuss the Underused Housing Tax, who could be affected by it, and what the exemptions are.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Alexandre Archambault, who tells us about matching their enthusiasm for technology with their love for anything strapped to their feet, inventing an electric skateboard, to powering a board called a foil with a battery, and more recently hauling people up a mountain repeatedly using a battery-powered t-bar ski lift.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Samuel Leroux, co-founder of SOLIOS Watches, a Montreal watch brand that reconciles design, elegance and sustainability. Solar-powered watches are back, and we’ll discuss the company’s values and how they hope to tackle planned obsolescence. 

We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager of HR Consulting at BDO Canada to discuss culture in the workplace and aligning corporate mission, vision and values.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Edward Ko, co-founder of Mely.ai, who tells us about how intelligent document processing, a form of AI, can be used by transportation and logistics companies to save 90% of time and 80% of cost related to the heavy burden of accurately filling out logistics-related paperwork. 

We are also joined by Amanda Khoury, Estate & Trusts manager at BDO Canada to discuss estate planning and digital legacy.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Jean-Maxime Larouche, CEO of Hippoc, a company that offers small and medium size businesses an affordable solution to create and optimize digital advertising that will resonate with their audience. We are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss deadlines and documents for tax season.

This week, we’ll have wisdom to share from Nilufar Al-Shourbaji, the falafel Queen and co-owner with her parents of the takeout and catering business Nilufar; she’ll tell us about the family’s successful pivot after a real estate nightmare, the growth of their grocery brand Falafel Royale, and their commitment to nourishing those in need.

We also welcome Natalie Purkhardt, HR consulting manager at BDO Canada to talk about setting the HR foundation in your business.

Inspiring Montreal has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Étienne Lacroix, CEO of Vention, who tells us about his cloud platform to design, order and deploy manufacturing equipment tailored to each of its customers.

We are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss preparation and organization for personal tax season.

Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009. 

More politics than Mike and Dan are accustomed to on the podcast this week with the results of the American election and speculation about what sorts of impacts are in store for Canadian businesses, including possibly rising inflation and new tariffs on exports. A second generation Montréal restaurateur is our featured guest and she explains why her family's Peel St. café made international headlines during last summer's compliance horror story known as Terrasse-gate.

The Entrepreneur: Sandra Ferreira, General Director, Groupe Ferreira

This week's show also includes another edition of the Inspiring Entrepreneurs Book Club.

Mike's picks:

• War by Bob Woodward
• Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House by Dana Milbank 
• The Empire and the Five Kings: America's Abdication and the Fate of the World by Bernard-Henri Lévy

Dan's picks:

• Liberalism and Its Discontents by  Francis Fukuyama
• Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media by Jacob Mchangama
• The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from A Secret World by  Peter Wohlleben

For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Frantz Saintellemy, President and COO of Leddartech, Université de Montréal Chancellor, and Co-Founder of BIPOC Entrepreneurship Incubator Groupe 3737, who tells us about perseverance in school that led him to MIT, climbing various corporate echelons at the speed of light, and giving back to the community by helping black entrepreneurs through an incubator that now has national reach and impact.

Olivier Berthiaume-Bergé, President and CEO of Scéno Plus, tells us about his family-owned design firm that creates unique spaces around the world for some of the biggest names in the live entertainment industry such as Cirque du Soleil, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and more recently Adele, just to name a few.

We are also joined by Peter Joseph Moraitis, BDO Canada tax partner to discuss the March Trust tax deadline.

Mahrzad Lari, co-founder of contemporary fashion line for men Wide the brand, stylishly designed and produced locally, specifically for the wide-man body.

We are also joined by Mia Barouki, senior HR manager at BDO Canada, to discuss HR functions in small and medium businesses.

Sam Youssef, Founder and CEO of Valsoft; tells us about building a group of mission-critical software businesses that together are now worth north of one billion; he acquires and empowers well-run companies, providing more opportunities for global growth.

Marilyne Bouchard, founder of Bkind, tells us about developing a line of products made of natural ingredients in her kitchen, adopting a vegan and cruelty-free product model, and putting the environment at the forefront. We are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Manager at BDO Canada, to discuss bookkeeping tips for your business.

Robert Marzin, one of four co-founders of Man Made, a Montreal-based underwear company for men, talks about revolutionizing the world of male undergarments. 

Alexandre Guimond, co-CEO of Altitude Sports, tells us about moving online in the early days of ecommerce, making the jump from employee to majority owner, playing at the intersection of fashion and the outdoors, and keeping philanthropy and the environment close to his heart. We are also joined by Peter-Joseph Moraitis, Tax partner at BDO Canada, to discuss tax implications of rising interest rates.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Philip Cutler, co-founder and CEO of Paper, an online tutoring solution that is taking the education world by storm. We are also joined by BDO Partner Jean-François Audet to discuss business valuation et key value drivers.

Lili Fortin, CEO and 2nd generation family business owner of Tristan Tells us about what do they attribute Tristan’s success to, as they will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, family business transition, and sustainability. We are also joined by Carlo Lupo, FL Tax Partner to discuss Tax credits for manufacturers.

Laurent Laferrière, co-owner of Ditch Labs, tells about his pioneering nicotine addiction treatment and smartphone app, powered by AI to help smokers and vapers quit more efficiently. We also welcome Julie Côté, Senior Manager of non-resident taxation to discuss new laws affecting foreigners: 2022 introduction of the 1% tax on under-used properties and the 2023/2024 ban on new residential properties acquisitions.

Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009. 

We follow the supply chain from last week's Pizza No. 900 operation down to the farm where the sausages are made by a Québec family with a passion for quality meats and sustainable agriculture. Mike and Dan also discuss Canada's GDP and the concept of "degrowth", mental health vs. productivity, and record funding rounds in Montreal's tech sector.

The Entrepreneur: Damien Girard, co-owner, Les Viandes Biologiques de Charlevoix

For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.

Natalie Madjarian, co-owner of custom upholstery and furniture store Cameo Collection, tells us about buying a company from bankruptcy to fulfill her dream to manage her own business, and the synergies - and possibly tensions - that come with owning a business as a couple. We also welcome Sara Halickman, Estates and Trusts Partner at FL Fuller Landau to discuss estate planning concerns for couples who are in business together.

George Kyres, president of Group Commensal, tells us about his successful string of businesses from 4 Brothers to Europe’s Best, and the growth of an iconic vegetarian brand into the retail grocery space. We also have Giuliana Papandrea, manager in accounting and assurance at FL Fuller Landau join us to discuss cloud based accounting systems.

John Saliby, founder of fighting food waste Sauvegarde app, tells us about lessons learned while growing up that made him realize the extent of food waste, and how combatting it is an easy way to fight climate change. We also welcome Nick Vassilas, Manager at Le Groupe Fuller Landau to discuss the process behind launching a business and being an entrepreneur.

Solenne Brouart, founder and chief growth officer of Polystyvert, tells us about circular economy and how she found a way to recycling polystyrene, which we know under the most famous brand Styrofoam. Elida Eid, Senior manager at FL’s HR sister company Pvisio will also talk about adapting to change in the workplace.