Invested in our New Reality

Mathieu Grondin is here for a good time and (hopefully) a long time. On the Season 14 finale of Invested in Our New Reality, host Sam Laprade welcomes Ottawa's first-ever Nightlife Commissioner to discuss his role and vision and his hopes for a revitalized downtown. Listen as they discuss what it means to be entertained for the new generation of young people, the value of arts and culture in a thriving city, and why Ottawa is the city where fun is found and not forgotten. It is an exceptional episode and the fitting end to an outstanding season exploring the potential and future of this city's much-loved downtown district.

Sometimes all you need are the right tools for the job. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Sam Laprade interviews Victor Wang, the Co-Founder and COO of Lutendi Systems, an Ottawa-based business that developed a rent reporting system designed to help housing providers and renters achieve their financial goals. Talk about a win-win! The company recently won the first-ever Invest Ottawa Immigrant Founder Launchpad Pitch Final, and the team is enjoying the buzz – and funding – from their big win. Wang joins the podcast to discuss the company and its expansion plans, and he touches on why he thinks downtown Ottawa needs more mixed-use developments to bring people, retail, and energy to the area.

New reality, new business plan! On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, Eric McRae joins the podcast to discuss how he steered his downtown co-working business through the COVID-19 pandemic. Eric, the Founder and CEO of MBO Co-working, describes launching his business in the Byward Market in 2015 and then, just five years later, facing a national work-from-home order and rapidly changing market demands. Listen as he and host Sam Laprade talk about how he prioritized community building to ensure his company stayed the course and how he has expanded to include business coaching to his portfolio with the goal of helping local start-ups... well, get started.

It's time to “Ask Erin!” Erin, why is downtown Ottawa the right home for Advanced Symbolics Inc.? On Season 14 of Invested in Our New Reality, we are interviewing Ottawa business leaders with companies based downtown and stakeholders driving revitalization efforts. On this episode, our guest is Erin Kelly, the CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc., the creators of @askpolly, a predictive AI tool. The company has offices in the busy ByWard Market and Erin joins host Sam Laprade to discuss AI, their successful and growing company, and her thoughts on the good, the bad, and the untapped potential of the downtown district.

A boutique non-alcoholic bottle shop in the heart of downtown? Cheers to that! Season 14 of Invested in Our New Reality is well underway and, now halfway through the season, listeners have heard from key stakeholders and business owners generously sharing their thoughts on the future of downtown. In this episode, host Sam Laprade interviews Benson Mutalemwa, Founder & CEO of Knyota Non-Alcoholic Drinks, located at 104 Bank Street. In this lively and passionate chat, they discuss what it means to be a small business owner with a storefront in Downtown Ottawa and the growing marketplace for well-crafted non-alcoholic drinks available from a knowledgeable local vendor.

Sueling Ching is a woman with a plan, and if anyone can pull it off, she can! Don't miss this informative and interesting episode of Invested in Our New Reality with guest Sueling Ching, the President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade (OBT). She joins host Sam Laprade to discuss the Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda, developed by the OBT and the Canadian Urban Institute, along with several other key stakeholders, to reimagine and rejuvenate Downtown Ottawa. Listen as Sueling makes a strong case for the plan and its objectives and shares why creating a future-ready and dynamic urban core will benefit all residents of the National Capital Region.

Let's talk business, and by that, we mean the business of being in business in Ottawa. On the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Sam Laprade interviews Matthew Holland, the CEO of Field Effect, a world-class cybersecurity provider based out of Ottawa with clients around the world. Matthew is a business leader, family man, and foodie, and he enjoys living and working in the National Capital Region. Listen as he outlines his many reasons to love this city, including its downtown, discusses Field Effect, and shares the benefits of launching a business in Ottawa — plus a few restaurant recommendations thrown in for good measure.

We're back with Season 14 of Invested in Our New Reality! In this season — titled Downtown: Evolved — host Sam Laprade will explore the dynamic transformation of Ottawa's downtown core. To kick things off in style, she welcomed guest Stephen Beckta, the acclaimed chef and owner of three popular Ottawa restaurants: Beckta, Play Food & Wine, and Gezellig. Listen as these two friends dish on everything and anything: from why Stephen left New York City and Paris behind to launch his business here (hint: it's a love story), to persisting through the pandemic, to today's fine dining market and why he thinks restaurants are only one part of what makes downtown Ottawa a great destination.

Join host Sam Laprade for the 14th season of Invested in Our New Reality, Invest Ottawa's podcast designed for business leaders and entrepreneurs. This season, titled “Downtown: Evolved,” explores the dynamic transformation of Ottawa's downtown core. As the city adapts to the changes of the past few years, Sam engages in conversations with the leaders who call downtown Ottawa their home base and with the stakeholders driving revitalization efforts. From innovation hubs to attractions, this series delves into the exciting developments shaping Ottawa as a vibrant destination for living, working, and playing. Tune in for insightful discussions on how Ottawa is evolving into a city that continues to thrive and grow as a national capital. Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of Ottawa's downtown, this season offers a front-row seat to conversations that matter.

For bitHeads Inc, collaboration isn't just a buzz word; it's their business plan. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Sam Laprade interviews Martin Savard, Director of Sales & Business Development at bitHeads Inc., an Ottawa-based tech company known for building custom software solutions to support other businesses' growth and innovation. A true Ottawa enthusiast, Savard shares his thoughts on what makes this city great, how to nurture talent, why cooperation and idea-sharing matters in tech and why balance–in life and work–is a company-wide priority.

Cleaner air by cleaning? Of course, Ottawa has a company for that! On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Sam Laprade interviews Vida Gabriel the Co-Founder of TerraFixing, an Ottawa-based business on a mission to reach net zero. To get there, they developed the cutting-edge technology necessary to capture, concentrate, and permanently store CO2 in cold climates. An accomplished engineer, Gabriel shares her insights on the cleantech space and climate change, engineering and women in STEM, Ottawa, and the joy of studying, working, and excelling in her field, in both official languages.

For Aurora Solar, “make hay while the sun shines” is a tried-and-true business plan. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, Ottawa radio stalwart Sam Laprade interviews Thusha Agampodi, who is the Director of Engineering at Aurora Solar, a global company with an office in Ottawa. They market a cloud-based platform that uses data, automation, and AI to augment solar energy design and optimization and support solar businesses around the world. To date, over 10 million solar projects have been designed with the platform. In this interview, they discuss the future of solar and the many business, tech, and lifestyle advantages Ottawa offers, including mentorship and support for women in STEM.

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.