Ottawa Business Journal

Hosted by Ottawa Business Journal

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203

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Ottawa Business Journal is the leading source of business news and information Canada's national capital region. CEOs and business leaders turn to OBJ for the business news they can't find anywhere else – unique and relevant content tailored to business managers, owners, professionals and executives. With a number of media platforms available to reach our audience, Ottawa Business Journal has something for every advertiser. OBJ's scope includes its monthly newsmagazine, the largest business news website in Ottawa, OBJToday daily e-newsletter, active social media channels, a YouTube channel with hundreds of videos, multimedia industry projects and some of Ottawa's premier business events.

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June 8, 202627 min

Techopia: Is Ottawa the country’s biggest tech wealth generator? | Episode 298

The narrative surrounding the Canadian tech sector often focuses on boom-and-bust cycles, brain drain, or the historical demise of past giants. But the numbers tell a different story. Driven by evolutionary waves from telecommunications to software-as-a-service, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, the national technology ecosystem has quietly produced remarkable long-term enterprise value. New research shows that Ottawa tech unicorns have produced at least one billion-dollar firm every single decade, making it the highest per-capita producer of unicorns in the country. Moreso, local tech ventures account for a staggering three-quarters of all-time wealth creation in Canadian tech history, driving $1.4 trillion in wealth over the past 36 years. In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran celebrates Ottawa Innovation Week by speaking with tech veteran Sasha Gera, chief operating officer of HealWell AI. Gera shares his research and insights from his newly launched ledger, Unicorn North, highlighting how Ottawa stacks up against other major Canadian cities and why it remains the most productive, distraction-free destination for building sustainable, hundred-year companies. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:22 Introducing Sasha Gera 14:45 Sponsor Segment 17:57 Innovation Week 25:15 Closing and What’s Ahead at OBJ For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5

April 27, 202620 min

Techopia Live: uOttawa deploying innovation to defence | Episode 297

Canada is responding to a critical political and economic imperative to modernize its armed forces and better defend national interests. As the country looks to strengthen its domestic defence and security sectors, the University of Ottawa is mobilizing to support this domestic industrial evolution. As a top-ranked research-intensive university, uOttawa is uniquely industry-ready, offering specialized expertise across 10 faculties in defence-relevant fields. In this bonus episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran sits down with two leaders from the university to discuss how they are bridging the gap between academic research and high-impact industry collaboration. The conversation features Caroline Cao, the Dean of uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering, and Muralee Murugesu, Associate Vice-President of Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship. The discussion highlights how uOttawa is currently leading the charge in critical technological frontiers, including AI, cyber security, and photonics. The episode explores the university's vision of researchers and private sector partners working together to meet today’s defence and security challenges. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:15 Introducing Dean Caroline Cao and AVP Muralee Murugesu 18:35 Sponsor overview 19:20 Closing and What’s Ahead at OBJ For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5 How is your organization currently navigating the shift toward increased federal investment in defence and security technology?

April 20, 202624 min

Techopia Live: Local angels defy VC downtown | Episode 296

For Ottawa-based tech founders looking to raise capital, these are challenging days. The "valley of death," that precarious gap between initial startup and sustainable growth, appears to be widening. While early funding often comes from family and friends, angel investors play a critical role in bridging this gap. In Ottawa, the Capital Angel Network (CAN) has anchored the local angel investor ecosystem since 2010. Despite a downturn in venture capital nationally, CAN bucked the trend in 2025, recording its second-biggest year in history. With a membership that includes individual angels, venture capital firms, family offices, and accelerators, CAN invested approximately $8 million in 2025 alone. In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran speaks with Suzanne Grant, the executive director of the Capital Angel Network. They discuss current deal flow trends, the impact of AI on investments, and how global economic shifts are impacting a founder's ability to raise initial funds. For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/

February 2, 202627 min

Techopia Live: Imbeault is back with Backboard.io | Eposide 295

Ottawa’s AI scene is evolving. Early momentum was created by companies such as Solink, founded by Mike Matta, which applied computer vision to retail analytics, and Ranovus, led by Hany Mussad, which develops the optical hardware necessary for high-capacity AI data centres. Subsequent growth was driven by firms such as MindBridge, co-founded by Solon Angel and Eli Fathi, and BluWave-ai, led by Devashish Paul, which targeted specific industrial applications in financial auditing and energy grid management. A new AI player is garnering international attention. Backboard.io is developing a memory-native API designed to manage long-term context in large language models. In January 2026, the company closed a pre-seed funding round led by Mistral Venture Partners, with participation from N49P, Garage Capital, and Developer Capital. In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran speaks to Rob Imbeault, the founder and CEO of Backboard.io. Having already co-founded tech unicorn Assent, Imbeault is now in the CEO seat and predicting big things to come. For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5

January 27, 202618 min

Let’s get growing! with Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation

For many business owners, the world of carbon offsets can feel abstract, complex, and disconnected from the bottom line. Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation is helping to change that sentiment. Based in Ottawa and founded by well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Gary Zed, CFTC offers turnkey, customizable nature-based solutions that are practical and measurable. In fall 2025, CFTC partnered with the City of Ottawa on a campaign called “Let’s Get Growing!” In this podcast, OBJ publisher Michael Curran speaks to Zed about how other local business owners can join the campaign to help reforest Ottawa.

January 26, 202626 min

Techopia Live: What is Ottawa’s Next Big Thing | Episode 294

In the fast-paced tech sector, the prevailing question is this: who is the next big thing? In Ottawa, that distinction is determined, in part, by an awards program. In late fall 2025, the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade organized the Best Ottawa Business Awards. One of the highlights of that awards program is called #NextBigThing. With the guidance of Invest Ottawa and RBC, three #NextBigThing recipients are recognized. In 2025, the honourees were Compose Health, Downpay and TACTIQL. In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran speaks with Nick Quain, vice-president of venture and entrepreneurship at Invest Ottawa, about the three recipient companies and his outlook for 2026. For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5

December 22, 20256 min

Techopia Live @ Tech Tuesday: AI Tinkering and the Future of Tech Innovation | Episode 293

AI is transforming industries and reshaping communities. This episode of Techopia Live takes viewers inside TechTuesday for a closer look at What AI Tinkering Reveals About the Future of Tech Innovation. Hosted by Riaz Sidi, the episode explores how a grassroots movement of builders and experimenters is influencing the trajectory of artificial intelligence in Ottawa and across Canada. The episode features Hai Nghiem, CEO and Co-founder of AGI Ventures Canada, and highlights the work of AGI Ventures Canada (formerly AI Tinkerers Ottawa), an emerging community of more than 1,550 developers and innovators advancing AI through meetups, hackathons, rapid prototyping, and collaborative experimentation. Their initiatives include monthly AI hackathons, AI solution development for clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies to fast-growing startups, and a six-week AI Accelerator delivered in partnership with Mistral VC that brings founders to San Francisco to connect with YC alumni, investors, and global AI networks. The discussion examines how small-scale experimentation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a practical builder-driven mindset are producing real-world breakthroughs and shaping the next phase of digital transformation. The session concludes with a fireside chat featuring moderator Veronica Farmer, Hai Nghiem, and Rami Alhamad, Co-Founder and CEO of Alma and an investor in the AGI Ventures Canada AI Accelerator. Their conversation explores how community-powered experimentation, hands-on innovation, and early-stage AI development are influencing the future of the sector. Additional interviews with TechTuesday attendees, including Andree Paige (The NEXT PaiGE), Suzanne Cyr (The Ottawa Education Group), Matthew Jerabek (Algonquin College), and Linda Kerbs (Nokia), capture the momentum, questions, and opportunities emerging across Ottawa’s AI ecosystem. This episode illustrates how innovation is increasingly emerging at the edges in community-led spaces, where people come together to tinker, test, connect, and build. For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5

December 12, 202514 min

Techopia Live: Fidus gets new majority owner to pursue aggressive growth plan | Episode 292

Kanata-based Fidus Systems is poised for aggressive expansion after agreeing to sell a majority stake to New York private equity firm Catchment Capital. While financial terms remain undisclosed, the company says the deal provides the “rocket fuel” needed to pursue strategic acquisitions and accelerate R&D. Fidus, a designer of complex embedded components for sectors like aerospace and autonomous vehicles, will retain its local headquarters and executive team. The partnership offers the capital to scale the 200-person company’s already rapid revenue growth while preserving its culture, emphasizing that operations remain unchanged ‒ just with deeper pockets for future innovation. In this special episode of Techopia Live, OBJ publisher Michael Curran talks with Scott Turnbull, chief technology officer of Fidus Systems, about the company’s new majority owner and what it might mean for its future. Looking for more information on Techopia? Visit https://obj.ca/techopia for regular updates on Ottawa’s technology sector. You can also sign up for Techopia’s weekly email newsletter: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/

November 24, 20257 min

Techopia Live @ Tech Tuesday: Building a Global Tech Hub | Episode 291

In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ brought viewers to the November TechTuesday for an inside look at Kanata North, Canada’s largest tech park, and its role in making Ottawa a global tech hub. Hosted by Veronica Farmer, the discussion highlighted key investments, innovation, and partnerships that have driven Ottawa’s leadership in technology, defence, semiconductors, photonics, and clean tech. The panel featured Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Councillor Cathy Curry, and Kelly Daize (Kanata North Business Association & Hub350). They shared insights on strategic planning, smart city initiatives, and programs that connected industry, academia, and government to strengthen Ottawa’s tech ecosystem. The episode also included interviews with Vicki Coughey (Fidus Systems Inc.), Shawn OReilly (Teldio), and Shoma Sinha (Carleton University), highlighting Canada North’s thriving community of over 700 companies generating $17 billion in GDP and 60,000 jobs and demonstrating how collaboration is positioning Ottawa as a globally competitive tech hub. This conversation offered entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers a front-row view of how Ottawa and Kanata North are shaping the future of innovation. For more on Ottawa’s tech and innovation scene, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5

November 19, 20256 min

Techopia Live: SaaS North 2025: Future-Proofing SaaS in the Age of AI | Episode 290

Techopia Live was on location at the 10th annual SaaS North Conference in Ottawa, where the city’s tech and business leaders gathered for an energizing two-day conference focused on Future-Proofing SaaS in the Age of AI. Hosted by Riaz Sidi, the event featured conversations with founders, investors, and innovators shaping Ottawa’s tech scene, including: Mark Stephenson (Cube Business Media Inc.), Sacha Gera (Healwell AI), Liz Ellwood (Sidi.io), Sara Rykov (Metcove), John Nelson (Carleton University), and Artem Abramov (EL8). From investor panels and startup showcases to real-time AI demos, the conference highlighted how Canadian founders are leveraging AI, building lean teams, and redefining the future of software. For more on Canada’s SaaS and tech ecosystem, visit https://obj.ca/techopia. Subscribe to Techopia’s weekly newsletter here: https://obj121.activehosted.com/f/5