The BetaKit Podcast Channel

Hosted by BetaKit Podcast Network

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Episodes

200

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

The BetaKit Podcast Channel features weekly podcasts discussing both Canadian tech and innovation, as well as global tech from a Canadian perspective.

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60 recent

October 12, 20261 hr 13 min

Why Koho won't bet on prediction markets

"I think that we will look back on prediction markets the same way we look back on altcoins and … NFTs." Canada's newest FinTech unicorn also seems poised to become Canada's newest bank. In a wide-ranging interview, Koho CEO Daniel Eberhard discusses what both milestones mean for the company, the impact of international competition flooding into Canada, the possibilities of launching a telecom (!), and why Koho won't touch prediction markets. Let's dig in. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .

October 5, 202645 min

Where quantum and AI intersect (ALL IN 2026)

"Transformative technology doesn't become transformative when we invent it. It becomes transformative when we adopt it." AI and quantum are two potentially transformative technologies at very different stages of development. Leaders from Xanadu (Nikki Bhatia), Nord Quantique (Marc-Antoine Lemonade), IonQ (Lisa Lambert), and CGI (Chris Juryn) discuss where they intersect live on stage at ALL IN 2026. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .

September 28, 202647 min

How Canada can keep its AI talent (ALL IN 2026)

"I think—and I hope I'm right—that we can build the next OpenAI, or Anthropic, or world model here in Canada." Mila entrepreneur-in-residence Alex Shee joins to explain the cultural shift among academic institutions toward supporting the entrepreneurial journeys of locally trained AI scientists and the "generational opportunity" it could create for Canada. Recorded live at ALL IN 2026. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .

September 18, 202656 min

How the future of tech and Canada's sovereignty are changing Elevate

"We're focused on 'the future of', so that gives us a lot more liberty of the type of speakers we can book." Elevate is the type of tech festival that plays host to everyone from Akon to Al Gore to Michelle Obama. This year, Kyle Lowry—The Greatest Raptor of All Time—will take the stage. CEO and co-founder Lisa Zarzeczny joins to share lessons learned and funny stories from a near-decade of Elevate, alongside how she has modified the program to address the pressing questions facing Canada today. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .

September 11, 202654 min

Waving the AI bubble red flags

"They're building AI that they're selling as so powerful that it is exceeding its limitations." We've talked a lot about AI on The BetaKit Podcast, but there's one topic we tend to ignore: the AI bubble. No longer! BetaKit Managing Editor Sarah Rieger joins to wave a few select AI bubble red flags (circular financing! Rogue AI agents! A lack of Situational Awareness!) to try and understand what is driving behaviour that might burst. ---- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by CPPO. How is prepaid being used as a vital system for moving money across the country? During this year's CPPO Symposium, CPPO's Co-Founder and Executive Director, Jennifer Tramontana, explains how prepaid powers Canadians to move money across the nation every day digitally. From neo-banks and gig worker wage access to youth money management tools, nearly 50% of Canadians now utilize digital-first offerings. To discover how prepaid innovation is fueling Canada's digital ecosystem, visit CPPO's website .

August 24, 202644 min

Answering your burning tech questions

"My god. Every time I ask you people for questions, I instantly regret it." What is Canada's most overrated tech company? How do we keep young founders in the country? Is BlackBerry making a comeback? What are Canada's must-read business books? In a special mailbag episode of The BetaKit Podcast, BetaKit editor-in-chief Douglas Soltys answers your burning tech questions. Let's dig in! -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .

August 14, 202657 min

Can Canada function without American tech?

"When we talk about sovereignty, we're talking about strategic capacity. Can you govern yourself with the tools that you have?" What would happen if, overnight, Canada suddenly lost all access to American tech? Canadian Shield Institute managing director Vass Bednar joins to answer that question before discussing how Canada can bootstrap digital self-reliance in the face of weaponized integration and the best ways to evaluate the federal government's 'elbows up' policy initiatives. Related: A Day in the Life Without American Tech (Infographic) -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .

August 4, 20261 hr 2 min

What killed your startup? (LIVE from Startupfest 2026)

"There has never been a more exciting time to found and build a company in Canada." A *killler* lineup of Startupfest speakers joins for a live recording of The BetaKit Podcast at the Startupfest village in Montréal's Grand Quay. In a rapid-fire talk show format, these luminaries discuss the leading causes of startup death, hard-won lessons in company scaling, the virtues of AI, and why now is the most exciting time to build a company in Canada. Featuring: Johnathan Nightingale - Co-founder of Raw Signal Group Fatima Khamitova - Director, Startups at Vector Institute Vishar Yaghoubian - CEO / Co-founder of Toothpod Melissa Nightingale - Co-founder of Raw Signal Group -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by MaRS Connect. Discover ground-breaking solutions on MaRS Connect, a curated digital platform designed to accelerate real connections between Canada's top startups and serious adopters, investors, and ecosystem leaders. Visit MaRS Connect to learn more .

July 27, 20261 hr 12 min

Cory Doctorow on using AI without letting AI use you

"I am Tron-pilled: I fight for the user. I want people to be in charge of their technology, not the other way around." Award-winning Canadian science-fiction author, journalist, and tech activist Cory Doctorow is back with a new book, " The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI ." He joins The BetaKit Podcast to discuss healthy ways people can be assisted by AI rather than conscripted in service to the tech, before pitching the need to jailbreak Canada to help the country reclaim its digital sovereignty. What exactly is a reverse centaur? Let's dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by MaRS Climate Impact 2026: early bird tickets are now on sale! On November 17 and 18, learn more about climate innovations engineered for scale and join founders, investors, policy-makers, researchers, and industry leaders for two days of breakthrough startup pitch sessions, curated networking opportunities, panel debates and live podcast recordings. Register today, and meet the people accelerating the transition to a more resilient, low-carbon economy. Secure your early bird tickets now !

July 13, 202649 min

How Dominion Dynamics is building Canada's first line of Arctic defence

"The Arctic is the hardest operational environment on Earth for anybody. For any country." Dominion Dynamics CEO and BetaKit Most Ambitious honouree Eliot Pence joins to discuss his company's plans to become the general contractor for Canada's defence needs, why the Arctic is so important, and why he came back to Canada to build. -- Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada's moment to build is now. Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation's autonomy, security, and prosperity. Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now .