Welcome to The Insider
I host seasoned CEO’s, fund managers, bankers, brokers and business experts who share their experience in what works and what doesn’t work to create company value. Stay tuned to hear from the best who will answer your questions about how to properly engage investors, finance opportunities and build outstanding success stories.
Ep. 24 – Negotiations In Finance And The Win/Win Fallacy.
In life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
So, in this episode, we talk about negotiation.
We are joined by Mark Raffan, who is a professional negotiator, coach, and host of the Negotiations Ninja podcast.
There is no doubt that negotiation plays a crucial role in financing a company. So, we talk about some of the tactics and styles that you can put to use. We also talk about some misconceptions, his favorite episodes and it surely wouldn’t be complete without a discussion about Donald Trump and his negotiating skills.
Ep. 23 – Is There An Algorithm For Billion Dollar Growth?
Charles Plant is a former founder, VC, banker and now a PhD candidate in economics. A key focus for him is the Narwhal Project – or the study of world-class Canadian Unicorns (aka Narwhals) as defined by a billion-dollar plus valuation.
The question of what it takes to build a billion-dollar organization has led Charles to research and publish numerous studies on his findings. What we get is a glimpse into the algorithms of growth… in other words, the capital it takes and the areas you need to spend to achieve the growth targets that result in a billion-dollar plus valuation.
Ep. 22 – Going Public? Do Retail Investors Matter?
Danny Brody is the CEO of TGOD Acquisitions Corp., a partner in RADD Capital and CCO of HempFusion. He and his partners have been the financial force behind some of the cannabis industries most notable names. They’ve raised over half a billion dollars for Organigram, Emblem, Plus Products, The Green Organic Dutchman and now Hempfusion.
Danny speaks with us about his unconventional path to engaging investors for these companies. He lays out how they’re “Retail Investor First” strategy and who they’ve honed their approach through the companies they’ve partnered with. He was also generous in sharing lessons from doing this as well as perspectives on investor engagement, broker relationships and why you should protect your cap table like it is your firstborn.
Ep. 21 – Why Visual Content (not cash) Is King
Jeff Desjardins is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Visual Capitalist. If you haven’t seen the work Visual Capitalist yet, it won’t be long until you do. Visual Capitalist visualizes complex data so it is enjoyable to consume and easy to remember. His clients now include Black Rock, McKinsey, New York Life, Tony Robbins and many others. They create and deliver daily infographics and visualizations to a rapidly growing audience – 70% of whom are investors.
Selling Your Tech Business Is Going To Be Hard – Ep. 20
Brent Holliday is the Founder and CEO of Garibaldi Capital Advisors… He knows the game of financing and tech exits and shares the war stories here… When financing or selling your business, one wrong move can crater a deal or be fatal to a company’s future. Further, there’s not a lot of solid information or education for entrepreneurs about high-stakes financings.
In this episode, Brent and I dive into the world of financing and selling technology companies. Brent and his partners focus on selling companies up to $100mm in revenue.
Brent gives us an excellent look behind the scenes of how companies are sold. He’s tight lipped about the who clients are but that doesn’t matter. It is the knowledge that makes this such a powerful interview.
And If you’ve ever wondered what the value of an advisor is – as in an investment banker or a business broker, listen to this episode. It will give you the fire power to separate the good from the bad and the ugly.
Powerful Non-Verbal Communication w Mark Bowden – Ep. 19
Mark Bowden, an internationally acclaimed communications expert speaks with us about the power of body language and non-verbal communication. Your communication techniques carry tremendous power in delivering your message. Take note that it is much more than just the words you are saying.
Cannabis Investing w Jeanne Sullivan – Ep. 18
Jeanne Sullivan is a General Partner at ArcView Venture Fund and is seasoned technology venture capitalist. She speaks about cannabis investing to audiences around the globe including SXSW and keynotes at conferences like MJBiz.
In our discussion we get into many of the issues entrepreneurs are facing and what she’s seeing with the changing political and regulatory landscape in the US. As well, we discuss how you should be articulating your business opportunity, finding capable advisors and how to compensate them for their contributions.
Dating In The World Of Private Equity – Ep. 17
Peter Lehrman, the founder of Axial.net knows the world of private equity and mid-market deals. He has built an online platform that connects entrepreneurs in the lower middle market with investors and capital advisors. They are tackling the problem of capital inefficiency for small and medium sized businesses and he’s got a very interesting perspective on how to raise money or sell your company. In this episode, Peter delivers some great insights about building capital relationships, being ready and how to play the game of building credible deal tension.
Investing in Cannabis and the Future to Come – Ep. 16
In this episode, David Wartell and I talk about how his private equity firm is investing in cannabis companies, his early days of cannabis and the lessons he has from his twenty years of building and exiting companies.
Marijuana Investment Banking w David Traylor – Ep. 15
David Traylor is an investment banker who’s has positioned his firm directly on the growing cannabis industry.
When banking a deal, he is the one who is advising youon terms and valuation while also assembling a book of investors for your deal.
David shares some funny stories, but we also speak about the changing regulations and about the indicators of how states are changing their perspectives. Given his position, he has a front row seat to the rapid changes that are happening in the cannabis industry.
Early Stage Finance w Valhalla Private Capital’s Randy Thompson – Ep. 14
Randy Thompson is the Chairman and CEO of Valhalla Private Capital. He was awarded the 2018 Angel Investor Of The Year and in this episode we get into early stage finance and what led to that achievement.
We dig in to how entrepreneurs can and need to be competitive when compared to other deals on an international stage. You’ll also hear about how he approaches building investable deals. This preparation is a crucial factor in setting yourself up for long term success.
Gary Hoover on the History of Business – Ep. 13
Gary Hoover brings some 40+ years of business experience to this interview. From being a Wall Street analyst to founding, listing and selling pubco’s and on to his board participation with some well known companies…
Gary now leads the American Business History Center which provides us a valuable look into the companies that have defined our world as we know it. Gary is a prolific reader and historian. He has a collection of over 57,000 books and recites facts and figures with ease. This is a great opportunity to hear the perspectives of a man who has lead companies through thick and thin. I am sure you’ll enjoy.
Small Cap Conferences w Cambridge House’s Jay Martin – Ep. 12
Small cap conferences are a big investment. They can change the course of a company when done right. Jay Martin leads Cambridge House and produces a series of events including CanTech, the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference and the Extraordinary Future Conference. Learn about how to make the most of your investor conferences in this interview.
Public Venture Capital w Praveen Varshney – Ep. 11
From mining to gaming to real estate and now going deep with Social Impact Investing; Praveen Varshney talks with us about his approach to investing in winning opportunities. He and his partners – his father and brother – have earned an outstanding reputation and are now focusing their strengths on bettering the world through building companies that deliver on a greater cause.
Our conversation takes us into public venture capital, what he looks for in investment opportunities, his thoughts on capital structures and the powers of “aligned capital”. We also get into the deals he’s excited about now and how he and his partners structure and finance real estate opportunities.
Non-Dilutive Funding w Traction Conference Cofounder Lloyed Lobo – Ep. 10
There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars that you can recover from the government’s non-dilutive funding programs.
You’ve likely heard about them – R&D and the SRED tax credit programs.
Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI and I connect to discuss what these programs are and how they can apply to your business.
If you have ever wondered about tax credits work, how to best approach getting them – and even if you should bother, this will be a helpful interview for you.
Impact Investing w Mike Winterfield – Ep. 9
Mike Winterfield is the founder and CEO of Active Impact Investments.
He is blazing an interesting trail in the world of finance with a focus on companies that have a defined social benefit and purpose, also known as impact investing.
The thesis of his fund is to invest in companies that have a clear stated mission to tackle some of our most challenging social and environmental problems. The thing is, it is not a charity by any means. Along with a purpose that goes beyond just profit, his fund is looking to make outsized returns the same way a typical venture capital fund would.
Small Cap Investing w Stone Castle Investments’ Bruce Campbell – Ep. 8
Bruce is the founder and Portfolio Manager of Stone Castle Funds. We’ll talk about small cap investing and much more.
In this interview, we don’t talk about investment ideas or big wins. Instead we focus on what he likes to see from the companies he invests in. From the funds he manages to the way he keeps deals on his radar, you’ll hear his inside perspective.
Bruce and his team manage six funds across various sectors including cannabis and blockchain. He is a regular contributor to BNN Bloomberg, The Globe and Mail and other media outlets.”
Finding Gold In The Capital Markets – Part 2 – Ep. 7
Part 2 – What would you learn from 35+ years of building companies in the capital markets?
In this two part episode, Gordon Keep expounds on his experience in building over 250 companies and the lessons he’s had with public venture capital.
From his early days with the TSX, helping write regulations, being an early mover into South America with what was Yorkton Securities and on to his enduring partnership with Frank Giustra to build some of the world’s most notable resource companies.
Financing Resource Companies w Gordon Keep – Ep. 6
What would you learn from 35+ years of building companies in the capital markets?
In this two part episode, Gordon Keep expounds on his experience in building over 250 companies and the lessons he’s had with public venture capital.
From his early days with the TSX, helping write regulations, being an early mover into South America with what was Yorkton Securities and on to his enduring partnership with Frank Giustra to build some of the world’s most notable resource companies.
Soft Skills Needed for Real Estate Finance w Frank Lonardelli – Ep. 5
Frank Lonardelli is the founder and CEO of Arlington St. Investments. Frank is a sharp businessman having built a portfolio of real estate assets well into the hundreds of millions of dollars. As well as having an exceptional eye for deals and detail, Frank is a powerful storyteller. He has the ability to paint a vivid picture of situations and opportunities which has surely worked in his favour when financing his projects. For those interested in real estate finance and real estate development projects, this is a special episode worth listening to.
Investment Banking w Hanif Joshaghani – Ep. 4
Hanif Joshaghani is a former Investment Banker turned entrepreneur… He is now the co-founder and CEO of Symend.
In this episode, you’re going to hear about what you should know about investment banking. I particularly liked our discussion around the due diligence process. It’s an inside scoop on how your deal may be viewed by bankers and cheque writers alike.
Brian Paes-Braga of Lithium X, Fiore Group Talks Growth – Ep. 3
Brian Paes-Braga is an exceptional entrepreneur. He is a partner and Managing Director at Fiore Group and the founder of Lithium X. He was one of the youngest CEO’s to lead a TSX Venture company (Lithium X) which was sold for over a quarter billion dollars. In this episode, we get into how he did it, the importance of a compelling narrative and where he is focusing his energy now.
Cannabis Investments w Tyler Stuart of Green Acre Capital – Ep. 2
Tyler Stuart is a pioneer in the Cannabis investments industry. He and his partner created one of Canada’s first cannabis exclusive investment funds focusing on the ‘picks and shovels’ of the industry. Green Acre Capital now has two investment funds with over $100 million AUM focused both on early-stage venture opportunities and later stage private equity investments. Listen to hear how Tyler view the industry and the deals he sees.
Capital Formation w Brady Fletcher of TSX Venture – Ep. 1
Brady Fletcher is the Managing Director of the TSX Venture Exchange. He brings nearly a decade of investment banking experience to this role and a clear perspective of how the Venture should be used as a capital formation tool. We discuss the power of Public Venture Capital, compare and contrast it with other funding options as well as get into the mechanics of Capital Pool Companies or CPC’s.
Ep. 24 – Negotiations In Finance And The Win/Win Fallacy.
In life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
So, in this episode, we talk about negotiation.
We are joined by Mark Raffan, who is a professional negotiator, coach, and host of the Negotiations Ninja podcast.
There is no doubt that negotiation plays a crucial role in financing a company. So, we talk about some of the tactics and styles that you can put to use. We also talk about some misconceptions, his favorite episodes and it surely wouldn’t be complete without a discussion about Donald Trump and his negotiating skills.
Powerful Non-Verbal Communication w Mark Bowden – Ep. 19
Mark Bowden, an internationally acclaimed communications expert speaks with us about the power of body language and non-verbal communication. Your communication techniques carry tremendous power in delivering your message. Take note that it is much more than just the words you are saying.
Gary Hoover on the History of Business – Ep. 13
Gary Hoover brings some 40+ years of business experience to this interview. From being a Wall Street analyst to founding, listing and selling pubco’s and on to his board participation with some well known companies…
Gary now leads the American Business History Center which provides us a valuable look into the companies that have defined our world as we know it. Gary is a prolific reader and historian. He has a collection of over 57,000 books and recites facts and figures with ease. This is a great opportunity to hear the perspectives of a man who has lead companies through thick and thin. I am sure you’ll enjoy.
Selling Your Tech Business Is Going To Be Hard – Ep. 20
Brent Holliday is the Founder and CEO of Garibaldi Capital Advisors… He knows the game of financing and tech exits and shares the war stories here… When financing or selling your business, one wrong move can crater a deal or be fatal to a company’s future. Further, there’s not a lot of solid information or education for entrepreneurs about high-stakes financings.
In this episode, Brent and I dive into the world of financing and selling technology companies. Brent and his partners focus on selling companies up to $100mm in revenue.
Brent gives us an excellent look behind the scenes of how companies are sold. He’s tight lipped about the who clients are but that doesn’t matter. It is the knowledge that makes this such a powerful interview.
And If you’ve ever wondered what the value of an advisor is – as in an investment banker or a business broker, listen to this episode. It will give you the fire power to separate the good from the bad and the ugly.
Cannabis Investing w Jeanne Sullivan – Ep. 18
Jeanne Sullivan is a General Partner at ArcView Venture Fund and is seasoned technology venture capitalist. She speaks about cannabis investing to audiences around the globe including SXSW and keynotes at conferences like MJBiz.
In our discussion we get into many of the issues entrepreneurs are facing and what she’s seeing with the changing political and regulatory landscape in the US. As well, we discuss how you should be articulating your business opportunity, finding capable advisors and how to compensate them for their contributions.
Dating In The World Of Private Equity – Ep. 17
Peter Lehrman, the founder of Axial.net knows the world of private equity and mid-market deals. He has built an online platform that connects entrepreneurs in the lower middle market with investors and capital advisors. They are tackling the problem of capital inefficiency for small and medium sized businesses and he’s got a very interesting perspective on how to raise money or sell your company. In this episode, Peter delivers some great insights about building capital relationships, being ready and how to play the game of building credible deal tension.
Investing in Cannabis and the Future to Come – Ep. 16
In this episode, David Wartell and I talk about how his private equity firm is investing in cannabis companies, his early days of cannabis and the lessons he has from his twenty years of building and exiting companies.
Marijuana Investment Banking w David Traylor – Ep. 15
David Traylor is an investment banker who’s has positioned his firm directly on the growing cannabis industry.
When banking a deal, he is the one who is advising youon terms and valuation while also assembling a book of investors for your deal.
David shares some funny stories, but we also speak about the changing regulations and about the indicators of how states are changing their perspectives. Given his position, he has a front row seat to the rapid changes that are happening in the cannabis industry.
Early Stage Finance w Valhalla Private Capital’s Randy Thompson – Ep. 14
Randy Thompson is the Chairman and CEO of Valhalla Private Capital. He was awarded the 2018 Angel Investor Of The Year and in this episode we get into early stage finance and what led to that achievement.
We dig in to how entrepreneurs can and need to be competitive when compared to other deals on an international stage. You’ll also hear about how he approaches building investable deals. This preparation is a crucial factor in setting yourself up for long term success.
Small Cap Conferences w Cambridge House’s Jay Martin – Ep. 12
Small cap conferences are a big investment. They can change the course of a company when done right. Jay Martin leads Cambridge House and produces a series of events including CanTech, the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference and the Extraordinary Future Conference. Learn about how to make the most of your investor conferences in this interview.
Public Venture Capital w Praveen Varshney – Ep. 11
From mining to gaming to real estate and now going deep with Social Impact Investing; Praveen Varshney talks with us about his approach to investing in winning opportunities. He and his partners – his father and brother – have earned an outstanding reputation and are now focusing their strengths on bettering the world through building companies that deliver on a greater cause.
Our conversation takes us into public venture capital, what he looks for in investment opportunities, his thoughts on capital structures and the powers of “aligned capital”. We also get into the deals he’s excited about now and how he and his partners structure and finance real estate opportunities.
Non-Dilutive Funding w Traction Conference Cofounder Lloyed Lobo – Ep. 10
There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars that you can recover from the government’s non-dilutive funding programs.
You’ve likely heard about them – R&D and the SRED tax credit programs.
Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI and I connect to discuss what these programs are and how they can apply to your business.
If you have ever wondered about tax credits work, how to best approach getting them – and even if you should bother, this will be a helpful interview for you.
Impact Investing w Mike Winterfield – Ep. 9
Mike Winterfield is the founder and CEO of Active Impact Investments.
He is blazing an interesting trail in the world of finance with a focus on companies that have a defined social benefit and purpose, also known as impact investing.
The thesis of his fund is to invest in companies that have a clear stated mission to tackle some of our most challenging social and environmental problems. The thing is, it is not a charity by any means. Along with a purpose that goes beyond just profit, his fund is looking to make outsized returns the same way a typical venture capital fund would.
Investment Banking w Hanif Joshaghani – Ep. 4
Hanif Joshaghani is a former Investment Banker turned entrepreneur… He is now the co-founder and CEO of Symend.
In this episode, you’re going to hear about what you should know about investment banking. I particularly liked our discussion around the due diligence process. It’s an inside scoop on how your deal may be viewed by bankers and cheque writers alike.
Cannabis Investments w Tyler Stuart of Green Acre Capital – Ep. 2
Tyler Stuart is a pioneer in the Cannabis investments industry. He and his partner created one of Canada’s first cannabis exclusive investment funds focusing on the ‘picks and shovels’ of the industry. Green Acre Capital now has two investment funds with over $100 million AUM focused both on early-stage venture opportunities and later stage private equity investments. Listen to hear how Tyler view the industry and the deals he sees.
Ep. 23 – Is There An Algorithm For Billion Dollar Growth?
Charles Plant is a former founder, VC, banker and now a PhD candidate in economics. A key focus for him is the Narwhal Project – or the study of world-class Canadian Unicorns (aka Narwhals) as defined by a billion-dollar plus valuation.
The question of what it takes to build a billion-dollar organization has led Charles to research and publish numerous studies on his findings. What we get is a glimpse into the algorithms of growth… in other words, the capital it takes and the areas you need to spend to achieve the growth targets that result in a billion-dollar plus valuation.
Cannabis Investing w Jeanne Sullivan – Ep. 18
Jeanne Sullivan is a General Partner at ArcView Venture Fund and is seasoned technology venture capitalist. She speaks about cannabis investing to audiences around the globe including SXSW and keynotes at conferences like MJBiz.
In our discussion we get into many of the issues entrepreneurs are facing and what she’s seeing with the changing political and regulatory landscape in the US. As well, we discuss how you should be articulating your business opportunity, finding capable advisors and how to compensate them for their contributions.
Marijuana Investment Banking w David Traylor – Ep. 15
David Traylor is an investment banker who’s has positioned his firm directly on the growing cannabis industry.
When banking a deal, he is the one who is advising youon terms and valuation while also assembling a book of investors for your deal.
David shares some funny stories, but we also speak about the changing regulations and about the indicators of how states are changing their perspectives. Given his position, he has a front row seat to the rapid changes that are happening in the cannabis industry.
Early Stage Finance w Valhalla Private Capital’s Randy Thompson – Ep. 14
Randy Thompson is the Chairman and CEO of Valhalla Private Capital. He was awarded the 2018 Angel Investor Of The Year and in this episode we get into early stage finance and what led to that achievement.
We dig in to how entrepreneurs can and need to be competitive when compared to other deals on an international stage. You’ll also hear about how he approaches building investable deals. This preparation is a crucial factor in setting yourself up for long term success.
Small Cap Conferences w Cambridge House’s Jay Martin – Ep. 12
Small cap conferences are a big investment. They can change the course of a company when done right. Jay Martin leads Cambridge House and produces a series of events including CanTech, the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference and the Extraordinary Future Conference. Learn about how to make the most of your investor conferences in this interview.
Public Venture Capital w Praveen Varshney – Ep. 11
From mining to gaming to real estate and now going deep with Social Impact Investing; Praveen Varshney talks with us about his approach to investing in winning opportunities. He and his partners – his father and brother – have earned an outstanding reputation and are now focusing their strengths on bettering the world through building companies that deliver on a greater cause.
Our conversation takes us into public venture capital, what he looks for in investment opportunities, his thoughts on capital structures and the powers of “aligned capital”. We also get into the deals he’s excited about now and how he and his partners structure and finance real estate opportunities.
Non-Dilutive Funding w Traction Conference Cofounder Lloyed Lobo – Ep. 10
There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars that you can recover from the government’s non-dilutive funding programs.
You’ve likely heard about them – R&D and the SRED tax credit programs.
Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI and I connect to discuss what these programs are and how they can apply to your business.
If you have ever wondered about tax credits work, how to best approach getting them – and even if you should bother, this will be a helpful interview for you.
Impact Investing w Mike Winterfield – Ep. 9
Mike Winterfield is the founder and CEO of Active Impact Investments.
He is blazing an interesting trail in the world of finance with a focus on companies that have a defined social benefit and purpose, also known as impact investing.
The thesis of his fund is to invest in companies that have a clear stated mission to tackle some of our most challenging social and environmental problems. The thing is, it is not a charity by any means. Along with a purpose that goes beyond just profit, his fund is looking to make outsized returns the same way a typical venture capital fund would.
Investment Banking w Hanif Joshaghani – Ep. 4
Hanif Joshaghani is a former Investment Banker turned entrepreneur… He is now the co-founder and CEO of Symend.
In this episode, you’re going to hear about what you should know about investment banking. I particularly liked our discussion around the due diligence process. It’s an inside scoop on how your deal may be viewed by bankers and cheque writers alike.
Cannabis Investments w Tyler Stuart of Green Acre Capital – Ep. 2
Tyler Stuart is a pioneer in the Cannabis investments industry. He and his partner created one of Canada’s first cannabis exclusive investment funds focusing on the ‘picks and shovels’ of the industry. Green Acre Capital now has two investment funds with over $100 million AUM focused both on early-stage venture opportunities and later stage private equity investments. Listen to hear how Tyler view the industry and the deals he sees.
Ep. 24 – Negotiations In Finance And The Win/Win Fallacy.
In life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
So, in this episode, we talk about negotiation.
We are joined by Mark Raffan, who is a professional negotiator, coach, and host of the Negotiations Ninja podcast.
There is no doubt that negotiation plays a crucial role in financing a company. So, we talk about some of the tactics and styles that you can put to use. We also talk about some misconceptions, his favorite episodes and it surely wouldn’t be complete without a discussion about Donald Trump and his negotiating skills.
Ep. 23 – Is There An Algorithm For Billion Dollar Growth?
Charles Plant is a former founder, VC, banker and now a PhD candidate in economics. A key focus for him is the Narwhal Project – or the study of world-class Canadian Unicorns (aka Narwhals) as defined by a billion-dollar plus valuation.
The question of what it takes to build a billion-dollar organization has led Charles to research and publish numerous studies on his findings. What we get is a glimpse into the algorithms of growth… in other words, the capital it takes and the areas you need to spend to achieve the growth targets that result in a billion-dollar plus valuation.
Ep. 22 – Going Public? Do Retail Investors Matter?
Danny Brody is the CEO of TGOD Acquisitions Corp., a partner in RADD Capital and CCO of HempFusion. He and his partners have been the financial force behind some of the cannabis industries most notable names. They’ve raised over half a billion dollars for Organigram, Emblem, Plus Products, The Green Organic Dutchman and now Hempfusion.
Danny speaks with us about his unconventional path to engaging investors for these companies. He lays out how they’re “Retail Investor First” strategy and who they’ve honed their approach through the companies they’ve partnered with. He was also generous in sharing lessons from doing this as well as perspectives on investor engagement, broker relationships and why you should protect your cap table like it is your firstborn.
Ep. 21 – Why Visual Content (not cash) Is King
Jeff Desjardins is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Visual Capitalist. If you haven’t seen the work Visual Capitalist yet, it won’t be long until you do. Visual Capitalist visualizes complex data so it is enjoyable to consume and easy to remember. His clients now include Black Rock, McKinsey, New York Life, Tony Robbins and many others. They create and deliver daily infographics and visualizations to a rapidly growing audience – 70% of whom are investors.
Selling Your Tech Business Is Going To Be Hard – Ep. 20
Brent Holliday is the Founder and CEO of Garibaldi Capital Advisors… He knows the game of financing and tech exits and shares the war stories here… When financing or selling your business, one wrong move can crater a deal or be fatal to a company’s future. Further, there’s not a lot of solid information or education for entrepreneurs about high-stakes financings.
In this episode, Brent and I dive into the world of financing and selling technology companies. Brent and his partners focus on selling companies up to $100mm in revenue.
Brent gives us an excellent look behind the scenes of how companies are sold. He’s tight lipped about the who clients are but that doesn’t matter. It is the knowledge that makes this such a powerful interview.
And If you’ve ever wondered what the value of an advisor is – as in an investment banker or a business broker, listen to this episode. It will give you the fire power to separate the good from the bad and the ugly.
Powerful Non-Verbal Communication w Mark Bowden – Ep. 19
Mark Bowden, an internationally acclaimed communications expert speaks with us about the power of body language and non-verbal communication. Your communication techniques carry tremendous power in delivering your message. Take note that it is much more than just the words you are saying.
Cannabis Investing w Jeanne Sullivan – Ep. 18
Jeanne Sullivan is a General Partner at ArcView Venture Fund and is seasoned technology venture capitalist. She speaks about cannabis investing to audiences around the globe including SXSW and keynotes at conferences like MJBiz.
In our discussion we get into many of the issues entrepreneurs are facing and what she’s seeing with the changing political and regulatory landscape in the US. As well, we discuss how you should be articulating your business opportunity, finding capable advisors and how to compensate them for their contributions.
Dating In The World Of Private Equity – Ep. 17
Peter Lehrman, the founder of Axial.net knows the world of private equity and mid-market deals. He has built an online platform that connects entrepreneurs in the lower middle market with investors and capital advisors. They are tackling the problem of capital inefficiency for small and medium sized businesses and he’s got a very interesting perspective on how to raise money or sell your company. In this episode, Peter delivers some great insights about building capital relationships, being ready and how to play the game of building credible deal tension.
Investing in Cannabis and the Future to Come – Ep. 16
In this episode, David Wartell and I talk about how his private equity firm is investing in cannabis companies, his early days of cannabis and the lessons he has from his twenty years of building and exiting companies.
Marijuana Investment Banking w David Traylor – Ep. 15
David Traylor is an investment banker who’s has positioned his firm directly on the growing cannabis industry.
When banking a deal, he is the one who is advising youon terms and valuation while also assembling a book of investors for your deal.
David shares some funny stories, but we also speak about the changing regulations and about the indicators of how states are changing their perspectives. Given his position, he has a front row seat to the rapid changes that are happening in the cannabis industry.
Early Stage Finance w Valhalla Private Capital’s Randy Thompson – Ep. 14
Randy Thompson is the Chairman and CEO of Valhalla Private Capital. He was awarded the 2018 Angel Investor Of The Year and in this episode we get into early stage finance and what led to that achievement.
We dig in to how entrepreneurs can and need to be competitive when compared to other deals on an international stage. You’ll also hear about how he approaches building investable deals. This preparation is a crucial factor in setting yourself up for long term success.
Gary Hoover on the History of Business – Ep. 13
Gary Hoover brings some 40+ years of business experience to this interview. From being a Wall Street analyst to founding, listing and selling pubco’s and on to his board participation with some well known companies…
Gary now leads the American Business History Center which provides us a valuable look into the companies that have defined our world as we know it. Gary is a prolific reader and historian. He has a collection of over 57,000 books and recites facts and figures with ease. This is a great opportunity to hear the perspectives of a man who has lead companies through thick and thin. I am sure you’ll enjoy.
Small Cap Conferences w Cambridge House’s Jay Martin – Ep. 12
Small cap conferences are a big investment. They can change the course of a company when done right. Jay Martin leads Cambridge House and produces a series of events including CanTech, the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference and the Extraordinary Future Conference. Learn about how to make the most of your investor conferences in this interview.
Public Venture Capital w Praveen Varshney – Ep. 11
From mining to gaming to real estate and now going deep with Social Impact Investing; Praveen Varshney talks with us about his approach to investing in winning opportunities. He and his partners – his father and brother – have earned an outstanding reputation and are now focusing their strengths on bettering the world through building companies that deliver on a greater cause.
Our conversation takes us into public venture capital, what he looks for in investment opportunities, his thoughts on capital structures and the powers of “aligned capital”. We also get into the deals he’s excited about now and how he and his partners structure and finance real estate opportunities.
Non-Dilutive Funding w Traction Conference Cofounder Lloyed Lobo – Ep. 10
There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars that you can recover from the government’s non-dilutive funding programs.
You’ve likely heard about them – R&D and the SRED tax credit programs.
Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI and I connect to discuss what these programs are and how they can apply to your business.
If you have ever wondered about tax credits work, how to best approach getting them – and even if you should bother, this will be a helpful interview for you.
Impact Investing w Mike Winterfield – Ep. 9
Mike Winterfield is the founder and CEO of Active Impact Investments.
He is blazing an interesting trail in the world of finance with a focus on companies that have a defined social benefit and purpose, also known as impact investing.
The thesis of his fund is to invest in companies that have a clear stated mission to tackle some of our most challenging social and environmental problems. The thing is, it is not a charity by any means. Along with a purpose that goes beyond just profit, his fund is looking to make outsized returns the same way a typical venture capital fund would.
Small Cap Investing w Stone Castle Investments’ Bruce Campbell – Ep. 8
Bruce is the founder and Portfolio Manager of Stone Castle Funds. We’ll talk about small cap investing and much more.
In this interview, we don’t talk about investment ideas or big wins. Instead we focus on what he likes to see from the companies he invests in. From the funds he manages to the way he keeps deals on his radar, you’ll hear his inside perspective.
Bruce and his team manage six funds across various sectors including cannabis and blockchain. He is a regular contributor to BNN Bloomberg, The Globe and Mail and other media outlets.”
Finding Gold In The Capital Markets – Part 2 – Ep. 7
Part 2 – What would you learn from 35+ years of building companies in the capital markets?
In this two part episode, Gordon Keep expounds on his experience in building over 250 companies and the lessons he’s had with public venture capital.
From his early days with the TSX, helping write regulations, being an early mover into South America with what was Yorkton Securities and on to his enduring partnership with Frank Giustra to build some of the world’s most notable resource companies.
Financing Resource Companies w Gordon Keep – Ep. 6
What would you learn from 35+ years of building companies in the capital markets?
In this two part episode, Gordon Keep expounds on his experience in building over 250 companies and the lessons he’s had with public venture capital.
From his early days with the TSX, helping write regulations, being an early mover into South America with what was Yorkton Securities and on to his enduring partnership with Frank Giustra to build some of the world’s most notable resource companies.
Soft Skills Needed for Real Estate Finance w Frank Lonardelli – Ep. 5
Frank Lonardelli is the founder and CEO of Arlington St. Investments. Frank is a sharp businessman having built a portfolio of real estate assets well into the hundreds of millions of dollars. As well as having an exceptional eye for deals and detail, Frank is a powerful storyteller. He has the ability to paint a vivid picture of situations and opportunities which has surely worked in his favour when financing his projects. For those interested in real estate finance and real estate development projects, this is a special episode worth listening to.
Investment Banking w Hanif Joshaghani – Ep. 4
Hanif Joshaghani is a former Investment Banker turned entrepreneur… He is now the co-founder and CEO of Symend.
In this episode, you’re going to hear about what you should know about investment banking. I particularly liked our discussion around the due diligence process. It’s an inside scoop on how your deal may be viewed by bankers and cheque writers alike.
Brian Paes-Braga of Lithium X, Fiore Group Talks Growth – Ep. 3
Brian Paes-Braga is an exceptional entrepreneur. He is a partner and Managing Director at Fiore Group and the founder of Lithium X. He was one of the youngest CEO’s to lead a TSX Venture company (Lithium X) which was sold for over a quarter billion dollars. In this episode, we get into how he did it, the importance of a compelling narrative and where he is focusing his energy now.
Cannabis Investments w Tyler Stuart of Green Acre Capital – Ep. 2
Tyler Stuart is a pioneer in the Cannabis investments industry. He and his partner created one of Canada’s first cannabis exclusive investment funds focusing on the ‘picks and shovels’ of the industry. Green Acre Capital now has two investment funds with over $100 million AUM focused both on early-stage venture opportunities and later stage private equity investments. Listen to hear how Tyler view the industry and the deals he sees.
Capital Formation w Brady Fletcher of TSX Venture – Ep. 1
Brady Fletcher is the Managing Director of the TSX Venture Exchange. He brings nearly a decade of investment banking experience to this role and a clear perspective of how the Venture should be used as a capital formation tool. We discuss the power of Public Venture Capital, compare and contrast it with other funding options as well as get into the mechanics of Capital Pool Companies or CPC’s.
Ep. 22 – Going Public? Do Retail Investors Matter?
Danny Brody is the CEO of TGOD Acquisitions Corp., a partner in RADD Capital and CCO of HempFusion. He and his partners have been the financial force behind some of the cannabis industries most notable names. They’ve raised over half a billion dollars for Organigram, Emblem, Plus Products, The Green Organic Dutchman and now Hempfusion.
Danny speaks with us about his unconventional path to engaging investors for these companies. He lays out how they’re “Retail Investor First” strategy and who they’ve honed their approach through the companies they’ve partnered with. He was also generous in sharing lessons from doing this as well as perspectives on investor engagement, broker relationships and why you should protect your cap table like it is your firstborn.
Marijuana Investment Banking w David Traylor – Ep. 15
David Traylor is an investment banker who’s has positioned his firm directly on the growing cannabis industry.
When banking a deal, he is the one who is advising youon terms and valuation while also assembling a book of investors for your deal.
David shares some funny stories, but we also speak about the changing regulations and about the indicators of how states are changing their perspectives. Given his position, he has a front row seat to the rapid changes that are happening in the cannabis industry.
Small Cap Conferences w Cambridge House’s Jay Martin – Ep. 12
Small cap conferences are a big investment. They can change the course of a company when done right. Jay Martin leads Cambridge House and produces a series of events including CanTech, the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference and the Extraordinary Future Conference. Learn about how to make the most of your investor conferences in this interview.
Public Venture Capital w Praveen Varshney – Ep. 11
From mining to gaming to real estate and now going deep with Social Impact Investing; Praveen Varshney talks with us about his approach to investing in winning opportunities. He and his partners – his father and brother – have earned an outstanding reputation and are now focusing their strengths on bettering the world through building companies that deliver on a greater cause.
Our conversation takes us into public venture capital, what he looks for in investment opportunities, his thoughts on capital structures and the powers of “aligned capital”. We also get into the deals he’s excited about now and how he and his partners structure and finance real estate opportunities.
Non-Dilutive Funding w Traction Conference Cofounder Lloyed Lobo – Ep. 10
There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars that you can recover from the government’s non-dilutive funding programs.
You’ve likely heard about them – R&D and the SRED tax credit programs.
Lloyed Lobo of Boast.AI and I connect to discuss what these programs are and how they can apply to your business.
If you have ever wondered about tax credits work, how to best approach getting them – and even if you should bother, this will be a helpful interview for you.
Small Cap Investing w Stone Castle Investments’ Bruce Campbell – Ep. 8
Bruce is the founder and Portfolio Manager of Stone Castle Funds. We’ll talk about small cap investing and much more.
In this interview, we don’t talk about investment ideas or big wins. Instead we focus on what he likes to see from the companies he invests in. From the funds he manages to the way he keeps deals on his radar, you’ll hear his inside perspective.
Bruce and his team manage six funds across various sectors including cannabis and blockchain. He is a regular contributor to BNN Bloomberg, The Globe and Mail and other media outlets.”
Finding Gold In The Capital Markets – Part 2 – Ep. 7
Part 2 – What would you learn from 35+ years of building companies in the capital markets?
In this two part episode, Gordon Keep expounds on his experience in building over 250 companies and the lessons he’s had with public venture capital.
From his early days with the TSX, helping write regulations, being an early mover into South America with what was Yorkton Securities and on to his enduring partnership with Frank Giustra to build some of the world’s most notable resource companies.
Financing Resource Companies w Gordon Keep – Ep. 6
What would you learn from 35+ years of building companies in the capital markets?
In this two part episode, Gordon Keep expounds on his experience in building over 250 companies and the lessons he’s had with public venture capital.
From his early days with the TSX, helping write regulations, being an early mover into South America with what was Yorkton Securities and on to his enduring partnership with Frank Giustra to build some of the world’s most notable resource companies.
Investment Banking w Hanif Joshaghani – Ep. 4
Hanif Joshaghani is a former Investment Banker turned entrepreneur… He is now the co-founder and CEO of Symend.
In this episode, you’re going to hear about what you should know about investment banking. I particularly liked our discussion around the due diligence process. It’s an inside scoop on how your deal may be viewed by bankers and cheque writers alike.
Brian Paes-Braga of Lithium X, Fiore Group Talks Growth – Ep. 3
Brian Paes-Braga is an exceptional entrepreneur. He is a partner and Managing Director at Fiore Group and the founder of Lithium X. He was one of the youngest CEO’s to lead a TSX Venture company (Lithium X) which was sold for over a quarter billion dollars. In this episode, we get into how he did it, the importance of a compelling narrative and where he is focusing his energy now.
Cannabis Investments w Tyler Stuart of Green Acre Capital – Ep. 2
Tyler Stuart is a pioneer in the Cannabis investments industry. He and his partner created one of Canada’s first cannabis exclusive investment funds focusing on the ‘picks and shovels’ of the industry. Green Acre Capital now has two investment funds with over $100 million AUM focused both on early-stage venture opportunities and later stage private equity investments. Listen to hear how Tyler view the industry and the deals he sees.
Capital Formation w Brady Fletcher of TSX Venture – Ep. 1
Brady Fletcher is the Managing Director of the TSX Venture Exchange. He brings nearly a decade of investment banking experience to this role and a clear perspective of how the Venture should be used as a capital formation tool. We discuss the power of Public Venture Capital, compare and contrast it with other funding options as well as get into the mechanics of Capital Pool Companies or CPC’s.
Public Venture Capital w Praveen Varshney – Ep. 11
From mining to gaming to real estate and now going deep with Social Impact Investing; Praveen Varshney talks with us about his approach to investing in winning opportunities. He and his partners – his father and brother – have earned an outstanding reputation and are now focusing their strengths on bettering the world through building companies that deliver on a greater cause.
Our conversation takes us into public venture capital, what he looks for in investment opportunities, his thoughts on capital structures and the powers of “aligned capital”. We also get into the deals he’s excited about now and how he and his partners structure and finance real estate opportunities.
Soft Skills Needed for Real Estate Finance w Frank Lonardelli – Ep. 5
Frank Lonardelli is the founder and CEO of Arlington St. Investments. Frank is a sharp businessman having built a portfolio of real estate assets well into the hundreds of millions of dollars. As well as having an exceptional eye for deals and detail, Frank is a powerful storyteller. He has the ability to paint a vivid picture of situations and opportunities which has surely worked in his favour when financing his projects. For those interested in real estate finance and real estate development projects, this is a special episode worth listening to.