Harley Finkelstein, Aidan Gomez, and Mike Katchen dismiss the ‘Valley or bust’ myth.
This week on The BetaKit Podcast, we have a little something special for you.
“ It’s kind of that ‘Valley or bust’ mentality which breaks the ecosystem and really hurts Canada.”
It’s a candid conversation between three leaders of some of Canada’s most prominent tech companies—Shopify, Wealthsimple, and Cohere—recorded live at Homecoming, one of the anchor events of Toronto Tech Week. As Toronto Tech Week’s official media partner, BetaKit is happy to deliver this conversation straight to your ears.
The Homecoming panel in question was billed as one about ‘Ambition made in Canada’ and contains a lot of ambitious talk (RIP the 600-pound beaver in the room—you lived life like a candle in the wind).
But it’s as much about what Canadians should say yes to and pursue as what they should refuse: brain drain, reincorporation in Delaware, and selling out.
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None of these sentiments are new, but there is an added weight to the statements, earned by the experience of those people speaking on stage. Pay attention to which proclamations are backed by personal history, and note how each panellist offers support to any Canadian tech entrepreneurs experiencing something similar.
So without further ado, here is a conversation between Shopify’s Harley Finkelstein, Wealthsimple’s Mike Katchen, and Cohere’s Aidan Gomez.
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Invest Northern Ireland: the gateway to international growth.
International Tech companies are discovering countless advantages in Northern Ireland. That’s why it’s the #2 international investment location for US cybersecurity firms, as well as Europe’s leading location for new Software development projects. Global Tech giants like Microsoft, Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Synopsys have already spotted the benefits we offer, such as our skilled workforce, supportive business environment, competitive costs, and expertise in sectors like cybersecurity and fintech.
Let Northern Ireland help your business grow. Visit investni.com/americas to learn more.
BetaKit is the official media partner of Toronto Tech Week. Feature image courtesy Jon Fingas for BetaKit.
BetaKit majority owner Good Future is the family office of two former Shopify leaders, Arati Sharma and Satish Kanwar.