Tech Startup Podcast Circa 2016


From about 2014 -2016 this was the Tech Startup Podcast website.
Content is from the site's archived pages and other sources.

About

The Tech Startup Podcast (TSP) is a weekly podcast covering news and opinions relating to the tech industry and focusing on tech startups in particular. The format is light and spontaneous, and we try to have fun with our topics and guests without getting too heavy or academic.

We host a new guest each week, drawn from the tech startup community in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where the podcast is recorded. If you are involved in a tech startup and are interested in appearing on the podcast, please contact us and we’ll arrange to speak with you about participating.

In 2016 TSP Weekly is hosted by Amaris Gerson and Stephen Campbell.

Amaris splits up her time between her work as Community Relations Coordinator at Magnet Forensics, her volunteering as Lead Organizer of HackerNest KW and helping with all sorts of community projects like TSPWeekly. She is a graduate from Humber College, Brock University and University of Guelph. She believes in never being too serious and never acting too mature to have fun. Amaris has a reputation for talking too much and struggles to sit still, brace yourself Tech Startup Podcast listeners.

Stephen is a recent graduate of the IT Innovation & Design program and has recently joined Grobo as the Product Development Specialist. 

In the 3rd and final year of his IT Innovation & Design program, Stephen is a unique blend of artistic designer and technical problem solver. He is the winner of the inaugural 2014 Technology Enhanced Social Innovation (TESI) competition at the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Conestoga College for developing appRaiser, a private friends & family focused crowd funding application. His latest project is trying to be the best co-host of the Tech Startup Podcast possible.

Darren has always been an entrepreneur at heart, but it took him over 30 years to make a serious run at the startup world. After dabbling in youth ministry, theoretical linguistics, and teaching EFL in Qatar, Darren is now heading up several startup projects that are still in the incubation phase, and likes to dabble in immersive media and Ruby on Rails projects. He is a father to two amazing children and husband to a beautiful wife.



Observations on startups - tech or otherwise.
How many people do research or even listen to pod casts when they first entertain the idea of starting a business. There are definitely tough questions of how to bring a business idea to life. But I bet that many young entrepreneurs just jump in feet first particularly if they are in the creative fields of art. Now I am talking about 1 or 2 person operations. AN example of this approach is how the founder and designer of Nest Houseware started. Matt Cavallaro founded Nest Homeware in 2013 with a vision to make beautiful products that would last forever. He had graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in industrial design. His interest in ancient materials and his need for physical interaction with his work led him to start casting iron over 10 years before he started this cast iron cookware business. He didn't listen to podcasts about how to start a business, but jumped in first making cast iron tables legs, having them cast at a foundry close to his base in Providence, RI, USA. He reached out to artisans that made table tops who would use his cast iron tables legs as their base. Eventually he decided to create cast iron cookware that would be different in design from the traditional, familiar pieces that are available for purchase everywhere from high end kitchen stores to Walmart. He started his journey into designing cast iron cookware that would be aesthetically worthy of its lifetime as not only a product, but an artful object, an artifact.

As a person who enjoyed cooking (his grandfather was a chef) he recognized the value of cast iron cookware. But he wanted to evolve its design. He started playing with the handle design for his designer cast iron skillet. The final handle concept was inspired by the beauty and grace of cherry branches deconstructed made to fit the human hand, resulting in an ergonomic, long, forked, asymmetrical, and curved handle with subtle edges and contours. The Nest Houseware cast iron skillet handles fit both left and right handed cooks.

A second design element Matt decided upon was to have the cooking surface of the cast iron cookware machined smooth all the way up the sidewalls, not only to improve cooking performance, but also to create a contrast to the textured appearance and feel of the exterior surfaces. All the Nest Houseware cast iron cookware which ranges from 4.5" & 9" skillets to dutch oven to braising pan plus their tops have a lovely, lustrous bronzy hue, the result of the seasoning process which involves pre-seasoning all the cast iron cookware with two rounds of organic flaxseed oil. Eventually the coppery color will change, deepening and darkening over time as layers of seasoning build, eventually reaching a rich black.

So here you have a person who wears the designer's hat having made prototypes. Now he needs to acquire some business knowledge involving finding and negotiating with a foundry to cast the product, finding another company to smooth the cast iron products' surfaces, another company to create the packaging, plus either handling himself or hiring people to season and then package the cast iron cookware. The third hat required after all this, is the sales side of the business. Large businesses can hire sales, social and IT persons. A one or two person operation requires that they also have to be their own IT, social medial and sales person. A website and a presence on social media are required, but so is attending major houseware shows where stores can buy the products wholesale and attending major fairs where you would sell directly to the public. At some point raising money may also be required.

Honestly, even if one vaguely comprehends just part of what goes into a business via a podcast or two, the actual reality is often very different. You can put bullet points on all the aspects one should consider. But you can't factor in luck or success, no matter how many podcasts one listens to.

All I can say is good luck and plan on a lot of hard work. Hope for some lucky breaks. Go for it.

 



2016

Christie Digital w Gary Klassen

September 6, 2016 podcasts
Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Gary Klassen from Christie Digital.

Gary offers awesome insight into keeping innovation at the forefront of Christie, the history of this landmark Kitchener company and life after BBM and Blackberry.  Inspiring #StartupCrush deep thoughts too!

You can find Christie Digital on the web, on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and on Facebook.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.

 

Sortable w Chris Reid

August 30, 2016

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Chris Reid from Sortable.
Chris chats about the local startup landscape, publisher problems, mentors that have made a difference and more.  Checkout the 3×3 and see who Chris thinks is doing a great job during #StartupCrush.
You can find Sortable on the web, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.
If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.

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Geek Week w Sam Trieu & Darin White

August 23, 2016
Ep104
Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Darin White and Sam Trieu to chat Geek Week.

Maker Expo kicks off a ten day celebration of geeky passions spanning everything from beer to bikes to cars and coding?with Geek Week (Sept 10-24, 2016).
 
We chat the history of Geek Week, highlight the extraordinary league of organizers in Waterloo Region, and ask everyone to define what geek means to them.
 
You can find Geek Week on the web, on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.

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Horizon Engineering Solutions w Hariharan Krithivasan & Lucas Oldfield

August 16, 2016podcasts

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Hariharan Krithivasan & Lucas Oldfield from Horizon Engineering Solutions.

We chat AI for lights, cameras, temp and security.  Really smart guys, doing really smart things.  

You can find Horizon on the web, on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Facebook.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.

Download this episode here!

Share this with your peeps!

~~~~

Shinydocs w Jason Cassidy

August 7, 2016podcasts

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Jason Cassidy from Shinydocs.

Jason patiently explains what shinydocs is, why it is and what it took to make it so.  Proud winners of the OpenText Global Technology Partner of the Year we put finger prints all over this shiny award.  Awesome insight on Agile brainstorming, bootstrapping and customer validation.  Listen to Jason’s wisdom now, before he takes over the world.  Oh, and poker chips, poker chips and steaks.

You can find Shinydocs on the web, on Twitter, on LinkedIn, on YouTube and on Facebook.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.
Download this episode here!

Share this with your peeps!

~~~~~

Tech Startup Podcast w Stephen & Amaris

July 19, 2016 podcasts

Ep100

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson chat about the Tech Startup Podcast and it’s 100th episode.  It’s really meta and narcissistic, check it out!

You can find TSPWeekly on the web and on Twitter.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.
Download this episode here!

Share this with your peeps!

~~~~

DOZR w Erin Stephenson

July 10, 2016podcasts

Amaris, Brandon, Erin and Stephen

Amaris, Brandon, Erin and Stephen

Ep101

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Erin Stephenson from DOZR.

Erin talks about how their verified network of contractors make revenue from their idle equipment. 1600 contractors agree from all across Canada.  3X3, #StartupCrush and being nice to your local construction worker are all covered!

You can find DOZR on the web, on Twitter, on LinkedIn and on Facebook.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.
Download this episode here!

Share this with your peeps!

~~~~

Fierce Founders Bootcamp w Danielle Graham

July 3, 2016 podcasts

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Danielle Graham from Communitech

Danielle talks about the Women in Tech, Fierce Founders Bootcamp.  Starting as a co-op student, Danielle has grown with the program and is now it’s leader!  Two 3 day sessions attended by 25 international companies.  Check out the company list here.  Listen to Stephen mistake Rachel for Rachel, two very fierce founders & Danielle chat about the ‘just announced‘ Fierce Founders Accelerator, an extension of the Bootcamp.

You can find the Fierce Founders Bootcamp program on the web, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.
Download this episode here!

Share this with your peeps!

~~~~

Distillery Labs w Josh Hillis

June 28, 2016podcasts

Josh Hillis, Amaris and Stephen

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview Josh Hillis from Distillery Labs

Ep98

Josh explains how bridging the gap between starting up and long term leasing is vital to many local young companies, shares some Waterloo history, talks Pair Mobile & Flykyt (pronounced flick-it) and talks at length about his #StartupCrush that is in stealth mode.  

You can find Distillery Labs on the web, on Twitter, and on LinkedIn.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.
If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.


Share this with your peeps!

~~~~~

NeverForgetPhoto w David Wilk

June 20, 2016 podcasts

NeverForgetPhoto on TSPWeekly

Stephen, Amaris & David

Stephen Campbell & Amaris Gerson interview David Wilk from NeverForgetPhoto

David explains how his new DIY photo booth is his value proposition, Amaris is a dr. of ‘Tickle chests’, bootstrapping from the garage and standing out from the crowd are all discussed.  Plus Australia and a park bench…

You can find NeverForgetPhoto on the web, on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.

If you want to check out the video of this podcast, check out TechFarm on YouTube.

If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment at the TSPWeekly website, and remember to follow us on Twitter @tspweekly.
Download this episode here!

Share this with your peeps!

 



 

Episode List

Here is a list of all TSP Weekly episodes from newest to oldest. Click on any episode to see the episode description and listen to the episode with the web player. There is a link at the end of each episode description if you want to download the episode directly.
All episodes

  • Christie Digital w Gary Klassen
  • Sortable w Chris Reid
  • Geek Week w Sam Trieu & Darin White
  • Horizon Engineering Solutions w Hariharan Krithivasan & Lucas Oldfield
  • Shinydocs w Jason Cassidy
  • Tech Startup Podcast w Stephen & Amaris
  • DOZR w Erin Stephenson
  • Fierce Founders Bootcamp w Danielle Graham
  • Distillery Labs w Josh Hillis
  • NeverForgetPhoto w David Wilk
  • Igloo Software w Dan Latendre
  • MAJiK Systems w Jared Evans & Kamal Aman
  • Ways We Work w Amandah Wood & Matt Quinn
  • Knowledgehook w Co-Founder Travis Ratnam
  • bridgit w CEO Mallorie Brodie
  • RideCo w Prem Gururajan
  • Episode 90 - Communitech
  • Episode 89 - BuildDirect
  • Episode 88 - BluePoint
  • Episode 87 - Alaunus
  • Episode 86 - Tech Farm
  • Episode 85 - Site2Site
  • Special Episode 84 - 43North
  • Episode 83 - HimHer
  • Episode 82 - Sweet Tooth
  • Episode 81 - CodeConnect
  • Episode 80 - Armodilo
  • Episode 79 - TextNow
  • Episode 78 - FunnelCake
  • Episode 77 - Pitstop
  • Episode 76 - FHMatch
  • Episode 75 - Roadmunk
  • Episode 74 - Pressa Bottle
  • Episode 73 - CodeFest Waterloo
  • Episode 72 - TSP Weekly
  • Episode 71 - Arylla
  • Episode 70 - Startup Weekend Guelph
  • Episode 69 - Top Score Baseball
  • Episode 68 - Grocera
  • Episode 67 - Marketing & PR 2
  • Episode 66 - Vidya
  • Episode 65 - Yumr
  • Episode 64 - VotR
  • Episode 63 - Georgette Packaging
  • Episode 62 - Ambient Intelligence Conference
  • Episode 61 - Bartesian
  • Episode 60 - Marketing & PR
  • Episode 59 - Silqe
  • Episode 58 - LaniLabs
  • Episode 57 - Redtree Robotics
  • Episode 56 - Aterlo
  • Episode 55 - Year of Code Waterloo Region
  • Episode 54 - Videostream
  • Episode 53 - Vubble
  • Episode 52 - Focus21
  • Episode 51 - HackerNest (update)
  • Episode 50 - Magnet Forensics
  • Episode 49 - AdVolve Media
  • Episode 48 - Chalk.com
  • Episode 47 - Breakfast!
  • Episode 46 - TritonWear
  • Episode 45 - MappedIn
  • Episode 44 - Magnusmode
  • Episode 43 - bitHound
  • Episode 42 - PiinPoint
  • Episode 41 - SpeakFeel
  • Episode 40 - Pitch Day @ Conestoga VIDEO EDITION
  • Episode 40 - Pitch Day at Conestoga College
  • Episode 39 - Auvik
  • Episode 38 - SparkGig
  • Episode 37 - Grobo
  • Episode 36 - Visibull
  • Episode 35 - Studios.fm
  • Episode 34 - CyberNorth Ventures
  • Episode 33 - OneSet
  • Episode 32 - NeuRecall
  • Episode 31 - Palette
  • Episode 30 - WeMesh
  • Episode 29 - Clipter
  • Episode 28 - Suncayr
  • Episode 27 - Binary Tattoo
  • Episode 26 - Wriber
  • Episode 25 - DraftingSpace
  • Episode 24 - Poet
  • Episode 23 - GoalRecorder
  • Episode 22 - Plasticity
  • Episode 21 - Steve McCartney (Communitech)
  • Episode 20 - Skywatch
  • Episode 19 - This Is Your Out (TIYO)
  • Episode 18 - Pout
  • Episode 17 - Happenate
  • Episode 16 - MyCareerCity
  • Episode 15 - RENOMii
  • Episode 14 - Mike Kirkup (Velocity)
  • Episode 13 - Barbara Fennessy (Conestoga College)
  • Episode 12 - Rockstar Cafe
  • Episode 11 - MBlok
  • Episode 10 - Bernie Roehl
  • Episode 9 - Sam Legge (Communitech)
  • Episode 8 - Echosims & Meersocial

 



 

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COMMENTS

4 thoughts on “About”

Rachel Bartholomew

December 12, 2014

Hi TSP Team,

My name is Rachel Bartholomew and I am a recent graduate of the MBET program at University of Waterloo. I work with the Conrad Centre for Entrepreneurship and also have started an investment fund locally in Waterloo called CyberNorth Ventures, which will be making seed stage investments into strictly Waterloo born and raised companies.

I was wondering if you guys would be free to talk about your TSPWeekly podcast, your view on the Waterloo region and the start-up scene and maybe some companies/ideas you are really excited about in the region.

Let me know if you are interested! I really like what you guys are doing to shed light on some really great start-ups that might not get the exposure they deserve within Waterloo!

Thanks,

Hello,

Enjoying your podcasts. I’m a recent tech founder located in Ancaster experiencing traction this year. I’m very interested in being interviewed. I’m signing up with Communitech as a member this month to get to know more of you in Kitchener/Waterloo etc. I might be outside your area and I can come to you but understand if you are limiting to your region only.

Jason

 

Jason Hamilton-Mascioli

April 27, 2016

My brothers and I have been working on an innovative, ecologically sound process to eliminate medical waste and other hazardous materials robotically. It's basically a self contained vessel outfitted with high tech capabilities to classify and sort waste using pre-trained AI control software.

This project is perfect for your podcast, and we would welcome an interview to excite your listeners with this new application of smart technology. We expect to have a number of our self-contained biomedical disposal units in place within the month.

Appreciate any insights you or your audience can provide. We're trying to create a startup that will contribute to the quality of life on planet earth.

Hope you have a great day

Sincerely,

Ozzy Ostegren

 

Brian

April 29, 2016 at 5:01 am

I’m very sorry that I’m sending you a message that you probably never expected to get… I’m a first-year college student and as a part-time job I’m working for a small audio production studio here in Shanghai. Have you ever thought about outsourcing the production of your podcast overseas so that you could free up some of your precious time to create great content for your show instead of messing with sound editing? What our studio does is take your podcast recordings, edit out the parts that you don’t need, mix in your intro, outro, music, etc., normalize volume level and insert ID3 tags. Our rate is 8 bucks per episode and turnaround is 24 hours. And your very first episode is on us.

Additionally, we take tremendous pride in providing unlimited revision for every episode at no charge in case you’re not completely satisfied with our work.

Again I’m so sorry for bothering you, and I’ll take you off our contact list now so we won’t reach out to you again unless you are interested in giving our services a try.

Hope you have a great day

Sincerely,

Brian


TSPWeekly.com