Startup Sandwich Podcast | Entrepreneurship in Bite Sized Lessons

YEDI (York Entrepreneurship Development Institute)
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Welcome to the Startup Sandwich Podcast, powered by YEDI (York Entrepreneurship Development Institute) where the layers of innovation meets success. Startup Sandwich is a podcast for entrepreneurs and innovators who are hungry for real stories and practical insights from startups and growing businesses.  In each episode, we dive into the journey of a founder covering early-stage struggles, business growth strategies, product development, funding, and the messy realities of entrepreneurship. Hosted in a relaxed, story-driven format, guests share the “bread and butter” of who they are, the “toppings” of what they’re building, and the bold, flavour-packed "secret sauce" from their startup journey. Whether you're launching a tech startup, scaling a non-profit, or looking to break into the business world, this podcast delivers startup advice, founder interviews, and actionable tips to help you grow.

Episodes

  1. How Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Confidence, Visibility, and Business Growth

    APR 22

    How Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Confidence, Visibility, and Business Growth

    In this episode of the Startup Sandwich Podcast, Ric Phillips, communication specialist at YEDI, sits down with Abimbola Akinnuoye, Founder of Leading Ladies Connect and Co-Founder of Karisverse, to talk about the real challenges women entrepreneurs face when building and growing a business. From visibility and storytelling to funding, confidence, community, and brand growth, this conversation explores why so many women in business still downplay what they do and why that can hold them back. Abimbola shares her perspective on women entrepreneurship, the importance of showing up and telling your story, and how women founders can build credibility, access opportunities, and grow beyond the “small business” mindset. Abimbola is the Founder of Leading Ladies Connect https://leadingladiesconnect.com/ , where she builds spaces that help women grow, get visible, and access real opportunities, and Co-Founder of Karisverse, an experiential media and marketing agency focused on storytelling and brand visibility. She works at the intersection of community, entrepreneurship, and media, and has built a global network of over 12,000 women while curating high-impact experiences that connect women directly to funding, partnerships, and visibility. Startup Sandwich podcast is powered by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI), a designated learning institution that helps aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs build real businesses through practical education, mentorship, expert guidance, and a supportive entrepreneurial community. Learn more at yedi.ca.

    35 min
  2. Before You Start a Business: How to Tell If Your Idea Is Viable

    MAR 11

    Before You Start a Business: How to Tell If Your Idea Is Viable

    Before you start a business, one critical question matters: is your idea actually viable? In this episode of the Startup Sandwich Podcast, powered by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI), Rick Phillips speaks with Fabio Crespin from United Way about the reality of entrepreneurship, how to evaluate a business idea, and why a good idea alone isn’t enough to build a successful startup. Many entrepreneurs start a business based on passion or inspiration, but without understanding whether there is real market demand. In this conversation, Fabio shares insights from years of working with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and social enterprises to explain how founders can think realistically about business viability, market signals, and long-term sustainability. In this episode we discuss: • How to know if your business idea is viable • Why most business ideas fail before reaching the market • The importance of market demand and real market signals • Balancing entrepreneurial determination with honest feedback • What social enterprises are and how they work • Real examples of businesses creating jobs for people facing employment barriers • Why sustainable business models matter more than grants • The role of mentors, communities, and support networks in entrepreneurship • How automation and economic changes are shaping the future of work • Why more people are turning to entrepreneurship and small business ownership 🎧 Startup Sandwich Podcast is powered by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) www.yedi.ca , a global leader in entrepreneurship education and startup training. The podcast explores the real stories, challenges, and lessons behind building successful businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.

    36 min
  3. What 30 Years in Canada’s Construction Industry Taught Me About Business, Risk & Opportunity

    FEB 24

    What 30 Years in Canada’s Construction Industry Taught Me About Business, Risk & Opportunity

    In this episode of the Startup Sandwich Podcast, Rick Phillips sits down with construction entrepreneur Patrick McCormick, founder of Demo For Your Reno, to discuss his journey from Ireland to Canada and the lessons learned from building and scaling a construction business over three decades. Patrick shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started early, why hearing “no” is part of success, and how risk is not luck — it’s a skill developed through knowledge and experience. From spotting opportunity in unexpected places to growing a company in Canada’s competitive construction industry, this conversation explores the real thinking behind long-term entrepreneurial success. The discussion covers:  • Starting over as an immigrant entrepreneur in Canada  • The reality of entrepreneurship in the construction industry  • Why informed risk-taking separates successful founders  • Lessons learned from 30+ years in business  • Hiring without resumes and testing real-world skills  • Innovation in construction and demolition practices  • Leadership, resilience, and continuous improvement (lean methodology)  • Why opportunity favors those already in the game Whether you’re a startup founder, trades professional, business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers practical insight into how successful entrepreneurs think, adapt, and grow over time.

    40 min
  4. Why Networking Events Don’t Work (And What Actually Builds Opportunity)

    FEB 9

    Why Networking Events Don’t Work (And What Actually Builds Opportunity)

    Most entrepreneurs attend networking events hoping to meet investors, partners, or clients — yet leave with business cards and no real opportunities. Why? In this episode of the Startup Sandwich Podcast by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) https://yedi.ca/ , we speak with Karen Fox https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerenfox/ , founder of OhHi https://www.ohhi-global.com/ , a relationship-building technology designed to turn chance encounters into meaningful professional connections. Instead of focusing on introductions, Karen explains why trust, follow-up, and deeper conversations are what actually open doors in business. We explore: • why networking often feels pointless for founders • the difference between contacts and relationships • how shallow conversations block business growth • building rapport and trust in professional settings • how entrepreneurs can create real opportunities from events • the psychology behind memorable conversations and follow-ups If you’re a startup founder, small business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur struggling to get results from networking, this conversation will change how you approach business relationships. About YEDI The York Entrepreneurship Development Institute helps Canadian entrepreneurs launch and grow successful businesses through hands-on training, mentorship, and practical startup education. Our programs support founders at every stage — from idea validation to scaling and fundraising. Explore our entrepreneurship programs and resources: 👉 https://www.yedi.ca

    32 min
  5. How to Build a Beauty Brand Without Big Money or Big Investors

    JAN 14

    How to Build a Beauty Brand Without Big Money or Big Investors

    The global beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar market, projected to reach over $677 billion by 2025, with skincare leading at 40%. How do you break into this billion dollar industry without big money or big investors? In today's episode, we talk with Flavia Zhamo, who pulls the curtain back on how beauty brands make it to the shelves and fighting founder burnout.  Flavia Zhamo is the founder of Everyday Chemist, a boutique skincare brand, and EC Studios, a cosmetic R&D lab. With a background in cosmetic chemistry and startup strategy, Flavia blends science, storytelling, and sustainability to develop high-performance beauty products. She’s now building Noun, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing how consumer products are developed and manufactured democratizing access to top-tier labs, suppliers, and manufacturers for indie brands and global companies alike.

    37 min
  6. Secrets to High-Impact Recruitment and Solving Hiring Challenges

    12/10/2025

    Secrets to High-Impact Recruitment and Solving Hiring Challenges

    In today's episode, we learn how Eitan Rachlis connects companies with the top 1% of talent in tech, finance and the nonprofit sectors across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. With over 15 years of experience in recruitment, Eitan specializes in placing the top 1% of talent in high-demand engineering and tech fields. His expertise covers robotics, software, engineering, cybersecurity, and IT serving startups, Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions and the non-for-profit sectors. He launched Telescope Recruitment to redefine elite hiring, combining deep industry knowledge with a tailored approach to connect organizations with transformative professionals. Known for precision in matching niche skill sets, he's built a reputation for solving complex hiring challenges where excellence is non-negotiable. To learn more visit: https://telescope-recruitment.com

    36 min
  7. Disrupting the Needle and Reproductive Health

    11/12/2025

    Disrupting the Needle and Reproductive Health

    In today's episode, we learn how Latchmi Raghunanan used her background in product development and public sector leadership, to make fertility treatment more compassionate, accessible, and pain-free. Entrepreneurs will learn the trials and triumphs of bringing med-tech to market. Maman Biomedical is developing the world’s first needle-free microneedle patch for fertility treatment. The flagship product, Maman Patch, will deliver sustained-release hormones through dissolvable microneedles - delivering the same drugs, with fewer risks, and none of the needle trauma. Maman's approach reduces pain, improves compliance, and helps patients feel more in control of their reproductive care. For more information, visit mamanbiomedical.ca

    33 min
  8. From Retail Roots to Breast Cancer Survivor Mission

    10/08/2025

    From Retail Roots to Breast Cancer Survivor Mission

    Alicia Vianga turned 19 years of working in the hospitality industry into an innovative retail business and empowering non-profit supporting breast cancer survivors.  In 2005, she founded Premier Jour, a boutique that provides customers with unique shopping experience as well as certified bra and breast prosthesis fittings. Alicia worked with a major hospital in Toronto on the development of an official Bra and Breast Prosthesis Fitting Guide. This work inspired Alicia to create after BREAST CANCER in 2012 a charitable organization focused on ensuring financially strained survivors of breast cancer have access to the necessities they need. Under Alicia’s leadership, the organization involves over 300 volunteers and interns and has helped support 5000 women to date.  In this episode, we learn how creating a non-profit rooted in profit and how the path of politics intersect.  To learn more, visit www.afterbreastcancer.ca

    32 min
  9. Building a global brand with purpose and profits

    09/10/2025

    Building a global brand with purpose and profits

    In today’s episode we learn how Tanya Hayles turned a Facebook group of 8 friends into a million dollar global brand that consults with the federal government and billion dollar organizations.  Tanya is an award-winning event consultant and director of the ioe agency who lives at the intersection of culture, sports, tech and community. She helps brands translate culture into connection and converts community into consumers.  She is also the founder and board chair of Black Moms Connection, an online global village of 50,000 with chapters in Asia, Africa and across North America and a national non-profit organization providing culturally relevant tools and resources. Find out more at www.blackmomsconnection.com and instagram.com/blackmomsconnection.

    36 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Startup Sandwich Podcast, powered by YEDI (York Entrepreneurship Development Institute) where the layers of innovation meets success. Startup Sandwich is a podcast for entrepreneurs and innovators who are hungry for real stories and practical insights from startups and growing businesses.  In each episode, we dive into the journey of a founder covering early-stage struggles, business growth strategies, product development, funding, and the messy realities of entrepreneurship. Hosted in a relaxed, story-driven format, guests share the “bread and butter” of who they are, the “toppings” of what they’re building, and the bold, flavour-packed "secret sauce" from their startup journey. Whether you're launching a tech startup, scaling a non-profit, or looking to break into the business world, this podcast delivers startup advice, founder interviews, and actionable tips to help you grow.

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