Startup Canada Podcast Rick Spence

Inspired by his own experience with a tutor, Will realized the power of a great tutor and started TutorOcean in 2018. Just one year later, Will was approached by a university to offer the platform as a solution which led him to launch QuadC. Today, Will and his team support more than 50 higher institutions across North America and have more than 250,000 users across both products.

David Souaid is the Chief Revenue Officer and member of the board of directors at Journey Capital (formerly OnDeck Canada,) a leader in online small business lending. Journey Capital offers fast and flexible financing to founders so they can refuel their business. Journey Capital uses technology and also the guidance and advice of real business loan advisors to evaluate the financial needs of entrepreneurs and founders. 

Together, Berto, Phil, Anthony and Robert are creating products that men can start celebrating, instead of tolerating. When searching for a comfortable pair of boxers and finding nothing … they created their own and began Manmade. 

 The card aisle doesn’t often represent queer folks, so Heather decided to do something about it and create her own products for herself and her community. 



Today, Little Rainbow Paper Co is a shop filled with cards, pins, mugs, ornaments, notepads and more that celebrate the queer and the quirky! Heather designs every product in her shop and the products exist to provide opportunities for members of the queer community to show love, affection, and joy for each other. 

Katie Young is the Founder of Klondike Kettle Corn. Katie blends her culinary expertise with a passion for community. With a background in restaurants and catering, Katie found her calling in crafting fresh, ready-to-eat popcorn experiences. As a devoted mom, outdoor enthusiast, and food lover, she sees popcorn as more than a snack—it's a vehicle for connection and joy. Whether summiting mountains or gathering around a campfire, Katie's dedication to family, friends, and community shines through in every kernel!

Jackie Rhind is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ovry, a brand of Canadian reproductive care products that includes pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, and an at-home male fertility test. Ovry tests are better alternatives to store-bought pregnancy and ovulation tests, which are wasteful, inconvenient, overpriced, and can often feel awkward or intimidating to buy. Compared to traditional tests, Ovry strip tests are tiny, discreet, just as accurate as any leading brand, much more affordable and each test uses 90% less single-use plastic.