Monday Club podcast for people building in tech

Jesse Rodgers

Talking to builders in the earliest stages as they think about startups and ecosystems at the Monday Club. mondayclub.substack.com

  1. 01/02/2025

    Monday Club Podcast: Talking about community and tech with Ian Pilon

    In this episode of the Monday Club Podcast, host Jesse chats with Ian Pilon, a UX veteran, startup enthusiast, and community builder, to uncover the intersection of design, technology, and innovation. From the early days of designing for BlackBerry and iPhone to leading UX transformations in large enterprises and startups, Ian shares his dynamic journey and valuable insights. The discussion delves into Ian’s experiences transitioning from corporate life at Sun Life to joining vibrant startups like Eterica, where he tackled real-world challenges like creating smart devices for medical needs. Ian also highlights his community-building efforts with initiatives like IoT Waterloo, which fostered collaboration and innovation in emerging technologies, including blockchain. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how UX and customer experience evolve alongside technological innovation, as Ian explains the importance of staying ahead in a rapidly changing field. He also touches on how blockchain, AI, and governance can redefine trust and utility in technology, moving past speculative hype. This episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the convergence of UX, startups, and emerging tech. Tune in to hear Ian’s story and learn how design, innovation, and community come together to drive impactful change! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

    Monday Club Podcast: Talking about community and tech with Ian Pilon

  2. 11/13/2024

    Monday Club Podcast: The Future of Ad Tech and AI with James

    In this episode of Monday Club Podcast, host Jesse sits down with James, founder of JS Consulting, to explore the fascinating world of ad technology. From the behind-the-scenes workings of real-time ad auctions to the challenges of content scraping and malicious ads, James shares his expertise on navigating the complexities of publisher-side ad tech. The conversation dives into how AI is transforming the industry—both as a tool for innovation and a potential threat to publishers. Learn how James uses AI to enhance user experiences, protect high-quality content, and optimize ad strategies. He also reflects on his unconventional career journey, the importance of community in tech, and how cross-disciplinary collaboration through initiatives like Builders Club is driving new ideas. This episode is perfect for anyone curious about the intersection of technology, advertising, and AI, and how these forces shape the internet we use every day. Tune in to gain insider insights into one of the digital world’s most impactful industries! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

  3. 10/31/2024

    Monday Club Podcast: Building and Scaling in Tech with Tony Salomone

    In this Monday Club episode, host Jesse Rodgers sits down with Tony Salomone, a veteran CTO with deep experience in Canadian e-commerce and AI. Tony shares stories from his early days at Well.ca, one of Canada’s first e-commerce platforms, and the behind-the-scenes challenges of handling logistics and growth from makeshift offices. The conversation moves to Tony’s latest venture, Transformer Lab, an open-source platform designed to help users work with large language models (LLMs) right from their devices. Unlike the “black-box” AI solutions offered by big companies, Transformer Lab is all about keeping AI accessible, customizable, and transparent. Jesse and Tony also dig into AI’s rapid evolution, especially its impact on creative and technical fields. With AI now handling many of the repetitive tasks, there’s more room for creativity. Tony offers insight into AI’s potential and why having open-source tools is critical as the field grows. Hope you enjoy another longer episode of our podcast. The goal is to not overproduce and provide builders with some real conversation. Feedback is welcome on the longer format. Thanks for reading Monday Club :: powered by Communitech! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

  4. 10/16/2024

    Monday Club Podcast: Tasha from Nonprofithive.co

    In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Tasha, founder of Nonprofit Hive, a platform that connects nonprofit leaders globally. Tasha shares her story of how she built a thriving community from a simple idea and navigated the challenges of bootstrapping a startup. 1. Transparency in the Journey Tasha opens up about her journey, candidly sharing how she’s embraced transparency in both her leadership style and personal growth. She admits she didn’t have all the answers when she started Nonprofit Hive, but this openness has resonated deeply with the nonprofit community. Her willingness to share her struggles has helped her build trust and authenticity within her network. 2. The Birth of Nonprofit Hive The idea for Nonprofit Hive came from Tasha’s own feelings of isolation as a remote worker in the nonprofit sector. She began manually connecting professionals through LinkedIn to break down silos but quickly realized the need for a scalable solution. From that, Nonprofit Hive was born—a platform designed to foster one-on-one conversations between nonprofit leaders across the globe. 3. A Global Community While Tasha originally envisioned a Canada-focused platform, Nonprofit Hive rapidly grew internationally. Over 50% of users are from the U.S., and the platform now has members from 56 countries, including unexpected places like Uganda. This global expansion was unplanned, but it has become a core part of Nonprofit Hive’s success in connecting nonprofit professionals worldwide. 4. Community as the Core Tasha emphasizes that the true value of Nonprofit Hive lies in its community. The platform itself is simple and user-friendly, but the relationships and collaborations that form are where the magic happens. Leaders across borders are now sharing ideas, tackling challenges together, and even creating partnerships they never would have imagined. 5. Bootstrapping and Flexibility As a bootstrapped startup, Tasha has had the freedom to adapt and pivot quickly. She talks about launching initiatives like the Trusted Hive Partners program, which connects vetted consultants with nonprofits. This flexibility has allowed Nonprofit Hive to evolve organically with the needs of its members, helping the platform grow rapidly and maintain a personal touch. Conclusion Throughout the episode, Tasha’s passion for community building shines through. Her journey with Nonprofit Hive is a testament to how transparency, flexibility, and focus on people can lead to building something impactful. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, or community-building on a global scale. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

  5. 07/23/2024

    Monday Club podcast: Humza of Automax.ai

    Humza talks about his tool for home appraisers that helps them reduce their time to complete appraisals of properties. The tool was built to help solve some problems his family experiences in their day-to-day work. We talk about his first sales experiences, the differences between selling in Canada and the US, and closing his first sales outside his close network. There are some great sales tips for early founders in here: * recorded his sales calls and reviewed the calls to learn for next time * loving to share your product with people and learning to deal with disappointment when asking people to pay for the product * learning to close He has taken advantage of e-coop, balancing customer support while taking a full course load, and ensuring that he enjoys the entire experience. Thanks Humza! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

  6. 07/10/2024

    Monday Club podcast: Avril from Scan

    In this episode, I chat with Avril from Scan, an app that scans your face and lets you know which skin care products you should use. It also lets you know if they work or not. We talk about the product's motivation and the current challenges related to how people use products like this. This founding team knows how to build audiences in this space. In high school, they developed a skin care product! Near the end of the podcast, we discuss the importance of founder peer groups that create a sense of accountability. They help motivate while creating a supportive environment. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

  7. 07/01/2024

    Monday Club Podcast: Anwaar of All Mind AI

    In this episode, I talk with Anwaar Malik of All Mind AI - a tool for investment analysis. Anwaar shares the origin story of his product and company and talks about his motivation. Shared in this podcast is some insight from a founder who built a product for himself after doing hands-on research while working at a Canadian bank. Also, as a young founder, he gives a lot of credit to the early founder support that exists on the University of Waterloo campus. Anwaar was one of the founders who participated in the first series of Founders Dinners in Waterloo that was hosted at the Vidyard office. We can found on iTunes and Spotify This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

  8. 05/18/2024

    Monday Club podcast: Jason Sun of Ask Remotely

    Having spent some time as an AI implementation consultant, Jason has built a tool called Ask Remotely that will allow you to use multiple LLM platforms with your library of documents. This enables companies to look at their documents without having to rebuild conversations. Jason and I talked a bit about his motivations in building this product, how and why he uses U of Waterloo co-op students, and working with a professor on campus. We also get into the challenges around early-stage investments in Canada and the lack of Venture Capital and/or Angel investment that is available. Big thanks to Jason for taking the time! We can found on iTunes and Spotify This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mondayclub.substack.com

See All (13)

About

Talking to builders in the earliest stages as they think about startups and ecosystems at the Monday Club. mondayclub.substack.com

Information