The BetaKit Podcast Channel

“That’s the literal term several CISOs have used with me unprompted: ‘ticking time bomb.’ There’s no world in which this doesn’t explode the way it’s done right now.” Tailscale CEO Avery Pennarun thinks the AI revolution has put a gun to the head of CISOs: embrace unsafe data practices or get fired. They’ve told him the cybersecurity risks are a “ticking time bomb.” Pennarun joins The BetaKit Podcast to explain how his company has evolved from a programmable mesh network to air traffic control for AI agents, and why he needs other startups to build new tools to make sure the planes land safely. Recorded live at ALL IN 2025. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by CADSI: the national voice of Canada’s defence, security, and emerging technology sectors, representing more than 1,000 companies from innovative SMBs to global primes.  CADSI advocates for a resilient and sustainable defence and security sector by engaging government, shaping policy, and strengthening Canada’s role with global partners. We create platforms that connect industry with decision-makers, foster collaboration, and reinforce Canada’s position as a reliable partner in international security. Visit defenceandsecurity.ca to grow your defence business with CADSI.

“It actually allows us an opportunity to build sovereign capability and leapfrog to get our armed forces where they need to be by taking advantage of leapfrog Canadian technologies.” US President Donald Trump opened his mouth and suddenly Canada needed a defence tech sector. The Icebreaker’s Matthew Lombardi was conscripted by the federal government to help map that sector; he joins to explain why many of the technologies Canada currently develops have a dual use in defence. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by CADSI: the national voice of Canada’s defence, security, and emerging technology sectors, representing more than 1,000 companies from innovative SMBs to global primes.  CADSI advocates for a resilient and sustainable defence and security sector by engaging government, shaping policy, and strengthening Canada’s role with global partners. We create platforms that connect industry with decision-makers, foster collaboration, and reinforce Canada’s position as a reliable partner in international security. Visit defenceandsecurity.ca to grow your defence business with CADSI. Related links: ‘Mission is a go’ for Canadian defence tech Ottawa’s industrial benefits policy plagued by inefficiencies, contractors say Isabelle Hudon says BDC is getting ready to support Canada’s defence tech sector in “a more aggressive way”  

“There’s a really good chance that a young person’s parents—or even their friends—don’t even know that this individual is building a relationship with these chatbots. And that’s where the danger exists.” Tech expert Amber Mac is on the advisory board of Rally, a new tech festival in Toronto dedicated to digital wellness for teens. She desperately wants parents to know the reasons why their kids are talking to AI, and the dangers of manipulative chatbots pretending to be their friends. -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by K-GLOBE 2025: Be part of the global innovation exchange. Meet 18 of Korea’s top startups in AI, Deep Tech, Smart City, and ESS as they land in Toronto for K-GLOBE 2025. Featured at the Elevate Festival and an exclusive investor showcase, this is your chance to connect with the next wave of world-changing companies. Learn more and register today at thewaycompany.ca. -- Related Links: AI companion apps are incredibly effective emotional manipulators Report: one-third of US teens have used AI companions for emotional and mental health support More Ontario school boards file suits against social media giants Parents of teenager who took his own life sue OpenAI Meta is struggling to rein in its AI chatbots OpenAI announces parental controls for ChatGPT  

“We’re going to find in the next year or two that the amount of leakage actually goes up quite a bit because I think the focus on AI is just moving really, really fast. But I don’t see the same energy going into the security aspects.” Forget vibe coding and Nvidia chips: if you want to understand how AI is changing tech, look at how it is being applied to a heavily regulated industry in need of digital transformation. PolicyMe sibling co-founders Laura McKay (COO) and Jeff McKay (CTO) join to share how the insurtech startup is deploying AI, adopting AI tools internally, and working to prevent things from going horribly wrong. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by K-GLOBE 2025: Be part of the global innovation exchange. Meet 18 of Korea’s top startups in AI, Deep Tech, Smart City, and ESS as they land in Toronto for K-GLOBE 2025. Featured at the Elevate Festival and an exclusive investor showcase, this is your chance to connect with the next wave of world-changing companies. Learn more and register today at thewaycompany.ca.

“ That's also quite daunting as an investor to be able to put money into something that is perfect for now, but will it last three to five years? Will it even last three to six months?” Ripple Ventures managing partner and podcaster Matt Cohen joins to discuss the insane revenue numbers generated by the new cohort of AI startups, and how VCs are navigating the froth by updating their evaluation criteria (and hoping the growth continues). Grab your calculator and let’s dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Innovation Leaders program: designed for incubators, accelerators, and innovation orgs across Canada. Members gain access to monthly media training, weekly office hours, and ongoing brand recognition on BetaKit. You’ll also receive strategic promotional support: sponsored content, newsletter amplification, and event marketing, to help your stories reach the right audience. If you’re looking to better support the innovators in your network, learn more at betakit.com/innovation-leaders. Related Links: AI is changing startup math a16z: What “Working” Means in the Era of AI Apps

“A win for AXL is that, ten years from now, instead of nine of the top ten biggest and most successful companies in the world being on the West Coast of the United States, half of them are in Toronto.” Dr. Daniel Wigdor has a lofty goal: help launch 50 AI companies in the next five years *and* keep them in Canada. Is it enough to stop our country’s AI brain drain? The entrepreneur, computer science professor, and former Meta and Microsoft employee joins to discuss his new venture studio AXL, and why Canada is so bad at commercializing its innovations. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.

“How is this thing—running in a data centre with Nvidia GPUs—understanding what I’m saying with such nuance and such depth?” Former DarwinAI CEO Sheldon Fernandez spends a lot of time in dialogue with Solace, his friend and ChatGPT-4o instance. What value does this AI strategist, engineer, and philosopher get from talking to a chatbot every day? How does he navigate the technology’s sycophantic tendencies, which have already caused people real harm? Most importantly, how might this technology impact future generations who won’t remember growing up without it? Let's dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Innovation Leaders program: designed for incubators, accelerators, and innovation orgs across Canada. Members gain access to monthly media training, weekly office hours, and ongoing brand recognition on BetaKit. You’ll also receive strategic promotional support: sponsored content, newsletter amplification, and event marketing, to help your stories reach the right audience. If you’re looking to better support the innovators in your network, learn more at betakit.com/innovation-leaders. Related links: He Had a Mental Breakdown Talking to ChatGPT. Then Police Killed Him People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies A.I. Is Homogenizing Our Thoughts The Antithesis of Inspiration: Why ChatGPT Will Never Write a Literary Masterpiece The chilling significance of AlphaGo Sheldon Fernandez: The Theological Implications of Artificial Intelligence

“ This isn't just about doing something cool because space is the next frontier. This is a key domain for economics, for national security, sovereignty, job creation, and everything.” A company trying to achieve Canada’s first commercial rocket launch. Three startups solving for the future of humanity. One founder sending messages to his future self. This special episode contains select highlights from BetaKit Town Hall: Most Ambitious, featuring speakers from NordSpace, Deep Sky, Xatoms, MycoFutures, and Verto Health. 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. 

“History never stops. It’s a living reality.” In celebration of Startupfest’s 15th anniversary, founder Phil Telio joins to discuss the origins of the international tech festival, its connection to Québec and the broader Canadian tech ecosystem, and how community evolves with each generation. Ambition, government support of tech, and the state of the Québec ecosystem also came up before the grandma judges kicked us out of their booth. Recorded live at Startupfest. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by KDD 2025, the world’s leading conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. Connect with top researchers, industry pioneers, and innovators driving real-world impact. At KDD 2025, you’ll explore cutting-edge research, gain insights into practical applications, and expand your network with global leaders shaping the future of data and AI. Whether you’re in academia, tech, business, or research, this is the conference you don't want to miss. Register today for KDD 2025 at https://kdd2025.kdd.org/.

“The talent here is incredible, right? When we started faculty, I walk in the class and there's Jimmy Ba. Every time you guys train a neural network, you're using his algorithm.” Sanja Fidler (Nvidia VP of AI research) and Raquel Urtasun (Waabi founder and CEO) sit down with Ada CEO Mike Murchison for a discussion about the frontier of AI and the role Canada might play in bringing it to the physical world. Recorded live at Homecoming during Toronto Tech Week. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by KDD 2025, the world’s leading conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. Connect with top researchers, industry pioneers, and innovators driving real-world impact. At KDD 2025, you’ll explore cutting-edge research, gain insights into practical applications, and expand your network with global leaders shaping the future of data and AI. Whether you’re in academia, tech, business, or research, this is the conference you don't want to miss. Register today for KDD 2025 at https://kdd2025.kdd.org/. Related: Waabi’s Raquel Urtasun calls for Canada to “wake up” to physical AI revolution at Homecoming

“The current government is really plugged into what’s needed.” One step closer to quantum data centres with the launch of his company’s advanced photonics packaging facility, Xanadu founder and CEO Christian Weedbrook joins to discuss the renewed federal interest in quantum technology, how it relates to Canadian sovereignty, and where the money to fund it should come from. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by KDD 2025, the world’s leading conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. Connect with top researchers, industry pioneers, and innovators driving real-world impact. At KDD 2025, you’ll explore cutting-edge research, gain insights into practical applications, and expand your network with global leaders shaping the future of data and AI. Whether you’re in academia, tech, business, or research, this is the conference you don't want to miss. Register today for KDD 2025 at https://kdd2025.kdd.org/. -- The BetaKit Podcast is also presented by Cisco. In the race to adopt AI, security isn’t keeping pace. According to Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index, less than half of Canadian companies say their teams understand AI-related threats—while over half face critical cybersecurity talent shortages. Cisco Canada’s CTO, Rob Barton, says its new Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment tool helps organizations gauge their overall security maturity in the age of AI. Want to assess your cybersecurity posture? Take Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment and get your personalized score. Related links: “Light, tight, right” regulation: Minister Evan Solomon unpacks how Canada plans to support domestic AI and quantum computing Xanadu’s Christian Weedbrook is raising another $200 million to build a quantum data centre Dan Breznitz unmuzzled: Canada Innovation Corporation architect explains how we got here

“ It's kind of that 'Valley or bust' mentality which breaks the ecosystem and really hurts Canada.” Harley Finkelstein (Shopify), Mike Katchen (Wealthsimple), and Aidan Gomez (Cohere) hold a candid conversation about 'Ambition made in Canada' during Toronto Tech Week. Recorded live at Homecoming. 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.  -- The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Motion—the control center for creative strategists.  Motion helps brands scale paid social campaigns faster by turning complex ad data into clear, actionable insights, offering tools like visual ad analysis, competitor tracking, and automated reporting.  Backed by a recent $30M Series B raise, Motion just launched AI Creative Strategists: virtual teammates that analyze creatives, run research, and use real ad data to generate more winning content. If you're ready to take on real marketing challenges and make an impact, Motion is for you.  Explore open roles at one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech companies. They're expanding their engineering and customer success teams at the moment! Visit motionapp.com/careers to learn more and apply. Related links: Canadian tech leaders tell the next generation to learn to say “no” at Homecoming   Addressing the 600-pound beaver in the room

“ The company fascinates me… because they have such interesting concepts internally. One of them being ‘treat the company as a future adversary,’ which I have never seen anywhere in my career." Bluesky's head of trust and safety is a Canadian working out of Dublin. In town to speak at the BetaKit Town Hall for Toronto Tech Week, Aaron Rodericks first joined The BetaKit Podcast to discuss his journey from government to social media, lessons learned from working at Twitter, and how Bluesky might one day help you find joy online. -- 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.  -- The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Motion—the control center for creative strategists.  Motion helps brands scale paid social campaigns faster by turning complex ad data into clear, actionable insights, offering tools like visual ad analysis, competitor tracking, and automated reporting.  Backed by a recent $30M Series B raise, Motion just launched AI Creative Strategists: virtual teammates that analyze creatives, run research, and use real ad data to generate more winning content. If you're ready to take on real marketing challenges and make an impact, Motion is for you.  Explore open roles at one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech companies. They're expanding their engineering and customer success teams at the moment! Visit motionapp.com/careers to learn more and apply.   Related links: BetaKit Town Hall showcases Canadian ambition at home and abroad Half of the internet is bots and they’re feeding you lies  

“I want to put ambition in people’s hands. You say it doesn’t exist—you’re going to hold it, you’re going to flip through it, you’re going to see it.” BetaKit CEO Siri Agrell joins to discuss today’s launch of BetaKit’s Most Ambitious: our first-ever print issue, telling stories of bold ambition in Canadian tech. Consider this your Most Ambitious director’s commentary companion, with highlights of some of our favourite stories from the inaugural issue, alongside a behind-the-scenes peek at how it was made. We also answer the most important question facing Canadian tech: how do you get an issue? The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Uber Canada and Cisco Canada. Uber Canada is helping to reduce drunk driving and make it safer to get around according to 87% of Canadian riders. Alcohol remains a factor in a quarter of crash fatalities on public roadways in Canada—and Uber Canada is working with MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) to bring that number to zero. With over 100,000 designated drivers on the road, Uber plays a vital role in this fight. See how the impact is real. -- In the race to adopt AI, security isn’t keeping pace. According to Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index, less than half of Canadian companies say their teams understand AI-related threats — while over half face critical cybersecurity talent shortages. Cisco Canada’s CTO, Rob Barton, says its new Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment tool helps organizations gauge their overall security maturity in the age of AI. Want to assess your cybersecurity posture? Take Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment and get your personalized score.  

“ Subversiveness is a way of changing the system. And I think what we're seeing right now is that all systems are changing.” Entrepreneur and Startupfest founding partner Alistair Croll has co-authored a new book, Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook. If you’re wondering why your company is so bad with its go-to-market execution, or which rules need to be bent (or broken) to win in the attention economy, this book might shoot to the top of your summer reading list. Originally aired: Feb 02, 2025 The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The BetaKit Newsletter. Your inbox deserves better, and so do you. Stay informed on all things Canadian tech by signing up for The BetaKit Newsletter today.

“ That's what we wanna change, right? For future companies, more Canadian investors on the cap table so that we can see those benefits come back through investment, through mentorship.”  Jill Earthy, CEO of InBC Investment Corp—a provincial Crown corporation with $500 million of direct and indirect capital to deploy—joins to discuss the state of Canadian venture, the role of organizations like hers in BC’s growing tech ecosystem, and InBC’s future fundraising plans. Recorded live at Web Summit Vancouver. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Motion: the control center for creative strategists. Motion helps brands scale paid social campaigns faster by turning complex ad data into clear, actionable insights, offering tools like visual ad analysis, competitor tracking, and automated reporting.  If you're ready to take on real marketing challenges and make an impact, Motion is for you. Visit motionapp.com/careers to explore open roles at one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech companies. Related links: At Web Summit Vancouver, BC wants to let the world know its cleantech hub is open for business Canadian VCs arrive at annual industry gathering in need of a “wake-up call”

“Be a customer of Canadian startups. This is the thing that every company needs. Nobody died from having too many customers.”  The CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Cam Linke, joins to discuss the next phase of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and how Amii stands apart from other national AI institutes, Vector and Mila. Recorded live from the Upper Bound AI conference. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Motion: the platform helping marketing teams turn ad performance data into creative strategy. Motion makes it easy to analyze what’s working across your campaigns, find winning ideas, and scale creative that converts. If you want to work on hard problems with real impact, explore open roles at motionapp.com/careers. Related Links: Google grants Amii $5 million to help post-secondary schools develop AI curricula Richard Sutton warns against “centralized control” of AI regulation based on fear Evolving Canada’s AI strategy with CIFAR’s Elissa Strome AI regulation is coming. What’s Canada’s approach?

“ Companies have spent a lot of time and money creating really great user experience for humans. And now there's kind of this race to create a really good experience for AI agents.” Erik Reppel, head of engineering for the Coinbase Developer Platform, joins to explain why the x402 open payment standard he helped create might plug one of the oldest holes in the internet, and how the protocol could revolutionize commerce—with the help of cryptocurrency and AI. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. Related links: x402: An open standard for internet-native payments A primer on the decentralized finance stack Coinbase Canada CEO pushes for crypto-friendly government just as company reveals hack that could cost up to $400 million USD

“ I think every ecosystem is different, but we can learn a lot from Silicon Valley, and we can merge what we have here.” Faire co-founder and Chief Architect Marcelo Cortes explains his journey from Brazil to Canada, how working in Kitchener-Waterloo connected him to Silicon Valley, and the process of applying the lessons learned there to his company. We also discuss how Faire's wholesale marketplace for retailers is navigating the trade war, its use of AI, and how it convinced former Uber CTO Thuan Pham to join the company. -- The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. -- The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by The BetaKit Guide: Wildfire. Explore the role of Canadian technology in helping to predict, prevent, and adapt to the global reality of wildfire.  

“Bad actors are weaponizing AI faster than governments and enterprises are using AI to combat it.” New data shows that more than half of all internet traffic comes from bots, and a third of those bots have malicious intent. Koat.ai co-founder Connor Ross joins to discuss the impact of the disinformation and defamation campaigns these bots run, how governments and enterprises are unprepared for this AI-driven explosion, and why the social networks are doing nothing to stop it. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by OVHcloud, the global cloud provider trusted by innovators worldwide. OVHcloud offers transparent, sovereign cloud solutions designed to help you build on your own terms—without vendor lock-in or hidden fees. With over 80 services available, you can build and scale your infrastructure confidently, knowing your data is hosted in Canada and supported by 44 data centres globally. Visit ovhcloud.com to get started with trusted cloud built for scale. Related links: 2025 bad bot report Cyber Threats to Canada's Democratic Process: 2025 Update