In this episode, we delve into Canadian real estate with Amar Nijjar, founder of Finneo, a commercial real estate debt financing platform. We discuss the highly overpriced residential real estate market in Canada and whether or not this is a good time to invest in property. Amar points out that we could be in a bubble that may soon burst. In addition, we discuss why the S&P 500 is not a good indicator of stable growth across all boards, due to the top companies driving the market with their sheer size and growth. Amar discusses his passion for bringing technology into the CRE debt financing industry where business is conducted with old-school approaches and tools, as well as the sheer challenges Finneo faces in disrupting an industry that has long operated with the same standards. 

This episode is part two with Shatha Qaqish-Clavering. Zaeem and Shatha discuss how Canada loses billions of dollars every year through the loss of intellectual property and the inability to commercialize early stage technology. Shatha explains her passion for women in entrepreneurship including the work she's done with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Shatha also talks motivation and lists some female role models that have been working to help women in entrepreneurship through funding, mentorship, and guidance. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shatha-qaqish-clavering-47a2678https://cherieblairfoundation.org/

In this episode, we discuss what venture capitalists and angel investors look for before investing in early stage entrepreneurs and the questions you need to ask yourself before raising money. Sometimes, it may be too early to raise money. Our guest on the show, Shatha Qaqish-Clavering has over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs and startups raise money, grow, and meet milestones. In addition, we dive into the core features and values entrepreneurs must have to rise above heights never imagined before. 

In this episode, we dive into discussions on money, sustainable compliance, and the impacts of money laundering. Today's guest is Shubhradeep Nandi, Founder of PiChain. Which is a sustainable compliance startup that uses AI and Blockchain to provide seamless and effective regulatory compliance to enterprises. We talk about Shub's unique perspectives and experiences as an entrepreneur. Reflecting back on early profound lessons that shaped him. We discuss the impact of money laundering from a GDP level to an individual person and why having regulatory compliance that is streamlined and integrated into the financial infrastructure of the economy is crucial. Shub explains how this will improve the overall health of the economy and allow money to flow in and out faster with less interruptions at no risk of breaking the law. He also discusses an effective strategy when deciding how much to charge customers along with the right questions to ask.

In this episode, we dive deeper into the discussions initiated with Christian Varriale, co-founder of Moralyzer. Zaeem starts the discussion with emphasis on the importance of connecting with a customer or consumer of an entrepreneurs products and/or services. Outlining the devastating events that took place while running his first startup QuadCulture Technologies. Discussing why it may not be a good idea to start a business with friends or family, and why it could also be a great idea that works for many. Christian and Zaeem discuss this thoroughly and leave it to the audience to make a well informed and effective decision when starting a business and choosing folks to work with. Christian discusses the game-plan for Moralyzer and how they plan on solving one of the biggest issues we have in society with regard to social activism and movements created for systemic change. Many societal issues are forgotten before a change occurs due to the lack of information and audience retention because of the way social media algorithms operate. Moralyzer is driven to stop movements for change from losing popularity by allowing people to track and follow movements through the moralyzer platform. 

To start the season off, we delve into the fundamentals of early stage entrepreneurship with the co-founder of Moralyzer, Christian Varriale. Moralyzer is the first social activism platform of its kind, allowing users to take action alongside their friends. Their mission is to make the recent push for systemic change be not just a trend, but a permanent discussion that is not forgotten. Moralyzer was founded during the peak of the George Floyd Protests and Black Lives Matter Movement over the outrageous killing of George Perry Floyd Jr. on the 25th of May where police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck until he was pronounced dead in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Christian discusses his passion and dedication for change throughout the episode. During the era of COVID-19, the necessity for change is stronger than ever. We discuss the importance of getting out of that comfort zone even though it may seem excruciatingly painful, because success always hangs outside of our comfort zone. Christian talks about some difficulties a technical founder might have when connecting with customers. We discuss important rules to follow when hiring and interacting with employees. Bringing together lessons learned and experiences from past failures, we get into the challenges and hurdles that can make admitting defeat seem like the only option.

This episode concludes season one (E10-19). Entrepreneurship can be tough and the journey is a lifelong process with plenty of room for improvement. The moments chosen in this episode represent the struggles, challenges, and lessons one may face in life and business. The importance of self-reflection and self-care are also displayed throughout this episode. Additionally, mental health is also discussed. Lastly, crucial advice for early stage entrepreneurs along with insight into the startup journey. The guests featured in this episode: Andrew Kanapatski, Natalia Wiechowski, Douglas P. Pflug, Rachel Zimmer, Charla Huber, Linden Williamson 

This episode includes selected discussions from season one (E1-E9). The beginning of this episode includes a statement from the host. As he states some critically important aspects of entrepreneurship and life that he has struggled with and learned from along the way. Outlining the importance of accepting that life is full of problems and the more problems one faces, the easier problem solving becomes and the less devastating they can be. Overtime our minds become equipped to solve problems with a higher level of efficiency. Zaeem greatly shows appreciation and gratitude for Startup Instinct's audience stating that this podcast would not exist without its growing audience of extraordinary folks. 

In this episode, we delve into journalism with Charla Huber. She is of Chipewyan and Inuit ancestry. Charla is the Director of Communications and Indigenous Relations for M’akola Housing Society in Victoria, British Columbia. She writes a weekly column in the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper which often highlights important humanitarian, social and Indigenous issues. She is also a member of the Victoria-Esquimalt Police Board. We discuss the challenges of the transition to a virtual world due the COVID-19 pandemic for all peoples in Canada, as well as what post COVID-19 adjustments could look like. We talk about how the pandemic has changed the way humans live and conduct business, from the death of the handshake to the adversities Canadian youth are being confronted with. 

In this episode, we will be talking about Entrepreneur First, a program that was established in Europe and Asia in 2011 and has recently launched in Canada. Entrepreneur First was founded by Alice Bentinck and Matt Clifford, and is the world’s leading talent investor. They help entrepreneurs find a co-founder, develop an idea, and start a company. To date, Entrepreneur First has worked with over 2000 individuals to initiate more than 300 companies, with a combined net worth of $2 billion. Today’s guest is Rachel Zimmer. She is the General Manager of Entrepreneur First in Canada. Many know Rachel for co-founding 5Crowd, which was acquired by SGSCO in 2016. Rachel reflects on some of her past struggles, embarrassing moments and experiences that have shaped her as an entrepreneur. As we discuss the early stages of a startup, she emphasizes the importance of conducting sufficient research that may prevent future product market fit issues. Moreover, we talk about women in entrepreneurship. Rachel gives her best advice on being a female leader in the business world and overcoming self-doubt, including imposter syndrome. We talk about the importance of establishing a clear vision for oneself before embarking on the long and demanding startup journey. Entrepreneurship looks sexy but it isn’t. Rachel stresses the importance of being easy on oneself and preparing for necessary sacrifices. The entire startup journey can be challenging and intimidating, but doing what one is truly passionate about can make the process more enjoyable, and potentially more rewarding. Lastly, Rachel mentions Holly Gonzalez and Anna Caravaggio, for their approaches to communication, relationship building and the effective management of tense situations.Entrepreneur First applications close on August 28th, 2020. If you are interested in applying, click on the link below: https://jobs.lever.co/joinefnow/0b785d4c-3a6e-4597-829e-fcafb06cae2b?_ga=2.260627913.553409686.1592905466-916163216.1592905466Good Luck!