Collisions YYC

As it continues to grow stronger, plenty of exciting technologies have been coming out of Calgary’s start-up community. While start-up founders certainly have the skills to design and develop their latest innovations, many are at a loss when it comes to growing their business. Enter Carey Houston and 321 Growth Academy, a Calgary-based consultancy that teaches founders how to sell and market their...

There are plenty of new, innovative businesses and organizations popping up in our province that are well poised to become Albertan success stories. For Hilton, having a long-term strategy and valuable product or service is one thing, but having a strong culture is something much more powerful; something that can either make or break our chances at success. Join me as Hilton shares his views on th...

From AI to machine learning to cryptocurrencies, supply chains, robotics and renewable energies, we’ve covered many topics on this podcast. But for my co-conspirator Kevin Crowe, we still need to discuss the one thing that ties all of these areas together; what he believes is the key to Alberta’s digital transformation – The Internet of Things (IoT). As Co-Chair of the Alberta IoT Centre of Excell...

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a mentality that keeps a lot of business stuck in their ways rather than keeping up with the times. But for Jeremy and Adrienne, it’s not always a case of stubborn business leaders. Some are simply unaware that the technology they’ve been using for years is holding them back in this modern age. That’s where Xerris comes in, a Calgary-based digital solutions ser...

Good Earth Coffeehouse is yet another Alberta success story that's been serving up fresh coffee for 30 years. So, what's their secret? Is it having the right beans for the right price? For Wendy, it's all about having the right balance of marketing and brand experience; one that, in Good Earth Coffeehouse’s case, makes customers feel like they've been transported to an Italian café. Join me as Wen...

With everything from corporate centers and industrial manufacturers to some of Calgary’s finest shops and restaurants, Victoria Park is one of the most diverse areas in our city. Once COVID-19 confined us to our homes last year, things in Victoria Park got a little quiet. But for David, it was business as usual in looking towards the future and making big plans for this Calgary gem. Join me as Dav...

Our start-up community is full of innovators who are transforming industries and creating new opportunities for our province. While some look to innovate in new industries, Jill used her passion for the environment and technology to transform transportation in our oil & gas and energy sectors. The result – Drift Technological Solutions Ltd. and its flagship product DriftTech Mobile, a digital...

Gabe is the CEO and Portfolio Manager at Vela Software, an operating group of Constellation Software that acquires, manages and builds industry-specific software businesses around the world. While Vela Software brings expertise to a wide scope of industries, Gabe’s focus is on the ones that built our province – oil, gas, and energy. So, who better to talk to about the innovative businesses that ar...

After working through an economic downturn, a global pandemic, and transformations of our largest industries, Alberta businesses have been getting knocked down for quite some time now. While some have a hard time getting back up, Colleen believes it’s the businesses that can roll with the punches that live to fight another day. As a Partner with Deloitte Canada, Colleen champions resiliency and ad...

For over 20 years, Tundra Process Solutions has provided a wide range of industrial process equipment across multiple industries in Western Canada. At the start of 2021, this Calgary-based success story was officially acquired by the Wajax Corporation, a bold move that CEO Iggy Domagalski feels came at the right time for Tundra and will provide meaningful growth. Join me as Iggy shares how talks b...

Virtuo is a tech-enabled service that streamlines the journey towards homeownership with a dedicated concierge. It’s also another success story from Calgary’s start-up community, home to many new, exciting innovations. Now five years after launch, CEO and Co-Founder Casey Kachur has seen our once-fragmented start-up community start to work together – but there’s still plenty of opportunity to make...

The global construction industry is on the verge of a mass transformation but seems to be taking its time. All the industry needs is that final push in the right direction. As President and CEO, Scott wants that push to come from ZS2 Technologies – a Calgary-based start-up specializing in the development of innovative construction technologies that are stronger, safer, and healthier for people and...

One of the biggest misconceptions about transformation is that our workforce will have to start from scratch and learn a whole new set of skills. Throughout her career, Trish has successfully pivoted her skills to several industries, from healthcare, to energy, agriculture, cannabis, and, finally, construction. So, who better to clear the air when it comes to pivoting an entire province? Join me a...

Last year, Adam helped us understand the benefits of Bitcoin and to walk us through Bitcoin Well, an online platform that facilitates the buying and selling of this decentralized currency. Since being on the show, Bitcoin Well has grown into what may become the first publicly-traded Bitcoin ATM company in the world as Adam continues to deliver on his mission to deliver Bitcoin into the mainstream...

As our industries continue to change, it can be a challenge to retrain ourselves and learn new skills. After all, who has the time and energy to balance both a career and a full course load? That's what Vis Naidoo and The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) want to make possible with The Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies – a flexible learning experience that offe...

Now that we’re well over 300 days of living in a COVID world, it’s safe to say we could all use a vacation. But will we be ready to return to the crowded airports and fully booked planes once the pandemic is behind us? Rob believes passenger travel won’t be the same and that people will ease into it in small numbers. That’s why the Calgary Airport Authority is preparing now for the traveling world...

Olds is a town with just over 9,100 people that’s about 90 km north of Calgary. Life in such a small town might seem ordinary, but Olds is home to one of Alberta’s biggest success stories – ProAll International. For over 50 years, ProAll International have been a global powerhouse in the concrete industry with their mixers being used on worksites around the world. Now in a COVID world, VP of Sales...

Over the past few years, AI and machine learning have been on the rise, transforming the ways different industries operate like never before. But for Alberta, they are by no means new. We started investing in these technologies nearly 20 years ago before anyone else in the world gave it a thought. As CEO of The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII), Cam Linke is leading the innovators and...

Let’s say you’ve misplaced your phone in your home. What’s the first thing you do? That’s easy – have someone call it and follow your ears. Now, let’s say you run a 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse and you’ve misplaced an essential part or item. Finding that can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Enter Richard Simpson and ZeroKey, a hyper-accurate technology that digitizes the 3D location of assets,...

Any Calgary Stampeders fan knows Jon Cornish as a record-breaking, award-winning, legendary Canadian Football Hall of Famer. What they might not know is how his connections with the fans and the community at large turned Calgary into more than just the city he played football in. It made Calgary his true home. So, now that he’s off the field, how is he giving back to the city that welcomed him wit...

Before the pandemic, we would go to the mall, browse around from shop-to-shop, and leave with a bunch of unique items from different retailers. Now, we’re doing all our shopping online and expecting the same result – everything we need all at once. That's an expectation that the supply chain was never designed to fulfill. Enter Scott Gravelle and Attabotics, the world’s first 3D robotic goods-to-p...

Back when this podcast first began, Judy Fairburn joined me to discuss economic transformation in Calgary and hinted at The 51 Ventures Fund, an investment community for financial feminists. Now, a year and a half later, Judy is back with one of her co-founders Shelley Kuipers for a good old-fashioned update. To sum it up, 2020 did anything but slow them down. After what can only be described as a...

As we continue to move forward with our digital transformation, some aren't ready to get out of their comfort zones just yet. For Chris Foster, he thinks it’s about time they do because it pays to be curious. As VP IS & CIO of TC, Chris and his team are pushing the boundaries of innovation with wild curiosity, culture hacks, and even by bending the rules a bit from time to time. Once more Albe...

As we entered lockdown last spring, many retailers had to move their stores online to survive. With no end in sight for the pandemic, what started as a temporary solution is becoming the norm as consumers are accepting the fact that their shopping experiences will now take place online. But for Jim Hill, founder of The Esker Gallery and commercial real estate owner, it’s important that we don’t lo...

When I say “robot”, many people think of The Terminator or Rosey from the Jetsons. When Savana hears “robot”, she thinks of companions that can help improve our day-to-day lives. That’s the inspiration behind her company Radley Robots, a communications and concierge service via a telepresence robot that keeps people who live on their own safe, connected, and independent. Join me as Savana shares h...