Tank Talks By Ripple Ventures

We have friend-of-the pod Jamie Rhode , now a partner at ScreenDoor , back to discuss all things emerging managers and LP investing. Jamie shares her reasons for joining ScreenDoor, and the evolution of the venture landscape since leaving the family office world. The conversation covers the changing perspectives of LPs regarding emerging managers and the unique challenges they face compared to pub...

In this 200th episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen reflects on the podcast's journey and the lessons learned. The episode features a discussion with John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity , about major events in the tech and investment world, including recent funding rounds, the impact of AI, a significant cybersecurity outage, and political developments. In this episode, we discuss: (01:04) Tip...

In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen and John Ruffalo delve into the current political landscape in the U.S., the ongoing housing affordability crisis in Canada, and the burgeoning investments in generative AI. The discussion touches on the recent U.S. presidential election debate, the potential impact of a Trump administration on Canada, and the controversial proposal to tax home equity in C...

On this week's episode, we welcome Mike McLean , CEO of Innovation Asset Collective , to talk about the importance of intellectual property (IP) for startups and Canadian companies. Mike explains how founders can prepare for IP challenges when entering global markets and how to use IP to create value. Mike talks about how the government helps Canadian tech companies protect and use their IP, and h...

This week, John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity is back with Matt to talk about the latest news in the tech and capital ecosystem. They discuss the surprising results of the Toronto by-election, the commercialization of AI in Canada, and strategic investment moves by pension funds. Additionally, they delve into AI's impact on Hollywood, Apple's strategic partnerships, and the European Union's fi...

This week, John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity is back with Matt to talk about the latest news in the tech and capital ecosystem. They discuss the end of the Collision Conference in Toronto, TD Bank 's new initiative for tech entrepreneurs, and big moves in AI. They also cover Jerome Nycz's retirement from BDC Capital and Raquel Urtasun's new funding round for her company, Waabi . In this episo...

This week John Ruffolo of Maverix Private Equity is back with Matt to talk about the news affecting the venture capital and financial sectors including Cohere's recent $450 million fundraising, featuring investments from Nvidia, Salesforce Ventures, and others. The conversation shifts to the resurgence of crypto interest, Vista Equity's write-off of Pluralsight, private equity firms targeting indi...

This week, we welcome Rob Kumer , CEO of KingSett Capital , to share his journey from Analyst to CEO, the evolution of KingSett Capital, and the strategic moves that have shaped the firm into a $17 billion private equity real estate powerhouse. Rob provides insights into the impact of global experiences on his career, the challenges and opportunities of zero-carbon buildings, and the future of off...

This week's guest is Nolan Bederman of Bederman Capital discusses the evolving landscape of private equity, emphasizing the importance of strategic growth, innovation, and building strong management partnerships. He highlights the need to balance technology and business operations, address regulatory challenges, and prioritize psychological insight in investment decisions. Bederman also critiques...

On this week’s episode, we welcome back Dan Park , CEO of Clutch, for his second appearance. Dan shares how his team navigated the recent downturn in the startup world and the valuable lessons they learned from the experience. Since his last visit in October 2021, Dan and his team faced significant economic turbulence in the tech and automotive ecosystems. After securing a $100 million Series B an...

Jordan Nahmias shares his journey from law school to lawyer to know coaching others on how to change careers at Unstuck Consulting . He discusses his dissatisfaction with his law career and the moment he realized he needed a change. Jordan talks about the fear and terror he experienced when deciding to leave his law practice and the support he received from his family and friends during his career...

This week in the Tank we have Winter Mead , founder of Coolwater Capital , to discuss his background in venture capital and the challenges faced by emerging fund managers. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the LP perspective and operationalizing the fund to attract institutional investors. Winter also shares insights from his book on raising a venture capital fund and the mission of Co...

Our focus on the 2024 Canadian Federal budget continues, we have Jon Love Executive Chair and Founder of KingSett Capital back to discuss the lack of emphasis on fostering prosperity and a shrinking GDP per capita. While the budget offers some incentives aimed at improving housing affordability and encouraging investments in Canada, the increase in capital gains tax and other measures may slow dow...

This week we're joined by Nicolas Mulroney , President and CEO of Bond Bakery Brands . Nicolas shares his transition from a finance career at RBC to leading a thriving baking enterprise, highlighting the pivot that led him from Bay Street to Bakery Street. We talk about the founding of Bond Bakery amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and how his upbringing in a political family shape...

On this week's episode, we welcome John Li , CEO and Co-Founder of VimCal . John shares the rollercoaster of starting VimCal, from the initial struggles to gaining traction through a product-led approach, particularly appealing to like identifying and appealing directly to its most influential users—executive assistants. Plus, hear about the extreme loyalty VimCal has inspired, including one user'...

John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen break down the federal budget proposal announced yesterday and its implications for investors, founders, and entrepreneurs. The increase in the capital gains tax and the lack of appreciation for founders and owners of businesses are driving the narrative of taxing success and the impact this will have on young founders, corporations, and very mobile individuals who can...

John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen survived the eclipse and are back discussing the week’s news. Topics discussed: ( 01:08 ) Canada's new $2.4 billion AI initiative, positioning the country as a future AI powerhouse with a comprehensive investment plan ( 07:13 ) Jamie Dimon's enthusiastic endorsement of AI's transformative potential in his shareholder letter, emphasizing JP Morgan's massive AI investment...

Topics John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen discuss: * ( 00:00 ) Cohere's significant fundraising efforts, competing in the LLM space, and the notable involvement of Canadian pension funds at a valuation of $5 billion. * ( 03:29 ) Canada's strategy in artificial intelligence emphasizes the critical role of government in education and talent development, but is direct governmental involvement in AI business...

On this week’s Tank Talks, we're joined by Pascal Britt-Cote from Export Development Canada (EDC) . Pascal breaks down how EDC supports Canadian tech globally, far beyond just physical goods, aiding software and service sectors with knowledge, connections, and financial support to scale internationally. EDC's initiatives include specialized tech units, engagement at key tech events, and partnershi...

This week we welcome Randy Garg , Founder and Managing Partner of Vistara Growth . Randy shares his journey from his beginnings at PwC and Discovery Capital to co-founding Beedie Capital in 2010, and launching Vistara Growth in 2015 with support from the Beedie family as his first LP. Randy discusses the challenges tech companies face in securing growth capital and how Vistara Growth offers a mix...

We are excited to have Alex Kolicich , the founding partner of 8VC, on the pod this week. Alex shares his journey from working at Google and Palantir to joining Peter Thiel's hedge fund, Clarion Capital, and later co-founding 8VC. Alex discusses 8VC’s mission to significantly impact their portfolio companies by leveraging their unique blend of industry insight and investment expertise. And we get...

This week we are joined by Elio Narciso , founder of ScaleStack , who discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges of building and selling companies. He shares insights from his time at AWS and the lessons he learned about go-to-market strategies. Elio explains the creation of ScaleStack AI and the importance of problem-solving before incorporating AI. He emphasizes the significance...

Lots of news to discuss with John Ruffolo and Matt Cohen : (00:21) The significant downturn in venture capital, the early reset signs, and the impact of a conservative approach to business and fundraising in 2023, especially in Canada (02:09) The fate of companies that struggled to raise funds in 2023 and the shift towards supporting perceived winners and the inevitable challenges for "B" companie...

This week, we dive into the exciting world of defense tech with Jake Chapman from Marque Ventures . Jake shares his journey into VC, why Marque Ventures was born, and how shifts in geopolitics and advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and autonomous tech are driving VC interest in defense tech. He opens up about the hurdles of long development cycles, regulatory landscapes, and ethical dilemmas while...

In this week's episode, we're thrilled to host Alex McIsaac of Northside Ventures . With a diverse background in venture capital, cleantech, and global investing, Alex shares invaluable insights from his tenure as a Partner at Global Founders Capital. We explore why Alex believes it's the right time to launch Northside Ventures and the specific pre-seed market gaps he aims to address. We also delv...