Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Camille Deslauriers, in charge of Marketing at Pick Pack, to talk about revolutionizing the world of ecommerce and more with their sustainable, reusable envelopes. They are also joined by Uros Milekic, Business Services and Outsourcing Partner at BDO Canada to discuss bill S-211 on new ESG reporting requirements in Canadian supply chains.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Steven Kiekeman Fontaine, co-founder of BoKEA.  He tells them about making high-end cabinet fronts for IKEA products, enabling customers to build a custom kitchen while saving money. They are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, Eastern Canada Leader and Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss the importance of digital transformation for manufacturing companies. 

In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Anna Martini, CEO of men's fashion brand Psycho Bunny. They talk about her move from the Montreal Canadians back to retail, what’s behind the Psycho Bunny name and why she wants more brick and mortar stores. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss updates to the Underused Housing Tax.

In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Andrew Pimentel from Groupe Powerstone. This 25-year-old tells them about his entrepreneurial journey from cutting grass as a preteen to landscape design, modern inground pools and creating dream backyards. Our hosts are also joined by Marc-Antoine Chaput, Senior Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss cloud accounting and how it can help your business.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Philippe Choinière and Stacey Lecuyer, co-founders of Oneka. They tell us about their organic plant farm in the Eastern Townships, working with people who match their values, and committing to truly organic skincare. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss communicating with your accountant during tax season.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Pierre-Étienne Bousquet, President and Co-Founder of Thirdbridge. He tells them about building the apps that many Montrealers use on a daily basis, and how AI can help entrepreneurs level up their online presence. They are also joined by Carlo Lupo, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss scientific research and development credits.

In this episode Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stephan Kouri, president of Union Coffee. Stephan tells us about fair trade coffee, conquering the Montreal market, custom blends and the iconic baby Gaccia. They are also joined by Pierre Taillefer, Partner and ESG Leader at BDO Canada to discuss environmental, social and governance in the food industry. 

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Fred Morin, chef, co-owner and co-founder of the Joe Beef Group, comprised of several iconic Montreal restaurants. They are also joined by Bernard Cormier, Managing Director and Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions at BDO Canada to discuss transactions and what adds value to your business.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Sarah Seddiki, co-founder of Teameo.io. She tells us about her thirst to feel “useful”, identifying an opportunity to pivot during the pandemic, and navigating the challenges posed by managing growth in the EdTech market. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, senior manager of business services at BDO Canada to discuss improving leadership skills and teamwork, and how to avoid common errors.

In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar receive Karl Magnone, president and founder of Les Franchises Tite Frette. We learn about the advantages of the franchisor business model, the importance of excellent customer service, and how his company’s CRM helped them grow from 0 to 45 stores across Quebec in 5 years. Amanda Khoury, managerfor estates and trusts at BDO Canada also joins Ernie and Dan to discuss digital assets, virtual intellectual property, and five life events that should prompt Canadians to revisit their estate plan.

In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar receive Jack Dell'Accio, CEO and founder of natural memory foam mattress company Essentia. Jack tells to us about the “mattress in a box” frenzy, the importance of deep sleep, and how toxic products in your bedroom can negatively impact your health. They are also joined by Greg McDonald, Director at BDO Canada, who shares some advice on research and development tax credits opportunities that you shouldn’t leave on the table.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello receive Chloe Ryan, CEO and founder of Acrylic Robotics. Her intelligent robots enable artists to replay their brushstrokes with real paint on canvas, making it easier for them to make a living and democratizing artwork. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss the Canadian underutilized housing tax.

In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Patrice Demers and Marie-Josée Beaudoin from Sabayon. They tell us about their journey from offering Montreal’s finest patisseries to leaving it all behind, guesting at a pop-up restaurant in New York City, and now, reinventing themselves with a 14-seat restaurant in Pointe Saint-Charles.

They are also joined by subject matter expert Carlo Lupo, Tax partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax considerations and credits for professionals in the restaurant business.

In this episode, Sandrine Rastello and Michael Newton receive Adelle Tarzibachi, co-founder of food company les Filles Fattoush. She started with an import business and now sells Syrian ready-to-eat specialties and ingredients. Her business gives women refugees a job and a chance to start a new life in Canada. And most recently, her expansion plans have won her an offer from a dragon.

In this episode, we are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, BDO Partner and Eastern Canada leader to talk about entrepreneurial growing pains: from finding capital to meeting compliance requirements.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing  Jean Bédard, President and CEO of restaurant turned food business Groupe Grandio. He is also behind the revival of iconic Montreal steakhouse Moishes, and more recently rescued microbrewery Brasseurs du monde.

We are also joined by Jean-François Audet, partner of financial advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss franchises and things you should consider before becoming a franchisee.

In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Boivin, CEO, Grizzly Fumoir. She is an entrepreneur at heart who bought a Quebec City-based company to grow it as one of the top 5 producers of smoked and ready-to-eat fish in Canada.

We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager in people advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss the various roles of HR leaders when your business is going through transformations. 

For the launch of the 2023-2024 season, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dominique Nadeau, CEO of Safari Condo, a successful family business that for 25 years has found its niche making vanlife a reality for customers dreaming of living, and working, on the open road. 

We are also joined by Uros Milekic, partner at BDO Canada Business Services to discuss how income is taxed when you incorporate your business.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Keana Gomes, founder of Cocktail Bomb Shop. She left journalism school, started experiments in her kitchen during the pandemic, went viral and even got an offer from four dragon investors. 

We are also joined by Julie Côté, Senior Tax Manager at BDO Canada, to discuss the Underused Housing Tax, who could be affected by it, and what the exemptions are.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Alexandre Archambault, who tells us about matching their enthusiasm for technology with their love for anything strapped to their feet, inventing an electric skateboard, to powering a board called a foil with a battery, and more recently hauling people up a mountain repeatedly using a battery-powered t-bar ski lift.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Samuel Leroux, co-founder of SOLIOS Watches, a Montreal watch brand that reconciles design, elegance and sustainability. Solar-powered watches are back, and we’ll discuss the company’s values and how they hope to tackle planned obsolescence. 

We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager of HR Consulting at BDO Canada to discuss culture in the workplace and aligning corporate mission, vision and values.