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The Globe and Mail has a brand new podcast, and if you’re interested in entrepreneurship you’ll want to listen. I’ll Go First is a podcast where we get to know the people behind Canada’s most innovative startups and find out what makes them tick. In episode one, host Takara Small spoke with Geordie Rose, the founder of Sanctuary AI – an artificial intelligence company attempting to make machines that are indistinguishable from humans. In the latest episode, we hear from Coinsquare CEO Cole Diamond about fatherhood, his biggest regrets and the volatile cryptocurrency market. Listen here. -Sarah Efron, Globe and Mail small-business editor
Businesses bracing for disruption from possible Canada Post strike
The threat of a strike at Canada Post Corp. starting later this month couldn’t come at a worse time for John Evans’s road and parking lot painting company, EverLine Coatings and Services Ltd. Autumn is when the cheques start coming in to his Calgary-based business, which does the bulk of its work during the warmer summer months. About 90 per cent of his clients pay by cheque, and without that money, Mr. Evans won’t be able to pay his own suppliers. “We’re at their mercy,” says Mr. Evans of his clients, who are mostly larger firms with long-established payment processes. Full story
Canadian companies struggle with rising costs due to steel and aluminum tariffs
Small business owners across Canada are crossing their fingers that a potential resolution to the North American free-trade agreement will also include the elimination of tariffs on steel and aluminum that have been driving up costs on both sides of the border, causing some companies to lose business. Full story
Amazon launches small business shop
Amazon wants you to shop small. The online retailer launched a new section of its site Monday called Amazon Storefronts, which only lists products sold by small- and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. Full story
Toronto AI startup Integrate hits nine-figure valuation with investment from Power
A Toronto-based artificial-intelligence software startup with just 38 employees and a handful of customers has surpassed US$100-million valuation after receiving a capital injection led by Montreal financial-services giant Power Financial Corp. Integrate.ai Inc. has raised US$30-million in a funding round led by Power’s Portag3 Ventures and backed by previous backers Georgian Partners and Real Ventures, two of Canada’s most active investors in the AI space. Full story
WHAT WE’RE READING ELSEWHERE
New Cannabis business course attracts small business owners outside of Ryerson
Professor Brad Poulos stands at the front of his class, watching as his students file in, pick up their name cards and take a seat. Though it’s late on a Tuesday night, the class is filled with people of all ages, with almost every chair in the room taken. As students introduce themselves to their peers, many seem to have the same goal in mind: to start their own business. Eye Opener
P.E.I. ends immigrant entrepreneur program due to fraud
Prince Edward Island’s government has cancelled an immigration program for entrepreneurs following the discovery of widespread abuse and fraud. “The program wasn’t meeting the expectations of Islanders, and it wasn’t meeting the expectations of government,” Economic Development Minister Chris Palmer said Wednesday morning. Radio Canada International
Hubba adds former Amazon lead as CTO
Hubba has hired a former Amazon and Thomson Reuters lead as its first chief technology officer. In the past, Desh Singh has acted as head of research and strategic vision at Thomson Reuters, and led the Fulfilment By Amazon engineering team as a senior manager of software development in Toronto. He brings over 20 years of experience in the technology sector to the team, holds 50 issued US patents, and has published over 30 scientific articles. Betakit
Meet the 2018 Growth 500
The winners of the 30th annual Growth 500 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies are the most ambitious, innovative and successful businesses in Canada. Their stories are inspiration to any entrepreneur. Get to know this year’s honourees. Canadian Business