Queer Entrepreneurship, Overcoming Challenges in tech, and Building Community

Queer Entrepreneurship, Overcoming Challenges in tech, and Building Community

Author: Venture for Canada June 16, 2025 Duration: 33:09

In this episode of the Venture for Canada podcast, Scott Stirrett sits down with Naofeld Tassouni and Andy Saldana, co-founders of QueerTech, to explore their journeys as queer entrepreneurs and the creation of their organization. From their serendipitous meeting at a Montreal tech event to scaling QueerTech into a national movement, they discuss the systemic challenges faced by queer entrepreneurs, the importance of representation, and how they built a thriving community.

Along the way, they share insights on transitioning from volunteer work to full-time entrepreneurship, the power of "program-market fit," and their ambitious vision for the future of QueerTech.


Hosted by Venture for Canada, A New Wave of Entrepreneurship moves beyond theory to explore the real, human stories behind building something new. Each conversation focuses on the practical journey, featuring changemakers and young Canadian entrepreneurs who share how they cultivated their specific entrepreneurial mindset and skillset-the actual tools they used to navigate uncertainty and drive innovation. This podcast isn't about abstract success; it's about the tangible lessons learned from setbacks, the evolving strategies for growth, and the personal resilience required to lead. You'll hear firsthand accounts that demystify the process, offering a clearer picture of what it truly takes to contribute to a more prosperous future for Canada. By listening, you gain access to a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, all aimed at helping you recognize and develop your own potential. Tune in for honest discussions that connect the dots between ambition, actionable skill-building, and meaningful impact, all part of a broader movement shaping the country's economic and social landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

A New Wave of Entrepreneurship
Podcast Episodes
Career Clarity, Miswanting, and the Art of Intentional Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
In this insightful conversation, host Scott Stirrett chats with Mark Franklin, Practice Leader and President at CareerCycles, Co-founder of OneLifeTools, and longtime career counselor, to explore how people navigate care…
Policy Change, Platform-Building, and Playful Disruption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:47
In this conversation, Scott Stirrett sits down with Vass Bednar, Executive Director of McMaster University's Master of Public Policy Program, to unpack what it really means to be a policy entrepreneur. Bednar, who's on a…