Laura Mock from Cultivator

Laura Mock from Cultivator

Author: Evan McCann March 21, 2025 Duration: 37:46

Laura Mock is the Director of Cultivator.


Launched in 2019, Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator) was built to create an innovation hub that provided the programming, resources, mentorship, funding, and space for founders to accelerate the growth of local tech startups in Regina.


Cultivator aims to foster 250 companies with annual recurring revenue of at least a million dollars by 2050.


Takeaways

- What is Cultivator?

- The Role of Conexus in Cultivator

- Challenges for Saskatchewan Founders

- Building Density and the Founder Pipeline

- Ambitious Goals for Cultivator

- Attracting Founder Talent

- Programming at Cultivator

- Capital and Investment Challenges

- Cultivator as a Startup


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Cultivator

03:16 The Role of Conexus in Cultivator

06:03 Challenges for Saskatchewan Founders

09:51 Building Density and the Founder Pipeline

12:57 Ambitious Goals for Cultivator

19:52 Attracting Founder Talent

22:53 Programming Successes at Cultivator

27:53 Capital and Investment Challenges

32:04 Cultivator as a Startup

34:57 Personal Insights and Closing Thoughts


Keywords

Cultivator, Saskatchewan, tech incubator, entrepreneurship, AgTech, founder challenges, investment, startup ecosystem, Conexus, community support


Evan McCann sits down with the people shaping Canada's business landscape, moving past the polished success stories to get into the real work that happens behind the scenes. The Hard Part with Evan McCann is built on conversations with founders, investors, and leaders who have navigated unique challenges, focusing on the pivotal decisions and often overlooked struggles that define a venture. This podcast explores the specific strategies and personal playbooks that have driven impact, offering a rare look at the operational truths of building something significant. While the spotlight frequently falls on innovators elsewhere, these episodes are dedicated to the Canadian visionaries whose work is redefining global entrepreneurship from here at home. You'll hear candid reflections on risk, resilience, and the moments that tested their conviction, providing not just inspiration but tangible insight into the mechanics of leadership and growth. Each discussion aims to unpack the nuance of achievement, making it an essential listen for anyone curious about the substance behind the headlines in the Canadian business world.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

The Hard Part with Evan McCann
Podcast Episodes
Yoseph West from Relay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:32
Yoseph West is the Co-Founder and CEO of Relay.Relay is the business banking and money management platform that puts small businesses in complete control of their cash flow.To check out open roles at Relay, visit relayfi…
Matt Loszak from Aalo Atomics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:49
Matt Loszak is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aalo Atomics.Aalo builds mass-manufactured nuclear plants that will power anything from a data center to a city. Their mission is to achieve 3¢ / kWh electricity. Their first prod…
Oban MacTavish from Spade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:22
Oban MacTavish is the Co-Founder and CEO of Spade.Spade is the only transaction data enrichment solution backed by real data. They leverage their vast first-party data network to bring instant clarity and context to ever…
Rob Fraser from Outway (Vol. 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:11
Rob Fraser is the Founder and CEO of Outway.Outway is The Only Socks™ you'll ever need.- Reflecting on Two Years of Change Since our First Episode- Personal Growth and Business Resilience- Evolving Role of the Entreprene…
Sheetal Jaitly from TribalScale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:01
Sheetal Jaitly is the CEO of TribalScale.TribalScale builds digital products and transform businesses. They help the world’s largest enterprises and best entrepreneurs identify strategic opportunities to build, design, a…
Aydin Mirzaee from Fellow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:43
Aydin Mirzaee is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fellow.Fellow.app is an all-in-one AI meeting assistant designed for remote and hybrid teams, offering transcription, summaries, and action item tracking. It streamlines meeting…
Jonathan Shaanan from Circle K Ventures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:04
Jonathan Shaanan is the Managing Director of Circle K Ventures.Established in 2020, Circle K Ventures invests in startup companies that are developing and deploying solutions that enhance the experience in our stores whi…
Eldon Sprickerhoff from eSentire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:18
Eldon Sprickerhoff is the Founder of eSentire.eSentire is the Authority in Managed Detection and Response, protecting the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, representing 35 industries…