In Between Meetings, Victoria Bennett shared how a Calgary Boy Choir campaign sparked her path into crowdfunding after nearly two decades in marketing with Pampers, Tide, ENMAX, TD, and the University of Calgary. She explains what crowdfunding really is, the five main models, and where it fits alongside bootstrapping, angels, grants, and VC. Victoria busts myths about messy cap tables, shows how crowdfunding validates businesses, and highlights the power of storytelling and community in turning one-time backers into long-term supporters. Looking ahead, she discusses blended rounds, community raises, and the future of crowdfunding with AI, blockchain, and secondary markets.

Takeaways:

• Democratization of capital opens early-stage investing to all
• Crowdfunding bridges bootstrapping and VC
• Cap tables stay clean with nominee/trust structures
• Campaigns validate demand and attract institutional investors
• Storytelling connects emotionally with backers
• Modest goals create momentum
• Community matters more than money

Victoria Bennett is the founder of The Crowdfunding Hub and a longtime marketer with experience at Pampers, Tide, ENMAX, TD, and the University of Calgary. She helps startups and growth companies design and execute crowdfunding campaigns to validate markets, attract capital, and convert backers into long-term advocates.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

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In Between Meetings, Neeraj Gupta shared his global journey and why he believes Calgary can become the startup capital of North America. He spoke about Alberta as a validation hub, the rise of aerospace and defense, deep-tech investing, and the importance of aligning IP with business goals. Neeraj also discussed the CDL focus model, founder red flags, and why time, money, and equity are the three resources every entrepreneur must guard.

Takeaways:

• Ecosystems need seven ingredients: data, domain, talent, research, IP, infrastructure, capital, markets
• Calgary can be a validation hub and gateway to North America
• Aerospace and defense are Alberta’s next bet
• Deep-tech investing requires patience and corporate validation
• IP must serve business strategy, not vanity metrics
• Focus on one market beats chasing five
• Time, money, equity are the most limited founder assets

Neeraj Gupta is an investor, entrepreneur, and mentor whose career spans scaling deep-tech ventures, advising governments, and guiding founders on strategy and intellectual property. Based in Calgary, he plays active roles in investment, mentorship, and ecosystem building—helping position Alberta as a rising hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn

In Between Meetings, Matt Wilson shared his path from founder to investor and the lessons that shape how he leads Allied Venture Partners today. He explained the importance of balancing empathy with objectivity, building a strong investment thesis, and why early traction matters. Matt also reflected on Calgary’s angel ecosystem, his early investments in Lyft and Pinterest, the dangers of predatory angel terms, and why “the opportunity is in the imperfection.”

Takeaways:

• Best investors are often former founders but objectivity is key
• Clear investment thesis removes emotion from decisions
• Founders should build before raising, traction wins
• Calgary’s ecosystem is growing but funding gaps remain
• Predatory angels can ruin cap tables for future VC rounds
• Perfectionism is a trap, MVPs matter most
• AI is here to stay, but hype isn’t a strategy

Matt Wilson is Managing Director at Allied Venture Partners, an angel group of 2,000 investors that has deployed over $6 million into tech startups. A founder turned investor, he has built and exited companies, led sales at Nestlé and Coca-Cola, and co-founded Calgary Beer Week. An early investor in Lyft and Pinterest, Matt now helps founders scale and contributes to shaping Alberta’s startup ecosystem.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn