Join host Moshe Mikanovsky in a powerful conversation with Jon French, a leader within the University of Toronto’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, exploring how one of North America’s top universities is transforming research into venture-backed startups.

From AI and robotics to life sciences and quantum computing, Jon shares how U of T is building a structured, scalable deep tech engine — supporting 12+ accelerators across three campuses and helping founders commercialize breakthrough research

🔍In this episode, we unpack:

• How university research becomes VC-backed companies • The rise of AI-native and robotics startups • Why quantum feels like “AI 10 years ago” • The shift in Canadian early-stage funding expectations • Why some founders leave Canada — and what needs to change • The importance of domestic investment and procurement

One key insight from Jon:

Founders must fall in love with solving the problem — not just raising capital.

As global competition intensifies in AI and deep tech, Canada’s ability to retain talent, fund innovation boldly, and commercialize research effectively will determine its position on the world stage.

If you’re a founder, investor, researcher, or product leader — this episode is for you.

Don’t miss this deep dive into Canada’s deep tech and innovation ecosystem. Subscribe now for actionable insights and stay ahead in the evolving world of AI, quantum, and venture-backed startups. 🚀

👤 About Jon French

Jon French plays a key role in advancing entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto, supporting deep tech founders, faculty spin-outs, and venture-backed startups across AI, life sciences, robotics, and quantum innovation.

🙋 About Host

Moshe Mikanovsky is a Product Management Coach helping companies build lean software products with his unique experience in engineering and managing products for 30 years.

🎙️ About the Show

Beyond Product Podcast is brought to you by ⁠Rootquotient⁠ - Canada's Leading Product Engineering company.

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Stay tuned for more thought-provoking discussions, meaningful insights, and all things 'Beyond Product.'

#DeepTech #AI #QuantumComputing #StartupEcosystem #UniversityOfToronto #VentureCapital #InnovationEconomy #BeyondProduct #Rootquotient #FounderStory #TechInnovation #productinnovation #innovation #productengineering #techtalk #podcastdiscussion #productdevelopment #FounderStory

Join host Moshe Mikanovsky in this engaging episode of the Beyond Product Podcast as he sits down with Calvin Benchimol, Co-founder & CEO of CrewScope. The construction industry is facing a labor crisis, productivity challenges, and outdated planning methods. CrewScope is tackling these problems head-on by empowering field crews with simple, intuitive site planning and collaboration tools. 🏗️📲In this episode, Calvin shares his journey from working in construction logistics to launching a tech-driven solution for hourly workers, why simplicity is a strategy, and how gamification and behavioral psychology are reshaping workforce engagement on industrial sites.💡 Key Highlights:✅ Fixing Construction Productivity – Why hourly worker efficiency has declined since the 1970s and how CrewScope is changing that.✅ The Power of Simplicity – How reducing complexity in technology makes adoption easier for industrial teams.✅ Winning Together – How CrewScope fosters team collaboration, goal-setting, and performance rewards to keep workers engaged.✅ Gamification in Construction – How real-time incentives and progress tracking help crews stay motivated and aligned.✅ A Data-Driven Future – The role of AI, predictive analytics, and workforce data in shaping smarter, more efficient job sites.🎧 Listen now to learn how CrewScope is bridging the gap between frontline workers and leadership, creating a culture of accountability and efficiency in construction!👥 About Calvin Benchimol:Calvin Benchimol is the Co-founder & CEO of CrewScope, a site planning and collaboration tool built specifically for industrial and construction field teams. With nearly two decades of experience in the industry—including leadership roles at Lafarge and eCompliance—Calvin saw firsthand how disconnected job sites were from strategic planning. CrewScope is his solution to streamlining workflows, improving productivity, and making work more engaging for hourly workers.🔗 Reference LinksCrewScope Website - https://www.crewscope.comCrewScope LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/crewscopeCrewScope Twitter - https://twitter.com/crewscope🙋 About HostMoshe Mikanovsky is a Product Management Coach helping companies build lean software products with his unique experience in engineering and managing products for 30 years.🎙️ About the ShowBeyond Product Podcast is brought to you by Rootquotient—Canada's leading product engineering company.🔔 Follow us for regular updates🔗 LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/rootquotient📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rootquotientltd✖️ X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/rootquotient📘 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rootquotient🌍 Website - https://www.rootquotient.com🎧 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4H2wpIJmYrmYwLv0J2260RStay tuned for more thought-provoking discussions, meaningful insights, and all things Beyond Product.#beyondproduct #constructiontech #proptech #industrialinnovation #gamification #B2Btech #supplychain #productmanagement #UX #digitaltransformation #hourlyworkers #founderstory #rootquotient #techforgood

Join host Moshe Mikanovsky in this eye-opening episode of the Beyond Product Podcast as he speaks with Sylvia Ng, CEO & Founder of Return Bear. Returns are now a $900 billion problem, with massive financial, logistical, and environmental consequences. Sylvia and her team at Return Bear are on a mission to revolutionize reverse logistics, making returns smoother for customers, more profitable for brands, and better for the environment. 🌱📦In this episode, Sylvia shares her journey from Shopify to building a logistics startup, how AI and predictive analytics help brands minimize waste, and why returns are one of the biggest sustainability challenges in e-commerce today.💡 Key Highlights:✅ The Hidden Cost of Returns – How returns contribute 24 million metric tons of CO2 annually and why most returned items end up in landfills.✅ Fixing the Broken System – How Return Bear provides instant refunds, local logistics hubs, and cuts return costs by 40%.✅ Amazon’s Influence – Why Amazon’s return policies have set new consumer expectations, forcing brands to adapt or fall behind.✅ Using AI for Smarter Returns – How predictive analytics help brands decide what to restock, resell, or donate.✅ Building a Mission-Driven Startup – Sylvia’s founder journey, insights on pivoting, and balancing impact with profitability.🎧 Listen now to learn how e-commerce brands can turn returns into an opportunity—for business and the planet!👥 About Sylvia Ng:Sylvia Ng is the CEO & Founder of Return Bear, a reverse logistics company tackling the e-commerce return crisis. With a background in growth product management, she previously led teams at Shopify and 500px before launching Return Bear to create a sustainable, tech-powered solution for returns. Sylvia has been recognized as EMC’s Woman of the Year (2024), WeWorking Woman CEO of the Year (2023), and one of Canada’s Most Inspiring Women in STEM (2018).🔗 Reference LinksReturn Bear Website - https://www.returnbear.comReturn Bear LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/returnbearReturn Bear Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/returnbear🙋 About HostMoshe Mikanovsky is a Product Management Coach helping companies build lean software products with his unique experience in engineering and managing products for 30 years.🎙️ About the ShowBeyond Product Podcast is brought to you by Rootquotient—Canada's leading product engineering company.🔔 Follow us for regular updates🔗 LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/rootquotient📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rootquotientltd✖️ X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/rootquotient📘 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rootquotient🌍 Website - https://www.rootquotient.com🎧 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4H2wpIJmYrmYwLv0J2260RStay tuned for more thought-provoking discussions, meaningful insights, and all things Beyond Product.#beyondproduct #ecommerce #returns #reverseLogistics #sustainability #greentech #productmanagement #growthhacking #supplychain #logistics #customerexperience #founderstory #rootquotient #innovation #techforgood