Eric Naaman acquired Damotech in 2010 with the vision of building an organization that reflected his values. One rooted in strong company culture, clear brand positioning, and product excellence. Under his leadership, Damotech has become the largest rack safety company in North America.
Eric Naaman was recently named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 – Eastern. Eric holds a degree in mechanical engineering. Guided by his creative passion, he began his career in commercial photography and communications, collaborating with marquee clients such as Bombardier, Cirque du Soleil, General Motors, Home Depot, YUM! Brands, and L’Oréal, before transitioning into entrepreneurship and leading Damotech’s transformation.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Crossing Borders in a Tariff War: The LaunchBoost Playbook from Pure Marketing is for Founders who need to Stop, Think, Focus & Execute is all about crossing border to the USA and beyond. The USA is such a big market that we have to realize that it’s essential for growth — even if it means building and maintaing a US presence.
The new Canada’s Entrepreneur Marketing Podcast is a new podcast show where strategy meets action, and where Canadian founders learn how to scale smarter, faster, and further.
In this first episode the CE Marketing Podcast we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges facing Canadian growth companies:
How to expand into the U.S. market — in the middle of a tariff war.
The world of cross-border business is shifting fast. Trade tensions are rewriting the rules, and what used to be a straight road south is now full of roadblocks and opportunities. That’s exactly what LaunchBoost from Pure Marketing in New Jersey is designed to solve. It’s a 90-day marketing and go-to-market system that helps Canadian founders gain measurable traction in the U.S. market. To unpack how it works — and how founders can adapt — I’m joined by two remarkable voices and leaders of the Pure Marketing Group of companies who are shaping the future of growth and innovation:
Melanie Salvador is a venture capitalist and ecosystem strategist, focused on smart city systems and investment frameworks that align capital with civic ambition. And Jared Sanborn is a business builder, strategist, and futurist who believes the best way to predict the future is to create it.
And importantly we look at this through the eyes of our own Entrepreneur marketing process. The STFE mindset — Stop, Think, Focus, Execute — is not just a process — it’s a way of leading when everything feels uncertain. And it’s a perfect method from growth founders to shape there business in new markets.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Sylvain Karpinski is Founder & CEO of SLY Foods. SLY comes from Sylvain’s own adventures: 18,000 km cycling journeys across the Americas, packrafting expeditions on Canada’s remote whitewater rivers, and two solo offshore racing seasons across the Atlantic.
He couldn’t find freeze-dried meals that met his expectations during his expeditions. Refusing to settle for bland, unbalanced options, he began crafting his own recipes — gourmet, plant-based, and nutritious meals, designed to hold up in the most demanding conditions.
Back on solid ground, he decided to share them with the world. And so SLY was born, a line of savoury, practical, long-lasting, freeze-dried meals, made to fuel weekend adventurers, extreme explorers, and busy parents!
Sylvain is a great example of a Canadian adventurous go-getter. Already, SLY Foods are stocked in stores across Canada as well as in Europe in France & The Netherlands.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Arshia Jahangiri is the Founder and CEO of Solenery, a Canadian clean-energy platform built to make the transition to sustainable living effortless for homeowners, builders, and energy providers. Since founding Solenery, Arshia has led its vision to simplify how people discover, compare, and act on clean-energy incentives, turning complex data into instant, actionable insights through smart technology and design.
Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, Arshia moved to Toronto with a mission to combine creativity, business, and technology to solve real problems that matter. His journey started with a high-school patent for a rooftop energy system, evolved through graduate studies in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University, and materialized into Solenery.
Under his leadership, Solenery has developed a suite of intelligent tools, including its Energy Insights Widget, an AI-powered system that analyzes property data, ROI, and rebates for any postal code in Canada. The company is expanding its ecosystem through Builder and Partner platforms, connecting the clean-energy industry across property owners, builders, and providers.
As a multidisciplinary founder, Arshia blends design thinking, product innovation, and market strategy to bridge the gap between sustainability and adoption. Beyond Solenery, he is building a family of brands under Brinalle Group, fostering ventures that intersect design, technology, and experience.
Arshia’s mission is simple yet ambitious: to create systems that make sustainable choices mainstream, profitable, and personal. Whether through clean energy, design innovation, or business ecosystems, his work reflects a belief that impact starts with clarity, and clarity begins with design.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Matt Giffen is the Founder and CEO of Bench Brewing Company in West Lincoln, Niagara. Matt has built an innovative brewery that prioritizes sustainability and conscious business practices within the beverage industry, these are topics that align well with your thoughtful discussions about craft beer.
Matt shares his journey from a 24-year banking career to founding a farmhouse brewery in Lincoln, Ontario, which opened in 2018. He explained how he combined his passion for beer with the local agricultural community, establishing a brewery that now ranks sixth among craft breweries in Ontario.
Bench Brewing is an award-winning craft beverage company dedicated to “craft beverages with a conscience.” Since 2018, they’ve been at the forefront of sustainable brewing practices, implementing innovative solutions like zero wastewater process and closed-loop water system where every drop used in brewing is repurposed to nourish our onsite hops and adjacent local farms. Matt would be happy to share insights about:
Matt has built a sustainable brewery from the ground up and implemented conscious and sustainable business practices in the beverage industry. Matt operates at the intersection of craft brewing and environmental stewardship.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
In a world where the wellness economy is booming—now worth over $200 billion in Canada and growing at 7% annually—clinic owners and practitioners are discovering one of the most powerful growth levers available today: offering financing. In today’s episode, we reveal how clinics can increase conversions, expand client reach, elevate customer experience, and build long-term stability simply by integrating responsible, accessible financing into their service model.
For the average Canadian, the message is just as clear: your health doesn’t need to wait. Whether it’s a medical, elective, or longevity-focused procedure, financing now provides a path to care that aligns with your goals, your timing, and your financial reality.
And for policymakers—and for every Canadian who has ever felt the frustration of waitlists, delays, or bottlenecks in the public healthcare system—this episode is essential listening. Canada’s entrepreneurs are leading the charge in creating accessible, innovative health solutions. If policymakers embrace these models, collaborate with innovators, and reduce unnecessary red tape, we can dramatically reduce pressure on the public system and expand access to care nationwide.
We invite you to share this episode with the people you know and love who should never have to compromise their health because of a lack of financing — and share it with clinic owners, policymakers, and benefits providers who can help accelerate access to health, wellness, and longevity across Canada.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Anslem’s insightful and deeply thoughtful perspectives for engineering entrepreneurs are absolutely terrific, offering valuable, experience-based guidance for those aspiring to navigate complex technical and business landscapes. What it takes to step out of multi-national engineering companies to start up your own venture… so interesting, especially when viewed through the lens of someone who has actually lived through the intense pressures, difficult crossroads, and exhilarating opportunities of such a transition.
Anselm Viswasam graduated from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) with a degree in Electrical Engineering and is a professional engineer licensed in the province of Ontario. This strong and academically rigorous foundation provided him with the technical depth, analytical discipline, and professional credibility necessary for a successful engineering career. He also holds an MBA in Technology Management and New Ventures Development, from Queens University, in Canada, a program that equipped him with comprehensive business strategy skills, innovative leadership training, and entrepreneurial awareness that would later support his transition into the startup world.
Anselm co-founded Hyperion in July 2015 – with the intention of developing the first implementation of a distributed sensing solution for the electric grid. This bold and forward-looking vision was rooted in his commitment to improving grid reliability, efficiency, and intelligence. Essentially, Hyperion brings assets to life by taking each of the elements that comprise a high voltage asset and adding intelligence to it, enabling real-time monitoring, data-driven insights, and predictive capabilities. In essence, a smart grid is smart because it is made up of smart assets, and Hyperion’s transformative approach helps utilities modernize their infrastructure with cutting-edge, field-ready technology.
Prior to this, Anselm successfully led ABB’s Substation Automation Products Division for North America and in this role, he was responsible for sales of Transmission and Sub-transmission products to Utilities in Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. This demanding leadership position required a deep understanding of complex power systems, cross-border market dynamics, and customer-specific technical needs. Anselm spent over 14 years at General Electric (Multilin – substation protection and control products) holding positions in engineering, operations, marketing and in new product development. These diverse roles allowed him to build a well-rounded professional portfolio and understand how engineering innovation moves from concept to commercialization. He was an integral part of the team that developed the world’s first microprocessor protection relays – which are now ubiquitous across the power grid globally, marking a groundbreaking technological shift. He also worked in GE’s Wire & Cable group and developed cables for niche applications such as mineshaft power cable, cable buses and high performance fluid filled cable systems, showcasing his technical creativity and problem-solving capabilities.
Anselm prides himself on being a true “international” Canadian. Born in Sierra Leone, West Africa to parents of ethnic Sri Lankan origin, his first ten years were spent growing up in Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Tanzania, immersing him in diverse cultures and global perspectives. After a short stint in boarding school in the United Kingdom, his father retired from the United Nations and moved back to Sri Lanka. The ensuing civil war in Sri Lanka forced Anselm and his parents to immigrate to Canada in 1989 – 35 years and counting as a Canadian!
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Cory Brew is a Canadian entrepreneur, speaker, and business growth leader with a proven track record of scaling service-based businesses. With a reputation for strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and a relentless focus on operational excellence, he has established himself as a dynamic figure in the world of small-business expansion. He is the Founder and President of Beyond Landscaping Ltd. and Co-Founder of Market Hill Agency, two rapidly growing ventures that reflect his passion for leadership, innovation, and building high-performing teams. In 2016, Cory transformed Beyond Landscaping from a modest neighborhood lawn service into a multi-million-dollar company that now employs over 40 full-time professionals and offers landscaping, design, construction, and snow management services—recognized today as one of North Vancouver’s top service providers. His ability to scale the company from a simple weekend operation into a thriving, multi-divisional organization demonstrates a remarkable blend of vision, discipline, and entrepreneurial resilience.
Through Market Hill Agency, he helps overworked business owners recruit, place, and train skilled remote executive assistants. This specialized support is especially important in today’s fast-paced business environment, where leaders often struggle to balance administrative demands with strategic priorities. Drawing on his own years of experience working with virtual teams, Cory empowers leaders to scale their businesses sustainably and without burnout. By sharing practical systems, proven frameworks, and real-world insights, he equips entrepreneurs with the tools they need to delegate confidently, improve efficiency, and reclaim valuable time for higher-impact decisions. His work emphasizes not only business growth but also personal well-being, acknowledging that long-term success requires harmony between ambition and health.
In addition to his accomplishments, Cory is widely known as a relatable, down-to-earth speaker who openly shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the early struggles, learning curves, and pivotal breakthroughs that shaped his approach to leadership. Whether he is addressing an audience of new founders, coaching experienced business owners, or working one-on-one with a growing team, he brings an authentic, practical, and motivational perspective. His message consistently highlights the importance of intentional growth, disciplined execution, and building strong support systems.
Cory’s leadership style reflects a deep commitment to empowering people—employees, clients, and fellow entrepreneurs alike. He believes that organizations thrive when individuals feel valued, supported, and equipped with clear processes that enable them to perform at their best. This philosophy has contributed significantly to the culture and longevity of his companies, both of which continue to expand under his steady guidance.
As a proud Canadian entrepreneur with a passion for community, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement, Cory Brewer continues to play an influential role in shaping the next generation of service-based business leaders. His journey stands as a powerful reminder that with determination, creativity, and the right systems in place, small beginnings can evolve into extraordinary outcomes.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
If you own land in a growing Canadian town or rural market, you need to meet Max Picton. He’s the entrepreneur behind Canada’s first fully automated modular storage facility — turning raw land into cash-flowing assets in just 90 days. Through his company, Modular Storage Solutions, and the My Storage Spot brand, Max is helping landowners unlock income and community value faster than traditional real estate ever could.
He’s also the co-founder of BluLok, the next-gen smart entry system redefining how automation supports the storage industry.
👉 Tune in to this episode of Canada’s Entrepreneur to learn about the Canadian self-storage real estate sector, how self-storage supports community building, and how Max has identified an under-served market in Canada ripe for your investment.
Tap the link in the show notes for a free land assessment, exclusively for listeners of Canada’s Entrepreneur — where the world comes to hear how Canadians do business.
Canada’s Entrepreneur — where the world comes to hear how Canadians do business.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
Dan Pantaleo, is President/ CEO of CanGuard Security & Investigations Inc. Dan founded CanGuard in 2005. The company is a full service security corporation with a core business of On -line Training, Background checks, guards and private investigators. For Dan personally its not being the biggest or the best but about being as integral and helpful as possible in this convoluted world of security. Dan dedicates about 25% of his time to helping candidates navigate through the world of security and assist them in getting job ready , employment or help them choose the best career path for them as individuals. Dan has a solid background in policing in Toronto and was able to make the transition into the private sector entrepreneurship successfully. His philosophy is simple, the more people he helps the more help he gets from people.
CanGuard Security & Investigations Inc is recognized as an integrated security and investigation firm, serving a broad clientele including retail, insurance, corporate, and legal sectors. This comprehensive approach is designed to fulfill the intricate security and investigation needs demanded by the ever-changing events in this increasingly complex world. Under the dedicated leadership of Dan Pantaleo, a respected figure and former officer with the Toronto Police Services, CANGUARD maintains a strong commitment to delivering extraordinary client service. This commitment is continuously exemplified by a consistent desire to produce solid, actionable results across all assignments.
The firm proudly serves the expansive Toronto GTA area, offering specialized services that include expert private investigations, highly trained security guards, advanced CANGUARD GPS Tracking capabilities, the useful CANGUARD GPS Message App, and modern Security Systems/CCTV installations. Since its inception in 2005, the foundational focus of the organization has been firmly grounded in people. CANGUARD is deeply committed to building strong, lasting relations by proactively developing solutions that not only work effectively but also inspire confidence and trust in their clients. The foundational belief is that the relationship between CANGUARD and clients must be based upon essential virtues: unwavering honesty, steadfast loyalty, and uncompromised integrity.
The company strives to successfully partner with every client, ensuring all assignments are completed efficiently and within their specific financial boundaries. CANGUARD’s vision is centered on achieving absolute excellence in the efforts of security, investigation, and education. A key part of this educational mission involves facilitating aspiring candidates to attain their professional goals by providing high-quality on-line training. This training, offered for both Private Investigator Training and Security Guard Training, is designed to be the most effective and economical option available in the industry, consistently surpassing standard industry requirements.
The corporate tagline, ‘SECURING YOUR FUTURE,’ encapsulates this forward-looking and proactive stance. The private investigation division provides a full range of meticulous services that are specifically designed to meet stringent corporate standards. The team is composed of professional private investigators who meticulously devise a strategic approach to consistently exceed client expectations in complex scenarios. Furthermore, the security guard service employs qualified and highly competent personnel. These dedicated security guards are comprehensively trained to respond swiftly, decisively, and effectively to any situation. They are empowered to take necessary initiative to ensure the utmost safety and security of both people and property across diverse sites, including construction developments, residential properties, condominium complexes, hotel venues, and large-scale special event settings. CANGUARD extends its services and acclaimed online training programs for security guards and private investigators throughout Ontario, including major municipalities such as Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oshawa, Pickering, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay, as well as all surrounding areas. The entire operation upholds the highest standards of professionalism and accountability, reflecting Dan Pantaleo’s background and dedication to securing the future for both clients and candidates in the private security sector.
The commitment to building strong community ties and providing specialized guidance remains a paramount objective for the firm.
Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur!
Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don’t miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.
