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.
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Dr. Chika Oriuwa is a child of Nigerian immigrants to Canada, who experienced many challenges including racism, sexism and financial precarity on her way to realizing her dream of becoming a doctor. Upon arriving at medical school, she discovered she was the only person of colour in a class of over 300 students. This inspired her to become an entrepreneur of her own life and career and led her to become a cultural icon whose story resonates globally.
Dr. Oriuwa has been recognized internationally for her accomplishments and was named one of TIME magazine’s “Next Generation Leaders” in 2021 and was honoured with one-of-a-kind Barbie doll for her contributions as a frontline healthcare worker, Dr. Oriuwa is Her accomplishments exemplify the potential of women who harness their power to break barriers and inspire others.
She is currently touring North America with a keynote sharing her blueprint for innovation, a neuro-science driven, three-pillar framework designed to revolutionize leadership and organizational success on both an individual and organizational level for lasting impact – from boardrooms to the psychiatric emergency room and from billion-dollar problems to toddler meltdowns, Dr. Oriuwa is combining storytelling, science and strategy to unlock entrepreneurial ingenuity at home – or the boardroom.
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Today, we meet Ben Taylor, the founder behind the marketing and business growth of the Beachman. It’s a great Canadian entrepreneur story. Ben is the Co-Founder of Beachman e-bikes. In 2019, Beachman’s two founders Ben Taylor and Steve Payne had a chance encounter at a coffee shop. Ben is the creator of the Beachman name with the dream to build a wildly new electric cafe racer, and Steve, the cafe racer builder who could bring that dream to life. Ben comes from an entrepreneurial family, with parents that were co-founders of the now famous SteamWhistle Brewery. In the fall of 2020 Steve completed work on the first prototype, a modified 1979 Kawasaki KZ200, which they refer to as “Zero”. With a battery system hand-built by Steve, a modern electric drivetrain, and authentic café racer styling, the pair knew they had something special, so let’s find out more.
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Alicia Hardman grew up on a fruit farm just down the ridge from Shale Ridge Winery and always dreamed of tying her roots to a place of her own, where craft and hospitality meet. Years later, she left a full-time job and went all-in on that vision. It wasn’t a retirement project. It was an underdog leap, capital-heavy, complex, and humbling.
Alicia says starting from the bottom meant ups and downs, tough lessons, and a lot of perseverance. But when heart and vision stay aligned, you find your way. Every bottle, every table we set, and every smile at the door is a thank-you to the people who believed with us, and to you for being part of it.
Alicia didn’t arrive with all the answers. She learned fast, sought out seasoned growers and makers, invested in the right equipment, and kept listening, to the land and to the guests. The result is a Shale Ridge Winery, Cidery and Spa. A place that feels personal: with swings, sunshine, seasonal plates, and glasses that tell the story of where they came from.
From the beginning, Alicia carried with her a deep respect for the rhythm of the land—an instinct shaped by early mornings in the orchard and long afternoons watching the seasons shift across the ridge. That upbringing taught her that good things grow slowly, with intention, and only when nurtured with patience. It’s a philosophy she wove into every decision, from the varieties planted to the way guests are welcomed through the gates. She wanted Shale Ridge to feel like the kind of place where people could breathe a little deeper, settle into the moment, and reconnect with something real.
As the dream took shape, the landscape itself became a silent partner in the journey. Rolling rows of vines and fruit trees framed the horizon, while the textured shale of the ridge—once a familiar backdrop from her childhood—began to inspire the identity of the winery. Its layered, resilient character mirrored her own path: strong, weathered, and quietly beautiful. Alicia often says that the land tells its story to anyone willing to listen, and she built spaces that invite guests to do exactly that—spaces meant for lingering, laughing, and letting the outside world slow down for a while.
Guests who visit today often describe the experience as warm, effortless, and immersive. The swings overlooking the vineyard aren’t just a novelty; they embody the playful spirit Alicia wanted to preserve, a reminder that joy and craftsmanship can coexist. Seasonal plates arrive at the table with colours that echo the nearby orchards and gardens, creating a seamless link between what’s poured, what’s plated, and what’s grown just steps away. And every glass—whether wine or cider—carries a sense of place shaped by years of dedication, risk, and unwavering belief.
In many ways, Shale Ridge stands as both a tribute to her roots and a celebration of what can happen when someone chooses not only to dream, but to follow that dream into the unknown with courage and heart.
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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!
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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.
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For more than two decades, Robert Mitchell has been helping Ontario business owners navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives—selling their business. As the founder and lead advisor at Premium Mergers & Acquisitions, based in Guelph, he work hands-on with every client to maximize value, protect their legacy, and guide them through a confidential, stress-free process.
His journey began as an engineer with Procter & Gamble, later complemented by an MBA from Rutgers University in Beijing. That foundation gave him a unique perspective: the analytical rigor of engineering combined with the strategic insight of business leadership. Over the years, I’ve advised and completed sales across diverse industries—ranging from manufacturing and distribution to service and retail. Each transaction is deeply personal, and my role is to ensure owners feel confident about both the deal and the future of their business.
Beyond deal-making, Robert is passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs and giving back to the business community. Whether through speaking engagements, coaching, or supporting local initiatives, I believe entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of Canada’s economic strength—and I’m grateful to play a role in helping business owners achieve successful transitions.
At its core, his work is about people, their journeys, and ensuring the next chapter is as rewarding as the last.
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Michael Crooks is a hospitality professional who is always interested in new challenges. He has achieved success in all aspects of the hospitality service industry. Three years ago he decided to move over to entrepreneurship and his journey and success are really insightful for those thinking of making the break to independence.
His venture, aptly named Crooksy’s, exemplifies the ultimate realization of a dedicated professional’s vision, transitioning seamlessly from a successful career path to the demanding world of independent business ownership. This establishment, described proudly as a local pub and kitchen, stands as a cornerstone in the unique locale of the Hamilton Beach strip.
The setting itself is a special place, a truly remarkable small town contained within the boundaries of a large, bustling city, thoroughly overloaded with captivating local history. At the absolute core of this distinct area is its community—the enduring, vital heart that has kept the entire beach strip beating strongly for more than a century. Michael Crooks’s creation resonates deeply with this spirit. The patrons and residents form an eclectic group, comprising long-standing residents and new arrivals, all united by a shared, palpable sense of belonging.
They are a genuinely fun-loving and fiercely loyal bunch of individuals who celebrate their eccentricity with great enthusiasm and are always readily available and down for an undeniably good time. Crooksy’s serves not just as a pub but as a local speak easy and kitchen for this remarkable collective. The philosophy behind the operation is beautifully simple and profoundly effective: it is for the community and, crucially, run by the community.
There is an unwavering commitment to keeping things straightforward and authentic. Diners and regulars find nothing fancy, just consistently good, expertly prepared food, affordable, carefully curated drinks, and great company provided by both staff and fellow patrons. The atmosphere fosters camaraderie and connection, making it a true home away from home. The weekly specials are a testament to this community-focused approach, designed to provide value and entertainment. Tuesdays are dedicated to the popular Wing a Ding Ding Day/Night, offering a pound of wings for a ten-dollar bill. Wednesdays feature TIPPIN’ TALLBOYS, with domestic beers available for six dollars and fifty cents and craft selections for seven dollars and fifty cents, alongside tempting Burger Day Features. Thursdays host a lively Trivia night, kicking off sharply at 8 pm, and the Pint & Sammie deal provides a twenty-ounce pint and any sandwich with a side for twenty-two dollars. Fridays welcome WINE O’CLOCK, where house wine is just seven dollars and premium selections are nine dollars and fifty cents. Saturdays are reserved for TAPS & APPS, offering perfect weekend pairings, and Sundays are rightfully designated as SUNDAY FUNDAY.
The event specials further enrich the experience, including mouthwatering Fish & Chips served every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. NFL games dominate Sundays, accompanied by specially curated food and drink deals for fans. Furthermore, ten-dollar wings are available during all live Leafs and Bills games, cementing Crooksy’s as the premier local spot for sports enthusiasts. Michael Crooks has successfully channeled his extensive background in hospitality service, including his deep understanding of operations, customer relations, and staff management, into creating this beloved, thriving establishment. His transition is more than just a change in title; it represents a dedicated pursuit of independence, offering a blueprint for professionals aspiring to make the formidable break into self-employment and entrepreneurial achievement.
The continuous flow of satisfied customers, the consistent positive feedback, and the pub’s integral role in the Hamilton Beach community are the clearest markers of Michael Crooks’s insightful and impactful success story. This is a journey defined by calculated risk, professional excellence, and a passionate, enduring commitment to superior service.
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Dan Swayze is a seasoned executive leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and transformation in high-tech companies. Renowned for defining and executing technical strategies that enable cloud migration, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Adept at aligning business and technology goals to deliver scalable, secure, and high-performing solutions. Dan is passionate about mentoring talent, fostering a culture of innovation, and building high-performing teams. He thrives at the intersection of technology and strategy, driving measurable results and sustained business success.
Dan Swayze’s strategic focus is heavily aligned with providing Strategy and Execution for Startups Ready to Scale, ensuring businesses are Moving Fast and Smart. His leadership enables companies to Ship Value Fast by aligning product, people, process, and strategy to unlock significant market traction. He champions the philosophy that Moving Fast is good, but Moving Smart is better, and the goal is always to do both. Specifically, he excels at structuring engagements that accelerate ROI, reduce costs, and secure capital, ensuring that strategy, product, and technology are working together for faster, de-risked growth.
His background includes a deep specialization in complex Secure SaaS at Scale implementations. A prime example of his impact involves the redesign of SaaS security platforms utilizing scalable serverless architecture, which has successfully cut onboarding friction by 60% and simultaneously reduced operational costs while restoring critical investor confidence. This approach often involves re-architecting platforms using a multi-tenant serverless design, streamlining client onboarding processes, and thoroughly embedding scalability and security protocols directly into the delivery model. This hands-on capability ensures platforms are positioned as investor-ready with a clear, reliable path to scale.
Beyond architectural transformation, he provides crucial Startup Advisory services, particularly focused on AI Startup Funding Readiness. He helps founders refine their validation and Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, crafting an investor-ready narrative that significantly accelerates fundraising and secures vital investor interest. This meticulous work involves helping teams clarify their problem–solution fit, define their ideal customer profile (ICP), and construct an investor-ready GTM narrative supported by demonstrably measurable traction levers.
Furthermore, he has a proven track record in Business Growth, enabling regional services businesses to expand their offerings and optimize marketing performance, leading to quantifiable improvements such as a 20% boost in customer acquisition efficiency within short six-month cycles. This success is achieved through introducing tailored service-line strategies, piloting targeted local marketing experiments, and structuring foundational operations for systemic scale.
For investors and Private Equity (PE) firms, his expertise includes detailed Investor Product Diligence. He conducts rigorous product audits, uncovering technical risks prior to acquisition deals, which effectively prevents overvaluation and strengthens negotiation terms. This due diligence involves a detailed codebase and product audit to surface hidden technical and operational risks, delivering actionable remediation recommendations that protect investor value and reduce post-acquisition uncertainty.
Dan Swayze is committed to Transforming Vision into Execution, offering Strategic Advisory for Founders and PE Firms Ready to Scale. His proven methodology systematically combines strategic thinking with rapid, hands-on execution to consistently deliver measurable, tangible results for growing businesses. His consultative solutions include MarketSync for GTM Strategy and Product-Market-Technology Alignment, ensuring synchronous growth strategy, product roadmap, and technical execution with strong investor-ready positioning. He implements ProductPath for Agile Product Strategy to Scale Smart, defining adaptive roadmaps that ship high value fast with outcome-driven prioritization. His TechStack Advantage service focuses on Technology Stack Review and Optimization, designing revenue-ready, scalable tech stacks that incorporate cost control and essential compliance from the outset. He drives InvestorReady strategies to ensure clients show up prepared for diligence and their next capital raise, equipped with GTM clarity and the right corporate governance checklists. Finally, his PE Advantage framework offers an Operational Audit and Efficiency Roadmap, providing faster ROI with systematic leakage find-and-fix across product, process, and operational spend. These engagements are guided by core Value Pillars: Clarity, providing actionable roadmaps; Execution, accelerating plans without sacrificing precision; Scale, building a foundation for sustainable growth; Risk Reduction, ensuring foresight to identify technical and operational gaps; Investor Readiness, preparing clients to face investors with confidence; and Efficiency, helping clients to modernize and streamline operations while reducing costs. This comprehensive approach ensures a clear path from initial guidance to sustained growth for all clients.
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Stephan and Kimberley Lafreniere are growth-oriented and insight driven senior executive with a track record of success in developing and implementing strategies and tactics to drive profits in the retail sectors.
Stephan has held progressively senior roles within the planning, merchandising, and branding disciplines at iconic Canadian retailers including Canadian Tire Corporation, Hudson’s Bay Company, Loblaw Companies Ltd., and Sears Canada Inc. Kimberley has an equally impressive retail career after working for iconic brands like Sears, HBC, and Sobeys, loving what I do every day. Building that new program and watching the guests fall in love with it is a thrill.
In 2021 Stephan and Kimberley invested in a Schooley Mitchell franchise. Schooley Mitchell is the largest independent cost reduction consulting firm in North America, with offices from coast-to-coast in the United States and Canada. On average, they reduce essential business service expenses by 28% and have delivered over $540 million in documented savings to our clients to date.
Stephan and Kim are passionate about saving money for their clients and helping them grow their business. Schooley Mitchell delivers expertise to companies of all sizes from all industries, offering a broad range of services aimed at reducing costs and
All Schooley Mitchell fees are self-funded from the savings generated. If savings aren’t found, our clients don’t pay – a truly risk-free and mutually beneficial model.
Schooley Mitchell is strategically positioned to help businesses grow by ensuring optimal financial health and maximizing operational efficiency. The dedicated team of specialized Cost Reduction Specialists, including Stephan and Kimberley, are passionately focused on finding tangible solutions that save your business both valuable time and substantial money. They operate under the clear understanding that a client’s success is unequivocally their own success. Their proprietary approach ensures every client is consistently receiving the best essential business services at the absolute best price. This meticulous review process systematically identifies billing errors, eliminates internal redundancies, and significantly improves organizational efficiency. The network of skilled specialists leverages proprietary sophisticated software and extensive pricing databases to achieve these remarkable outcomes.
They actively maintain long-standing relationships with diverse service providers across North America. This combination of technology and established relationships allows the team to find substantial savings and monitor client accounts on an ongoing, continuous basis. This ensures that the services remain fully optimized, protecting financial advantages for the long term.
Schooley Mitchell’s commitment to results is unparalleled across the consulting industry. Their foundational work is based on a transparent, symbiotic, and mutually beneficial model. They are singularly driven by producing measurable, impactful results for their clients and maintain no ties to specific vendors or service providers.
This vital independence ensures objective and unbiased recommendations. Schooley Mitchell proudly boasts over a billion dollars in documented client savings across North America, a powerful testament to their effective methodology and network of over 350 dedicated offices. Their deep expertise covers very essential services like Telecom, Merchant Services, Small Package Shipping, Waste, and high quality Facility Supplies.
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