The Profit or Pivot Podcast
The Profit or Pivot Podcast features interviews with venture capitalists and startup founders. Each episode explores the journeys, strategies, and decisions behind building and scaling companies. Listeners gain insights into fundraising, business models, and the challenges entrepreneurs face. The show focuses on practical lessons and success stories from the startup world.
Episodes
October 7, Radical Islam and the West’s Response: Inside "The Killing Roads" Documentary
On October 7, the roads of southern Israel became killing grounds for murderous terrorists and ordinary people became heroes.
Filmmaker Igal Hecht joins Matan to discuss the Hamas attacks through the stories at the heart of his documentary, The Killing Roads: people caught on the roads, survivors recounting what happened, and Israelis who risked their lives to save others. How do you document atro
He Sold His AI Startup for $160M. Now He Wants Businesses Without Employees.
What happens when AI stops helping employees and starts replacing them entirely?
Sam Pasupalak joins Matan to explain his plan to build an AI CEO, why he believes today’s LLMs fall short, and how buying small businesses could help test his thesis. Sam co-founded Maluuba, the AI startup acquired by Microsoft for $160 million.
In this conversation, he traces the evolution from early voice assistants
Yishay Waxman built two $100M startups | what he learned & why he's going all in on Israeli startups
Yishay Waxman built Platterz into a Canadian tech success story with roughly a $100 million run rate.
Then COVID hit.
Offices shut down, revenues disappeared, and the company was forced to lay off more than 70% of its employees.
Instead of shutting the company down and returning the remaining capital, Yishay and his co-founder pivoted. Years later, the business was acquired by Gusto.
But Yishay's
Creating a Luxury Brand, Raising Money, & Building a Family | Dani Kagan
Building a consumer brand is one of the hardest things an entrepreneur can do.
Margins are tight. Inventory is expensive. Customer acquisition costs keep rising. And in Canada, raising venture capital for consumer products is almost impossible.
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Dani Kagan, co-founder of Mave & Chez, to discuss what it really takes to build a pr
Immigration, DEI & Economic Decline: Roman Baber's Warning for Canada
Roman Baber was excommunicated from the Conservative movement in Canada because he stood up to COVID related government tyranny in 2021. He was kicked out of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, and spent several years in the political wilderness.
In hindsight, his stance was measured, appropriate, and necessary, during a time of fear, mass delusion, and government lies.
And fortunately,
Hillel Fuld: The PR War, Rising Antisemitism, Trump & Why Jews Should Move to Israel
After October 7th, everything changed.
Not just on the ground in Israel… But in the digital battlefield where narratives are shaped, distorted, and weaponized.
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with social media superstar Hillel Fuld to break down what’s really happening. Hillel built his career advising startups and telling stories in the tech world. But after October 7th
Understanding the 3,000+ year hatred of the Jews
Anti-Semitism is an evil and accelerating phenomenon around the world.
I break down my thoughts on its root causes.
The Fundraising Advice Startup Founders Don’t Want to Hear | Jeffrey Fidelman
Every founder wants to raise money.
But few understand what they’re actually competing against. In this episode of the Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Jeffrey Fidelman to break down what really happens behind the scenes in venture capital and why most founders never even get a shot.
Here’s the reality:
Top firms are reviewing thousands of deals every year. One fund alone can see 5,000 app
The Untold Truth About Becoming a VC Investor & Launching the 'YC' for VCs, Coolwater Capital
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Ever wonder how someone becomes a venture capitalist?
Winter Mead is the founder of Coolwater Capital, the YC for VC funds. He's invested in over 90 funds and has helped launch hundreds of VC firms. Venture operates in circles of trust. Those circles aren’t arbitrary, they’re built over decades. Ecosy
Why Toronto is Failing & What it Will Take to Fix It | James Pasternak
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Everything is degrading in major cities like Toronto.
Violent crime has skyrocketed, homelessness is rampant, living is increasingly unaffordable, and we are paying more in taxes & receiving worse services. In the latest episode of The Profit or Pivot
How to Land Your Dream Job in VC or PE | Tips from a $1.7B AUM Fund Manager
Jim Ferry, a Partner at Volition Capital with $1.7B AUM, recently posted a VC analyst role and received 2,500 applications in one week.
That number alone says everything. In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, we unpack what that level of competition really means, why traditional career advice is broken, and how hiring managers actually think when they’re flooded with applicants who all l
4 Easy Steps to Master in Person Networking as an Introvert | Solo Episode
Who you know in business is critical to your success, especially as a startup. And meeting the right people whether its best employees, partners, customers, and investors often requires networking and meeting new people in person.
But what if you're an introvert like me and dread networking and meeting new people in person?
There are a few simple and easy steps you can implement to overcome your f
My Partnership with Waka Flocka Flame, The Business Behind Cultural Influence
Max Abergel signed one of the most influential rappers in the world without an intro, a résumé, or permission. He literally slipped past security and walked into a green room.
That moment led to a long-term partnership with Waka Flocka Flame, an artist with diamond-certified records, collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Drake, and a brand that stretches far beyond music into business, philanthropy,
Branding & Leadership Lessons From Heinz, SodaStream, & Pepsico | Rena Nickerson
Every brand is trying to influence you but only a few succeed. Why? Because great brands understand human psychology better than their competitors.
In this episode of the Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Rena Nickerson, the General Manager of the Quaker and Sabra brands in Canada, who has spent her career understanding how people think, what motivates them, and how to turn that into real b
Q&A with Matan: What VCs look for, what we do with failings startups, how to raise VC & other great questions
Matan joins the founders at the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute to answer their many questions about building startups, raising money, and standing out.
Q1 What do I look for in a startup when investing
Q2 Thoughts on "impact investing"
Q3 What do I do when a company is failing
Q4 How to break into VC
Q5 How would I redo my career / life if given the option
Q6 Dealing with failed f
Rebuilding 30+ Companies in Post-Soviet Russia & Building the #1 Ranked Incubator in the World
Ever wondered how the Russian oligarchs were made? This episode gives you a glimpse into that world… through someone who lived it, built through it, and survived it.
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, Matan speaks with Marat Ressin, an entrepreneur who built and bought over 30 businesses after the fall of the Soviet Union, escaped the rising control of the KGB to Canada, and went on t
What Startup Founders Get Wrong About Scaling & Other Important Lessons | Ryan Henry
By his mid 20's, Ryan Henry became Head of Engineering for a fast growing mobile game developer. It was his first exposure to scaling a tech company, which he later leveraged at Freshbooks, a Canadian "unicorn" startup (over $1 billion valuation). At Freshbooks, Ryan hired 100 engineers in 1 year, a real rocket ship. He shares his insights on scaling a business, hiring the best people, how AI will
Prolific VC Investor: What Every Startup MUST Do to Raise Money Successfully
Geoff became an accidental entrepreneur building a 150 employee business and becoming a prolific angel investor with investments that include a $500 MILLION exit.
Geoff's journey illustrates the unpredictable path of entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and being open to unexpected opportunities. Geoff and I discuss how to build a business, the many t
How Mastering Sales as an Introvert Made Me Rich | Alex Siplyarksy
By age 22, Alex Siplyarsky failed in his 1st business, was $40,000 in debt, and had his 1st child on the way.
Life looked bleak and he didn't know how to dig himself out of this deep hole. However, Alex defied the odds. Initially struggling with sales, he transformed his life by understanding what makes buyers tick and how to overcome an initial "no" and influence people to buy.
Starting with the
Why the Housing Crisis is Getting Worse & Product Lessons from a $100M Startup Exit | Mark Freedman
🏠 Is Canada’s dream of home ownership officially dead?
In this episode of the Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Mark Freedman, entrepreneur, investor, and former Head of Product who helped lead a startup to a $100M+ exit, to talk about building and scaling businesses, product leadership, and why real estate in Canada and other major cities is becoming increasingly out of reach.
Mark shares
How I Built & Exited 2 Startups Without ANY Venture Capital | Jeremy Zuker
Join me as I sit down with Jeremy Zuker, a seasoned entrepreneur who has successfully built and sold multiple marketplace startups.
In this insightful conversation, we'll delve into: Growth Strategies: Learn how Jeremy scaled WagJag to 180 employees and $50 million in revenue.
Bootstrapping Success: Discover why Jeremy chose to avoid venture capital and the benefits of bootstrapping.
Overcoming C
Melissa Lantsman on the Downfall of Canada, the 2025 Election Loss & the Meteoric Rise of Anti-Semitism
🇨🇦 Canada is not the country it once was.
Economic stagnation, failing institutions, rising crime, a massive brain drain, a housing crisis, and a political class unwilling to confront the growing divisions and hatred. In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Melissa Lantsman, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, to discuss what’s gone wrong in Canada and what i
How AI is Breaking VC, Why Most Startups Will Become Obsolete, & Why Israel is Winning in Startups | Sion Balass of The Group Ventures
How do you build a venture capital firm in a market that isn’t mature? And what does it mean to be an entrepreneur shaped by experiences in Iran, Israel, and Canada?
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Sion (Zion) Balass, co-founder and Managing Partner of The Group Ventures, a Toronto-based VC firm. Sion shares his remarkable journey, born in Iran to Iraqi Jewish pare
250 Years of Business Wisdom in 21 Min | Powerful Advice Compilation
Are you an entrepreneur feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning if you should keep going? You’re not alone. In this 21-minute compilation, we've pulled together the most powerful insights from guests of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, founders, investors, and business leaders who have faced struggles just like you.
This episode is packed with real talk and actionable strategies to help you:
Push
Reviving My Failed Startup & Becoming Top 10 on the App Store | Jonathan Shiff of PAPR
Jonathan built a successful news app that reached the top 10 on Apple's app store and decided to let the startup fail. In this video, Jonathan and I discuss his winding journey as a startup founder, the challenges he faced, why he let his startup fail, and why and how he ultimately revived it.
Also, we discuss how he made a lot of money trading stocks, why he is bullish on crypto and why he thinks
Religion, Faith, Making Money & Finding Purpose | Rabbi Josh Kaller
How can ancient Jewish wisdom guide the way we live, work, and build businesses today?
In this episode of the Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with R. Josh Kaller who is an entrepreneur, attorney, real estate investor, and community leader, to explore the intersection of Judaism, spirituality, and business. In addition to being a real estate attorney and investor, Rabbi Kaller is building a non
Timing is Everything & Other Lessons From a Billion $ Exit | Michael Durance
Timing is everything when building a startup. It can make the difference between a billion dollar exit and utter failure. Its why one of the most important questions a venture capital investor will ask startups is "why now". What changed about the market that allows you to create significant value and build a hyperscale business NOW.
Michael Durance of xiVentures joins me to discuss his successful
Advising $23 Billion in Assets | Mo Lidsky of Prime Quadrant
How do billionaires really manage their money? What’s the difference between creating wealth and actually preserving it across generations?
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Mo Lidsky, a serial entrepreneur, author of five books, and co-founder & CEO of Prime Quadrant, a leading family office advisory firm serving over 250 ultra-high-net-worth families with more t
How to WIN Against 30,000 Competitors | Mark Halpern of WEALTHinsurance.com
Entrepreneurs focus on how to create wealth but most DON'T think about the day after exit. How do they use their wealth, plan for the future, protect their legacy, and invest in their community. Mark Halpern, the Founder of WEALTHinsurance.com, became the most famous insurance broker in Canada by focusing on answering these questions for Canada's most successful business leaders.
In this episode,
Building a $150M Corporate Venture Fund | Talia Abramowitz & Deloitte Ventures
Should you leave your steady corporate job to start a business?
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast I speak with Talia Abramowitz, a partner at Deloitte, the largest professional services firm in the world ($70B in revenues) and the founder of Deloitte Ventures, a $150 million corporate venture capital fund.
Talia shares how she carved out entrepreneurial opportunities within the corpor
You Can Scale a Startup WITHOUT Venture Capital | Mark Nashman
Mark Nashman shares his journey from successful entrepreneur to successful venture capital investor. We learn about Mark's incredible story building Clarity Systems, a financial software business that he grew to over $50 million in revenues before selling to IBM. We also discuss Mark's perspective on investing in startups, what he looks for, red flags and some advice for entrepreneurs.
Mark is a r
Why Startup Founders Fail at Sales (And How to Fix It) | Sonya Meloff
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Sonya Meloff, co-founder of one of Canada’s most successful sales recruitment agencies. She helped thousands of companies, from startups to enterprises, hire top-performing salespeople and scaled her business to 8-figure revenues before exiting.
If you're a founder hiring your first sales rep, scaling your go-to-market team, or just w
Adapting to Rapidly Changing Business Environments | Michael Millar
In summer of 2020, at the peak of chaos in the healthcare industry, Michael raised a venture capital "Seed" round for his healthcare software startup. How did Michael turn a crisis into an opportunity, grow his business, and set himself on the path to success?
Some of the topics covered:
Michael's background, how and why he started Verto
How he developed an innovative solution in healthcare that
The Journey to a $1.6 Billion Exit | The Wind Mobile Story with Brice Scheschuk
In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, host Matan Hazanov interviews Brice Scheschuk, a trailblazing entrepreneur who co-founded Wind Mobile and sold it for $1.6 billion. Bryce takes us behind the scenes of his journey, from his early days in Saskatchewan and the naval reserve to disrupting Canada’s telecom oligopoly with Wind Mobile. He shares heart-pounding moments, like securing a $200
Why I Left a $100 Million Business to Build a Startup | Avi Abrams
Avi Abrams shares his journey from aspiring VC to one of the 1st hires in a high growth startup raising $50 million, and how he eventually leaves to pursue his goal of building a business from 0 to 1. We dive into Avi's time at Humi, a high growth SaaS startup, where he led product development during the company's incredible growth. He shares his lessons for building and selling products, understa
From $0 to $10M: Marketing Lessons Every Startup Founder Needs | Igor Sorokin
In this episode, Matan Hazanov sits down with Igor Sorokin, the marketing mastermind behind One Core Media, an 8-figure boutique marketing firm driving results for global giants like Canadian Tire, Kijiji, Cisco, and even Floyd Mayweather. With over 25 years in the game, Igor shares battle-tested strategies for startups and growing businesses to stand out, scale smart, and avoid common marketing p
The Blueprint for Building Startups at Scale | Chris Carder
Chris Carder shares his incredible journey as an aspiring journalist to successful entrepreneur, academic, and builder of startups at scale. He is currently the Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Schulich School of Business, often ranked the #1 business school in Canada.
The position is one he created as a result of building a startup community at Schulich from the ground up, tapping
From Startup to $660M Exit: The Wattpad Story | Allen Lau
Join host Matan Hazanov for an incredible discussion with Allen Lau, co-founder of Wattpad, the global storytelling platform that sold for an astounding $660M USD.
From his roots as a software engineer to scaling Wattpad to 100M users, Allen shares hard-earned lessons on finding product-market fit, navigating startup challenges, and the critical role of timing in building a powerhouse business. No
Why Israel is the "Startup Nation" | David Shore of OurCrowd
On October 7, 2023, Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists resulting in the worst single day massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. With the country now at war, how does civil society cope with 10-15% of its labour force being called up to military reserve duty?
David Shore, a Partner at OurCrowd, the most active venture capital investor in Israel joins me to discuss the situatio
How We Invest $800 Million on Behalf of Canada's Wealthiest Families | Neil Nisker
Neil Nisker is a legendary Canadian entrepreneur who built and sold three wealth management businesses. Now running "Our Family Office" managing $800M for Canada’s wealthiest families, Neil shares his incredible journey, from his early days as a “gopher” on the Toronto Stock Exchange to cold-calling Sir John Templeton, sparking a 35-year mentorship.
He dives into contrarian investing principles, h
Social Media Expert: How to Effectively Use Social Media to Build Your Business
Tamar Lyons quit her "dream job" in media making $40k/year to build a social media marketing agency and is now doing over $500k in revenues in just a couple of years and growing rapidly.
By her mid 20s, Tamar was married, depressed, and living a life that she didn't want. She was not living authentically. After realizing how much money she was leaving on the table, and some tough love from her men
Our Revenues Went to $0 Overnight | How I Rebuilt My Startup Stronger
The stark reality for building a startup: the unexpected can happen at any moment.
Just 3 months after closing a $1M Seed round, COVID restrictions hit, resulting in a fast growing business reduced to $0 revenues. Eropa's strategic pivot with a very low cash burn while increasing the team & revenues was nothing short of a miracle.
It's a lesson in resilience and the power of quick, decisive ac
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