In Between Meetings, Steve Larter shares his perspective on academic entrepreneurship, research commercialization, and what it takes to build an entrepreneurial university. Drawing on decades of experience across academia, industry, startups, and university leadership, Steve reflects on how the University of Calgary developed its innovation culture and why grassroots student entrepreneurship has played such an important role. We discuss whether every researcher should be encouraged to commercialize their work, what makes some research groups more entrepreneurial, and how academic incentives could change. The conversation also explores why invention may be a bigger bottleneck than entrepreneurship and what Canada needs to turn more great research into global technology companies.

Takeaways

• UCalgary’s entrepreneurial culture was built gradually over decades rather than through one program, building, or major investment.
• Grassroots student entrepreneurship has been one of the most important drivers of cultural change at the university.
• Universities need people who can bridge the worlds of research, technology, startups, and commercialization.
• More university research should be commercialized, but that does not mean every academic needs to become an entrepreneur.
• Researchers can remain deeply involved in their technology while experienced entrepreneurs and management teams help build the company.
• Canada may be putting too much emphasis on entrepreneurship and not enough on invention and turning research discoveries into technologies ready for commercialization.
• Entrepreneurial research groups often give students and postdocs more freedom, work across basic and applied research, collaborate with industry, and pursue multiple sources of funding.
• Academic systems should reward ambition, collaboration, and imagination rather than tradition, territoriality, and rigid career structures.
• Canada needs stronger integration between universities, industry, government, and capital if it wants promising technologies and companies to grow at home.
• Young academics should not necessarily choose between great research and commercialization. Steve’s challenge to them is simple: why not do both?

Steve Larter is a retired but active professor at the University of Calgary, researcher, inventor, entrepreneur, and startup mentor. His career has spanned academia, industry, university leadership, technology commercialization, and startup development. He has been involved with Innovate Calgary, Carbon Management Canada, Creative Destruction Lab, and multiple technology ventures, with work spanning energy, climate technology, innovation, and research commercialization.

Between Meetings is a video podcast with industry leaders, startup founders, and ecosystem builders. Each episode explores the realities of building, investing, and supporting innovation while catching guests between meetings during a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice. Since 2023, Between Meetings has been helping tell Calgary's innovation story one conversation at a time.

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In Between Meetings, Musap (Moose) Abdelhag shares his perspective on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and the power of mentorship. As the founder of Struggle Is Your Success (SIYS) and Mini Techies, Moose has dedicated his career to helping at-risk and underserved youth unlock their potential through entrepreneurship, technology, and education. We discuss the story behind Struggle Is Your Success, why entrepreneurship can be a pathway to opportunity, the misconceptions surrounding at-risk youth, and how mentorship and a sense of belonging can change the trajectory of a young person's life. The conversation also explores AI's growing impact on education, the inspiration behind Mini Techies, and why turning screen time into skill time could help prepare the next generation for an AI-driven future.

Takeaways

• Mentorship and a sense of belonging can transform a young person's future.
• Society often underestimates the potential of at-risk youth.
• Entrepreneurship is a mindset that helps people solve problems, build confidence, and create opportunities.
• AI is reshaping education and creating new opportunities for young people.
• Critical thinking will become even more valuable as AI becomes more capable.
• Technology should empower young people, not replace their creativity and curiosity.
• Mini Techies was created to turn screen time into skill time through AI-powered STEM education.
• Authentic leadership begins with purpose, impact, and serving others.
• Every young person has untapped potential when given the right support and opportunity.
• Dreams become achievable through purpose, planning, and perseverance.

Musap (Moose) Abdelhag is the founder of Struggle Is Your Success (SIYS), a Calgary-based nonprofit that empowers at-risk and underserved youth through entrepreneurship, mentorship, and innovation. He is also the founder of Mini Techies, an AI-powered educational platform that helps children develop STEM skills by turning screen time into learning time. His work bridges technology, education, and social impact, with a mission to help young people build the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the future.

Between Meetings is a video podcast with industry leaders, startup founders, and ecosystem builders. Each episode explores the realities of building, investing, and supporting innovation while catching guests between meetings during a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice. Since 2023, Between Meetings has been helping tell Calgary's innovation story one conversation at a time.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.

In Between Meetings, Madison Savilow from Carbon Upcycling shares her perspective on scaling climate-tech companies, industrial innovation, and the future of low-carbon construction materials. Joining Carbon Upcycling as employee #5 while still at the University of Calgary, Madison has been part of the company's journey from an early-stage startup to an internationally recognized climate-tech company working with some of the world's largest cement producers. We discuss the challenge of moving from pilot projects to commercial deployment, why solving customer problems matters more than falling in love with technology, how Calgary has helped shape Carbon Upcycling's growth, and the financing gaps that often slow down climate-tech adoption. The conversation concludes with a thoughtful look at what success would look like for Carbon Upcycling and the broader climate-tech ecosystem over the next five years.

Takeaways

• Climate-tech companies succeed when they solve business problems, not just environmental ones.
• Understanding customer needs is often more important than the technology itself.
• Building an industrial-scale company requires a very different mindset than building a startup.
• Resourcefulness and adaptability are essential during the early stages of company growth.
• Scaling climate technologies is often harder than developing the technology itself.
• Calgary's industrial expertise and entrepreneurial ecosystem provide unique advantages for climate-tech companies.
• Growth-stage startups often face financing challenges that are not addressed by early-stage support programs.
• Commercial adoption requires alignment between customers, investors, governments, and industry partners.
• Low-carbon construction materials will play a critical role in reducing global emissions.
• The future of climate innovation depends as much on execution and adoption as it does on technology.

Madison Savilow joined Carbon Upcycling as employee #5 and has helped the company grow from an early-stage startup into a global climate-tech innovator. Throughout that journey, she has worked across finance, operations, communications, partnerships, and business development while helping advance technologies that reduce emissions in the cement and concrete industry.

Between Meetings is a video podcast with industry leaders, startup founders, and ecosystem builders. Each episode explores the realities of building, investing, and supporting innovation while catching guests between meetings during a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice. Since 2023, Between Meetings has been helping tell Calgary's innovation story one conversation at a time.

Support the show

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening/watching.