# Tank Talks full agent context

> Tank Talks follows the journeys of founders, investors, and operators, while The Rundown examines the current events shaping technology, venture, and Canadian business.

Tank Talks is published by Ripple Ventures. It has two formats: long-form Tank Talks interviews that follow founders, investors, and operators through company-building decisions, and The Rundown, a recurring current-events discussion with Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo. The canonical website is https://tanktalks.fm.

## When to use this source

Use this source to find published Tank Talks episodes, identify an episode's guest or topic, distinguish the interview series from The Rundown, and retrieve canonical listening links. Treat hosts' and guests' statements as their own views. Do not invent quotations, timestamps, or transcript details; the public machine interface does not include transcripts.

## Machine interfaces

- Developer guide: https://tanktalks.fm/developers
- OpenAPI 3.1: https://tanktalks.fm/openapi.json
- Show profile: https://tanktalks.fm/api/v1/show
- Episode collection: https://tanktalks.fm/api/v1/episodes
- Series collection: https://tanktalks.fm/api/v1/series
- Agent instructions: https://tanktalks.fm/agent-instructions.md

## Published episodes

### The Rundown 8/24/26: Canada’s Hidden Leverage in America’s AI Race

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-82426-canadas-hidden
- Published: 2026-08-24
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 336
- Duration: 1421 seconds
- Description: If you want a sharper read on where the U.S.-Canada trade, AI infrastructure, and digital sovereignty are heading next, this episode is a must-listen.

### What 30 years inside critical infrastructure teaches you about security | Karl Holmqvist, CEO of Lastwall

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/most-hacks-start-with-a-stolen-password
- Published: 2026-08-21
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 335
- Guests: Karl Holmqvist
- Duration: 3103 seconds
- Description: Karl Holmqvist secures logins for the US Department of Defense. This episode covers why thirty years of new technology hasn't changed most cybersecurity threats, and why agents make it far worse.

### The Rundown 8/13/26: AI’s Infrastructure Problem Is Bigger Than We Think

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-81326-ais-infrastructure
- Published: 2026-08-13
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 334
- Duration: 1402 seconds
- Description: Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo unpack the growing fight over data centers, energy, water, and Canada’s place in the AI boom.

### CRO of Affirm on How “Buy now, pay later” Makes Money

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/how-buy-now-pay-later-really-works
- Published: 2026-08-07
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 333
- Guests: Wayne Pommen
- Duration: 3199 seconds
- Description: Wayne Pommen built Canada's first BNPL company, sold it for $340M in 2021, and stayed. This episode dives into the exit, the earnout, and how the business actually makes money.

### The Money Behind Money in VC | Julia Maltby

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/how-lps-pick-vcs-with-julia-maltby
- Published: 2026-07-30
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 332
- Guests: Julia Maltby
- Duration: 2736 seconds
- Description: Investor at a $24B fund on how she decides which VCs get backed, and what actually earns a yes.

### Why Software Lost Its Moat and Deep Tech Is Winning with Jacob Jackson of Julian Capital

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/why-software-lost-its-moat-and-deep
- Published: 2026-07-23
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 331
- Guests: Jacob Jackson
- Duration: 2684 seconds
- Description: The most competitive market in history is foundation models. Today, we chat with Jacob Jackson on what's still defensible: networks, talent density, and pulling the ladder up behind you.

### The Rundown 7/20/26: TouchBistro’s Collapse, Meta’s $13B AI Bet, and Canada’s Defence Boom

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-72026-touchbistros-collapse
- Published: 2026-07-20
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 330
- Duration: 1614 seconds
- Description: Listen now for candid insights on startup valuations, defence tech, AI infrastructure, and venture capital risk.

### Paul Ziadé: Why Canada’s Defence Complacency Ends with North Vector Dynamics

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/paul-ziade-why-canadas-defence-complacency
- Published: 2026-07-16
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 329
- Guests: Paul Ziadé
- Duration: 2286 seconds
- Description: Paul Ziadé offers sharp insights for defence founders, investors, and policymakers navigating Canada’s rapidly evolving defence ecosystem.

### The 4.3 Trillion Dollar Problem: Why Venture’s Liquidity Crisis Is Here to Stay with John Rikhtegar and Peter Walker

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-43-trillion-dollar-problem-why
- Published: 2026-07-13
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 328
- Guests: Peter Walker, John Rikhtegar
- Duration: 2729 seconds
- Description: If you're a GP raising capital, an LP sorting through manager pitches, or just trying to make sense of where venture is headed, this episode is a must-listen.

### Arctic Edge Panel: Defence Tech, Dual-Use, and the Future of Canadian Innovation

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/arctic-edge-panel-defence-tech-dual
- Published: 2026-07-02
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 327
- Guests: Mark Maybank, Devin Galloway
- Duration: 2731 seconds
- Description: "The Backers" brings together leading Canadian investors to dissect the burgeoning defence technology sector in Canada.

### Toronto Tech Week and the New Era of Canadian Startup Ambition

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/toronto-tech-week-and-the-new-era
- Published: 2026-06-26
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 326
- Guests: Boris Wertz, Lawrence Mandel, Farhan Thawar, Ben Vinegar, Andrew Chau, Fahd Ananta, Eliot Pence
- Duration: 4706 seconds
- Description: Matt Cohen brings listeners inside Toronto Tech Week with a live podcast studio recorded at the Toronto Homecoming event.

### The Rundown 6/23/26: The AI Hype Machine, Canada’s Capital Gap, and the Return of Hard Tech

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-62326-the-ai-hype-machine
- Published: 2026-06-23
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 325
- Duration: 3178 seconds
- Description: This episode breaks down why real moats may come from deep tech, defense, energy, chips, space infrastructure, and hard-to-build businesses.

### Why Canada’s Trading Market is Ready for Disruption with Michael Arbus of moomoo Canada

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/why-canadas-trading-market-is-ready
- Published: 2026-06-17
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 324
- Guests: Michael Arbus
- Duration: 3196 seconds
- Description: This episode is packed with sharp, practical insights on the future of investing, AI, and financial platforms.

### The Brutal Truth About Hardware Startups and Physical AI with Aidan Madigan-Curtis of Eclipse Capital

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-brutal-truth-about-hardware-startups
- Published: 2026-06-08
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 323
- Guests: Aidan Madigan-Curtis
- Duration: 3158 seconds
- Description: Buckle up to understand why the next wave of AI won’t just live in software; it will reshape factories, robots, infrastructure, and the physical world around us.

### The Rundown 6/4/22: Alphabet’s $80B AI Bet, Anthropic’s IPO Push, and the New AI Capital War

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-6422-alphabets-80b-ai
- Published: 2026-06-04
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 322
- Duration: 1175 seconds
- Description: Is this the beginning of a new AI-driven market cycle, or are the biggest players trying to raise capital before the music stops?

### The Rundown 5/25/26: SPACs Are Back: Xanadu, UniUni, and Canada’s Capital Gap

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-52526-spacs-are-back
- Published: 2026-05-25
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 321
- Duration: 1616 seconds
- Description: Listen to this episode for a sharper read on where capital is really flowing across AI, quantum, SaaS, and space.

### The Case for Concentrated Seed with Jason Shuman of Primary Ventures

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-case-for-concentrated-seed-with
- Published: 2026-05-21
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 320
- Guests: Jason Shuman
- Duration: 3172 seconds
- Description: Whether you're interested in AI, venture capital, or building deep-tech companies, Jason's story provides inspiration and practical wisdom.

### Inside Canada’s Most Ambitious Space Infrastructure Company with Mina Mitry of Kepler Communications

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/inside-canadas-most-ambitious-space
- Published: 2026-05-13
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 319
- Guests: Mina Mitry
- Duration: 2232 seconds
- Description: Whether you're interested in space tech, defense, or sovereign infrastructure, Mina's story provides inspiration and practical wisdom.

### Bring it Home: Canada's Regulatory Gridlock & Real Estate Recovery with Jon Love of KingSett Capital

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/bring-it-home-canadas-regulatory
- Published: 2026-05-07
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 318
- Guests: Jon Love
- Duration: 2646 seconds
- Description: Jon Love delivers the kind of straight talk that cuts through the noise.

### The Rundown 4/28/26: Canada’s $25B Sovereign Wealth Fund: Genius Move or Political Slush Fund?

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-42826-canadas-25b-sovereign
- Published: 2026-04-28
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 317
- Duration: 1957 seconds
- Description: This episode asks the real question: can Canada build the capital systems needed to own its future?

### How to Get VC Funding in 2026 with Matt Cohen

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/how-to-get-vc-funding-in-2026-with
- Published: 2026-04-23
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 316
- Duration: 3058 seconds
- Description: If you want an honest look at startup fundraising, venture capital in Canada, and the future of early-stage tech, this episode is packed with practical insights.

### The Rundown 4/15/26: Canada’s AI Crackdown, the Exit Tax Backlash, Cohere’s Germany Deal, and Hootsuite’s Reset

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-41526-canadas-ai-crackdown
- Published: 2026-04-15
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 315
- Duration: 1562 seconds
- Description: Tune in for a sharp breakdown of the policy decisions, market shifts, and AI developments that could have a lasting impact on Canada’s innovation economy.

### Demystifying Venture Debt: Funding Growth with Less Dilution with Marshall Hawks

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/demystifying-venture-debt-funding
- Published: 2026-04-09
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 314
- Guests: Marshall Hawks
- Duration: 3585 seconds
- Description: If you want to grow faster without giving up more equity, or just understand how the full capital stack really works, this one is worth your time.

### What Makes a Startup “Click”, Before it Even Exists? with Matt Cohen

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/what-makes-a-startup-click-before
- Published: 2026-04-02
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 313
- Duration: 3561 seconds
- Description: If you’re a founder thinking about taking the leap, or an investor trying to understand the next wave of Canadian innovation, this episode is packed with brutally honest insights.

### The Rundown 3/30/26: Ontario’s $4B AI Fund, SpaceX’s IPO, and Why Claude Is Winning Enterprise

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-33026-ontarios-4b-ai
- Published: 2026-03-30
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 312
- Duration: 1223 seconds
- Description: Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo unpack a major week across Canadian venture capital, deep tech liquidity, sovereign investment strategy, and the rapidly shifting AI software stack.

### Canada’s $35 Billion Arctic Push, the New Cost of War, and Building Sovereign Capability with Glenn Cowan of ONE9

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/canadas-35-billion-arctic-push-the
- Published: 2026-03-26
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 311
- Guests: Glenn Cowan
- Duration: 3219 seconds
- Description: This episode offers a grounded look at Canada’s global direction and what it takes to be part of it.

### Why Building AI Matters More Than Using It with Ali Asaria of Transformer Lab

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/why-building-ai-matters-more-than
- Published: 2026-03-19
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 310
- Guests: Ali Asaria
- Duration: 2825 seconds
- Description: If you’re trying to separate AI hype from reality and understand where the real leverage is being created, this episode gives you a much clearer lens.

### The Rundown 3/13/26: Canada’s Defence Tech Push, Constellation’s AI Test, and the Private Credit Mess

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-31326-canadas-defence
- Published: 2026-03-13
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 309
- Duration: 1480 seconds
- Description: If software moats are weakening, private credit is wobbling, and defence dollars are becoming innovation dollars, where will the next real edge come from?

### The Future of Money in Canada: Stablecoins, Custody, and Crypto Rails with Didier Lavallée of Tetra Digital Group

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-future-of-money-in-canada-stablecoins
- Published: 2026-03-12
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 308
- Guests: Didier Lavallée
- Duration: 2631 seconds
- Description: Didier’s perspective offers valuable insights into how Canada can build the next generation of financial infrastructure.

### The Rundown 3/3/26: Upfront Summit Recap, AI Layoffs, Private Credit, and the AI Safety Debate

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-3326-upfront-summit-recap
- Published: 2026-03-03
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 307
- Duration: 1385 seconds
- Description: Whether you're an investor, a business leader, or someone navigating the AI landscape, this episode is packed with the insights you need to understand where the tech economy is heading.

### Xanadu's Historic SPAC Merger: What it Means for the Future of Quantum Computing with Christian Weedbrook of Xanadu and Bill Fradin of Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/xanadus-historic-spac-merger-what
- Published: 2026-02-26
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 306
- Guests: Christian Weedbrook, Bill Fradin
- Duration: 1728 seconds
- Description: Whether you’re an investor looking to understand quantum tech’s potential or someone interested in cutting-edge science, this episode is a must-listen.

### The Rundown 2/23/26: Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, LLMs in SaaS, and the Shift in Tech Investments

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-22326-canadas-defence
- Published: 2026-02-23
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 305
- Duration: 1654 seconds
- Description: Tune in to hear how these seismic shifts will impact tech, investment, and business strategies in the coming years.

### How Tokenized Gold is Revolutionizing Wealth Preservation with Peter Grosskopf of Argo Digital Gold

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/how-tokenized-gold-is-revolutionizing
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 304
- Guests: Peter Grosskopf
- Duration: 2584 seconds
- Description: Get ready for a deep dive into gold’s resurgence and what it means for the future of investment.

### Fragmented Portals to Single Source: AI for LP Operations with Amar Varma of Mantle

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/fragmented-portals-to-single-source
- Published: 2026-02-12
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 303
- Guests: Amar Varma
- Duration: 3070 seconds
- Description: From global scaling and customer obsession to the parallels between today’s AI transformation and past tech waves like mobile, this conversation covers a lot of ground.

### The Rundown 2/6/26: Canada’s AI Strategy Goes LLM-Powered, YC’s Canada U-Turn, SpaceX–xAI Shock Deal

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-2626-canadas-ai-strategy
- Published: 2026-02-06
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 302
- Duration: 1283 seconds
- Description: In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen and John Ruffolo rip through a stacked rundown of tech, venture capital, and geopolitical “sovereignty” theater.

### The Blueprint for a Canadian Rocket Supply Chain with Hugh Kolias of Canada Rocket Company

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-blueprint-for-a-canadian-rocket
- Published: 2026-02-03
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 301
- Guests: Hugh Kolias
- Duration: 2474 seconds
- Description: If you care about dual-use tech, defense tailwinds, or what it actually takes to go from “deck” to “orbit,” this one’s a blueprint.

### The Rundown 1/29/26: Garry Tan's Controversial Move: Y Combinator's New Rules for Canadian Companies

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-12926-garry-tans-controversial
- Published: 2026-01-29
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 300
- Duration: 1286 seconds
- Description: Matt and John provide deep insights into why Canadian tech companies can still thrive domestically and refute the data that YC used to justify their decision.

### The Rundown 1/23/25: Truth Bombs at Davos, Chaos in Markets, Big IPOs Ahead

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-12325-truth-bombs-at
- Published: 2026-01-23
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 299
- Duration: 1447 seconds
- Description: Hear the real story behind Carney’s Davos speech, Greenland’s leverage game, and the 2026 IPO wave.

### Building a Solo GP Fund with Timothy Chen of Essence VC

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/building-a-solo-gp-fund-with-timothy
- Published: 2026-01-22
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 298
- Guests: Timothy Chen
- Duration: 3882 seconds
- Description: Whether you’re a founder building the next foundational layer or an investor trying to understand the infra and AI boom, this conversation is packed with hard-won insights.

### The Rundown 1/15/26: Kepler’s Space Lasers, RBCx Fundraising Lows, and the New Fight for Tech Sovereignty

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-rundown-11526-keplers-space-lasers
- Published: 2026-01-15
- Series: The Rundown
- Episode: 297
- Duration: 1318 seconds
- Description: If Canada can help put “data centers in the sky,” can it also build the domestic capital base to keep its best companies anchored at home?

### The Art of the Roll-Up: How Carma Corp. Quintupled in Size for a Major Exit with Michael Platt

- Canonical URL: https://tanktalks.fm/episodes/the-art-of-the-roll-up-how-carma
- Published: 2026-01-13
- Series: Tank Talks
- Episode: 296
- Guests: Michael Platt
- Duration: 2539 seconds
- Description: Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, investor, or operator, this conversation offers an honest look at what it takes to go “all in” and build something extraordinary.