Canada’s roads are getting deadlier, but innovation may hold the answer. In this episode, Dr. Claudia Krywiak sits down with Kurtis McBride, CEO and co-founder of Miovision, to unpack his 20-year journey from University of Waterloo student to global leader in smart traffic technology. Kurtis shares how AI and digital tools are transforming traffic management, making streets safer, and empowering cities to solve big civic problems with data-driven approaches. This conversation dives into entrepreneurship, innovation policy, global growth, and the real impact of AI on software, city planning, and daily life.
About Kurtis McBride
Kurtis McBride is the CEO and co-founder of Miovision, a Canadian company at the forefront of smart traffic and mobility technology. Since founding Miovision as a graduate student at the University of Waterloo in 2005, Kurtis has built the company into a global leader, now active in over 60 countries with 5000+ customers. With a deep belief in data-driven urban planning, Kurtis has spearheaded innovations in AI-powered traffic management, road safety, and mobility analytics—helping cities worldwide tackle congestion, improve safety, and plan for a rapidly changing future.
Resources
Miovision: https://miovision.com/
Ontario Centre of Innovation: https://www.oc-innovation.ca/
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Find out more about the Ontario Centre of Innovation at https://www.https://www.oc-innovation.ca/
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On the surface, farming conjures images of soil-dusted boots and open fields under a vast sky. In Ontario, however, agriculture and food production is undergoing a rapid transformation. Climate shifts, resource scarcity, and rising demand for local food are all accelerating the need for change. A quiet revolution is taking root. It’s unfolding in greenhouses, beneath the soil, and within microscopic worlds. Could the key to our food future lie not in machinery or chemicals, but in the invisible power of microbes?
In this episode of Where Next Happens, host Dr. Claudia Krywiak speaks with Danielle Rose, a scientist, entrepreneur, and head grower at Ceragen. Danielle brings a unique blend of academic insight and startup grit to the conversation. At Ceragen, she leads efforts to boost crop resilience through microbial inoculants, what she fondly describes as "probiotics for plants." Together, she and Dr. Krywiak explore how this emerging science is transforming Ontario’s greenhouse industry and redefining what it means to farm sustainably.
This conversation uncovers the entrepreneurial grit behind Canada’s agri-tech movement. Danielle shares lessons from the frontlines of scaling a biotech startup, all while navigating an industry rooted in tradition.
About Danielle Rose
Danielle Rose is a microbiologist, entrepreneur, and the head grower at Ceragen, a biotech company leading the way in sustainable agriculture. Based in Ontario, she studied microbiology at the University of Guelph, where she became fascinated by the untapped world of microbes. Her curiosity about the 99% of microbes that can't be cultured in labs sparked a mission that would eventually lead to the founding of Ceragen. Danielle believes these microscopic organisms hold the key to healthier, more resilient crops. At Ceragen, she helps develop microbial inoculants or what she likes to call “probiotics for plants”. These are tp help support greenhouse growers across Ontario.
Her work bridges science and agriculture, combining rigorous research with real-world application. With a deep respect for farmers and a hands-on approach to innovation, Danielle is reshaping how we think about food production. She continues to build strong relationships with growers while scaling a company at the forefront of agri-tech. Through her journey, she shows that science and sustainability can thrive together in the soil beneath our feet.
Resources
Explore the Ontario Center for Innovation’s Website.
Ceragen: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Ontario’s healthcare system is facing a crisis, one that strikes at the very heart of patient care. Despite the promise of advanced medical technology, such as AI diagnostics or precision medicine, wait times for procedures remain alarmingly high. In January 2025, hip replacement patients in Ontario waited an average of 62 days. This is more than double the recommended 30-day window. For knee replacements, the wait time ballooned to 122 days. These delays raise an urgent question: Can innovation meaningfully improve access and outcomes in a system under strain?
In this episode of Where Next Happens, Dr. Claudia Krywiak speaks with Armen Bakirtzian, co-founder and CEO of Intellijoint Surgical. With a personal connection to orthopedic surgery and a passion for solving real-world problems, Armen has spent over a decade building medtech solutions designed to improve surgical precision and patient care. His company, which started as a student project, is now an award-winning medical device firm pushing for systemic change in how Canada supports healthcare innovation.
This conversation reveals the reality behind scaling medical devices in Ontario’s public system. Walk away understanding why good technology alone isn’t enough. Learn how reimbursement codes can make or break adoption. Finally, hear how one Canadian entrepreneur is working to align innovation with impact at home and abroad.
About Armen Bakirtzian
Armen Bakirtzian is a medtech entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Intellijoint Surgical. It’s a Canadian company improving the accuracy of joint replacement surgeries. Born into a family of healthcare professionals, Armen grew up around orthopedic surgery. He studied engineering at the University of Waterloo, where he helped turn a capstone project into a global health innovation. Intellijoint’s first product, Intellijoint HIP, has now supported thousands of surgeries around the world, giving surgeons better data and patients better outcomes.
Armen’s work sits at the intersection of engineering, healthcare, and public policy. He’s an advocate for strengthening Canada’s medical technology ecosystem and founded the Medical Innovation Exchange (MIX) to help other startups grow at home. With a mission to make advanced surgical tools more accessible, Armen is pushing for change in how innovation is funded, adopted, and scaled in Canada. His leadership reflects a deep belief: that life-changing health solutions should be built and used here.
Enjoyed this Episode?
If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! Where Next Happens is a podcast that explores bold ideas, breakthrough research, and entrepreneurial journeys shaping Ontario’s future.
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Share it with friends and colleagues. Let’s inspire everyone to innovate!
Find out more about the Ontario Centre of Innovation at https://www.https://www.oc-innovation.ca/
Thank you for tuning in!
Each week, join Dr. Claudia Krywiak for conversations with innovators tackling big challenges, from healthcare and climate change to housing and tech.
Where Next Happens shines a spotlight on the people and technologies shaping Ontario’s future.
To learn more about the Ontario Centre of Innovation, visit oc-innovation.ca