In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Koenig sits down with Matt Cooper, CEO of Volta, one of Canada’s largest innovation hubs, to explore how curiosity, discipline, and first principles thinking shape resilient founders and thriving ecosystems. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Matt shares his journey from building software and scaling startups to leading a community of innovators in Atlantic Canada. Together, they discuss how modern founders can leverage AI, reduce the cost of failure, and stay close to unmet needs to drive progress. Matt emphasizes treating “product as a promise” and “founders as learners,” revealing why adaptability, empathy, and curiosity matter more than ever in today’s startup landscape.

✨ Curiosity is the ultimate advantage — the most successful founders are lifelong learners.
🚀 The barriers to entry have never been lower — AI allows entrepreneurs to test, build, and scale faster than ever.
💡 Treat your product as a promise, not a feature — deliver value that creates real progress for others.
🌍 Ecosystems rise when individuals commit — mentorship, community, and shared purpose fuel sustainable growth.
🧭 Stay close to the unmet need — assume you’re wrong, reduce the cost of learning, and build with humility.

LINKS:
https://www.drjeremykoenig.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/@drjeremykoenig

Here's the link for this week's episode: https://drjeremykoenig.substack.com/.