YSpace

We sat down with Colin Li (Colin Li) from Hong Shing Restaurant (Hong Shing) and Eva Chin (𝗘𝘃𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻 ↟ 錢樺溶) from (Yan Dining Room), and we put them through a round of rapid-fire questions about their favorite foods and desserts 🥢🍰

From their go-to comfort dish to the dessert they can never say no to, we got some delicious answers.
This is just a taste of what’s coming. The full conversation drops soon on At the Root, where we dig into the story behind Hong Shing and what it takes to build a restaurant that lasts.

Follow along so you don’t miss it. Links to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts in the bio.

David Kwok Agnes Lan

On August 13, YSpace, Futurpreneur, and Startup Grind Toronto are joining forces for Fuel the Founders — one night, mentor stations on everything from fundraising to legal.

Built for founders somewhere between idea and $1M in revenue.

Spots are limited and every application is reviewed, so tell us what you’re trying to unlock & we’ll make sure the right mentor is waiting for you.

📅 August 13 | 6:00 – 8:30 PM
📍 Futurpreneur Office - 33 Yonge St.
🔗 Apply to attend using the link in bio.

Networking as an introvert? No problem, we have the perfect questions for you to network at the ELLA Ascend Showcase powered by Desjardins Group.

Some of the best opportunities start with the right question. Make sure to ask the following questions in the room:

💬 “Is this your first time at a showcase event?”
💬 “How did you hear about this event?”
💬 “Are you building something, or here to see what’s out there?”
💬 “Which one of the pitches actually land for you?”

After you have met them at the event, follow up with questions like:

💬 Great meeting you at [event]. You said you were figuring out [pain point], happy to intro you to someone who’s dealt with it
💬 Missed you at [event] but saw your [talk/post] . I would love to learn more about [specific details] and would love to have a coffee chat with you.
💬 I was the one who [memorable detail—asked about your demo/ spoke about my product]. Enjoyed the brief version, keen to hear the longer one.

Real connections happen when the conversation goes beyond “so, what do you do?”

ELLA Ascend Showcase and Fireside Chat: From Shelf to Scale: Building Brands People Believe In

📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰ 5:00 – 9:00 PM
📍 Location revealed upon registration
🎟 Free to attend — spots are limited. RSVP now using the link in bio!

🎙️ New episode of At the Root is LIVE!

This one’s brewed to perfection ☕ we sat down with Trinh Tham, CEO of Chatime Canada, to talk growth, resilience, and what it really takes to scale a beloved brand across new markets.

One of our favorite moments? Trinh breaks down how most of Chatime’s products, ingredients like Ube and matcha, are sourced from across Asia, and why that’s something the brand is proud of rather than something to downplay.

For Chatime, sourcing from Asia isn’t just a supply chain decision, it’s a chance to tell the story behind every ingredient and give people a reason to understand and appreciate where it actually comes from.

Tune in now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts link in bio.

David Kwok Agnes Lan

Come with me to find my outfit for the ELLA Ascend Showcase and Fireside Chat, powered by Desjardins Group 👗

Because a night celebrating bold ideas, breakthrough innovation, and entrepreneurial achievement deserves the perfect fit.

Under the theme From Shelf to Scale: Building Brands People Believe In, we’re diving into what it really takes to build credibility, earn customer trust, and scale with authenticity — straight from founders who’ve done it.

🎙️ Fireside Chat with Charlene Li, co-founder of eatable; Tara Tomulka, founder of Rawcology Granola & Snacks; and Graydon Moffat, founder of GRAYDON SKINCARE
🚀 Ascend Showcase — live pitches from our cohort of founders, sharing their ventures, their vision, and what’s next
🎓 Graduation ceremony honouring this cohort’s journey
🥂 Closing reception to celebrate together
Outfit? Check. Now I just need you there with me.

Thursday, August 20 | 5:00PM-9:00PM | RSVP to reveal location

📍 RSVP now, link in bio — spots are limited, and this one’s not to be missed.