When I speak with founders, they tell me how it seems like everyone is raising capital from venture investors these days. And that there’s never been a better time to do so. Well, they’re right. A recent report by KPMG highlights how the global VC market got off to a banner start in Q1 2021, […]

There’s a lot of hype around cryptocurrencies (or “crypto”) right now. It feels like 2017 all over again, but more intense because of the growing number of big businesses (i.e. Tesla) coming out in support of accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a form of payment. There’s also the Coinbase IPO mania, with industry and […]

I’m really happy to be shaking things up this week. You’re used to reading my interviews with other inspiring people, but this week my friend Brett Chang, Co-Founder of The Peak, gave me the honour of being one of the first few guests for a new podcast he’s been working on. If you haven’t already […]

It’s great to be back from a mini break — wishing you all a very Happy New Year! I spent some time during the holidays thinking about what 2021 will bring to the world of commerce. There are a few technological and business model innovations that I’ve been tracking for a while now, which I […]

As I’ve stated before, I believe that the next generation of culture defining brands will be founded by influencers. We’re already seeing this trend play out through success stories such as Fenty Beauty, Goop, and Yeezy. My conviction around this belief stems from the observation that commerce is increasingly being informed at the intersection of original […]

With changing consumer demographics and the rise of omni-channel retail, pop-up stores have become a mainstay. Brands across several categories are finally experimenting with IRL retail activations (at scale) that are not only meant to excite customers through a unique experience, but also provide added convenience to the shopper’s buying journey. Now is a good […]

One of my favourite rituals is mapping out the Canadian digital commerce ecosystem. I’m very happy to finally share the 2020 infographic, which features nearly 400 companies (active and acquired). Shimmy over to the Commerce Maps section of Fire Ant, or find the infographic and full commentary right here. I look forward to your feedback. Feel […]

I’m very fortunate in that I’ve had the opportunity to experience what I like to call the holy trinity of “startupland”: operating, founding, and investing. Studying the commonly held perceptions around founding startups vs. investing in them has always been interesting to me. I began to actively think about these perceptions when I left a venture […]

Hi, I’m Qasim Mohammad and this is Fire Ant, an in-depth publication that focuses on how commerce is evolving in the digital age. As a tech investor at Wittington Ventures and bona fide commerce nut, I’m excited to use this platform to share new ideas around how technology is transforming the way people buy, sell, […]