Amazon Ads spotlights Canada’s rising stars entrepreneurs
Three brands breaking new ground
“I knew at a certain point that if I didn’t take a chance on myself now, I never would,” reflects Karen Danudjaja, founder of Blume. “I founded Blume almost 8 years ago. It was my obsession. I had never felt so passionate and excited by something.” What started in her kitchen, hand-labeling superfood latte blends, has grown into one of Canada’s most forward-thinking wellness brands. Her story is just one of many captivating entrepreneurial journeys featured in “Rising Stars by Amazon Ads“, an innovative docu-series that’s capturing the real stories behind Canada’s growing brands.
Think “Chef’s Table” meets “Dragon’s Den,” but with real entrepreneurs who aren’t just pitching dreams – they’re living them. After winning hearts (and multiple awards) across five seasons in China and successful runs in Europe and the USA, Rising Stars has finally landed in Canada, bringing with it a fresh perspective on what it means to build a business in the Great White North.
For Jake Karam, CEO of Liquid Rubber, that perspective meant completely reimagining his business model: “In 2016 there was zero online sales. Now, 95% of our sales go to online DIY customers.” Meanwhile, at Beck’s Broth, founder Beckie Prime saw an opportunity to revolutionize how people think about bone broth: “I’m a gut health nutritionist, so I was always recommending bone broth to my clients… I realized that I should make bone broth taste like what they actually want to be drinking every day.”
Inside the make-or-break moments
But Rising Stars isn’t just about celebrating success stories – it’s about pulling back the curtain on the real, sometimes messy, always fascinating world of entrepreneurship. “The seasonality is critical,” Karam explains. “If you don’t do it now, you’re just simply gonna miss it… The U.S. market allows us to really pay the bills over the winter. It allows us cash flow that can even things out for us in those months where Canada has no sales.”
The series dives deep into the moments that make or break a business. We follow Blume through their most ambitious launch weekend yet: “Two events happening simultaneously… I would not have planned it that way. In a perfect world the team wouldn’t be so stretched,” Karen admits, as her team navigates both a major trade show and a consumer sampling event. At Liquid Rubber, a production line slowdown threatens their peak season shipping window, while Beck’s Broth takes their biggest gamble yet with a new salted caramel flavor targeting the U.S. market.
“What makes these stories so compelling is their authenticity,” says Ludovic de Valon, Director of Product and SMB Marketing at Amazon Ads. “These aren’t just business success stories – they’re human stories of perseverance, creativity, and sometimes just plain stubbornness in the face of adversity.”
Showing up everywhere that counts
Each episode captures the real-time pressure of entrepreneurship. When Blume’s team splits between the CHFA Expo and Vancouver Sun Run, when Liquid Rubber races to fix a critical production issue before missing their shipping window, when Beck’s Broth awaits retailer feedback on their new flavor – we see leaders making high-stakes decisions that could define their companies’ futures.
For all three businesses, Amazon Ads has become central to their growth strategy.
“Amazon ads have been instrumental in us meeting new customers and reaching people that we wouldn’t necessarily reach through a natural grocery store,” Karen shares. Dominique, COO at Beck’s Broth adds, “We’re super strategic with Amazon ads… once you nail that down, you’re going to see a profit, and our aim is to take that profit and reinvest it into getting new customers.”
A view of leadership from the front lines
For Canadian entrepreneurs watching, the message isn’t just about success – it’s about possibility. As Beckie from Beck’s Broth puts it, “I never dreamed of being an entrepreneur ever in my life. It kind of blindsided me. I’m a CEO but I’m also trying to make sure that everybody’s flourishing with what they love to do.”
“Amazon Ads’ Rising Stars is more than a showcase of success stories; it’s a testament to the resilience and innovation of Canadian entrepreneurs,” says Uri Gorodzinsky, Managing Director, Amazon Ads Canada. “These business leaders are building more than companies – they’re creating opportunities, fostering communities, and inspiring the next generation of Canadian innovators.”
This emphasis on people and purpose resonates throughout the series, as Jake Karam notes: “How do you grow to the next level? And the answer is people. We want the team to understand that what they’re doing has been successful.”
As we celebrate these Canadian Rising Stars, we’re reminded of the vital role SMBs play in our economy and communities. Beckie from Beck’s Broth sums it up: “Since day one it’s always been really important to work with small farmers or a local community to build our product, and that’s the overall goal of building a business as sustainably as possible.”
Is your brand next?
To watch these compelling stories and gain insights and inspiration for your own business journey, tune in to Rising Stars by Amazon Ads. Who knows? Next season might just feature your entrepreneurial adventure, whether you’re brewing up the next superfood sensation, sealing the deal on innovative home solutions, or cooking up a storm in the world of health-conscious beverages.
