Visionary Ventures: From Beatboxing to Business with James McInnes

In this episode of the Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas podcast for Rainforest Alberta, host Peter Baudouin interviews James McInnes, CEO and founder of Prompty, a Calgary-based networking technology company. James shares his diverse background, including growing up in foster care, becoming a Canadian champion beatboxer, and discovering his Métis heritage.

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta. Host: Peter Beaudoin Peter manages strategy and partnerships for an innovative alliance of energy companies committed to reducing environmental impacts through collaborative R&D efforts. Peter worked for more than 20 years in Asia building and investing in a variety of businesses. His most recent role outside of Canada was with the World Wildlife Fund, where he was the Chief Executive Officer of WWF China, based in Beijing. Prior to that, Peter lived in Hong Kong for 15 years working in the technology industry.

Guest: James McInnes, also known as “Peterpot,” has an eclectic range of skills, from professional beatboxer to start-up founder. Growing up in foster care, James discovered his passion for inspiring others at a young age.

In 2021, James discovered his biological family and Métis lineage, welcomed his first child, and began his MBA. After over a decade of performing at international conferences and events, he recognized the challenges of building meaningful, lasting connections. Leveraging his network and business acumen, James founded Prompty in 2023 to address this gap.

In 2024, James resigned from his accounting position of 15 years to pursue full-time entrepreneurship. While he continues to manage other ventures, including his entertainment persona and a real estate portfolio, Prompty remains his primary focus. When not working on Prompty, James enjoys his business studies or spending time with his wife and two beautiful children.

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Show Links:

• Prompty

Show Quotes:

"We're removing the friction of in-person networking, and our vision is a more meaningfully connected world." Credits... This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan