Ecosystems
Startup scenes in Canada and abroad, policy, talent and diversity.
Women in Tech on Twitter: Fear, Loathing, and Support
Women in the technology sector are using Twitter to share fear and vent, according to analysis by the TechPORTFOLIO team with the IBM Watson Tone Analyzer.
June 30, 2016Short-Term and Medium-Term Consequences of Brexit on UK Tech
"Maybe we, as the tech community, assumed that the rest of country wanted the same things we did. This is perhaps why the outcome has come as such as a surprise to so many of us ."
June 29, 2016Tech Startup Ecosystems Missing Out On Diversity
It’s unfortunate the lack of women in progressive and disruptive industries, like the startup tech world, is still a topic for discussion in 2016. Yet, here we are.
June 27, 2016UK Startups Worried About Talent and Funding After Brexit Vote
After the United Kingdom voted 52% to leave the European Union, the startup community in London and Scotland — both of which voted to remain in the union — has been thrown into turmoil.
June 24, 2016Toronto Culture Best Worldwide for Female Entrepreneurs
While ranking first for female-friendly tech cultures, Toronto took sixth in the world overall for women in tech, according to the Dell Women Entrepreneur Cities Index.
June 23, 2016How Vubble Got Its Groove
Entrepreneurs Tessa Sproule and Katie MacGuire run Vubble, a video content marketing company that helps brands build audiences on digital platforms.
June 20, 2016Ideal Has a Solution for Hours Wasted on Sales Recruitment
A Toronto startup that grew as a tangent to another business, Ideal.com uses algorithms and IBM Watson to streamline the recruitment process, from granular analysis to messaging – and follow-up messaging – to potential hires.
June 16, 2016Are You a Woman Working in Tech? Take Our Survey
As part of our month-long series about women in the tech startup sector, we’re polling our readers about what is actually happening on the ground.
June 15, 2016Nudge VP on How Small Companies Offer Big Opportunities in Tech
Andrea Corey credits a good program at Queen’s University, the small engineering company where she first worked, and some supportive peers for her success to date in the tech industry.
June 7, 2016How Code Breaking Inspired Shopify Lead to a Dev Career
After reading a book about WWII codebreakers called Cryptonomicon, Julie Haché “decided to play around with her laptop and I managed to recompile my first kernel. That was the moment that I got hooked. I knew I needed to learn more about this whole world.”
June 1, 2016Progress for Women in Canada Doesn’t Show up in Tech
Less than 15 percent of venture capitalists in Canada are women. Meanwhile, women hold one-third of senior management positions overall in Canada. In a country where the prime minister has made a concerted effort to equalize the genders in his cabinet, the continued gender imbalance in tech stands out.
June 1, 2016Numbers Still Don’t Add Up for Women in Tech
In tech, men dominate from cubicle to boardroom to podium despite findings from multiple studies showing better financial performance among more gender-balanced companies. If any industry should respond to studies like these, it’s the data-driven tech sector. But the shift is still not happening enough.
June 1, 2016Toronto Diversity Strengthens the “Cockroach Nest”
A study by the BBC says that while Dubai has 83% of its population hailing from abroad, Toronto has a far wider spread of nationalities – 230 in all. Why Diversity Matters, a report by management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. reveals a strong correlation between diversity and financial success: companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have above average returns.
May 25, 2016“Silicon Forest” Attracts Talent from the Mother of all Tech Ecosystems
Portland’s affordability is major factor behind the growth experienced in the high tech sector, and resulting increased salaries are contributing back to the city’s wealth. And this benefits the U.S. Pacific Northwest as a whole. As an indication of the trend, the region’s talent pool grew 28 percent between 2010 and 2013, compared to 20.8 percent in Silicon Valley.
May 19, 2016Montreal’s #Startup Social Media Discussion
Montreal is home to some of Canada’s largest VC firms, including Real Ventures, Rho Canada, BDC Capital and iNovia Capital. The city also made Compass’ list of top startup ecosystems globally.
May 17, 2016Is a Star Trek-Style Tricorder Here?
Real life is now catching up to the future as depicted in the 1960s. Dr. Sonny Kohli is turning science fiction into reality as the chief medical officer of Cloud DX Inc., a Kitchener, Ontario-based startup with the world’s first working tricorder-like health device.
May 16, 2016The Downside of Jobs in the Startup Era
Jobs shed by startups in their fifth year equal 65 percent of that year's new hires. This number, which shows the difficulty many companies have transitioning out of their startup phase, doesn't account for jobs shed by startups that go bust. Nor does it count jobs lost as a result of startups disrupting a traditional industry.
April 27, 2016VOX: Non-compete Enforcement Hobbles Tech Ecosystems
Non-compete agreements are not just void in California. Employers can be held liable for refusing to hire someone for not agreeing to sign one. The unfettered job-hopping freedom that results has helped give rise to Intel, Tesla and YouTube.
April 19, 2016Smart Cities Take Root in Canada as Apps Learn to Improve Services
The drive to make cities smart provides more than just faster answers to questions about municipal services. It gives entrepreneurs who respond to the demand the opportunity to create solutions that can be commercialized, which ultimately builds the depth and breadth of startup ecosystems.
April 15, 2016Cinemagraph Pioneer Flixel Hits a Milestone that Investors Prize
The Flixel startup story includes overcoming tough odds before finally getting their big break with the TV program America’s Next Top Model, and an investment from show’s host, supermodel Tyra Banks. The company’s success has since been propelled by the growing interest brands have in using Flixel’s cinemagraphs on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram.
April 12, 2016Frequently Asked Questions
What is a startup ecosystem?
The network of founders, investors, universities, accelerators, large companies and governments in a place that together help new companies start and grow.
Which ecosystems does TechPortfolio cover?
Canadian cities including Toronto, Waterloo, Montréal, Vancouver and Calgary, and international hubs from Silicon Valley to Singapore.
What is the Startup Cultures Across Canada series?
A city-by-city TechPortfolio series profiling how startup communities work across Canada. A companion series, Global Startup Cultures, covers other countries.
Does the section cover diversity and talent?
Yes. The Diversity & Talent subsection covers women in technology, skills gaps and immigration.
How can I suggest an ecosystem story?
Email info@techportfolio.net with the city or community and what is changing there.