Brief
Mind the Startup Leadership Team Gap, Investors Say
David Cohen, a co-founder and managing partner at Techstars Ventures, said in a 2007 blog post that he won’t rule out sole entrepreneurs, but holds them at a disadvantage. “Look for someone who compliments your skills,” Cohen said. “If you’re great at coding, find someone who’s great at selling or marketing.” Cohen’s investment instincts proved astute as Techstars became an early investor in Uber just two years later.
May 16, 2016WIRED: Magic Leap Stands Out Among Giants in the Artificial Reality Race
By 2020, the augmented and virtual reality markets are expected to be worth about $150 billion. This is creating hardware and software development opportunities for startups in just about every industry and facet of life, from film to education to day-to-day office administration.
May 13, 2016What Do You Call a Canadian Unicorn?
A narwhal. While this medium-sized, carnivorous whale – distinguished by its single tusk – is an actual creature as opposed to a mythical one, try to find someone who’s seen a narwhal in the flesh. The animal's scarcity makes it an appropriate metaphor.
May 12, 2016Under Armour Leverages IBM’s Watson to Challenge Fitbit
Over the last few years, the company has snagged three massive online fitness communities: Endomondo, MapMyFitness and MyFitnessPal. They now control the largest online wellness-focused ecosystem, at 165 million users. And it's what HealthBox can do with all that data that makes this a compelling package.
May 12, 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, 2016Fans Getting Closer Than Ever to Tour Action Thanks to the IoT
Every bicycle in the race was equipped with GPS sensors and a sophisticated relay system that transmitted data to apps, websites and broadcasters, giving fans and media the ability to track a rider’s progress throughout the race.
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, 2016What Matters for Startups in Social Media and IRL: Funding
For startups in Canada, raising capital is a major talking point both in social media and in the real world. A funding roadshow and an article by BDC’s…
March 31, 2016Incubator Connects Startups to AI
Qualified Ontario tech startups hope to benefit from a new public-private sector funding program meant to help them use advanced computing technologies including artificial intelligence to grow their businesses. The program is part of the province’s efforts to create jobs and foster the development of globally competitive technologies.
March 31, 2016