Artificial intelligence innovators will be getting a major boost from some of Canada’s largest companies, with a $5 million fund announced today. NextAI is a crucial tool in combating the brain-drain loss of entrepreneurs and talented students to other countries.
Bringing the different sides of the tech enterprise conversation into dialogue at one innovation-and-growth focused conference was what the brains behind the successful Startupfest were committed to do: and ResolveTO is where that conversation comes alive.
Dinaro Ly, Director of the MaRS FinTech cluster in Toronto, connects rising fintech companies with financial industry stalwarts. TechPORTFOLIO recently spoke to Dinaro about the potential that smart startups tap into by incorporating cross-border planning and setting their sights on the world market.
The growth numbers don’t lie: British Columbia’s tech sector is outpacing the provincial economy, employing over 90,000 people who are earning wages 75% above the provincial average. The upcoming #BCTECH Summit in March isn’t just about celebrating the strides that the tech industry has made in BC: it’s about laying out the future of this crucial industry.
The undeniable business case for startups delivering products and services that speak to the millennial consumer segment is getting stronger by the year.
The digital natives and early adopters of the millennial generation are a central focus for many startups that are attracting major interest — and major funding.
IBM SmartCamp could provide your startup with “life-changing” opportunities, according to Yoly Avalos, Founder and CEO of Bquate.
“The DMZ’s advisory council will play an important role in finding strategic and innovative approaches,” says Mohamed Lachemi, Ryerson’s vice-chancellor.
According to a report by the Silicon Valley Competitiveness and Innovation Project, for the first time since 2011, net domestic migration in Silicon Valley was negative.
Canada’s biggest gathering of startups, VCs, angels, and accelerators is happening from July 13th to 16th, and TechPORTFOLIO is going to be there.
TechPORTFOLIO spoke to Sonia Strimban, manager, Venture Operations at Mars Discovery District about the ideal evolution of startups within the accelerator community and the issues startups run into when it comes to finding employees with the right skills.
TechPORTFOLIO interviewed investors including iNovia Capital Managing Partner Chris Arsenault and others to learn what they look for in early stage startups – and how they define success.
Startup founders need to think about funding options at all stages of growth. What kind of funding is available – or not – at which stages? We talked to investors and founders about the challenges attracting startup investment, cultural fit, and how some have negotiated funding issues. While everyone we spoke to said there are challenges getting funding, there’s little consensus on where exactly those holes are – or how they should be filled.
Entrepreneur and author Seth Godin’s comment from more than a decade ago, which addresses what’s now generally referred to as “disruption,” resonates among entrepreneurs more than ever. To address this, we asked each of our launch week interviewees what technology is going to be the most bankable in the next few years?
Accelerators can put startups on a fast track towards growth-stage success, but founders shouldn’t be tempted to apply to a program simply on the basis of acceptance chances. Geography, funding, office space, and mentorship availability are all important, and there are still other factors to keep in mind.
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.
The earliest published reference we could find was from Dave McClure, founding partner at venture fund and seed accelerator 500 Startups in a Wired UK article from 2013. In the piece, McClure calls out entrepreneurs for “trying to build audiences without knowing how to monetise them.”