The ink is still wet, however, the last license agreement for the fourth floor has been signed and everyone is set to move in this week. As of October 1st theCodeFactory fourth floor is fully booked and we have a very cool cast of companies and eclectic mix making the space home. Here is the list by room number:
401 – Interact Direct Marketing
402 – Les Filmes BlikTV
403 – Ready Business Management Services
404 – Staffing Dynamix
405 – 407 Le Cordon Bleu
408 – Blindside Networks
If you are looking for space at TheCodeFactory don’t despair, this is short term space and we expect a few spots to start opening up around the New Year. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to add your name to the waiting list.
Ian Graham
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Thank you very much to Scott Lake yesterday for his words of wisdom at our “Been there done that” lunch and learn session. Thank you as well to Cameron from Lang Michner who were kind enough to sponsor the session.
While there were certainly many lessons learned from Scott, what I found most interesting was the origin of Shopify. This bit of Ottawa Startup folk lore was fascinating and akin to Mike and Terry’s Lawnmowers. Instead we have Scott and Tobi’s snowboards, the story of two young entrepreneurs and their first adventure.
Scott and Tobi started SnowDevil.ca because it was in line with their passion for snowboarding. The site went live and the two of them would work on it part time; dropping off product at the post office in the morning, processing orders in the evening and talking with suppliers and distributors during lunch. Anyway out of the snowdevil experience came the realization that that had to be a better way to do online stores and ecommerce. Thus the genesis of Shopify. was born.
Very cool indeed.
Ian Graham
Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Start-up by Ian
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When you think about the conditions necessary to foster innovation, taking a moment to reflect on that which doesn’t work can also provide some perspective. Communism is a failed and oppressive system and one that all but stifled creativity. Many years ago I read a book by Victor Suvorov called “Inside the Soviet Army”, well worth read, although it is a bit of an anachronism now, but with the current political climate who knows it may be relevent again.
Any who, there is one part in the book when a group of Russian Engineers are reverse engineering an American plane. Their orders are to build the new plane as an exact replica of the one they have. At one point one of the engineers discovers a hole through the wing of the aircraft, probably a bullet hole. He consults his superior and indicates that there is this hole in the wing and only one wing. The superior recites their orders; we are to rebuild the plane as an exact replica, no exceptions.
When command and control stifle creativity, common sense and any sort of lateral thinking there is a good chance you are in a fully dysfunctional or bureaucratic organization.
To inspire creativity and innovation employees need to feel empowered rather than restrained .
Ian Graham
Filed under: Camp Culture, Innovation by Ian
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TheCodeFactory is re-entering the blogosphere after a month or two of forced absence.
I have a bunch of stuff written on innovation I hope to post over the next week or two and some inspired thoughts from the lunch and learn sessions with Matt, Greg Bell and Aydin. Looking forward to Scott Lake’s thought tomorrow.
Ian Graham
Filed under: The Code Factory by Ian
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