Thank YOU OCLUG!!
Earlier this week Michael dropped off a number of power strips for TheCodeFactory courtesy of the Ottawa Canada Linux Users Group. Much appreciated and needed.
Thank you very much OCLUG.
Ian Graham
Loyalty Match Partnership
Loyalty Match a democamp alumni and one of my favourite start-ups to follow announced last week that they have formed a partnership with UpTake.com at the PhoCusWright travel conference, North America’s largest gathering of travel executives. Thank you and congrats to Mike Ball for bringing this to my attention.
Here is the coles notes version:
Beginning in December, visitors to UpTake.com will be able to link directly to LoyaltyMatch.com where they can convert frequent flier and other loyalty program points to cash to help pay for the trip they are planning. LoyaltyMatch.com members now have the added benefit of being able to take advantage of the information available at UpTake.com with one click of a mouse.
For the full release click: here.
Ian Graham
One spot left: DemoCampOttawa11
DemoCampOttawa11 is one week away and there is one demo spot available. If you would like to strut your stuff at Ottawa’s premier technology show and tell this is your chance. The other 5 demos look like they will be entertaining.
DemoCampOttawa11 Monday December 11th @ TheVelvet Room 62 1/2 York Street above Fat Tuesdays.
Hope you can make it.
Ian Graham
Next Week @ TheCodeFactory
I am very excited about our line up for next week and wanted to take a minute to share the sched with everyone. From an open source perspective this is a most awesome line up; Ruby Group (OGRE), The Eclipse Foundation and OSBootCamp, does it get any better? Also many other pertinent events for Local entrepreneurs.
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Fired UP! A Start-up Primer. 24 November 6:00pm – 9:00pm
The media is ripe with doom and gloom stories about BIG co downsizing or recession this and depression that this event promises to be a breath of fresh air. Sponsored by Fraser Milner Casgrain, OCRI and TheCodeFactory Fired UP! A Start-up Primer is more about turning pink slips into start-ups with advice from Mahshad Koohgoli on the transition from employee to entrepreneur; Ian Graham, on Ottawa Start-up resources; Brad Stewart, on start-up tips and lessons learned; Eric Smith / Andréa Johnson on the legal aspects of Start-up do’s and don’ts.
You can REGISTER HERE, space is limited.
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The Start-up Studio – Derek Featherstone 25-November 12:00 pm – 1:00pm
The Start-up Studio is much like “Inside the Actors Studio” hosted by John Lipton, however, Keith Cameron (aka Cameron) from Lang Michener will be acting as the host and moderator and the topic is start-ups and entrepreneurship rather than acting. The intent of the Start-up studio is for aspiring entrepreneurs and start-ups to learn from other area success stories. This is a chance to get up close and personal with successful Ottawa area entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences.
Derek Featherstone is a successful Ottawa entrepreneur that left the security of his full time teaching job to pursue an entrepreneurial life style. In 1999, he started his own company: Further Ahead. In growing the company he has been a hands-on developer, consultant, sales person, administrator, and accountant — and only three of those by choice.
He is also an avid triathlete with blogging coverage at: ironfeathers.ca
Everyone is welcome to join us for an insightful and entertaining glimpse into the career of a successful Ottawa entrepreneur.
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Ruby Tuesday – 25-November 6:00pm – 8:00pm
The Ottawa OGRE (Ottawa Group of Ruby Enthusiasts) meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month @ TheCodeFactory. Enthusiasts of all skill levels are welcome.
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OSBootCamp YOW10 – 26 November 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Andrew Ross has referred to OSBootCamp as elementary school for programmers at a grade 1 or 2 level and a great opportunity to learn programming basics in a fun and friendly environment. This month’s topics are; C and C++ and more details can be found at OSBootCamp YOW10 –
Social Media Monitoring Magic – Radian6 – 26 November 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Digital Ottawa is proud to introduce world innovators in social media monitoring Fredericton’s own Radian6. More details HERE.
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Eclipse DemoCamp – 27 November 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Eclipse is an Ottawa based organization and one of the world’s best open source establishments, bar none. TheCodeFactory is proud and honored to host the event. There are six demos slated for the evening from IBM, Protecode, Code 9, Zeligsoft and Oracle. This promises to be an entertaining evening with some great demos and mix of established companies and start-ups. YOu can sign up here: Eclipse DemoCamp
5F – Fridays
Thanks to Fred Dixon of Blindside Networks for taking the initiative to start 5F Fridays and to Paul Jensen from Interact Direct Marketing for hosting in office 401. Forth Floor Friday Food Fest
this is somewhat belated, however, I did want to take the opportunity to dazzle readers with this most awesome Sushi picture from Fred’s camera.
Blindside Networks sponsored the first event and the tenants from the fourth floor and myself enjoyed sushi from the restaurant next door. Paul in 401 hosted the event and Fred, Samantha, Caroline, Kathy, Carrie, Lauren, Nick and Ian were all present. Some good discussions and I tried to forward my Festivus agenda for our next 4th meets 2nd floor event for Christmas and the holiday season. Stay tuned for more Festivus details. It was good to get together with everyone and share lunch. Here is a picture of the sushi feast. This will be a recurring bi-weekly event for the private tenants on the fourth floor. Looking forward to the next 5F Friday.
Ian Graham
Funder meets Founders – Part I
I have been reaching out to a number of organizations that provide seed funding to Ottawa Start-ups. The two criteria I have for someone to present are:
- They have an active fund,
- They provide seed funding to Ottawa companies.
I am pleased to announce that Jacqui Murphy (you need to scroll down a bit for Jacqui’s profile) from TechCapital will be at TheCodeFactory from 9am to 10am on Monday December 1st. Start-ups looking for funding can think of this as an informal opportunity to chat, have coffee and introduce yourself to Jacqui at a relaxed roundtable type event. We will be having the roundtable in the extended meeting room and seating will be limited to the first 15 people to sign up for the event.
TechCapital and Jacqui have invested in Ottawa area companies OverlayTV and Sidense. The smallest investment in the fund so far is $500k and the investments are typically larger. That said they are looking to make 1 or 2 additional investments and if you are a good match who knows where that may lead.
Some suggestions for founders:
- Do your homework – What TechCaptial looks for in a start-up
If you think your opportunity is a good fit with the investment criteria you can sign up here:
Funder meets Founders – Part I
Hope to announce Funder meets Founders part II in the next couple of days.
Ian Graham
LavaBlast – Startup of the Week @ BizSpark
LavaBlast has one its second award in as many months. In September LavaBlast was named Blogmatic Start-up of the Year for 2008 and this week named Start-up of the week by Microsoft BizSpark. It is great to see Jason and the LavaBlast team win the BizSpark award, they are most deserving. LavaBlast forms the base technology for TheCodeFactory business systems and they have been a great partner. I look forward to continue to work with LavaBlast as TheCodeFactory expands to our second (as yet to be determined) location in September of 2009.
There is an old saying that you are judged by the company you keep. I am proud to have LavaBlast as a partner and be in such excellent company. Jason is a person of great character and another indicator of this is the little things Jason does when he comes to visit at TheCodeFactory. Jason often brings milk or cream for the coffee when he visits and always cleans his own cup. Little things say a lot.
Congratulations LavaBlast .
Ian Graham
Retail Fund (LSIF) – Round Table
Start-ups, there is a very interesting event I wanted to draw to your attention that should be of interest to anyone considering raising seed funding.
A bit of History:
Ontario used to have something called LSIF (Labour Sponsored Investment Funds) which were cancelled by the current government of Ontario in August 2005. BIG MISTAKE. Anyway, that’s just my opinion. Since the cancellation of the LSIF seed funding in Ontario has all but dried up and there are many starving start-ups at the earliest stages of formation because no one wants to invest and assume that level of risk. LSIF used to provide an important source of early stage funding and while not perfect should have been tweaked and made better rather than cutting the proverbial nose off to spite the investors face. LSIF also known as retail funds are an important ingredient (currently absent) from the Ontario Start-up scene. Both BC and Quebec have LSIF or their equivalent (LSVCC) and the start-up and investment scene in early stage businesses there is much brighter. IMHO Ontario should fix and re-instate the SIF (Start-up Investment Fund) I dropped the L because I never really understood why you should be required to have a Labour Union sponsor the fund. A bit bizarre, but anyway I digress.
The whole point of this is to draw your attention to:
On Monday December 8th 2008 there is a roundtable to discuss the crisis in funding early stage companies, the challenges and options we are facing in the marketplace, and to seek your support for the implementation of a new Ontario retail venture capital program. The program must be designed to provide much needed financial resources to Ontario’s research and innovation sector. Please note contact to register by RSVP.
Date: Monday December 8th 2008
Time: 8:00am to 11:00am (including continental breakfast)
Agenda: Introduction & Industry Overview
– Discussion of Existing Provincial Venture Capital programs
– CEO Panel Discussion: The Shortage of Early Stage Venture Capital
– Overview of Proposed New Retail Venture Capital Program
Place: Hampton Inn, 100 Coventry Road, Ottawa, Ontario
RSVP: charrison@flagshipsolutions.ca or (613) 562-3095
Ian Graham
DemoCampOttawa-11 December 1st
Greetings campers. Take me to your Demo.
Ottawa’s favorite technology show and tell is back baby and in time for Festivus. Perhaps some campers will display their products in the feats of strength category. There are still four demo slots available if you want to strutt your stuff. DemoCamp is fun, friendly and a great way to meet and mingle with the local start-up community.
Date: 1-Dec-2008
Where: The Velvet Room 62 1/2 York Street, above Fat Tuesdays
Time: 6:30pm (mingling), 7:00pm Demo Starts
Hope you can make it.
Thank you to Sonny for the venue, Mark for logistics and Peter for the mailing list.
Spread the word!!
Ian Graham
Facilitate versus Create
Just words? They are very similar yet at the same time considerably different. I often read or hear about people that are going to create a community.
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Do you create a community or facilitate it?
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Create is in fact a very strong word and implies that you make something from nothing. If you read the bible you will recall the story of creation. In seven days God created the earth, man and all of the wild beasts. Pretty powerful stuff. Most mere humans lack the capability to create something.
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Facilitate is different and more of a catalyst in nature. When you facilitate you act as an agent on existing elements helping to bring them together. Communities waiting to happen exist everywhere. These communities can often be made more vibrant and dynamic with a bit of facilitation or the act of bringing elements together.
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I would postulate that communities are NOT created and in fact already exist. The catalyst of facilitation brings communities together and makes them more dynamic.
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Cheers,
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Ian Graham
