Startups face huge risks when looking for channel partners. Often startups go after massive corporations as partners (because those companies have the sales channels and resources), which makes the relationships highly inequitable. But one of the benefits of partnerships is securing early relationships with potential acquirers. Many companies are ultimately acquired by partners. It only […]
Bringing Montreal Tech Watch Back to Life
Montreal needs Montreal Tech Watch. When the site was active it provided a great deal of exposure to Montreal, and helped build a stronger community. There’s a lot going on in Montreal for tech startups and entrepreneurs, but without adequate reporting, too much of it doesn’t get the attention deserved. This is not to blame […]
Upcoming Startup Events in Montreal
People of Montreal…you have been summoned! There are a bunch of great new (and repeat) events coming to Montreal very soon. If you’re in a startup, thinking about it (hello students!), or just curious about the world of startups, you should attend: Startup Square Soiree: April 13, 6pm EDT. This is the launch event for […]
4 Ways to Align Interests Between Startup Founders and Investors
Are investors and startup founders on the same side of the table, or the opposite side? A: Depends. When things are going well, everyone feels like they’re on the same side of the table. When things are going not so well, it’s a different story. This is the reality of the startup-investor relationship. It’s not […]
Use of Funds
Almost every investor pitch, whether to angel investors or venture capitalists involves one slide near the end about how much money a startup is looking to raise, milestones it hopes to achieve and generally, the “use of funds.” The intent behind describing the use of funds is to explain to the potential investors how you […]
An Introduction to Pitching Investors
Kudos to the students at McGill University for putting on some great events. I’m a big fan and advocate of anything that bridges the gap between students and startups. I was invited to speak along with Daniel Drouet at an event entitled, “The Perfect Pitch”. I’m not sure such a thing exists, but I was […]
Foursquare and Pavlov’s Dog
I’m a big fan of Foursquare. It’s not because of the game or even the possibility of getting deals at nearby locations when I check-in. What’s fascinating about Foursquare, and in my opinion, at the heart of its success to-date, is the fact that it has created a new, automatic user behavior. Remember Pavlov’s dog? […]
10 Startup To-Dos: Things You Should Really Think About When Starting a Company
I did a quick presentation at the Montreal.rb meeting about startup to-dos — things you should really think about before starting companies. It’s great to see more and more developers and tech folks interested in starting companies. In places like Silicon Valley it’s often tech people who launch startups. We need more startups in Montreal […]
Oh Canada! Olympic Hockey Gold is Ours and I Was There
Many of you know this already, but I got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to the USA – Canada Gold Medal Hockey Game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Words really can’t describe it. I wish I had taken more photos and videos, but it’s hard to do that and really soak it all in. Plus, […]
How To Build a Start-Up Nation
There’s been no shortage of debate and discussion about how to replicate the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem (or whether it’s even possible, worthwhile or applicable to other places). I wrote about it way back when in 2007 and certainly a lot has changed and improved in a few years. But when you read a book […]
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