Toronto Tech Week 2008 – September 22 – 26, 2008

Dave Forde — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:21:28 +0000

The date has been set and the rooms are being booked, September 22 – 26, 2008 is when the 2nd Annual Toronto Tech Week will take place. Â Looking back at last year there were 20 events and just over 2,000 people thatÂ participatedÂ from as close as Rochester and as far away as China. Â With less that 6 months and a very limited budget the week was a success especially when you consider that this was the first time in history that Toronto’s ICT community came together on any oneÂ initiative. Â With so many associations and groups all fighting for the same sponsorshipÂ dollarsÂ Toronto is often like watching crabs in a bucket all pulling each other down trying to get ahead. Â It was great to see the momentum thatÂ occurredÂ as groups or associations including Toronto Board of Trade, MaRS, ITAC, YTA (York Technology Alliance), DemoCamp help events, and many of these groups plus other will be participating in 2008. Â Don’t take just my word for it, check out some of the news coverage that was done from various publicationsÂ such as BackboneÂ andÂ IT BusinessÂ (now IT World Canada). Â Â For 2008 there will be even moreÂ opportunitiesÂ for business development, education andÂ networkingÂ with a 2-day trade show and concurrent sessions, keynote presentations, an entire day dedicated to careerÂ managementÂ and one dedicated to the Internet and itsÂ increasingÂ role in business today. Â AsÂ I’ve mentioned before, since the demise of the Toronto Venture Group, Toronto’s startup community has been left with a bit of a void, so another event we’ll be holding is anÂ entrepreneurialÂ competition to help foster that next batch of companies, after all Microsoft and Google were startups at one point in time.Â Â Â Â�

Â Oh wait, you might have missed it last year?

What is Toronto Tech Week?Â

One week dedicated to Toronto’s ICT (Information Communications and Technology) sector, with events being hosted by different associations, companies and groups for business development, education and networking opportunities.

When is Toronto Tech Week 2008

September 22 – 26, 2008

How do I get involved

Most of your questions should be able to be answered on the Toronto Tech Week site. Â A Town Hall meeting for Toronto Tech Week was held last where where just over 50 attendees got a chance to hear the vision andÂ participateÂ in discussion around the week and the type of events that will be planned, Â and next Wednesday, November 28 we’ll be holding the first Toronto Tech Talk which is an after work networking event. Â Be sure to come out to the Charlotte Room, grab a drink and network and hear some more about Toronto Tech Week and how you and your company can get involved.

CIBC kicks in $500,000 for MaRS’ Entrepreneurship program

Dave Forde — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:23:52 +0000

Toronto continues to be a hot bead for the next generation of Canadian startups, and many local champions continue to create platforms for entrepreneurs to shine and grow such as DemoCamp, Toronto Board of Trade and Toronto Tech Week. Â MaRS has also played a key role as facility to host events, but now is taking a major step forward with a newÂ initiativeÂ calledÂ Entrepreneurship 101. Â The program is a being funded by CIBC with aÂ contribution of up to $500,000 and will be recognized as the presenting donor of its flagship skill-building program. Â The free non-credit course is aimed atÂ graduate students,Â post-doctoral fellows, faculty, technicians and young entrepreneurs active inÂ physical or life sciences and engineering.

“Entrepreneurship 101 isn’t designed to compete with business schools.Â Instead, it provides academic researchers with a clear look at the elementsÂ that go into building a successful company from the ground up,” said courseÂ coordinator Dr. Tony Redpath, a physical chemist, who has been both anÂ entrepreneur and venture capitalist, now serving as an advisor to MaRS’Â Venture Group.Â Â Â

The first lecture was delivered last night at MaRS and will also be offered via webcast to other centres in Ontario and will explore various topics including financing, defining markets, hiring teams and protecting intellectual property.