Here comes the fuzz

You may have seen a werewolf roaming around downtown Vancouver this week. What you might not have known, however, is that this all started with Vancouver startup, CineCoup.

This week marks the cinematic debut of “WolfCop” which, for the average movie, is the most important part of their journey. The story behind WolfCop, however, is considerably more interesting. WolfCop’s journey started more than a year ago via CineCoup, a local indie filmmaking accelerator program that helped craft the process from pitch to screening.
 
Stealing a page the tech startup world, CineCoup is essentially a “Lean Accelerator” for films, forcing filmmakers to engage in audience development before earning an official screening. Ultimately CineCoup was able to green light the film that best curated a market before spending money filming.

The process is relatively simple: independent film entrepreneurs pitch their movie ideas during a Demo Day filled with short and intense demonstrations to industry professionals who provide useful feedback and mentoring. Filmmakers pitch movies using a two minute trailer that is meant to be representative of their emerging idea. These trailer pitches then advance through a funnel designed to create fan support and media response. CineCoup then works together with superfans and industry experts to narrow the applicant pool to a single winner.

Other than being a competition between ambitious filmmakers, CineCoup identifies their company as a startup business that provides valuable advice to all participants. Filmmakers have the opportunity to gain audience traction, filmmaker recognition, support and feedback from devoted fans, and marketing experience along the way. In other words, CineCoup is an intensive bootcamp for independent filmmakers.

With a screening set to hit selected Cineplex theatres today, the creators of WolfCop stand to be the first winner declared by CineCoup. This indie movie was crafted by the talent of three people who took advantage of CineCoup’s unique platform to battle it out with over 70 film projects, and after a year-long process, have transformed their dream into an exciting reality.

To learn more about CineCoup, visit them online at www.cinecoup.com
WolfCop is playing now in select theatres, click here for more information and showtimes.

By: Michael Kousaie, Head, Business Development, Technology, Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange

Canada. Innovation. Leaders: three words that aren’t always used in the same sentence. But over the last few years, some of the world’s most exciting technology and innovation companies have been founded, built and funded in Canada.

The next wave of Canadian technology leaders is beginning to swell because different parts of our country’s technology ecosystem are working together. Promising founders are being supported by accelerators and industry associations (like the BCTIA); government programs at the federal and provincial levels are encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship; angel investors and venture capitalists are backing exciting companies, both new and established; management teams are executing their growth strategies; initial public offering (IPO) investors are providing attractive exit alternatives; and strategic buyers are stepping-up with worthwhile valuations.

There is real momentum in the private sector with the emergence of innovative companies like Wattpad, Hootsuite®, Shopify®, Beyond the RackTM, and many others. Yet the upswing is also evident in Canada’s leading public equities markets, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). Led by companies like Avigilon Corporation (TSX:AVO), Open Text Corporation (TSX:OTC), EXO U Inc. (TSXV:EXO) and Sphere 3D Corporation (TSXV:ANY), the technology and innovation sector* on the exchanges continues to shine so far this year following standout years in 2012 and 2013 relative to other sectors.

Here are a few top-line facts:

Not bad for a sector that some called “in decline” a few years ago. The Canadian innovation industry is making a comeback and demand is growing as companies with impressive depth of talent and dynamism are returning to public markets to help them realize their business objectives.

Many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also raising capital on TSXV, the “junior” market to TSX. It is a well-regulated marketplace to raise venture capital and many public investors are attracted by up-and-coming companies in the beginning stages of their lifecycles.

In 2013, 35% of the technology and innovation companies that went public on TSXV had market values below $10 million. SMEs often need less than $5 million to get started and listing on the junior exchange can provide an alternative to Series A or B financing rounds for some startups. The average size of a financing in the sector on TSXV last year was just under $2 million, and companies each completed, on average, about two public financing rounds.

The two-tiered structure of the exchanges also means that as these companies grow and mature, they can graduate to TSX to take their business to the next level on a world-class marketplace. Here is a look at the graduation rates in the innovation sector in 2013:

TSX and TSXV are proud to help power the growth of Canada’s innovative leaders, including companies from startup to mature.

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* Comprised of technology, clean technology and renewable energy, and life sciences sectors.

All data as of April 30, 2014.

This blog post is provided for information purposes only. Neither TMX Group Limited nor any of its affiliated companies (collectively "TMX") guarantees the completeness of the information contained herein. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions in, or your use of, or reliance on, the information we post or information accessed through links to any third party sites. TMX has not prepared, reviewed or updated the content of third parties on this site or the content of any third party sites, and assumes no responsibility for such information. Nothing in this blog is intended to provide investment, financial, tax, accounting, legal or other advice and you should not be relying on it for such advice. TMX does not endorse or recommend any securities referenced in this blog post. It is not an invitation to purchase securities listed on Toronto Stock Exchange and/or TSX Venture Exchange. © 2014 TSX Inc. All rights reserved. Do not sell, distribute or modify any of the content or materials in this blog post without TMX's prior written consent. Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange are trademarks of TSX Inc.

EIR Corner: ALL THINGS CASL

On July 1, 2014, Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (“CASL”) legislation comes in to force and is intended to stop spam, impose content requirements on certain types of electronic messages, stop phishing, spyware and bots. It also requires express consent and un-subscribe mechanisms.

With the extent that these communication channels are prevalent for modern businesses (especially tech companies) and the magnitude of the fines, CASL is one of the most significant legislation changes affecting marketers in years. Businesses need to be aware and take steps. I got some input from BCTIA’s Marketing Manager, Wendy Turnbull, and Karam Bayrakal, a partner at Fasken Martineau. 

Scope of the law:

Effective July 1, 2014, CASL prohibits sending Commercial Electronic Messages (“CEMs”)
 unless the sender (or the person on whose behalf the CEM is being sent):

1. has consent to do so (either express or implied), or qualifies for an exemption under CASL;
2. includes identity and contact information; and
3. includes an unsubscribe mechanism.

CASL applies to any CEM that encourages commercial activity (whether or not there is an expectation of profit). 

Two relevant exemptions under CASL exist for CEMs that:

1. relate to ordinary course commercial activities (e.g. responding to requested quotes, providing information about ongoing use of goods/services or warranties, delivering goods and services); or
2. are sent to satisfy legal obligations, provide notice of a legal right or obligation or to enforce a legal right.

Installing Computer Programs

Effective January 15, 2015, CASL prohibits, unless express consent is obtained:

1. phishing;
2. installing computer programs in the course of a commercial activity; and
3. sending electronic messages from another person’s computer system.

Personal Information Collection

CASL amends the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act to prohibit using programs for the unauthorized collection and use of electronic addresses or personal information, such as using “web crawlers” and “dictionary attacks”.

Penalties

CASLs can impose “administrative monetary penalties” to a maximum of $1 million for individuals and $10 million for corporations.  As of July 1, 2017, a private right of action will allow courts to impose up to $1 million for each day on which a contravention occurs. Directors, officers and agents may face personal liability.

What you can do about it

While the impact of the law is severe, the actions needed are relatively simple and should be taken care of before July 1st. There are a few simple steps that can go a long way.

1. Asking your existing lists to express consent – send out emails in advance of July 1st to ensure consent.
2. Track and manage recipients’ consent  - have a central database that allows you to easily know which customers are on offside for electronic messages.
3. Create a CASL compliant opt-in box - passive “toggle” opt ins are no longer allowed.

Being proactive now can save you a whole lot of $10 million dollar fines later on!

Additional Readings on CASL

http://fightspam.gc.ca/eic/site/030.nsf/eng/home
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-548.htm
http://www.fasken.com/en/Publications/Detail.aspx?publication=841b8230-c2f4-4f50-be61-98fbbec067c8
http://www.fasken.com/en/canadian-anti-spam-law-casl-ten-key-requirements/

EIR Corner by Karam Bayrakal, Partner-Fasken Martineau & Clayton Weir, Centre4Growth Senior Analyst

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For more tips and tools to help you grow your company, visit our Library section, or apply today for Centre4Growth.  Our experienced EIRs offer confidential coaching focused on the issues that keep you up at night.

Build your network & change someone's life

In this week's Success Story, we caught up with Andrew Tait, the President and Director at Tait Labs, as well as colleague Harish Vasudevan, VP, Innovation and Commercialization. Tait Labs focuses on natural health solutions for treating digestive and neurological disorders -- a sector that blends food, pharmacy, and biotechnology. Running a company in a non-traditional market requires a lot of work, read on to learn how they got to where they are today.

1. Why did you join C4G?

As a young company in a relatively non-traditional market in Canada, we were high on vision and energy, and needed to be mentored given that it was our first venture. C4G was strongly recommended by most of our early advisors given its mandate to reduce startup mortality and create success stories from Vancouver ventures.

2. How has C4G helped?

C4G welcomed us at a very early stage of our corporate development. It has since been highly supportive and inclusive – something we appreciated as we felt we were the only ones locally working on our technology sector that lies somewhere between food and pharma/biotech. Our mentor, an experienced entrepreneur in his own right, still actively works with us and has helped us with everything from drafting the business plan to corporate structuring and licensing.

We also got access to some of the best legal, accounting and marketing clinics for free, which saved us a large amount of time and money. C4G’s support, networks and invitations to various events enabled us to directly and regularly interact with local investors and other strategic partners; the program has opened doors for us to other resources such as the Lean Launchpad at UBC, access to the Generator space at Discovery Parks, and has been a major influencing factor in our path to commercializing our product and technology.

3. What’s been the highlight of being an entrepreneur to date? 

First and foremost it is all about the people you work with and the valuable relationships that you cultivate with these individuals. Having received excellent mentorship along the way, we recognize the importance of paying it forward, and helping to mentor others as well. C4G helped us identify the opportunity to stand at the epicenter of technology, commercialization and leadership, where you learn and leverage the diversity of expertise to build a uniquely successful business. While no two days are alike, it can be like a roller coaster ride with no forewarning, both exciting and scary at the same time! 

4. What would you tell someone who’s just starting out?

Know your audience, be it the customer, competitor, investor, partner, regulator or acquirer. To get to know your audience, you must network, network, network.  Pick up the phone, go for coffee, and travel to a faraway land to meet these people if need be.

5. Complete this sentence/thought:SUCCESS IS...

...if your product or service can directly change even one person’s life for the better.

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To learn more about Tait Labs, visit them online at www.taitlabs.ca
To read other BCTIA Centre4Growth stories, click here.
If you have a story you'd like to share, send it to us at communications@bctia.org

2014 TIAs Celebrate Tech in BC and the Future of our Industry

From the announcement of the Finalists in April, to the very last song at the Tech Block Party, the 2014 Technology Impact Awards have been a wild ride, culminating in the announcement of ten award winners taking home top honors in front of a packed audience of close to 1,000 people.  For those of you who missed the celebration, we're excited to share some highlights from the largest tech awards show in the province -- enjoy!

Video courtesy of Shaw TV & Shaw Business

If that video wasn't enough, click here to check out some photos from the red carpet, the awards dinner and the after party.  But before you get too caught up in the glitz and glamor, here's the complete list of the companies who took home Technology Impact Awards on June 5th:

To see a full listing of past winners from 1994 to now, visit the Winner's Circle, and to download a copy of the 2014 Technology Impact Awards news release, click here.

The TIAs honor technology companies of all shapes and sizes, from celebrating those who have a strong history in our province to those that are shaping the future of tech in BC.  In addition to recognizing these incredible companies, the TIAs shine a spotlight on future tech workers by awarding the BC Technology Scholarship to deserving high school and university students.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our generous sponsors, along with the Tomorrow's Titans sponsors, for not only making the TIAs possible (as if that's not enough!), but for hosting close to 100 tech entrepreneurs for their first TIAs.  It's the incredible "pay it forward" spirit that sets the BC tech industry apart from others, and makes it one of the best places in the world to start and grow a tech company.   

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Canada’s APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) members are proudly hosting many Chinese business delegates who are interested in making inroads with BC Based businesses. 

Members of the APEC China Business Council represent some of China’s largest private and state-owned enterprises including Baidu, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Tongfang Co. Ltd, YOFOTO Co. Ltd, Huaren Century Group Co., Ltd, S.F. Express, and Jiangxi Lisan Estate Investment Group Co., Ltd, among others.
 
There are two very interesting ways for BC Tech companies to leverage this opportunity.

1. One2one meetings with Chinese delegates (please express interest to Clayton Weir cweir@bctia.org).
2. DFATD is selecting some high potential companies to attend the conference with complimentary passes. If interested please contact David Marshall of DFATD david.marshall@international.gc.ca by EOD Thursday July 10th.

More details can be found here www.asiapacific.ca/forums.

If you have any questions about participating in this opportunity or access to other international trade opportunities for technology companies please contact:

David F. J. Marshall
Trade Commissioner  
604.666.0317
david.marshall@international.gc.ca

or

Clayton R Weir
Sr. Analyst BCTIA
604.602.5267
cweir@bctia.org

The National Institutes of Health adopts Lean LaunchPad

For those of you who are involved with Centre4Growth, you already know that we love the Lean LaunchPad.

One of our Executives-in-Residence, Peter Payne, is fanatical about the business model canvas and has used it time and again to prove or disprove assumptions entrepreneurs make about their business. We like the Lean LaunchPad because it works, but the formal methodology is relatively new and is constantly being tweaked and adjusted in light of new information, much the same way you should make adjustments with your venture. The body of knowledge around the efficiency is relatively low for a number of reasons, primarily because of the originality and the difficulty of specifying proper measurement, but the ability to identify that someone should quit at the appropriate time is equally as valuable an outcome as being able to track success.

When people ask us why we use this method, outside of our basic intuitions around why it makes a ton of sense, we usually cite the names of some of the early adopters -- social proof that this is in fact a reasonable approach. On that front, the Lean LaunchPad family just got bigger as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a government organization who administers about a quarter of the research and development money spent on Biomedical research in the US, has adopted the methodology.

On the innovation front, this is as large of an organization as you can imagine, and the breadth, complexity and magnitude of capital deployed make this new announcement both a significant endorsement of the program, and a huge testing ground to further refine what we know about starting ventures. This partnership is based on the National Science Foundation's (NSF) (similar to NSERC) adoption of the same platform 2.5 years ago and subsequent testing with over 300 venture teams as coached by Steve Blank. The NSF and the NIH will now work together in order to roll this program out for both teams. The collaboration of these two large government institutions is in itself quite interesting.

In short this doesn’t mean much, but it signals a strong future for Lean LaunchPad methodology, and is further proof of both the efficiency and the applicability of the tools we use every day to help startups here at Centre4Growth.

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The read the full announcement, check out Steve Blank here or the NIH announcement here.

For more tips and tools to help you grow your company, visit our Library section, or apply today for Centre4Growth. Our experienced EIRs offer confidential coaching focused on the issues that keep you up at night.

In this week's Success Story we decided to switch things up a bit. We learned that Karn Manhas, Founder and CEO of Terramera, got some pretty exciting news after recently attending Walmart's first Open Call down in Arkansas. We asked Karn to share his experiences, so check out his account of the opportunity below, then be sure to read his "Top 10 (+1) Tips For Pitching a Retailer" so that you too can benefit from Karn's recent learning experience.

Dancing with the Waltons

Written by: Karn Manhas, Founder & CEO, Terramera

Marketing products in the consumer mass market can be a daunting and complex creature. It is also exhilarating. The key to success is exposure and wide distribution. But how can a small new company achieve that?

Our company, Terramera PlantScience, develops high-performance plant-based products for pest control and crop protection that are safer and more effective alternatives to toxic synthetic chemical pesticides. Our first product, Proof®, is a breakthrough solution for the global bed bug epidemic.

Having a large retailer agree to carry your product can literally build a company. We are thrilled to have accomplished this first major hurdle. This journey began in June, as Peter Payne, our BCTIA Centre4Growth Executive-in-Residence (EIR), sent me an email that led to an opportunity to pitch a major US retailer on our first consumer product.

That US retailer is none other than Walmart, the largest retailer in the world. We applied to participate in their first ever Open Call and quickly received an invitation to visit Walmart to pitch.

Last week, I flew to Bentonville, Arkansas where Walmart is based -- the same small town where Sam Walton started his first Five & Dime. I really had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Walmart was not the deathstar one might imagine. Their offices are modest, and look more like large farm supply warehouses than a nerve center for the largest retailer in the world. The culture is friendly and open, with lots of young people amongst staff and senior staff.

The day included an orientation, followed by meetings with buyers. We had a great meeting with buyers in one department, but were not paired with the other key department that could carry our product. We asked if we could meet these other buyers and the Walmart staff were friendly and accommodating, connecting us immediately. They directed us to their Home Office building, where I was able to introduce myself to the Senior Executive in charge of the event. We spoke for a few minutes in the hall and when she learned of the issue, she immediately made time to personally meet with us. We walked through the pitch for Proof® Bed Bug Spray. Apart from the heebie jeebies she got from looking at bed bug pictures, she was impressed with the performance and the opportunity. After reviewing the product, our data and plans, she made a commitment to bring the product in. Rarely do decisions get made this quickly, but when they do it’s magic.

On the flight home that afternoon, I landed in the connecting airport to a tweet by Walmart announcing the deal. They don’t waste time! I must’ve looked at that short tweet 10,000 times that day.  

This has been years in the making. A well-timed email, a willingness to go along for the ride, some quick thinking and a good conversation may have changed the game, and launched our consumer business – something that could help many millions along the way. Back at home, the work now begins to ensure a plan of action is created with all of the details set out and that nothing gets missed to ensure a successful roll-out. Both frightening and exhilarating, it will be exciting to see how we play out this story over the months and years ahead.

For more, check out Karn's Top 10 (+1) Tips For Pitching a Retailer.

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To learn more about Terramera, visit them online at www.terramera.com.
To read other BCTIA Centre4Growth stories, click here.
If you have a story you'd like to share, send it to us at communications@bctia.org

Karn Manhas, Founder and CEO of Terramera, recently attended Walmart's Open Call to pitch his company's first retail product, Proof®. It was a game changing experience for Karn, and you can read his first-hand account here. Based on this experience, Karn has compiled ten tips (plus a bonus!) to help fellow entrepreneurs and companies prepare for pitching to retailers.

Here's Karn's Top 10 (+1) Tips:

1. Take action: Find a broker with strong retail contacts. You may pay a commission on sales, but you pay nothing if they don’t succeed. If that’s not your style, then go for it directly…find out who the buyers are and be aggressive. Call and get yourself in the door. You might have to push through an initial wall to get through, but find out who the right buyer is and get in touch. They may be thankful you did.
2. Be Confident: If you are not convinced on the value of your product, you won’t convince anyone else. You may be small but your product and innovation is valuable, otherwise you wouldn’t be there.
3. Know Your Potential Partner: Familiarize yourself with their brand, their stores, needs, goals and supplier expectations. Understand and speak their language, and learn their values.
4. Know Your (and Their!) Customer: Visit and study the department that your product may potentially be in. Know the products, the layout, and traffic pattern. There’s no such thing as knowing your customers too well.
5. Have a Clear, Concise Plan and Practiced Pitch: You will have a limited time slot so be prepared. Have a clear idea of the problem, the size and scope of the opportunity, and your value proposition. Having costs, revenue splits, and marketing/merchandising plans is critical.
6. Relax and Roll with it: Go in with a plan but be flexible. If an opportunity arises that you did not plan for, seize it. Magic happens here.
7. Understand Your Margin: Know your full costs and prepare a pricing model. Don’t set yourself up for failure by not knowing the true, burdened cost of your product and its production.
8. Don’t Set Up for Failure: Don’t promise what you’re not sure you can deliver. Once you’ve got a deal, you will need to make the roll-out work and ensure product moves off the shelf.
9. Ask for and Accept Advice: Big retailers have extensive experience. Be open to their suggestions and be prepared for changes they recommend.
10. Be Thankful: Just getting the meeting is reason to be extremely thankful. Be cognizant and appreciative of the buyers, their time, and the opportunity they present to you and your business.

Finally, 11. Find Good Resources and Ask for Help: I had zero retail experience (this can be a good thing too!) and I knew I needed expertise. I reached out to investors, advisors, friends, friends of friends, and even folks on LinkedIn that I had never met before and asked them for advice, or to connect me to experts -- and they did. And let's not forget Centre4Growth! There is nothing to lose by asking for help, you can only learn…and gain.

For Karn's first-hand account of the experience that spawned this Top 10 list, check out his blog post here.

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To learn more about Terramera, visit them online at www.terramera.com.
To read other BCTIA Centre4Growth stories, click here.
If you have a story you'd like to share, send it to us at communications@bctia.org

Thank You for Taking the Challenge!

When Adam Lorant accepted the Most Promising Startup Award on behalf of PHEMI Health Systems during the 2014 Technology Impact Awards (TIAs) on June 5th, we knew that he would have a memorable speech. That's because Adam is a memorable guy; he's a serial entrepreneur, investor, mentor, coach and all-around champion of tech in BC. His speech was in fact memorable, as he came up with the idea, on the spot, that would come to be known as the 30 Day #BCTechChallenge.

The challenge was simple: Over the 30 days following the TIAs, every BC Tech company was encouraged to do a deal with another BC tech company – and tell the world.

Although the challenge was intended to be 30 days, we couldn’t pass up extending it by a few weeks given the response. We received all kinds of submissions including company recommendations, trial runs, and partnerships. And to those who were a part of it all, we thank you. 

In case you missed out, click here to see the superstars who took the #BCTechChallenge and check out #BCTechChallenge on Twitter. But first, make sure to watch the video that inspired it all.

Although we are wrapping up the 30 Day #BCTechChallenge, this doesn’t mean it all has to end. We still encourage you to buy, trial, resell, and/or partner with another BC Tech company!

Partnering with local tech companies helps companies gain an innovation edge and competitive advantage, which is what we strive for in our tech community. So thank you again to those who participated in the challenge!

Now we can't help but wonder, what is Adam going to challenge us to do next?!

Get more details by checking out the full Business Opportunity here.

Proposals From Industry Partners Are Now Being Accepted

Content provided by:The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University British Columbia

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UBC reaches out to over 40 organizations and industry partners each September to help enrich the capstone experience of our senior students. Capstone projects are used in many disciplines as a culminating experience for undergraduates. In Electrical and Computer Engineering, UBC, 200 senior students work in small teams to design a product or service of significance for industry clients. Students are eager to apply what they have learned through their degree to real problems, and provide solutions for real people.

External clients are important, says Prof. Kruchten,NSERC Engineering Design Chair, for two main reasons: First, bringing the clients’ needs to the school ensures that the students are working on open-ended problems. The professors, teaching assistants, and clients haven’t already predicted a solution – there is an open field for invention and design here. Professors provide guidance and feedback, but the students must ultimately resolve the problem themselves. As a result, students develop a real sense of responsibility and pride in their work. Second, these projects also have all the messy complications of the real world. There are budget constraints, contract issues, team dynamics to manage, equipment to source – all the complexities that engineers face every day. Bringing in external clients ensures that professors can’t tidy up the project for their students the way they might for an in-class assignment. Capstone teams must face the complexities of project management head-on.

One of the most valuable aspects of the capstone program is that it has strengthened both student and faculty connections with the engineering community of British Columbia. Each of the projects has provided students and faculty with a window onto the needs of engineers in the field. ECE will use what we have learned during this year to identify opportunities to better prepare our graduates for the work force and to continue to improve our curriculum. What we know without a doubt is that our students have benefited greatly from having the opportunity to help their clients.

Find out how three student groups responded to their design challenges below and make sure to check out previous student videos here:

• BC Hydro Brief: Substation safety verified by students
• GazePoint Brief: Eye tracker technology showcased through game
• Tetra Society Brief: New automated light for wheelchairs

For more information, or to submit a Capstone Design Project as an Industry Partner, click here.

Please submit your proposal no later than August 7th 2014. 

Partner Event: September 18, 2014 - 4:30pm-7:30pm

Canada’s cleantech industry is growing faster than every other major sector according to a new report that surveyed companies from across the country. To help shine a light on the growing sector, the David Suzuki Foundation, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, BC Cleantech CEO Alliance, and the BCTIA have joined together to host The cleantech edge: Canada's fastest growing industry in the age of climate change on September 18th. 

The session features keynote speaker, Céline Bak, President of Analytica Advisors, as well as other cleantech business leaders who will join in a post-presentation discussion and take part in an audience-participation question and answer session.

Join us on September 18th, from 4:30pm-7:30pm at the SFU Segal Building. Click here to register or visit the event page for more information.

In light of this exciting event, below is an excerpt from The Hill Times on Canada's dynamic cleantech industry, featuring Ms. Bak:

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Ottawa, Ontario, June 9th, 2014 (via The Hills Times)

Cleantech emerging as Canada’s fastest growing industry, outlier in economy

Written by: Chris Plecash

Canada’s cleantech industry is growing faster than every other major sector of the economy according to a new report surveying companies from across the country, and MPs on both sides of the House say it’s time for new federal policies to promote the industry at home and abroad.
 
The Canadian cleantech sector grew by 9% in 2012 according to a recently released report by Analytica Advisors, an Ottawa-based consulting firm that has tracked the industry’s growth since 2008. Cleantech companies directly employed 41,000 people in Canada and generated $11.3-billion in revenues in 2012, the baseline year for Analytica’s 2014 report.

The findings are based on a survey of more than 700 primarily small- and medium-sized companies, and show that the sector is an outlier in the Canadian economy.

Industry Canada’s own statistics for 2011-2012 show that the mining, oil and gas sector grew by a mere 0.3 per cent, compared to the cleantech sector’s nine per cent growth rate. The construction industry grew by 3.9% over the same time period, while manufacturing grew by 1.9 per cent.

The cleantech industry has also emerged as a leading investor in research and development. In 2012, the industry invested $1.14-billion in R&D, compared to the aerospace sector’s $1.33-billion in R&D investment in the same year. The sector’s employment figures are beginning to rival those of the aerospace and oil and gas sectors.

“If you look at the sum of the investments and revenues of all these companies, we have a significant industry today. Given the growth in investments today, it will continue to be significant and can grow into an industry comparable in size to other significant industries, like aerospace for example,” said Analytica president Céline Bak, whose firm advises federal departments and agencies on finance, trade and innovation policy.

Cleantech exports are also more diversified than Canada’s overall exports. More than half of the industry’s revenues came from exports in 2012, and 42 per cent of all exports were to non-U.S. markets. Only 26 per cent of economy-wide Canadian exports went to non-U.S. markets in 2012, in comparison.

Despite the sector’s robust growth, Ms. Bak said that companies continue to face a “perennial Canadian challenge” in convincing the domestic market to adopt clean technologies.

“Demand is always a little sluggish. It takes longer to sell in the Canadian marketplace than it does in other parts of the world,” she said. “Not only are they low-carbon, bio-based, green, low energy. These are hardcore business solutions that happen to be really strong in terms of their environmental impacts, in many cases with a lower price.”

Analytica projects that Canada’s cleantech sector could grow into a $32-billion industry over the next decade, directly employing up to 120,000 by 2022, while a 2013 report by the Pembina Institute estimates that Canadian cleantech could grow into a $60-billion industry by 2020 with favourable federal policy measures to encourage deployment of clean technologies.
 
To read the full article, click here.

The Keys To Building a Culture of Innovation

Vancouver, BC, July, 8, 2014 (via Business In Vancouver)

Written by: Eamonn Percy

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin

You want your company to thrive because it innovates, not innovate to survive. Major changes in the global economy, technology, and demographics, are significantly disrupting many industry sectors, putting a squeeze on profit margins of companies in status quo mode while rewarding the innovators with new opportunity and stronger market positions. 

By building a culture of innovation into the DNA of both your leadership and company, you become more competitively positioned and create greater long-term shareholder value. Business leadership must be persistent, aggressive and focused in transforming the company, so innovation becomes the way you are, not something you do.

The 6 keys to building a culture of innovation are:

Make innovation a strategic priority. Ensure you develop and implement a strategic plan to grow your organization, and make innovation a key priority within that plan. Review and update the strategic plan regularly (no less than annually), ensure the organization is aligned with the achievement of the plan, and consistently measure your progress against its goals.

Communicate why innovation is a priority. Communicate to all levels of your organization, so employees are aware of your plans, understand their roles, are committed to taking action and can define success.  Provide regular and meaningful updates on progress. Be clear and transparent. Create a common language in order to achieve greater organizational cohesion. 

Implement a system that enables innovation. For a business initiative to become successful, it will need a system to nurture, support and measure it. For instance, you could select a system like Lean, which started in manufacturing and now is being adopted in Health Care and Technology, as the backbone of driving transformative thinking. Or give people time to innovate (i.e. Google gives its employees 20% of their time to innovate).

Lead by example. Take the time to focus on becoming a better business leader, so you can model the behaviors you expect of others, particularly during difficult or critical periods. Nothing will make the cultural change more successful than this one act. Be persistent, be authentic and be open minded to opportunity.

Hire, train and build innovative talent. Make the recruitment and retention of key staff that support your innovation strategy a key priority.  Help your current staff to develop new skills and find the right way to contribute in a more innovative environment, while hiring new staff that can fill the gaps and have the skills and abilities to drive innovation. Be consistently focused on market problems and customer needs.

Fail faster. Encourage more risk-taking and make failing for taking measured risks both acceptable and an opportunity. Find ways to decrease the failure cycle time, which will drive new opportunities from the failures, and move the company ahead faster.

Don’t innovate for the sake of it. Rather use innovation as a core strategy to build a dominate market position, enabling your company to adapt and transform, creating long-term shareholder value well into the future.

***

Read Eamonn's article featured in Business In Vancouver.

For more tips and tools to help you grow your company, visit our Library section, or apply today for Centre4Growth. Our experienced EIRs offer confidential coaching focused on the issues that keep you up at night.

5 Questions with Sean Kerklaan

In this week's Success Story we caught up with Sean Kerklaan, CEO of Fatigue Science. Fatigue Science creates solutions that help identify and prevent fatigue-related risks which ultimately help to improve human health and performance. Here's what Sean had to say about his journey so far, and how he has benefitted from reaching out to others for guidance along the way.

1. What’s been the highlight of being an entrepreneur so far?
As a startup, our team is still quite small and I get to work very closely with a driven group of people who are taking on challenges every day and carving out their own careers as the company grows. With the nature of the work that we do, I’m also really excited about having a positive impact within organizations around the world and in our own community.

2. What would you tell someone who’s just starting out?
Talk to everyone. Find people who are willing to give you half an hour of their time and learn something that you would otherwise have spent months researching and studying. When sourcing advice from people, find the common theme through their messaging and figure out if it makes sense for your business. Be passionate, but be flexible with your path.

3. Why did you join the BCTIA's Centre4Growth?
We joined the BCTIA’s Centre4Growth at the suggestion of one of my advisors, who said that the BCTIA has some of the best mentors in the city for a growing tech startup.

4. How has C4G helped?
I have personally appreciated the time and advice shared by Jonathan Bixby, Executive-in-Residence, and the EIRs at C4G. Our team has enjoyed the Peer2Peer groups and access to resources that are hard to get as a startup.

5. Complete this sentence/thought: SUCCESS IS ...
When clients are happy to pay for a product/solution you are passionate about building.

***

To learn more about Fatigue Science, visit them online at fatiguescience.com
To read other BCTIA Centre4Growth stories, click here.
If you have a story you'd like to share, send it to us at communications@bctia.org

EIR Corner: Are you a social enterprise? C3 may be for you.

Community Contribution Companies, also known as a C3s or CCCs, is a new legal company structure (as of July 29, 2013) nestled between traditional For-Profit and Not-For-Profit structures.

Who cares? you may ask.

First, social-type ventures, aka "I want to improve the world with my new idea" had trouble raising money if they setup as a Not-For-Profit. There are a finite number of investors who are willing to contribute large sums of cash for purely philanthropic reasons, and those investors get approached by countless people with "save the world" ideas; hence competition is fierce for a small bucket.

Likewise, if you had setup as a For-Profit company, you and your board might run afoul of laws that require you to maximize shareholder value rather than give most of your profits to the tree of your choice.

Thus, the problems were identified as: 1) It's very hard to raise money for a social venture because there is no cash return on investment, and 2) It's difficult to financially support your cause without risking violation of your responsibility to create shareholder value (actually, it's more complicated than that, but this is just a blog).

The current solution to these problems is the C3.

C3s do not get the same Federal tax breaks as not-for-profits or charities because they can make a profit.

If you have set up and run a C3 in BC, I would love to hear about your experience.

***

More information about C3s can be found here.

For more tips and tools to help you grow your company, visit our Library section, or apply today for Centre4Growth. Our experienced EIRs offer confidential coaching focused on the issues that keep you up at night.

Partner Event: Application Deadline - September 19, 2014

Content provided by: The Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX)

The CIX Top 20 is a unique program designed to showcase Canada’s hottest innovative companies working in Digital Media and Information and Communication Technology. A panel of leaders in the innovation space including venture capitalists, angel investors, funders, and corporate service providers will select 20 technology companies from across Canada to be featured in a live showcase at CIX 2014, taking place November 18, 2014 at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto. The CIX Top 20 is an elite index of the most forward-looking companies in the Canadian innovation ecosystem, and connects the key players driving technology-based business both in Canada and beyond.

WHO SHOULD ENTER?

The CIX Top 20 is open to any Canadian company working in Digital Media or Information and Communication Technology. Selected companies will be chosen based on the entrant’s demonstration of excellence in innovation, growth potential, competitive advantage and strength of business model.

WHAT DO COMPANIES GET?

All applicants will be reviewed by a group of who’s who of investors of various levels plus corporate service providers who are regularly acquiring companies in this space.  Those selected as part of the CIX Top 20 will bring about even more opportunities such as:

CIX Top 20 Travel Bursary

We're excited about the CIX Top 20 and so are our friends at BCIC. BCIC wants to help BC startups show off at CIX 2014 by offering up to $1000 travel bursary to EACH BC-based company selected to the Top 20. For more information, click here or contact Lindsay Chan, BCIC Director of Marketing & Communications, at lchan@bcic.ca.

Deadline for entries into the CIX Top 20 is September 19, 2014.

For more information, please contact:
Henry Wong
Awards Coordinator
416.921.3171 ext. 239 | hwong@achillesmedia.com

PARTNER EVENT: AUGUST 28

Content provided by: Raise the Roof - Rockaoke

Elastic Path, EY, and Fasken Martineau are proud to present “Raise the Roof”, a Rockaoke fundraising event in support of FH Canada. All proceeds go towards our goal of building a school with solar power and clean water in Mufumya, Burundi.

Elastic Path has been working with FH Burundi since 2012, sponsoring the purchase of solar panels and water tanks for primary schools in Mufumya, Burundi.

The panels allow more than 40 elementary and secondary school students from the community to study in a well-lit classroom, and the electricity provided also provides a source of on-going revenue which impacts countless community members.  

Come out for a night of laughs and fun while supporting a good cause as we party it up at the Vancouver Fan Club. This event features a karaoke with a live band for you to make an onstage debut, or support our Elastic Path staff who have been nominated to sing for charity!

You can support us by purchasing tickets and donating towards our nominated singers here, or participating in our 50/50, silent auction, and contests. Donate directly here, or join Fasken Martineau and EY in sponsoring the event (contact megan.sakakibara@elasticpath.com)

For more information, please click here.

Click to view larger image

In our new series, "Spotlight on Tech" we're showcasing incredible tech companies -- some of which you may have already heard of, some of which are BC's best kept secrets, all of which are changing the face of technology in our province. First up is Schneider Electric. Located in Burnaby, Schneider Electric took home the 2014 Technology Impact Award for Team of the Year and that got a lot of people wondering what it's like to be a part of the Schneider team. Well, wonder no more! We're shining the spotlight on Schneider Electric and we've got the answers to your questions below.

1. Describe your company and your primary product(s) and/or service(s).

Schneider Electric's global Solar business unit was formed in 2008 following the acquisition of Xantrex Technology Inc.

Schneider Electric took Xantrex’s history in inverters (the brains of a Solar system) and added Schneider Electric’s energy management expertise to develop a comprehensive Solar offer in products, solutions and services.

Schneider Electric is working to accelerate technological development in Solar Energy power conversion and the creation and preservation of highly skilled jobs in BC. At Schneider Electric, we like to say our Solar products are designed in Burnaby for the world and we’re proud to be one of the 200 companies in BC’s thriving CleanTech sector.

2. How many employees currently work at your company?

Schneider Electric’s global Solar business unit has 450 global employees, of whom about half are based in the Burnaby headquarters in Strategy, Marketing, Customer Service, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering.

3. Where are you located?

We are located in the heart of Burnaby, BC. We have lots of free parking and great transit access.

4. Describe the culture at your company.

We Care, We Connect, We Challenge, We Commit.

5. What does your leadership team (and company as a whole) do to support/grow that culture?

We offer a friendly and dynamic work environment, individual development and opportunities to work abroad.

Care: Care for the planet by practicing sustainable development, embrace diversity
Connect: Globally connected enterprise of passionate thought and practice leaders
Challenge: Continuous collaboration in a dynamic environment, new way of thinking and innovation, driven by new technologies for our common future
Commit: Listen to people, enable people to develop in enterprise by sharing a common vision, robust talent development program

6. When your employees talk about your company, what do they brag about?

We're one of the major global Solar equipment suppliers, headquartered right here in BC, and we're told that it's a great place to work at with great people. We have the most talented workforce in the industry who deal with challenging, exciting projects in a fast paced innovation culture. We also have cutting edge research facilities and free Health and Wellness activities.

7. Describe your most recent achievement, milestone, reason for bragging rights.

Schneider Electric is ranked in the top 50 of the World’s Most Attractive Employers 2013

In 2013 Schneider Electric built a high-power MicroGrid Lab in Burnaby BC to facilitate the design and testing of our revolutionary SE1 1500VDC platform for utility-scale solar plants. The Schneider Electric MicroGrid Lab cost $13M, occupies 20,000 square feet and was constructed from scratch in just four short months!  It was an amazing achievement by the team and we were delighted to be awarded the BCTIA Technology Impact Award for Team of the Year for the success!  

Premier Christy Clark joined us for the grand opening of the MicroGrid Lab to recognize and celebrate the contribution Schneider Electric is making to the BC tech sector and to the green future of BC and the world. Watch a video of the grand opening here.

In 2013 GTM Research recognized Schneider Electric as one of the Top 3 global Solar inverter suppliers.

8. What kinds of roles are you hiring for?

Right now we are looking for the following: Firmware Engineers, Hardware Engineers, Project Managers, Program Managers, Compliance Engineer, Quality Engineer, and Project Purchaser.

9. What kinds of people are you looking for?

We are looking for high energy, results-oriented people that enjoy stretching themselves with challenging projects.  People who consistently go the extra mile to deliver superior results. Team players who work together to deliver world class products for global markets. Electric personalities that like the sun!

10. What is your company goal for the coming year?

Schneider Electric’s Solar business is focused on new product development and growth. Our revolutionary new SE1 platform will be a game changer and we are working intensely to bring it to market early in 2016.  Our ambition is to be the Solar equipment supplier of choice in the global marketplace.

***

To learn more about Schneider Electric, visit them online at schneider-electric.com
If you'd like us to shine the spotlight on your company, email communications@bctia.org today!

When you're a small team like the BCTIA is, you truly appreciate having people around who are able to adapt quickly and give more than 100% every day. One of our best kept secrets, which isn't really a secret since we brag about them all the time, is our incredible co-op students from SFU who join our team for four and eight month terms. With September approaching, another term is coming to a close and we're already tearing up at the idea of sending our latest co-ops back to school, but that's just the way it is.

Heartbreak aside, our co-op students become integral parts of our team and we can only hope that we give as much back to them as they give to us. If you've considered bringing on co-op students, and even if you haven't, we can't encourage you enough to do so!

Before heading back to school, our Communications Co-op, Layla Clarkson, put together this great blog post discussing some of the things she learned during her time at the BCTIA -- please take a moment to give it a read and let us know what you think on twitter.

***

Learning the Ropes at the BCTIA

There are some things I have known for a long time, such as what toppings I like on my pizza and which Backstreet Boy will always be my favourite. With that being said, I am still continuously learning new things through the different experiences I take on. 

When I began my first co-op through Simon Fraser University in early May at the BCTIA, I had a lot to learn about BC and tech. Perhaps my technical skills needed a reboot as well… Was that really me who crashed part of the BCTIA website in my first week?

I can now proudly say, however, four months later as my co-op comes to an end, that I feel much more confident about what I know of the tech industry in BC and how to have a conversation about it.

In fact, I am now ready to tackle the big question: Why is it that BC and the tech industry go together so well? After all, the BC Technology Industry Association is certainly not built upon a false assumption.

To help guide me I went straight to the man who knows it all, Bill Tam, the President and CEO of the BCTIA. I warmed up with some very important tech questions, such as would he rather have a robotic arm or a robotic leg? Bill’s answer – a robotic arm, naturally. I raised to him another important one: What wins, his cell phone or his computer? After some contemplation Bill chose his cell phone. I’ve always admired the weight he puts into decisions.

Now that I’ve started wearing blazers and have my own desk with a personalized name plate, we were also able to have a more mature conversation on the subject. In one word, Bill described the BC Tech industry as “hot”. Compared to other parts of Canada and North America as a whole, Bill mentioned that BC has a lot of startups and proportionately it has more entrepreneurs than anywhere else in the country, which makes room for innovation and great possibilities. And so we agreed that BC and tech go together like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

But it is important to acknowledge that there is still a future to work towards and that there are still challenges to work out. Don’t we all have growing up to do? For example, many of these startups mentioned are still working towards flourishing into full scaled businesses, and haven’t reached adulthood yet so to speak. How can we tackle this and make the industry even hotter? Bill says, “It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to grow a tech company." This is what the BCTIA or initiatives like the #BCTechChallenge are all about, helping companies reach their full potential by creating community.

Why is it that BC and the tech industry go together so well? This is what I’ve learned: beyond the resources, location and people, it is the will to keep growing that makes the province and industry unique.

So thank you BC tech companies and the BCTIA for teaching me all that I have learned. And as the industry keeps on moving forward, it’s my turn too.

Content provided by:BC Export Awards

Seeking BC’s Top Exporters

Each year, the BC Export Awards recognize the innovative approaches and unique contributions of BC registered export companies across sectors and in all regions of the province as well as the individuals who contribute to their success.

The BC Export Awards provides a premier networking opportunity for attendees. Attending this event will allow you and your business to connect with leading and emerging industry decision-makers within the BC export sector. Learn more here.

Call for Nominations

Nominations are now open for the annual awards program and will be accepted in the following nine sector award categories plus two individual awards: The Leadership Award and the International Business Studies Award.

 In addition, an Exporter of the Year Award is presented to one of the sector award winners.

Benefits of nominating:

The BC Export Awards provides a platform for municipalities, professional services companies, sponsors and media to support exporters in their local communities through nomination and local recognition.

The nomination process gives the nominating party the opportunity to show their direct support for the organization they nominate.

Nomination Deadline: August 29, 2014
Application Deadline: September 12, 2014 (includes self-nomination)
Award Dates: November 12, 2014

For more information on award categories and criteria, click here.
To submit a nomination form for a company or individual, click here.
To submit an application form (self-nominate), view this information document or click here.