StartupNorth

Announcing StartupNorth – Canada's Conference for Startups – November 13-14

Written by

Jonas Brandon

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A lot of you have probably been wondering why we haven’t announced any events lately. That’s because we have been working on something really fun.

I am happy to finally go public with StartupNorth, the Conference.

David and I wanted to create something that would give us all a place to come together, connect, learn and that we would all walk away from feeling inspired.

We will be making announcements here over the next few months as we get closer to the conference. We are still working on bringing on more great speakers and a day of pragmatic, hands-on, workshops.

We are going all out to give you a world-class conference right here at home, and we will be asking you for your help, a lot. In the next few days and weeks we will taking your votes on what sessions and workshops you want to see and really need.

What is it? Canada’s conference for Startups
Who will be there? Students,?Entrepreneurs?and Funders
When is it?? November 13th and 14th, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario
Day 1: Practical hands-on workshops and speakers to help entrepreneurs learn how to get started or, for those with a startup, how to take it to the next level.?Workshops will include:
? Asessing your market opportunity ? Why should I use your product?
Strategies for getting users
? Presentation skills for developers ? Legal pitfalls for startups
? Shaking the money tree ? Pricing Models
? Product Design ? First customers and other business development pitfalls?
?
Day 2: Networking, speakers and in-depth panels with a focus on Canada’s role in the international startup ecosystem.
?
Speakers include:

Can’t wait to see you there, this is going to be fun!

Comments

47 responses to “Announcing StartupNorth – Canada's Conference for Startups – November 13-14”

  1. A Cash Poor Startup Avatar
    A Cash Poor Startup

    Hahahaaa… $300 for tickets… Is this for startups? Good luck but I won’t be seeign you there.

    Reply
    1. Jevon Avatar
      Jevon

      2 points:

      * We can’t do everything for free. Democamp, startupcamps, social events,. who do you think organizes this stuff? Go try it some time and see how much work it is, and then you’ll realize that 300$ doesn’t even cover the costs of putting it on. You are clueless.

      * There will be a program to help get tickets for startups that need them.

      Reply
  2. A Cash Poor Startup Avatar
    A Cash Poor Startup

    Hahahaaa… $300 for tickets… Is this for startups? Good luck but I won't be seeign you there.

    Reply
  3. StartupNation | DavidCrow.ca

    […] announced our efforts to continue to facilitate the opportunities for entrepreneurs in Canada. The goal was […]

    Reply
  4. StartupNation | DavidCrow.ca

    […] announced our efforts to continue to facilitate the opportunities for entrepreneurs in Canada. The goal was […]

    Reply
  5. dmix Avatar
    dmix

    Sounds great Jevon, I’ll pick up a ticket soon.

    I have been through the Devils Playhouse once before and it should be a good venue for this type of thing.

    Reply
  6. dmix Avatar
    dmix

    Sounds great Jevon, I'll pick up a ticket soon.

    I have been through the Devils Playhouse once before and it should be a good venue for this type of thing.

    Reply
  7. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    2 points:

    * We can't do everything for free. Democamp, startupcamps, social events,. who do you think organizes this stuff? Go try it some time and see how much work it is, and then you'll realize that 300$ doesn't even cover the costs of putting it on. You are clueless.

    * There will be a program to help get tickets for startups that need them.

    Reply
  8. Another Poor Startup Avatar
    Another Poor Startup

    @Jevon – why are you getting so defensive? It’s obvious that you are embarking on a “for-profit” conference – all the power to you… I hope your efforts flourish. However, don’t be surprised if your readership rejects the idea.

    It’s a fine line you’ve decided to cross… building a community that promotes sharing, openness and for the most part not for profit information… than to come out with a conference targeted to the same audience with a price tag of $300+… may be a tough sell especially since most start ups are strapped for cash to begin with.

    Reply
    1. Jevon Avatar
      Jevon

      Red Herring Canada: 2500$
      TechCrunch50: 3000$
      1-day events in toronto (Toronto Tech Week, Meshu, etc): 300$ and up
      Startupnation, 2 days: 300$

      Not sure what to say other than to point out that it really isn’t a fine line,. it is not a line at all.

      Most startups understand the value of networking and learning from people who have been there before and they will understand what we are doing.

      Reply
  9. Another Poor Startup Avatar
    Another Poor Startup

    @Jevon – why are you getting so defensive? It's obvious that you are embarking on a “for-profit” conference – all the power to you… I hope your efforts flourish. However, don't be surprised if your readership rejects the idea.

    It's a fine line you've decided to cross… building a community that promotes sharing, openness and for the most part not for profit information… than to come out with a conference targeted to the same audience with a price tag of $300+… may be a tough sell especially since most start ups are strapped for cash to begin with.

    Reply
  10. The Third Bit » Blog Archive » Startup Nation November 13-14

    […] Conference for Startups” — Jevon MacDonald has the details.  Hope to see lots of you […]

    Reply
  11. The Third Bit » Blog Archive » Startup Nation November 13-14

    […] Conference for Startups” — Jevon MacDonald has the details.  Hope to see lots of you […]

    Reply
  12. Greg Wilson Avatar
    Greg Wilson

    Jevon’s right — $300/head doesn’t come close to covering the real cost of organizing something like this. Kudos to him and David for putting in the sweat to pull it together (and hey, if you want to flame the guy, at least have the grace to sign your name).

    Looking forward to it!

    Greg

    Reply
  13. Greg Wilson Avatar
    Greg Wilson

    Jevon's right — $300/head doesn't come close to covering the real cost of organizing something like this. Kudos to him and David for putting in the sweat to pull it together (and hey, if you want to flame the guy, at least have the grace to sign your name).

    Looking forward to it!

    Greg

    Reply
  14. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    Red Herring Canada: 2500$
    TechCrunch50: 3000$
    1-day events in toronto (Toronto Tech Week, Meshu, etc): 300$ and up
    Startupnation, 2 days: 300$

    Not sure what to say other than to point out that it really isn't a fine line,. it is not a line at all.

    Most startups understand the value of networking and learning from people who have been there before and they will understand what we are doing.

    Reply
  15. John Avatar
    John

    Awesome, very much interested in this event. How do you envision Day 1 being presented – will attendees have to choose between sessions?

    For the guys who want to attend and can’t afford it right now, pick up a quick gig on craigslist and put the money towards the conference.

    Reply
    1. Jevon Avatar
      Jevon

      You will have to choose a bit, yes., but there will be two “tracks”, Track 1 is focused on people who have never had a startup before and want to learn the ropes,.

      Track 2 is focused on people with startups, but who want to take it to the next level.

      Reply
      1. Terry Smith Avatar
        Terry Smith

        Hi Jevon,

        I’m in Northern Ontario launching a startup and would love to attend to do both a demo of our product and to learn the ropes, as you put it, and network with everyone else. May I ask how we might get more involved in this process? We’re planning to launch our alpha soon and a beta before the end of the year. If you’re interested, we’re at http://www.jaxified.com.

        Thanks in advance for your time,

        Terry

        Reply
  16. John Avatar
    John

    Awesome, very much interested in this event. How do you envision Day 1 being presented – will attendees have to choose between sessions?

    For the guys who want to attend and can't afford it right now, pick up a quick gig on craigslist and put the money towards the conference.

    Reply
  17. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    You will have to choose a bit, yes., but there will be two “tracks”, Track 1 is focused on people who have never had a startup before and want to learn the ropes,.

    Track 2 is focused on people with startups, but who want to take it to the next level.

    Reply
  18. Thusenth Avatar
    Thusenth

    Who’re the sponsors? I’d like to see a few good VCs throw their support behind the event. I hope you guys can nab ThomsonReuters as they pitched in over at TC50 – they can at least support their fellow Canadian startups.

    Some of the biggest questions some of my friends with a technical background come to me with are fairly basic – How do I actually start a business (from a legal standpoint, where do they go, how much does it cost, do they need it, etc), and if things go sour, how can I dissolve it? Some basic Business 101 topics would probably help – you’ve identified a few good ones there, but even basic book keeping, production adoption lifecycle, maybe identify some of the Canadian resources you can use early on – a really solid Canadian tailored How to Start a Tech Startup in Canada session – and hey maybe make it a handbook of sorts.

    Reply
    1. Jevon Avatar
      Jevon

      Thanks for the ideas!,

      Having some “take away” material is a big deal for us and something we are working on.

      We will be updating the website next week with some new speakers and a list of workshops.

      Reply
  19. Thusenth Avatar
    Thusenth

    Who're the sponsors? I'd like to see a few good VCs throw their support behind the event. I hope you guys can nab ThomsonReuters as they pitched in over at TC50 – they can at least support their fellow Canadian startups.

    Some of the biggest questions some of my friends with a technical background come to me with are fairly basic – How do I actually start a business (from a legal standpoint, where do they go, how much does it cost, do they need it, etc), and if things go sour, how can I dissolve it? Some basic Business 101 topics would probably help – you've identified a few good ones there, but even basic book keeping, production adoption lifecycle, maybe identify some of the Canadian resources you can use early on – a really solid Canadian tailored How to Start a Tech Startup in Canada session – and hey maybe make it a handbook of sorts.

    Reply
  20. Terry Smith Avatar
    Terry Smith

    Hi Jevon,

    I'm in Northern Ontario launching a startup and would love to attend to do both a demo of our product and to learn the ropes, as you put it, and network with everyone else. May I ask how we might get more involved in this process? We're planning to launch our alpha soon and a beta before the end of the year. If you're interested, we're at http://www.jaxified.com.

    Thanks in advance for your time,

    Terry

    Reply
  21. Canada gets a conference for startups: Startup Nation at MasterMaq’s Blog

    […] this morning Jevon MacDonald at StartupNorth announced Startup Nation, a conference for startups in Canada. The two-day event will take place in Toronto on November 13th […]

    Reply
  22. Canada gets a conference for startups: Startup Nation at MasterMaq’s Blog

    […] this morning Jevon MacDonald at StartupNorth announced Startup Nation, a conference for startups in Canada. The two-day event will take place in Toronto on November 13th […]

    Reply
  23. No Rick No Avatar
    No Rick No

    Oh god, not Rick Segal. I’d love to come but there’s no way I’m paying $300 to hear that arrogant blowhard. Is there anyone more despised in Canadian VC circles than “Rick the Prick”? How about you replace him with someone more relevant and “human” like Amar from Extreme Ventures.

    Reply
  24. No Rick No Avatar
    No Rick No

    Oh god, not Rick Segal. I'd love to come but there's no way I'm paying $300 to hear that arrogant blowhard. Is there anyone more despised in Canadian VC circles than “Rick the Prick”? How about you replace him with someone more relevant and “human” like Amar from Extreme Ventures.

    Reply
  25. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    Thanks for the ideas!,

    Having some “take away” material is a big deal for us and something we are working on.

    We will be updating the website next week with some new speakers and a list of workshops.

    Reply
  26. SAG Avatar
    SAG

    What about doing a discounted price for a limited number of a startup’s team members? For instance, 2 team members for $200 or $300? I’d buy a ticket right now, but $600 for for two members is a serious drain on the budget.

    Reply
  27. SAG Avatar
    SAG

    What about doing a discounted price for a limited number of a startup's team members? For instance, 2 team members for $200 or $300? I'd buy a ticket right now, but $600 for for two members is a serious drain on the budget.

    Reply
  28. Kory Avatar
    Kory

    Sounds like a really great event.. Do you fellas have any plans on holding a similar event out west? Calgary maybe?

    Cheers,

    Reply
    1. Jevon Avatar
      Jevon

      My intention, and I suppose it really depends on how things go this year, is to move the conference to a different city each year or to at least find ways of getting the content in other places. Webcasts or simulcasts of some sort.

      Reply
  29. Kory Avatar
    Kory

    Sounds like a really great event.. Do you fellas have any plans on holding a similar event out west? Calgary maybe?

    Cheers,

    Reply
  30. mahmoud Avatar
    mahmoud

    Jevon,

    I really think you are doing something great here that is worth more than the $300 for those that can utilize the networking opportunities. For those that are planning on going there to listen to a couple of talks and leave…well I can understand why $300 might be a little steep. May I suggest that you live stream the conference so that a startup doesn’t need to send several people to the conference but only the one or two people that can benefit from the networks there; the rest can check out the talks which is really all they want.

    Reply
    1. Jevon Avatar
      Jevon

      Thanks Mahmoud– I really appreciate your feedback.

      And it really is about making the best of the opportunity, I agree. We are trying to provide the place for people to make that happen.

      Reply
      1. mahmoud Avatar
        mahmoud

        Jevon, if you need any help for this event I’d like to take part in such a grassroots initiative.

        Reply
  31. mahmoud Avatar
    mahmoud

    Jevon,

    I really think you are doing something great here that is worth more than the $300 for those that can utilize the networking opportunities. For those that are planning on going there to listen to a couple of talks and leave…well I can understand why $300 might be a little steep. May I suggest that you live stream the conference so that a startup doesn't need to send several people to the conference but only the one or two people that can benefit from the networks there; the rest can check out the talks which is really all they want.

    Reply
  32. Christopher Pyper Avatar
    Christopher Pyper

    Dudes, this event is not listed on your shared calendar yet.

    Cheers.

    Reply
  33. Christopher Pyper Avatar
    Christopher Pyper

    Dudes, this event is not listed on your shared calendar yet.

    Cheers.

    Reply
  34. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    My intention, and I suppose it really depends on how things go this year, is to move the conference to a different city each year or to at least find ways of getting the content in other places. Webcasts or simulcasts of some sort.

    Reply
  35. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    My intention, and I suppose it really depends on how things go this year, is to move the conference to a different city each year or to at least find ways of getting the content in other places. Webcasts or simulcasts of some sort.

    Reply
  36. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    Thanks Mahmoud– I really appreciate your feedback. rnrnAnd it really is about making the best of the opportunity, I agree. We are trying to provide the place for people to make that happen.

    Reply
  37. Jevon Avatar
    Jevon

    Thanks Mahmoud– I really appreciate your feedback.

    And it really is about making the best of the opportunity, I agree. We are trying to provide the place for people to make that happen.

    Reply
  38. mahmoud Avatar
    mahmoud

    Jevon, if you need any help for this event I’d like to take part in such a grassroots initiative.

    Reply
  39. mahmoud Avatar
    mahmoud

    Jevon, if you need any help for this event I'd like to take part in such a grassroots initiative.

    Reply

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