The team at StartUpNorth constantly impresses me with their innovation and drive to make sure that news on Startups in Canada is distributed. Recently they launched the StartUpIndex where startups can include their company information in an attempt to create a comprehensive index. What’s interesting though is that it also includes investment information. They’re efficiently letting startups and investors know how to find each other. They’ve also generated a map for a quick visual of where startups are located in Canada.  

I did a quick search for some Atlantic Canada startups and didn’t see them in there yet.  Go on, what are you waiting for:)?

TrustMe API Launch

Wednesday May 14, 2008
Doors open at 5:00 PM
Presentations at 6:30 PM

Drinks, light food and a special opportunity to learn about our API inside the Mason’s Temple. iPod Touch Giveaway. 

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=115+Queen+Street,+Moncton+NB&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=26.126023,69.257812&ie=UTF8&ll=46.089878,-64.777408&spn=0.006845,0.016909&z=17&iwloc=addr

Rick Segal (The Post Money Value) is making his way east to do a series of roundtables for startup entrepreneurs to meet an experienced VC and ask questions.  Raising capital is an important part of a startup, so this would be a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to take advantage of. The seats are limited, so I would recommend signing up asap.

April 14th – Halifax  (8a – 10:30a) Sign up here

April 14th – Moncton ( 5p – 7p) Sign up here

April 15th – St. John’s (5p – 7p) Sign up here

I confess I haven’t had a lot of time to formulate my thoughts on this. I certainly would not call myself an expert in IT by any stretch of the imagination. However, today a series of articles came through my feeds that culminated after reading a guest post by Will Pate at StartUp North.

The first news item was:

Industry feels pinch as numbers of IT grads plummet (Globe Investor).

The synopsis? Canada’s University and college enrollment in IT and computer related fields have dropped from 36% - 64% depending on the province.

At ThinkNB this year, I spoke with recruiters from UNB and the NB Community Colleges. They confirmed that enrollment was down. UNB was addressing this with a new program that will combine business with computer technology in a Bachelor of Information Systems program.

Next news feed article today:

N.B. IT doing well: software exec (Telegraph Journal)

According to the quote in the Telegraph Journal:

“I would say the knowledge industry in New Brunswick is healthy,” says Paul McSpurren, former president and chief executive officer of Moncton-based Whitehill Technologies Inc.

“And will be healthy and vibrant in the future.” 

NB also recently held the Rising Stars awards where 10 ITC winners will be able to participate in a year long mentorship and networking program.

Now I want to send you the last article that I mentioned by Will Pate. If you’re an entrepreneur or thinking of starting your own business, read his post.  Let’s make sure that NB is in the race. 

Will’s right. This is a race and as Canadians we do tend to just plod through until the work is done. But when you’re following the industry and you see how fast it changes and how someone is always coming out with something new or different. We have to be able to keep pace. I have met many people in NB in the ITC sector and they all have a passion for what they’re doing.  As Paul McSpurren said in today’s Telegraph article, I think the knowledge industry in NB is healthy.

We have innovation happening here in NB. We have groups like catalict whose tagline says “Start your engines. The race is on.” We have the Wallace McCain Institute that helps entrepreneurs grow their business.

There are other organizations I could mention as well but the point is that I think we recognize in NB that there’s a need for speed, experience and skills to get ahead in this industry. And maybe because NB is always playing catchup with the rest of the provinces, we’re already used to racing.

What do you think? Is NB in the race?

Chris Nadeau (YourTeamOnline) did a great review on a Saint John, NB startup Facebook application Scrapbook Your Memories. Creativity, entrepreneuralism and drive runs in this family as this startup was founded by Chris’s wife Jodie and his mother Bonny. Congratulations on creating a facebook application with value that is appealing to a broad audience, particularly the 30+ range and WOMEN. 2008 will hopefully start to see a shift in applications from fighting zombies to applications like Scrapbook Your Memories  that have meaning.