Shopify in the New York Times Blog

There is a great story about Shopify in the New York Time’s Blog about the Shopify Business Competition.  Here is an excerpt.

The business competition — Build a Business — started taking entries in January, and is open to any new, Shopify-enabled Web store based (in participating states) in the United States. The Shopify subscriber with the highest revenue in its best two months from the period between January and June will win the $100,000 prize. Prizes of $5,000 each will go to the overall runner-up and to top stores selling apparel, digital goods and electronics. Entries are permitted until April 30.

To open the contest, Mr. Lütke joined with Tim Ferriss, an angel investor who is the founder of the Four Hour Work Week, a lifestyle design consultancy, and author of the popular blog and best-selling book of the same name. Mr. Ferriss is well known for espousing the virtues of working smarter, not harder, and outsourcing just about everything.

The two entrepreneurs spent about 15 minutes hatching the idea for Shopify’s Build a Business competition. Though neither had participated in a business competition before, they’re both competitive people — Mr. Ferriss a tango world champion and Mr. Lütke a former sponsored, competitive video game player. They concluded that a competition could help them turn doubters into evangelists for their brands.

The post is entitled "Shopify, a Start-Up, Starts Its Own Business Competition" – Its really good stuff.

Ottawa Flash UG Presents: Nicholas Small

This just in from Zee Yang!

Come join us for another user group meetup on March 3. This time, we have invited a special speaker, Nicholas Small, from the Cappuccino team.

Cappuccino is a new, open source Rich Internet Application framework. It abstracts a lot of the gnarly details of HTML and JS, and provides a clean, consistent platform for rapid development. And yes, it will work on the iPlatforms, both as browser apps and native apps.

Nick is one of the key developers behind 280Slides, and a core contributor to the Cappuccino framework. We are very fortunate that Nick is here in Ottawa. He is going to give us a presentation on Cappuccino, and the upcoming Atlas product. It would be a great opportunity for Flash developers to check out the upcoming alternative platforms.

As always, there will be beer. So grab a coworker and come join us.

NOTE: this meetup is on Wednesday, March 3. NOT Tuesday.

See you there.  Here are all the details of the Meetup

Here is where it is being held:

Algonquin Room
343 Preston Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1N4
Canada

Cheers,

Zee | 613.216.2027 | zee.yang@gmail.com

MyMapNow is hiring

MyMapNow is a geographic, real-time trend discovery application (fires, accidents, really happenin’ parties downtown etc). Using smart-phones, aggregation of real-time data, and really smart algorithms, we will present relevant data to the end-user.

They are looking for an experienced person to really help move this project forward.

Job Description:

- Develop the frontend of the website using Javascript and JQuery. UI/Graphics designer is available for help.
- Further develop the back-end using Rails.
- Potential for smart-phone work.
- Mentor another solid developer who has little Rails/JS experience.
- Should subscribe to pair programming (when appropriate), TDD and short delivery iterations.

Developer must be in Ottawa (or willing to relocate) where we will probably work in a co-working space like the Code Factory.

Salary negotiable.

Please contact Jevin Maltais:  jevyjevjevs {at} gmail {dot} com

IXL Center presents: Ronald Jonash

The IXL Center (www.ixl-center.com) is bringing Ronald Jonash, co-founder of the Monitor Innovation practice, to Ottawa for a workshop on developing innovative business practices in your organization. Innovation has emerged as one of the most important business topics of the new decade and our workshop aims to teach companies how to attribute innovation in their business models, new offerings and internal processes.

Objectives for Workshop 1 on February 19th will include:
Defining ‘The Innovation Imperative’
Setting strategic targets for your business
Mapping out your ‘Fields of Play’

The series will engage you to participate in an open discussion forum and will answer your questions about why innovation is important to your company. The IXL team will additionally have participants break up into small groups to conduct important learning exercises focusing on actionable and tangible results. Companies will be able to take away a wealth of knowledge and inspiration towards realizing innovation in the real world.

For information regarding event tickets, please contact Samuel Freeman:  samuel.freeman {at} ixl-center {dot} com

Calling All Aspiring Entrepreneurs – Compete for a $25,000 Valued Prize at NBTC

This just in via Chung-Sang Tse, the Marketing & Publications Director for the National Business and Technology Conference (NBTC) 2010

As one of NBTC’s signature events, the Entrepreneurship Competition allows teams from across the country to present their innovative business plans to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals. The competition provides teams with an opportunity to showcase their business ideas and interact with like-minded individuals who are dedicated to changing the landscape of modern business. Competitors gain invaluable experience and feedback from judges, while vying for the grand prize of $25,000 in services from the MaRS Discovery District. For more details visit: http://nbtc.ca/2010/2010/01/entrepreneurial-competition/.

To apply for the competition, please submit your one page executive summaries to scott.mcauley@nbtc.ca by February 12th, 2010.

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National Business and Technology Conference 2010
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We are proud to present to you the tenth National Business and Technology Conference (NTBC)!

The conference is unlike any other event and it addresses the social, scientific, and commercial aspects of business and technology. Through a series of workshops, panels, networking sessions, interactive challenges and competitions, delegates of all disciplines are given the opportunity to learn, explore and network with established professionals from academia and industry as well as other like-minded participants.

If you are interested in moving closer to your true potential and interacting with some of the nation’s brightest talent, we encourage you to attend. We ensure you will be challenged, inspired and empowered. >> www.nbtc.ca

>> Date: March 19-20, 2010

>> Location: The conference will be held at the state-of-the-art MaRS Collaboration Centre. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, it is a centre for innovation and houses many top research groups such as the University Health Network, technology transfer offices such as Kanata Chemical Technologies, and service firms such as the Royal Bank of Canada.

>> Registration: We have made available a limited number of early-bird tickets that are 25% off. Tickets are being sold on a first come, first serve basis so buy them today while quantities last!

>> Events and Competitions: All delegates have access to the networking events, keynote speeches, workshops, seminars, panel discussions, the Consulting Case Competition and full-course meals.

For more information about the conference and full event details visit: www.nbtc.ca

Starting Your Startup Series – Part II is on Tuesday!

Luke Clare from Gowlings just pointed out that their second “Starting Your Startup” event is fast approaching and it seems that they have an awesome panel lined up:

Preparing A Business Plan To Raise Capital
Tuesday February 9th, 2010 – 5:30pm – 7:30pm
160 Elgin St., 26th Floor

“In Part 1 of the seminar series on business plans, “The Business Plan You DON’T Take To The Bank”, we discussed how a business plan can be used to help your Company stay focused on primary business objectives and to operate more efficiently. Part Two of the series will focus on the role of the Business Plan when your start-up is raising Capital.”

Click here to register for the event

To read more about the event, check out the post on the TON website: Ton Tuesday – Starting Your Startup

Startup BootCamp – Awesome Opportunity – Deadline Approaching!

Courtesy of Impact, I just found out about an awesome opportunity for any budding startup with a student team member:

“The VeloCity Entrepreneur BootCamp is looking to provide teams of students interested in building technology-based companies with $3000 of funding per founder, free office space, free living space, as well as a network of support and mentorship throughout the Waterloo Region, all with no equity taken in the company.

This exciting new program will run from May through to July 2010 and will be the first of it’s kind in North America to offer the following:
> $3000 in funding per founder (for up to three founders); that’s up to $9000 without selling any equity in your business
> Free office space at the Accelerator Center where you can gain exposure to other start-ups in the Waterloo region
> Free living space at the University of Waterloo’s Velocity residence, where you can closely interact with like-minded individuals
> Network with BootCamp partners and personalized mentors who will become invaluable resources beyond the duration of the program

There are only two eligibility criteria:

> At least one member of your company’s team must be currently enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution at either the graduate or undergraduate level.
> Your team must be able to make a full-time commitment to your start-up between May and July 2010.

If you or someone that you know is looking to propel your business, or your idea, to the next level, the VeloCity Entrepreneur BootCamp is a one-of-a-kind intensive incubation opportunity. The deadline for applications is Sunday, February 14th.

For more information about the program:
> Click here for the program website
> The contact email address is velocity@uwaterloo.ca
> There will a Q+A streaming session on ustream on Monday, February 8th and Thursday, February 11th at 8pm EST. To visit the stream channel, please click here.”

Shopify in the NY Times

You’ve probably heard that Shopify is holding a $100,000 dollar competition on creating an e-business. The NY Times just put up an article about this which you can find here: Shopify, a Start-Up, Starts Its Own Business Competition.

Check out the official competition page here. Competitions are an awesome way to do marketing. Shopify is also working with the famous author of the four hour work week, Tim Ferriss, to promote the competition. Make sure to check it out!

A good friend of mine needs your help…

On Sunday Jan 17th, my friend René Faucher was playing a friendly game of pickup hockey when he hit a rut and crashed headfirst into the boards. The impact crushed three of his vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. The 40-year-old father of three young children is expected to be in the hospital for at least a year through his recovery and rehabilitation. He did not have any long-term disability insurance since he had recently wound down his business and was starting to develop plans for his next venture.

Join us for the René Faucher Family Fun Day with the Ottawa 67’s February 7th at 2:00pm

50% of Walk-in & Online Game Proceeds Going to the Faucher Douglas Trust Fund

The Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club are hosting a Family Fun Day hockey game in support of recently paralyzed Rene Faucher. Half of the proceeds from all walk-in traffic will be donated to the Faucher Douglas trust fund that was recently established by the community. Families are encouraged to come out to the game in support of Rene and his family, watch the game and send Rene well wishes via Twitter from their mobile phones.

This event is being put on to help René and his wife Dianne Douglas with their financial responsibilities as well as pull the community together to support them. All those that want to participate must mention Rene’s name at the box office or jump to this special link to purchase tickets –>

https://www.ottawa67s.com/ssl/store/fundraiser.asp

Event organizers will be sharing pictures and messages with René and all his supporters during the game via Twitter. Please look for our tabletop in the concourse to get your photo taken and sign a get-well 67’s flag. Well wishers that cannot make the game are welcome to donate to the fund online or at Scotiabank and by all means, all are welcome to Tweet Rene before, during and after the game by simply including #getwellrene in your Twitter message.

For more information on how to donate to the family, please visit http://www.faucherdouglastrustfund.com/

If your employer would permit it, please post this poster at your office and encourage your co-workers to come out to the game. http://tinyurl.com/getwellrene

For those of you that would like to help staff the booth before and during the game, please contact Patti Church through the below Facebook group or email me for her contact info. She will need people to take photos, manage get well wishes and collect donations to the fund.

Thanks for your consideration. Feel free to chime in at this open Facebook group.

Web Analytics Wednesday – Feb 10th…

The guys at Web Analytics Wednesday are thrilled to have Jim Sterne joining them for their upcoming Web Analytics Wednesday on February 10th.

Come join us between 7:00 pm to 9:00pm at the Heart and Crown Pub’s Black Rose Room in the Byward Market (67 Clarence Street, between Parent and Dalhousie streets: conveniently across the street from the City Public parking garage).  Note: the Black Rose room is in the back of the pub and downstairs.
 
Jim will give a short presentation that will touch on the need to measure online investments, optimizing social media campaigns and how web analytics can power your business intelligence.  Afterwards he’ll do an informal Q&A session.  This is your rare chance to hear and ask questions of one of the global thought leaders on this subject in an intimate setting.
 
All are welcome to come meet, network and share a drink or two with other members of Ottawa’s digital measurement community. There is no cost for this event, but registration is required.   Register online and feel free to invite colleagues and friends too.

 
Chris Riopelle organizes this event and from what I hear, it’s great.