Startup Calgary Launched Its New Vision: Focused on the Start

We couldn’t be happier for our friends at Startup Calgary as they launch their new strategic vision!

Now “Focused on the Start,” Startup Calgary will be targeting programs, projects and events that work towards:

1. Sparking people’s ideas for building their own startup
2. Getting people actively working on building their startup idea
3. Assisting these “pre-startups” in getting the tools, resources, mentorship, funding and customers required to make the leap into being a full-time startup

One of those exciting initiatives is Startup Calgary Hack Nights. Every Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 10:00 pm, AcceleratorYYC will become your weekly gathering point to connect, learn and most importantly, build your startup.

Startup Calgary Hack Nights include:

• Full access to the entire Startup Calgary team alongside drop in mentorship, investor advice, free resources and general support as you build your startup
• Hack Nights includes full access to desks, power outlets, boardrooms, whiteboards, meeting space, wifi and most importantly, free beer and Red Bull!

Startup Calgary is currently looking for those who:

• Have an idea for a startup
• Are actively working to get a startup off the ground
• Are looking to work in a startup either as a student volunteer, intern or full time employee. We seriously love students so don’t be shy and come on out!
• Have the ability and experience to mentor, support or fund startups

There’s no need to register for Hack Nights but if you have any questions or would like to chat more, contact Sean Collins (sean@startupcalgary.ca) or Jason Zeiler (jason@startupcalgary.ca) for more details.

At AcceleratorYYC, we look forward to working with Startup Calgary and be a part of this new exciting vision and Hack Night initiative. Let’s work together to help our startup community grow!

 

Don’t Miss Out on Three Great Learning Opportunities

AcceleratorYYC is focused on providing startups with more opportunities: Learning opportunities to help further skills and knowledge. Networking opportunities to build connections and strengthen relationships. Promotional opportunities to increase their customer base, investor potential, and leadership team. Among many other things.

Next week, we are launching three new events & workshops that all focus on helping you grow and succeed:

 1) The first workshop is Pitching 101, led by Alex Raczenko and co-hosted by AcceleratorYYC and Innovate Calgary. Alex is one of Innovate Calgary’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence and a mentor to founders of AcceleratorYYC. Pitching 101 will be held on Tuesday, February 19 and 26 at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Improve your pitching skills and gain valuable knowledge from one of the best business coach in the startup community. For more information and to register, click here.

 2) The second workshop is the TeamThink AITF Grant Program Workshop LAUNCHING Wednesday, February 27 from 12 to 3 p.m and repeating on Wednesday, March 7. This workshop is all about filling out the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) 15K Voucher Grant. The deadline to fill out the grant is April 2, and it can be a very daunting task. But with coaching from Sandor Kiss, a Marketing and Sales Consultant with TeamThink, filling out the application can be a lot easier. Why miss an opportunity to receive a $15,000 grant for your startup? For more information and to register, click here.

 Pitching 101 and the TeamThink AITF Grant Program Workshop are free for AcceleratorYYC members!

 3) Finally, AcceleratorYYC is re-launching its Startup Slyngshot program on Tuesday, February 19. Classes will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 to 8 p.m. for four weeks. This will help to accommodate those “entrepreneurs-at-heart” who aren’t just ready yet to quit their day job and go full force into beginning their tech startup.

 Startup Slyngshot is a four stage program that consist of classes ranging from pitching, marketing, funding and more. For more information, including pricing and registration please click here. 

So what are you waiting for? AcceleratorYYC is the co-working space that gives you the opportunities you’re looking for; instead of waiting for opportunities to come to you. To quote, Benjamin Franklin, “To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do to conclusions.”

Calling all Developers!

Well, the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer (with every chinook at least) and Easter is just around the corner. This is the best time of year to get a group of people together to create. What type of people are exceptionally talented at creating in our technologically-driven world? Developers.

Whether you’re into mobile, gaming, or software development, there are many activities organized to include your enviable talent this month. Check it out: 

1. Global Game Jam - Fri, Jan 25 at 5:30 to Sun, Jan 27 at 5:30 pm at the Taylor Family Digital Library on the U of C campus.

If you’re info game development, then you will want to check out the Global Game Jam (GGJ), the world’s largest game jam event. This 48 hr hack-a-thon focused specially on game development takes place Friday, Jan 25 and begins with a short video keynote featuring advice from leading game developers from around the world.

The secret theme is announced and then all sites worldwide are challenged to make games based on that same theme, with games to be completed by Sunday, January 27th int he afternoon. In January 2012, GGJ had 242 location in 47 countries created over 2000 games in one weekend and became a Guinness World Record! 

For more information and to register, please visit Global Game Jam Calgary.

2. Charity App Challenge- Fri, Feb 1, 6:00 pm to Feb 3, at 6:00 pm at the Calgary Herald

If you want to create something to give back to the community, you’ll want to sign up for the Charity App Challenge. The Charity App Challenge is an initiative of the Calgary Herald, Digital Alberta and Place2Give. The three organizations came together over the idea of how they can leverage technology for social good - hack-a-thon style!

Since mobile is the fastest growing communications and engagement medium and digital philanthropy is an evolving trend, they asked themselves,

What could mobile technology do for the charity sector to help solve a problem or help reach their goals and objectives? 

This year the Calgary Herald’s Christmas Fund has decided to champion mobile for its participating charities to help them in their organizational endeavours. The Hack-a-thon will be taking place over a 48 hour period, February 1-3, 2013 at the Calgary Herald. The winning app will receive funding to complete development via service agreement between the charities, developer team and the Charity App Challenge.

Local developers will come together for a two-day period to try and create top-notch apps and brilliant tech solutions that launch worthy organizations into the mobile technology space. The app will be developed over 48 hours, and then a panel of judges will choose the best app.

For more information and to register yourself and/or team, visit the Calgary Herald Charity App Challenge Webpage

3. JOBS!

In addition to events and activities that you could donate your time to, there are also many opportunities where people are willing to PAY you for your technical talent. Check out all of these great jobs postings for local developers within the AcceleratorYYC startup community.

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