Keep and Grow Bootup Garage
The pilot of the Bootup Garage program has been an incredible resource for entrepreneurs who are starting up something new. The Garage provided three amazing things: 1) a hack space to work in and meet other startups, 2) seminars on great topics on starting your company and 3) an incredible mentor program that still has me in awe.
More Bootup Garage please!
Tom Carchrae
shared this idea
34 comments
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Grace Sai
commented
In April 2011, I led 30 technopreneurship students from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to a US and Canada Immersion Trip. The program was carefully crafted as it should reflect the most worthy organizations and start-up communities in the 4 cities we visited. These included the usual suspects like Google, Facebook, IDEO, Stanford and Boeing alongside some stellar start-up folks. When designing the part on Vancouver though, it got considerably more challenging because nothing jumped up immediately. I am grateful though, that through my MBA contacts, we got introduced to Maura and BootUp. They were receptive of hosting this international group from 10 different countries and various backgrounds. As a result, we held our events at their conducive space, invited founders from their networks to speak to us, and more notably, it was the tacit benefit that caught us all by surprise. BootUp Garage members who were working from the same space got interested in a few of the students' pitches and a global collaboration is on its way! Mentors who were passing by also jumped in our discussions and provided valuable feedback. The networks and friends made formally and informally from this hub in Vancouver were amazing! BootUp has quickly gained the image of the entrepreneurship node of BC, and rightly so. Thanks so much!
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AdminDean Prelazzi
(Admin, BCIC)
commented
@Everyone, thanks, keep the TANGIBLE results coming (see previous post) and where possible, add to that any jobs you have created in your startup, or you see soon in the future as a result of the Bootup Garage-assisted growth of your company. Good weekend all!!
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Ted Morgan
commented
@ Dean - In response to your previous question about how the BG could be improved, based on the level of interest I've witnessed from telling other local tech entrepreneurs about the program, I think having a dedicated resource responsible for day-to-day management would be a huge asset. Maura has done a fantastic job in creating and sustaining the pilot project, but given her involvement in so many other BES initiatives I think she'd be challenged to assume that role. In order to build the Garage into its fullest potential, an exec director/coordinator could then champion nurturing the member community and ensure that opportunities are maximized.
I know 4 other startups that heard about the pilot program through word-of-mouth and wanted to participate but time ran out. Think of what could be achieved if the Garage were fully promoted with a go-to coordinator leading the charge!?
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Ted Morgan
commented
@ Dean - In response to your request for tangible results, through my discussions with mentor Bernd Petak I've recognized the steps needed to take my startup to the next stage. Over the past 1.5 years since first conceiving the idea, my focus has frequently been deviated due to priorities with my service-based business. Given the challenges as a result of pushing through the ideation stage, Bernd provided great advice on how to negotiate the service/product-based business conundrum. Specific to moving my startup forward, his encouragement to focus on just a single aspect of the "big idea" and invest in some lean startup trials has convinced me to move beyond vapor-ware and commit to one track.
Another tangible result has come from getting to know the Garage members and community. Fellow member Ray Walia and I have submitted a proposal to collaborate on a project of his together. Through the Garage sponsored events I have also re-connected with J. Joly from Dimerocker and am in discussions on combining forces on future work.
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Tom Carchrae
commented
@Dean - no I did not know of that program, thanks for the link. I've been down to BCIT - ARLO/CAP program ( http://goo.gl/XKqUm ), but did not engage much with them. Quite a few useful resources there.
On your tangible request. I've been introduced and had great discussions with many Vancouver angels, founders, lawyers and other experts, which has helped focus my business. It was really useful to get their views on some of the detail and direction of my business. I've met people who want to invest in my company. I've been able to quickly gain insight from people around me ("hey what do you think of technology X", "can you help with this weird error?", "how do you structure your company and deal with taxation?"). Primarily, it's great to share space with others who are taking a risk and making stuff. That's not tangible, but it beats the potential solitude and desolation of working at home.
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Steve Wandler
commented
Living in the Okanagan BU has been my go to place when I head to Vancouver when i have to setup meetings or just need a place to squat and catchup on work, all the time, meeting people in the BC Tech community. Last time i was there I even met 2 dudes from Edmonton. It would be a shame to see BU disappear. I promote it here in the Okanagan Valley to all the startups I meet with. If they need to get a foot hold in the larger BC tech community BU is where I send them.
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Ray Walia
commented
haha need to clarify that there was no dirty four letter word there, it was
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Ray Walia
commented
@ Dean - I have only been a member of the Garage for 3 months but through introductions made by Dennis Pilarinos, a mentor at Bootup, I have managed to not only meet a potential new 1st hire I have also managed to bring on board an Advisor that fills a significant **** in my team. I have also recently had a chance to reconnect with Jason Bailey, again another mentor, and am in the process of lining up a follow up meeting.
I have also generated a number of leads on potential co-founders and investors over the last 3 months. Even though none of these have come directly from the Garage, I do know that the fact that I am a member of the Garage has shown potential investors that I am a prudent entrepreneur and know how to leverage resources and build a company on a tight budget. I also know that as I have been talking to potential developer recruits the idea of working in a collaborative environment like the Garage is far more appealing than in a basement by yourself.
Speaking of collaboration, I have also had the pleasure of meeting Ted Morgan, a fellow Garage member, and we have been discussing potential future projects.
These are just a handful of examples from only 3 months of membership and I am typically only at the Garage 2 or 3 times a week.
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John Gray
commented
Dave Olson's Kung Fu marketing sessions; Martin Ertl & team providing key legal insights; Maura, Jesse, Derek & Mack, hustle, connecting resources (dev; marketing; interns...) meeting Mike Edwards, Ed Levinson "sage" perspective, and driving home the "get **** done" attitude! Indispensable idea & network lab!
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AdminDean Prelazzi
(Admin, BCIC)
commented
@Everyone - Thank you for embracing this platform as a place for constructive dialogue. Any 'results' to share?? While we're very intersted in understanding your satisfaction level, we're equally interested in understanding the extent to which the Bootup Garage has TANGIBLY helped you move your idea/company forward (i.e. results). Stories good. "I met this guy, he helped me solve this problem, as a result i made this progress" OR "this guy dropped into to share some mentor advice, saw what I was doing, make a significant introduction that lead to this result' Or 'this happened, money came in, and I was able to hire this position" -- that sort of stuff. Stories that connect something you acquired in the Garage to results and progress in building your startup. Thanks again for your continued passion.
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AdminDean Prelazzi
(Admin, BCIC)
commented
@TomCarchrae - thanks for the passion and the comments on how to improve. Just want to make sure you're aware of the student projects offering at BCIT. Anyone have any experience with this offering? http://www.bcit.ca/cas/issp/about.shtml
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Tom Carchrae
commented
@Don - I'm glad to hear criticism, but I think the Garage operates with a pretty lean 'middleman' - this is what distinguishes it from some of the other programs. I think Roger's comment below sums up the 'why' really well.
If we have produce yet another program to dole out government money then that program becomes a further 'middleman' to operate consuming funds and adding 'fat' to the system. An easy to access space that provides the 3 things I mentioned can, and should be, 'lean' to run. Put the money where it matters: directly towards resources that benefit the entrepreneur. Create an environment for growth; don't be mother.
A grant of say $5-10k would in no way equate to the value I have gained from this program over the last 5 months. This is smart spending.
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Jamie
commented
The garage has been great to connect with other local entrepreneurs and we would definitely use the space in the future. This is something we need to keep in Vancouver. Keep it!
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Julius M
commented
Bootup is a place like no other. I've went around town to look at different incubators but none came close to having Bootup's energy, atmosphere, and people. It won't be easily duplicated. If bootup stays open, this is only the beginning.
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Chris C.
commented
As an early stage startup and first time founder the Bootup Garage has been an invaluable resource for me. The BES has created a program that brings together the best in tech that Vancouver has to offer. From the mentors who have been there/done that, the Bootup Labs grads who are still doing it every day, to the other Garage members who are pushing to get **** done in a big way. All are completely open and willing to share their past experience and knowledge with the group. Thanks so much to BES for putting this program together and I hope BCIC can find a way to continue supporting such a vital program for the Vancouver tech scene.
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Don D'angelico
commented
BCIC should just allocate limited funding directly to startups, as the ecosystem doesn't need any middlemen adding costs to the process of supporting startups and BCIC has no place subsidizing with what the private sector and others are doing already.
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Lynda Brown
commented
The Garage is an excellent example of an effective, grassroots, by the industry for the industry initiative and I want to see it stay! I have conducted dozens of studies now across Canada looking at sector development needs. Access to seasoned mentors in a 'just in time' environment is consistently noted as a top priority. I'm proud the Bootup Garage started in BC and would love to see it spread across the country.
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Jordan Behan commented
I work for a startup that has shared a floor with Bootup for several years, and to say they make good neighbors would be to undersell it in a big way.
As a startup, we are more "mature" but that hasn't kept us from benefitting from our nearness to Bootup. The events, the camaraderie and especially the energy and insight that we absorb from the entrepreneurs on the floor is invaluable, and we take advantage of that everyday. Obviously, the support the entrepreneurs receive from each other and their mentors is critical to their success, so this program must remain alive and well in Vancouver.
Vancouver needs an "epicenter" of web technology activity, and Bootup ably fills that role. Without it, innovation in Vancouver will suffer, no question.
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Mack
commented
The Bootup Entrepreneurial Society gels the entrepreneurial community in Vancouver. In 20 years many of us are going to look back at this time and laugh at the early mistakes we made before our huge successes, working together and learning together with the resources of Bootup.
If BCIC REALLY wants stimulate innovation and commercialization of said innovation in BC they need to support BES. This is the real deal folks- people getting things done.
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Anoop
commented
Bootup is an integral part of the Vancouver startup scene. Let's keep building on a good thing!
