A hitchhiker’s guide to the Halifax Startup Community

Milan Vrekic, Zora.io @milanvrekic milan@zora.io

Last update: March 5th 2016

Rules of Engagement• Let the Entrepreneurs lead.

• Give before you get.

• Promote Halifax as awesome.

• Contribute something. Anything.

• Give back to the community once you make it big.

• Take random meetings (Open door policy).

• Be inclusive (introduce newcomers to people).

• Don’t complain. Act.

Some of our ICT startupsAnalyzeReFundMetricDashHudson IntrohiveAffin.ioModestTreeTitanFileLeadsift Karma Gaming TheRoundsSite2020Swell AdvantagePACTA WoodsCampEyereadHealthQR

InNetworkUpMyGame Equals6SimplyCastTruLeafKinductAio.TVSeaForth EnergySpring Loaded vendeve.comAthletigenEmailOpenedpursue.it Blue Light AnalyticsClean SimpleSaute

DataboliksKinduct TechInterview RocketOris4SageCrowdWeUsThemVidSnippetsGoFullSteamZoraProposify.bizTopLogAddoAdLyftPitchPlayBackdropbitness.io

More on the Ecosystem• Angelist - Halifax:https://angel.co/companies?locations[]=Halifax

• Entrevestor Infographic:http://entrevestor.com/images/uploads/Entrevestor_Infographic_WEB.jpg

• OneNShttp://onens.ca/

Local Startup Bloggers• Thomas Rankin:

http://impossibleconfidence.com

• Jevon Macdonald http://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/author/jevon/

• Rob Begg http://robbegg.com/

• WE REALLY NEED MORE TECH BLOGGERS!

Movements• Ladies Learning Code

http://ladieslearningcode.com

• BrilliantLabshttp://www.brilliantlabs.ca

• HaliHaxwww.halihax.com

• CodeKidshttp://www.codekids.ca

• Hoisthttp://hoisthalifax.com/

Coworking/Office Space• Volta (free coworking space)

www.voltaeffect.com

• ShiftKeyLabs (if you are a student)http://shiftkeylabs.ca/

Conferences (in no particular order)• StartupEmpire

www.startupempireconf.com

• MentorCampwww.mentorcamp.ca

• Atlantic Venture Forumhttp://www.atlanticventureforum.ca

• Big Data Congresshttp://bigdatacongress.t4g.com

• DemoCamp Halifaxwww.democamphalifax.com

• Invest Atlanticwww.investatlantic.ca

• PodCamp Halifaxhttp://podcamphalifax.ca

• HPX Digitalhalifaxpopexplosion.com

• Collide Conferencecollidehalifax.com

Events

• 3rd Wednesdayshttp://www.3whfx.com

• HaliHaxwww.halihax.com

• Volta Labs Eventswww.voltaeffect.com/calendar/

Finding a job with a Startup

• Digital Nova Scotia Connectorhttp://opportunities.digitalnovascotia.com/

• Entrevestor job board https://entrevestor.qimple.com/

Funding Sources• BUILD Ventures

http://www.buildventures.ca

• Innovacorpwww.innovacorp.ca

• Atlantic Angelswww.atlanticangels.ca

• ACOAhttp://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/

• IRAPhttp://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/index.html

• First Angel Networkhttp://www.firstangelnetwork.ca

Startup Friendly Service Providers

• Legal: http://www.beyondtheboxlaw.com - Christian Weisenburgerhttp://www.coxandpalmerlaw.com - Richard Normanhttp://www.mcinnescooper.com - Rob Cowan

• Accountingwww.deloitte.ca - Steve Carrwww.liveca.ca - If you are ok with virtual accounting

• Bankingwww.rbc.ca - Alex MacKenzie

Startup Friendly Hangouts

• Lion and Bright (Local’s secret spot)http://www.lionandbright.com/

• Mid-Point (for a coffee meeting)http://www.midpointcoffee.ca

• Fireside (team lunch)http://thefireside.ca

• MODA (for a more formal setting)http://www.modaurbandining.com

Engage• Email is the best way to start a relationship.

• Keep it short

• Have a clear ask

• Make it easy to say yes

• Do your research, make it relevant

• Take initiative, suggest times and places that work.

• Don’t ask busy people to meet you for coffee. Offer togo to their office for 15 minutes after a few emails areexchanged.

That is it!

• Email me with stuff I missed at:milan@milanvrekic.comand follow me at @milanvrekic

• And if you are new to Halifax, find me at Volta (1505 Barrington street, 7th floor) and I will introduce you to a few people.