Calgary's Co-working Space for Tech Startups @acceleratoryyc-blog-blog - Tumblr Blog

Free Co-working for Out of Town Folks During Alberta Tech Week

We want to welcome all of our out of town guests during Alberta Tech Week by providing free co-working space for those interested! If you're visiting our great city next week and would like to co-work with us, please give us a heads up and email [email protected]. Co-working hours apply from 9 am to 5 pm, Mon, July 8 - Fri, July 12. We'd love to have you!

Co-work with us and check out our office amenities:

Free WiFi

Free Molson beer and Redbull (for a tweet!)

Networking and collaboration with like-minded entrepreneurs

Meeting room access (for a minimal fee)

You're also invited to join us for the official AccelerateAB Kick Off Party at AcceleratorYYC on Wed, July 10th at 7:30 pm.

RSVP now at: http://acceleratekickoffparty.eventbrite.ca/

#kick off #accelerateab #tech community #networking #Co-work space #co-working #yyc

AcelerateAB Kick Off Party - Get Your Party on Before the Conference!

The AccelerateAB conference (#abtw2013) takes place July 11, but that doesn't mean we can't start the festivities a little early. On July 10, AcceleratorYYC will be hosting the official AccelerateAB Kick Off Party! This is your chance to meet new people and get to know everyone before the conference.

Throughout the evening, we will be raising money for the Southern Alberta flood victims and will be launching a new charity pledging platform. You will also be among the first to know about the brand new Javelin program, launching in partnership with Telus, TR Tech and AITF. (Still confused? You'll learn all about it on the 10th!)

It will be a night of food, music, beverages, and your chance to mingle with the out-of-town guests and conference attendees as well as play with a few EZ-Robots!

Tickets are $25 each and must be purchased separately in advance. The party starts at 7:30 p.m and you'll be welcomed with a complimentary drink ticket and some optional thank you gifts!

Here are a few tips to prepare for you for the party:

1. Exercise your thumbs the week before because you're going to be punching names and numbers into your phone as you go around and meet people.

2. Socialize and network, and don't be afraid to add people onto your social network. (We recommend using LinkedIn to keep track of all your new connections)

3. Catch up on your music...you don't want to be asking the question "What's a Taylor Swift?"

4. Go on YouTube and learn a dance move to impress the other partiers (Gangnam Style will give you extra brownie points).

5. Learn a few tech related, ice-breaker jokes. Example: How much does a hipster weigh? About an Instagram.

6. Talk about tech, tech and more tech! Then talk about food, because everyone wants to talk about food. Remember, a lot of the guests may not be from Calgary. Be sure to tell them about the best places to eat!

7. If you're out of conversation topics, comment on the type of smartphones people are using. Let's face it, we are pretty passionate about our phones!

8. Relax - it's a party!

So get ready for a night filled with food, drinks and awesome people in the tech industry! Get your tickets now before it's too late!

#kick off #accelerateab #tech #abtech #launch party

Let's Celebrate Social Media Day Together This Sunday, June 30th

Yes, Social Media Day will still go on! At first we considered cancelling this event, but then realized that we should celebrate how effective social media was during the flood crisis this past weekend.

The Calgary Police, City of Calgary and numerous volunteers did an amazing job at communicating important information to a very large, eager audience during the floods and did their best to keep everyone safe. Join us on Sunday, June 30th from 6 - 9 pm at AcceleratorYYC to celebrate social media and contribute to our fundraiser for the flood victims. You will also be able to personally donate to a variety of relief funds through Place2Give's Southern Alberta Flood Relief page.

So, whether you’re an experienced social media enthusiast or you’re new, we hope that you will join us for a celebratory evening with special guest speakers, social media activities, food and drinks and more! RSVP on the Mashable Meetup page now Sign up here.

Bring your gadgets! There’s free WiFi at AcceleratorYYC so that you can post photos, tweets, and statuses while at the event. We are having a contest for the most unique tweet!

Learn tips and tricks: Want to know how to strengthen your online brand? Our guest speakers are here to help!

Hear from our special guest speakers:

· Kali Readwin, Owner of Frontstep Communications

· Arleigh Vasconcellos, Principal at The Agency

· DJ Sures, CEO of EZ-Robot

Sponsorship: Interested in reaching a variety of audiences through our social media channels and website? We have some unique ways for your brand to get involved. Contact [email protected] and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

#social media #smday #smday2013 #yyc

Charge Those Phones, Laptops and Tablets -It's Mashable's Social Media Day on June 30th!

Once again, AcceleratorYYC is proud to host Mashable's annual Social Media Day (#smday2013)! Join us on Sunday, June 30th from 6 - 9 pm for a social evening. Whether you're an experienced social media enthusiast or you're new, join us for an exciting night with special guest speakers, social media activities, food and drinks and more! RSVP on the Mashable Meetup page now Sign up here.

Bring your gadgets! There's free WiFi at AcceleratorYYC so that you can post photos, tweets, and statuses while at the event. We are having a contest for the most unique tweet!

Learn tips and tricks: Want to know how to strengthen your online brand? Our guest speakers are here to help!

Hear from our special guest speakers:

· Kali Readwin, Owner of Frontstep Communications

· Arleigh Vasconcellos, Principal at The Agency

· DJ Sures, CEO of EZ-Robot

Smile! Get your new profile picture taken in our social media photobooth

A big thank you to our sponsors!

www.cravecupcakes.ca

www.yelp.ca/calgary

www.jellymoderndoughnuts.com

#acceleratoryyc #smday2013 mashable socialmedia

AcceleratorYYC Provides Community Space for the Chic Geek to ‘Geek Out’

Alright men, move over and make some room for your techie female counterparts. AcceleratorYYC and the Chic Geek are partnering to make the hi-tech startup community in Calgary more women-friendly!

Chic Geek is a grassroots, community organization working towards a more diverse hi-tech startup community. With the goal of educating, engaging and empowering more women to explore their techie sides, the Chic Geek strives to build a stronger, more competitive startup ecosystem. In addition to running speaker series and social events to make the community more female inclusive, the Chic Geek also partners with Ladies Learning Code. A national non-profit, Ladies Learning Code provides women (and men) with the opportunity to learn beginner-friendly computer programming skills through hands-on, collaborative workshops.

“We’re really excited to be partnering with AcceleratorYYC. As such a hub in the startup ecosystem here in Calgary, it means a lot to have AcceleratorYYC on board and supporting what we do,” says Chic Geek Co-Founder Kylie Toh.

Alberta has a growing community of innovative hi-tech startups but statistically, women make up a mere 25% of the ICT workforce, a number that hasn’t changed in over 10 years. On top of that, less than 5% of tech startups are female owned. Despite our burgeoning ecosystem, there’s still a gap in our industry that could benefit from more diverse perspectives, skill-sets and problem-solving approaches.

“AcceleratorYYC is happy to provide ‘chic geeks’ with an easily accessible space to learn, collaborate, and build confidence in one another. We couldn’t be happier to support their upcoming events and workshops for both women and men in the tech community,” explains Jenn Egroff, Director of AcceleratorYYC.

This Tuesday, June 11, the Chic Geek will be hosting a WordPress Work Party at AcceleratorYYC. This will be an informal gathering to build off of the recent Chic Geek and Ladies Learning Code Intro to Wordpress workshop. WordPress creators will be able to work along-side fellow Chic Geeks and continue their learning with the support of volunteer mentors. To register, visit www.meetup.com/chicgeek

#partner #chicgeek #wordpress #community #yyctech

AccelerateAB 2013!

Have an Extra Guest Room, Futon, or Couch? We're Looking for Hosts During AccelerateAB

Alberta Tech week (#abtw2013) and AccelerateAB are fast approaching, and this year they're going to be bigger and better than ever! We have attendees arriving from all across North America.

To welcome our guests from across Canada and the United States, AcceleratorYYC will be hosting the AccelerateAB Kick-off Party on Wednesday, July 10 (reserve your spot now!). On Friday, July 12, we will also be hosting a free Stampede-style pancake breakfast. Additionally, for the duration of Alberta Tech Week, we are offering FREE co-working for out-of-town guests at our space in Inglewood.

What is the billeting program?

The billeting program will serve to welcome out-of-town folks to AccelerateAB and the city of Calgary by offering them a place to stay. As fellow Calgarians, we all know how hard (and expensive!) it can be to try and find accommodation during Stampede. So, let’s offer up our guest rooms, futons, and couches, for AccelerateAB attendees so that they can save some cash and find a place to stay during the busy stampede week!

What does billeting entail?

Open up your home for an out-of-town guest

Wash your sheets and prepare a bed (or 2, up to you!)

Offer a few meals

Carpool to and from the conference (or provide alternatives)

That’s it!

Why become a billet host during AccelerateAB?

Meet a new person in a similar industry, from a different city. Guaranteed that you will learn something new!

Pay it forward. Perhaps you’ll find another place to stay the next time you visit their city? (aka, save $$)

Be an ambassador for the city of Calgary and show others how hospitable Calgarians truly are.

Interested in becoming a billet host for an out-of-town guest or two? Please register here.

Looking for a place to stay in Calgary for the duration of AccelerateAB? Please register here.

Deadline to apply for the billeting program is: Saturday, June 15 at 5:00 pm.

Check out the AccelerateAB video to learn more about the largest startup technology event in Alberta!

It's Time to Start Gearing up for BaseCamp

BaseCamp Investment Bootcamp is only 9 days away! On May 31st, we're teaming up with VA Angels to bring you an exciting weekend filled with investment opportunities for your startup!

Randy Thompson, Angel Investor and CEO of VA Angels, will provide startup founders with valuable insight and exercises to help them 'become the investor' and understand the process. Only 15 founders will get the exclusive opportunity to:

Talk directly with angel investors

Learn how to create a product plan, value your company, and sell shares

Discuss sales and marketing opportunities

Create an Investor Deck and present live to Angel Investors

Spaces are limited, sign up on Eventbrite!

At AcceleratorYYC, we realize co-working isn't for everyone. So, to save time, money and effort, we put together a quick quiz to help you determine whether you're business needs and your personality would thrive in a co-working environment.

Read our "Quirks of Co-working" blog post in the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal this month to learn more about co-working and how it may benefit you.

Note: The BEST way to find out if co-working is right for you, would be to sign up for a 10 Visit Punch Pass at our office. For more info, email us!

Take a look at a larger image on our Facebook page here.

#co-working #community

There's a New Face at AcceleratorYYC

We are excited to introduce Jana Boyko as our new Communications Assistant!

“Being an eager and enthusiastic marketing student, I was thrilled to learn that I had been selected as the new Communications Assistant at AcceleratorYYC. I am currently working towards completing a Bachelor of Commerce as well as a Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and have become incredibly interested in the link between human behaviour and advertising/marketing. I am an avid Starbucks drinker who enjoys playing the piano and participating in outdoor activities during the summer months. I am very excited to be working with AcceleratorYYC, and look forward to planning events, developing social media strategies, and assisting with the creation of newsletters and blog posts.”

With summer events like Social Media Day, a new Startup Food initiative, and the Pre-Party for AccelerateAB during Tech Week, we’re very excited to have Jana join the team. Stop by AcceleratorYYC to say hello and welcome Jana to the startup community!

Dine with an Angel Investor - Register for BaseCamp May 31 to June 3

When you are just starting your company, you may look for capital from sources such as friends, parents, grandparents, Uncle Bob, or that ‘rich-looking’ neighbor next door. You may also try to take out a bank loan… but unfortunately get denied! Then you think to yourself, “Wouldn’t it be great if an individual would invest in my company and mentor me through the journey of my startup?” Luckily, there is such an individual out there; this individual is commonly known as an angel investor.

An angel investor is someone who uses their own personal wealth to invest in startups that they believe have the potential to be successful. They also offer valuable insights pertaining to the industry that you are focused on. Years of experience coupled with a large network of contacts make angel investors highly attractive for many early stage entrepreneurs. But how do you get an angel investor to descend from the heavens and bless you and your startup?

According to an article from www.entrepreneur.com, angel investors are looking for startups that:

exhibit high-growth prospects, have a synergy with their own business or compete in an industry in which they have succeeded.

need additional funding to execute a marketing program.

have increasing product or service sales and need additional capital to bridge the gap between the sale and the receipt of funds from the customer.

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal Online, banks and venture capital firms have been investing in less-risky, later-staged companies. Therefore, angel investors are the one of the few options left to support early-stage, fast-growing startups. The article also states that, ” [angels are] less sensitive to ups and downs in the economy and tend to invest in a “much wider range of innovation” than [venture capital] investment firms…” Also, “angels are more prone to support entrepreneurs in their own backyards…” Which brings us to our Western Canadian angel investment partner, VA Angels.

VA Angels is one of Canada’s leading angel investment groups. The group has done 57 deals worth $28.5 million with members located in Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna and Winnipeg. 65% of the investments were in technology companies. VA Angels states that, “presenting entrepreneurs have a 1 in 4 chance of raising capital.”

If you want a chance to meet with, learn from and pitch to a VA Angel, then register for our BaseCamp investment bootcamp. This 3.5 day workshop will teach entrepreneurs about investments by getting them to “think like the investor.” With guest speakers, peer feedback and in-depth exercises, BaseCamp will improve your knowledge on investments. After attending the workshop, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to pitch in front of a live-audience of angel investors!

The next BaseCamp will be held May 31 to June 3 at our AcceleratorYYC co-work space. AcceleratorYYC members receive 50% off, and virtual community members receive $50 off. Don’t miss out on your chance to learn more about investments and meet a few VA Angels (and other angel investors)!

Call for Companies: One More Week to Apply for AccelerateAB Roundtables

Want to accelerate your startup during the largest tech gathering in Alberta this July?

The deadline for the AccelerateAB Call for Companies is one week away! (May 21)

The companies selected through this process become part of AccelerateAB's Entrepreneur Roundtable event taking place on Wednesday, July 10th (the day before AccelerateAB.)

This is likely one of the best mentorship opportunities as AccelerateAB's entire network of C100 Charter members, A100 members and event partners will be mentoring, assisting and connecting with YOU over a 4 hour period.

Some of the confirmed C100 mentors includes:

Gary Kovacs, CEO of Mozilla/Firefox

Chris Albinson, Founder of the C100 and Managing Director of Panorama Capital

Michael Buhr, CEO at StumbleUpon through their exit to eBay

Geoff Lewis, Prinipal at Founders Fund. Founders Fund is invested in SpaceX, Facebook, Twilio, Spotify and dozens of other leading tech firms

Apply now!

For more information about the program schedule, please visit: http://accelerateab.com/schedule/

Watch the AccelerateAB ppromotional video now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTuWQ9rK46Y

#accelerateab #Conference #C100 #A100 #Alberta #tech

Three Potential Prizes for our "Become a Member" Contest

At AcceleratorYYC, we do our best to ensure that our Members have access to all of the startup resources that they could possibly need.

Become an AcceleratorYYC Member before May 13 at 9 am and be entered to win 1 of 3 possible prizes:

2 Passes to MoSo Conference & MoSo Fest from June 12- 15

One-on-one mentoring session with AcceleratorYYC’s Executive in Residence, Stephen King (President of Stephdokin.com, CEO of TCELab.com, Host Educator of OnAPage, and Founder of the A100)

Or 4 Tickets to Robots & Pencils' Super Mobile Con on May 14

How do I become a Member?

If you are looking for a co-work desk with 24/7 access and all of the mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities you could possibly ask for, our Permanent Membership is ideal for you. For only $300/desk per month, you will be at the centre of the startup community hub. Fill out our form to get started or pop by AcceleratorYYC.

Don't need a desk? Check out our virtual Community Membership. Attend Lunch & Learns, receive invites for our exclusive A100 Office Hours program and stay in the loop about events in the startup community. For only $25/year, you will be part of the community movement. Sign up online here!

If I’m already a Member, how can I earn more entries?

Tweet @AcceleratorYYC & @MoSoConf with this link: http://ow.ly/knXoq (so easy!)

Like AcceleratorYYC on Facebook and/or share the page with friends

Share a relevant article on the AcceleratorYYC LinkedIn Group

Contest Rules:

Contest draw date will be Monday, May 13 at 9 am

Draw will be conducted by placing every member’s name in a hat. Very technical.

Note: the conference ticket does not include transportation and/or accommodations in Saskatoon.

Applicable for Members only. Punch Pass users are not applicable for this contest.

#Community Member #contest #conference #mentorship #Co-work space

Become an AcceleratorYYC Member Before May 13 and Enter Our Contest

At AcceleratorYYC, we do our best to ensure that our Members have access to all of the startup resources that they could possibly need.

Become an AcceleratorYYC Member before May 13 and be entered to win 2 FREE MoSo Conference passes (valued at $274.99 each).

Runner-up winner will receive a mentoring session with AcceleratorYYC’s Executive in Residence, Stephen King (President of Stephdokin.com, CEO of TCELab.com, Host Educator of OnAPage, and Founder of the A100).

How do I become a member?

What is MoSo?

The goal of MoSo is to bring people from around Canada together to meet, share, learn and have some fun with digital marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, mobile and mobile apps. Based in Saskatoon June 12- 15, MoSo will feature an amazing lineup of speakers, including: Hootsuite's Ambrosia Humphrey; Dropbox's Sean Lynch; BBDO's Collin Douma; Etsy's Cap Watkins; Claritity.fm's Dan Martell and so many more! Check out the amazing line-up of speakers for yourself at: http://mosoconf.com/speakers/ Ticket prices retail at $274.99!

If I’m already a Member, how can I earn more entries?

Tweet @AcceleratorYYC & @MoSoConf with this link: http://ow.ly/knXoq (so easy!)

Like AcceleratorYYC on Facebook and/or share the page with friends

Share a relevant article on the AcceleratorYYC LinkedIn Group

Look forward to seeing you at AcceleratorYYC AND the MoSo Conference soon!

Contest Rules and Clarification:

Contest draw date will be Monday, May 13 at 9 am

Draw will be conducted by placing every member’s name in a hat. Very technical.

Note: the conference ticket does not include transportation and/or accommodations in Saskatoon.

Applicable for Members only. Punch Pass users are not applicable for this contest.

#conference #contest #membership #mobile #social

The AccelerateAB Billeting Program: Calling All Hosts!

We can’t wait for AccelerateAB, can you?!

This year, Alberta Tech Week (#abtw2013) and AccelerateAB are going to be bigger and better than ever with attendees arriving from all over North America.

At AcceleratorYYC, we are excited to be a part of these initiatives and plan to do our ‘co-working best’ to welcome everyone. To start it off, AcceleratorYYC will be hosting the AccelerateAB Kick-off Party on Wednesday, July 10 (reserve your spot now!). On Friday, July 12, we will also be hosting a free Stampede-style pancake breakfast. And for the duration of Alberta Tech Week, we are offering FREE co-working for out-of-town guests at our space in Inglewood.

In addition, we are organizing a billeting program to properly welcome out-of-town folks to AccelerateAB and the bustling city of Calgary!

What is the billeting program?

As fellow Calgarians, we all know how hard (and expensive!) it can be to try and find accommodation during Stampede. So, let’s offer up our guest rooms, futons, and couches, for AccelerateAB attendees so that they can save some cash and actually find a place to stay during one of the busiest weeks of the year.

Why become a billet host during AccelerateAB?

Meet a new person in a similar industry, from a different city. Guaranteed that you will learn something new!

Pay it forward. Perhaps you’ll find another place to stay the next time you visit their city? (aka, save $$)

Be an ambassador for the city of Calgary and show others how hospitable Calgarians truly are.

What does billeting entail?

Open up your home for an out-of-town guest

Wash your sheets and prepare a bed (or 2, up to you!)

Offer a few meals

Carpool to and from the conference (or provide alternatives)

That’s it!

Interested in becoming a billet host for an out-of-town guest or two? Please register here.

Looking for a place to stay in Calgary for the duration of AccelerateAB? Please register here.

Deadline to apply for the billeting program is: Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00 pm.

Still unsure about whether to attend AccelerateAB? Watch their video below sign up before it's too late:

#billet #conference #tech #yyctech #accelerateab #abtw2013

BaseCamp Investment Bootcamp May 31- June 3: Don't miss out!

Don't miss out on the chance to accelerate your startup: AcceleratorYYC and VA Angels are hosting another BaseCamp investment bootcamp May 31- June 3, 2013.

In January 2013, R. Stewart (Randy) Thompson, Angel Investor and CEO of VA Angels, trained 10 local startup founders to ‘think like the investor.’ Given 3.5 days of in-depth exercises, guest speakers (Kevin Swan from iNovia), and peer feedback, founders completed the bootcamp "extremely satisfied" with "huge improvements on their previous investment knowledge." They came to realize how an investor’s mind works, how to calculate the numbers and to back those numbers up with their own companies.

Throughout the weekend, they helped one another out and grew stronger as a group of highly knowledgeable and educated entrepreneurs. They worked closely with a few angel investors from VA Angels & Espresso Capital and had some great discussions about venture capital funding with Kevin Swan from iNovia.

While learning the ins and outs of funding their startup, founders also received insight on their own Investor Pitch Deck. They feverishly worked on their pitch during any given spare moment throughout the weekend, perfecting it for their pitch opportunity on the Ironwood Grill’s stage. According to the founders, pitching and getting feedback was one of the most valuable outcomes from the bootcamp weekend!

The top 4 (there was a tie for third place) founders pitched to a live, eager audience of angelduring the catered Accelerate Fund Dinner at the Ironwood. Guests included: Dave Edmonds, Industry Chair, A100; Warren Bergen, VP of Corporate Development, AVAC; Paul Cataford, Partner, Espresso Capital; among many other industry leaders.

If this sounds like the opportunity you've been waiting for, Register Now!

Also, save $50 when you also become an AcceleratorYYC Community Member.

Payment Processing Proudly Providing by:

#bootcamp #investment #startup #pitching

The Do's and Don'ts of Public Relations for Tech

A few weeks ago, Innovate Calgary hosted a Speaker Series session titled "PR for your Startup Company." Pam Boytinck, Executive Director of TechRev moderated the following panelists: Arleigh Vasconcellos from The Agency (also an AcceleratorYYC member), Scott Valentine from Solium, Doug Lacombe from Communicatto, and Leanne Yohemas the media relations manager of the U of C. The communications experts discussed the basics of public relations and the strategies on how and when to gain exposure.

Here's a quick overview of their recommended do's and don'ts:

The PR Do's:

Have a plan and strategy. Know your key messages and how you will get those messages out to your audience.

Build trust for your brand. Have a good product or service and stand by it.

Apply "so what?" every time you put something out there. Why should people care about what you're saying?

Be transparent and realistic with your goals - know your audience; What do they like? How will they respond?

Do your research!

The PR Don'ts:

Spam people with insignificant messages.

Waste people's' time. People just want to hear the important things, not the fluff.

Underestimate the power of social media. One bad word online can ruin your reputation.

Be silent. Practice two-way communication. If there's a problem, then address the issue and embrace response.

Be afraid of the media, whether it's traditional or social media. Use the media to build your image and your audience's trust with your brand.

Many companies are looking to social media to further their brand and image. Luxury companies are hopping onto the Instagram bandwagon because rich kids are uploading photos of their favourite brands, (Google 'rich kids of Instagram' and you'll see). But social media can turn against a brand and ruin a reputation if you're not careful.

If you want to learn more about public relations, become an AcceleratorYYC Member and attend our upcoming Lunch & Learn: "PR for Tech" on Tuesday, April 30 from 12:00 to 1:20 p.m.

Hosted by TechRev's Executive Director, Pam Boytinck, this hands-on workshop will include methods to hone your message, develop your strategy and an exercise on writing your media boilerplate. If you don't know what a boilerplate is, then this is a great opportunity to learn!

For more information and to sign up for the Lunch and Learn: PR for Tech on April 30, please visit our registration page here.

#lunch #learn #workshop #PR #tech #tech PR

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