Last year we launched the first ever Blue Sky Award.  It’s targeted at highlighting Canadian software innovation – great up-and-coming software companies doing great work.  SiteMasher, our winner last year is a great example of one of those Canadian innovators.  I love it because...

        Rick talks about the recent announcement of the fund here .  It’s a $150M fund to drive mobile software/technology innovation. It’s a great idea and I am proud to see it headquartered north of the border. I had to read Rick’s post twice to notice something...

We are sponsoring the second Founders & Funders event in Toronto.  The first one was a major success. “Founders & Funders is a private, invite only social event. Founders and Funders is dedicated: to helping Canadian entrepreneurs to meet each other; meet potential funders: angel,...

This is a GREAT idea.  As someone who once paid for this kind of service, I can tell you that the “professional” data services are expensive and I really never thought they provided value for the money.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think paying for this kind of service...

Inaugural award recognizes significant contributions made by the technology community MISSISSAUGA, ON – March 17, 2008 - Microsoft Canada Co. is pleased to announce the creation of an ISV Innovation Award – the Blue Sky Award – recognizing exciting, cutting-edge solutions developed...

Jevon at StartupNorth comments some more on the VC Forums Rick is running across the country. “ Rick Segal is going on tour . The idea? Get the message out there about what he, and other VCs, are looking for when they evaluate new opportunities, and help entrepreneurs get a better understanding...

My good friend and Canadian VC extraordinaire Rick Segal has started a set of interesting events called the “VC Roundtables”.  His idea – build a great environment for startups and entrepeneurs to meet with a VC and discuss how to grow their businesses.  Rick is doing this...

Check out this article - it really speaks to what we are seeing in the industry across the country.  It is just a coincidence that the "hot" jobs are .NET developers! Wanted: Techies with people skills Hard to find people with leadership skills Gillian Shaw, Canwest News Service ...

There is an really serious problem emerging in Canada - the future of IT as a career.  Within our group, we are really focused on this and we are beginning to tailor our activities with the Canadian Technical Communities around the theme of building careers .  Students going into college and...

Just heard from my good friend Dmitry @ Flowfinity in Vancouver ( www.flowfinity.com ) - a very neat Canadian ISV that does some innovation mobile work -> including .NET to Blackberry integration. "Flowfinity Wireless Inc., a leading provider of adaptable applications and fully integrated solutions...

I am really excited today because I am heading down to Waterloo to open the first Microsoft Innovation Centre in Canada. Our good friends at Infusion Angels teamed up with us on this one. The Infusion Angels Innovation Centre is located in the very cool Accelerator Centre in the research park at the...

Who’s doing the best development in Canada? Submit your nomination now in for the very first MSDN Code Awards The MSDN Code Awards are your opportunity to tell Canada who you think is doing the best development work in Canada. Who has created the most innovative application? Who’s driving business performance...

Check out the video from our co-op: Video: X06 Toronto There is also a one of the media clips from the big day featuring a good chat about XNA: Video: XNA 60 Media Coverage

The team and I had a chance to spend the day talking about XNA at X06 - the Xbox team's yearly pre-holiday press extravaganza. We were showing off XNA Game Studio Express in particular. It's going to do for games what Soapbox is doing for video. Think -> CREATIVE EXPLOSION. We're even doing a full...

I have had a lot of requests for my slides.  I have created a OneNote file containing the slides.   http://www.markrelph.com/storage/ottawaslides.zip   Why OneNote you ask?  Well, a couple of reasons…. It's a kick ass way to take and share notes.  Second, I don't really want my raw PPTs floating...

I returned back from Ottawa the other day and I haven't had a chance to follow-up from the Venture event I attended there.   I have to applaud the organizers (OCRI - http://www.ocri.com/ ) for putting on a great event.  This was my first time attending and I have to say that the overall quality of...

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week I am attending the Ottawa Venture & Technology Summit at the Lac-Leamy Casino in the Nation’s Capital. Ottawa is a great town and I do enjoy visiting here when I can. Ottawa is home to what might be the hotest startup technology community in Canada . As part...

This year I had the pleasure to be a part of the judging for the 2005 Impact Awards. This is the 3 rd Annual Impact Awards, which recognizes excellence across the large and diverse community of resellers and solution providers across Canada Partners are the lifeblood of our success and having a healthy...