community should venture out to benchmark other ecosystems ... information, please call 905.685.3460 x208, email ... Con
I N N O VAT I O N INSIGHTS Canadian Digital Media Network Tour: Silicon Valley
*“Silicon Valley” or “The Valley” is the geographical area of the Southern San Francisco Bay area and is regarded as the epicenter of the tech world.
In order to be the best, one must learn from the best. JEFF CHESEBROUGH A N D ST E V E B O E S E
A
up with Innovate Niagara success story and
community should venture out to benchmark
founder of Console, Al Burgio.
other ecosystems, then adapt those learn-
One of the biggest takeaways was the
ings and carve out their own path.
s we continue to help
culture, more specifically, the "pay-it-for-
As we continue to build an innovation
innovative,
high-po-
ward" culture, that exists there. One might
economy in Niagara, we must continue to
high-growth
think that in such a competitive place there
learn from others, collaborate, support each
entrepreneurs at Innovate Niag-
would be an unwillingness to share. One
other and push forward together. We are or-
ara, we know the importance of understanding your market
might also think that in a place with so
ganically moving in the right direction. We
and validating your product. We recently did just that, as we
many wealthy, busy individuals that they
see this everyday at Innovate Niagara―we
joined nine other innovation/incubation leaders from across
would have very little interest in spending
have incredible, world-class talent here. Ni-
Canada as part of the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN)
time mentoring others who are just starting
agara will never be Silicon Valley. And we
Innovation Tour of Silicon Valley so that we could learn from
out. In both instances, one would be wrong;
shouldn’t because we can be better.
world leaders to better understand innovation ecosystems.
Silicon Valley continues to be a world leader
tential,
Our tour included visits to leading startup incubators/
because they understand the importance
Jeff Chesebrough is the CEO of Innovate Niagara.
accelerators, global leading innovation centres, as well as,
of collaboration. They understand that by
For more information, please call 905.685.3460 or
group outings with investors and startup founders. Our group
working together and supporting one an-
visit www.innovateniagara.com.
met with senior staff to discuss and share best practices,
other they can achieve far more than by
programming, community/cluster building, event ideas, busi-
doing it alone.
ness/client services and establish connections for Canadian companies wishing to connect into Silicon Valley.
Steve Boese is the chief digital officer of the
As Kevin Spacey famously said, “If you
Generator at one. For more information,
are lucky enough to do well, it’s your respon-
please call 905.685.3460 x208, email
Tour stops included Runway, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Cen-
sibility to send the elevator back down.” This
[email protected] or visit
ter, Galvanize, Orange Silicon Valley, Launch Incubator, We-
same modus operandi is evident in Silicon
www.thegeneratoratone.com.
Work and Google & 500 Startups. The CDMN also organized
Valley.
an investor dinner and a dinner with founders of Canadian
We learned a lot on our trip and are actively
companies that now call Silicon Valley home. We also met
putting what we learned into practice. Every
@innovateniagara
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