An entrepreneur is a person that is driven toward success. Keep ahead of the startup game with these important tips.

Curated content: Canada Business Review on May 9, 2011 

Curated content: Toronto Star - Media Planet Magazine Insert -New and Moderne Business, May 2011

Entrepreneurship is first and foremost a “state of mind”. It is less of something that can be taught than it is a core personality trait buried deep inside one’s soul, a drive, a hunger to succeed, a never ending feeling of dissatisfaction, sensing the necessity to do things differently and make things better. I think entrepreneurship is part of a person’s DNA, providing them with the capability to execute on a vision, like writing an award-winning book, starting from a blank page. The startup tech entrepreneur has the ability to “pick-up” on industry needs, on market trends, identify user pains points and find ways to deliver on those needs by building great products and great businesses.

Are you an entrepreneur? Want to build a successful business from scratch? Than this is for you.

All-in! An entrepreneur must first believe that he is addressing an untapped opportunity and that he has the willingness, drive and passion to go “all-in”. If you aren’t ready to jump, then don’t jump, get a job!

Connectedness! Be connected and stay connected. One of the most important qualities of an entrepreneur is to surround himself with amazing people. Always aim for the best, when seeking co-founders, employees, board members, partners, clients and even investors. It takes time to build real relationships. And every successful entrepreneur I know, have built amazing networks they then converted into relationships, which thereafter often becomes one of the enabling factors of their successes.

Get funded! Attract the right type of financing at the right time. As little as possible early on, in order to validate the product, business model and market demand. It is as critical to choose the right source of capital, as it is to choose the right amount needed at the right stage. Be aware that Venture Capital is made for a certain category of technology companies, tailored for certain stages of growth and is likely the most expensive capital an entrepreneur can attract. Take time to get to know your investors, their interest, their focus, their timelines and investment objectives before accepting any capital.

Build a great product! If you build something that is amazing (think RIM, Taleo, Softimage,Woozworld, iStockPhoto, Fixmo, …) people will adopt it. Think user interface, community virality, focus on customer pains and keep the number of features at a minimum. If you build something that is just “good to have” then your customers will have too many reasons not to select your product. Think “must have” clearly addressable needs and your customer base will thrive.

Don’t wait! Fast iteration provides the best possible results. It’s like continuous improvement, not just of your product but also of your team, your marketing plan and your business development efforts. Once you’ve decided to go a certain way, then go really fast. If something get’s in your way … turn.

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." Mario Andretti, world champion racing driver.

The efforts and steps required to take an idea and develop it into a successful business often seem endless and painful. But the satisfaction for an entrepreneur to have built a successful business is so unique, so intense, that many can’t resist but go back to square one to do it all over again, and again.

Choice! Many forget that the common denominator to any entrepreneurial endeavor is the ability for any and every entrepreneur to choose. Even though some of the younger entrepreneurs may sometimes feel under-privileged, less-connected or not-as-commercially savvy as others, the bottom line is that all entrepreneurs have the ability to choose with who they want to build their busin

esses with and have an equal advantage of choosing the right co-founders, employees, partners, clients as well as investors. Understanding that your “choices” and “decisions” as an entrepreneur are what will make you succeed is priceless.

Entrepreneurs across Canada have access to all the resources needed to succeed in buildingcompetitive global companies. The Canadian economy is vibrant, has one of the best-educated workforce in the world, a deep research infrastructure across the country, an active venture capital and private equity community and our governments are providing support by acting as catalysts in the commercialization of innovation.

So what are you waiting for? Go out and show the world what you can do!

Posted first on May 12, 2011 by Chris Arsenault for CVCA VCRants Blog
I’ve been an active board member of the CVCA – Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association – for many years, with somewhat of a focus on helping make the annual main event a unique and uttermost valuable gathering of the minds that define our private capital industry.

I’m predicting that this year’s event will set new groundbreaking records. In fact, I think that this year’s event will break every record we have logged at the CVCA! And why you may ask? Because this year’s event speakers and attendees are made up of the most active and opinionated leaders in our industry.

We have the largest group ever of Limited Partners attending, coming from across North America, Europe and Brazil, which, in turn, is attracting practically every Venture & Private Equity Fund Manager and General Partner in the country.

This year’s Annual conference is being held from May 25-27^th in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Westin Bayshore.

The speaker lineup is amazing and includes:

Leo DeBever, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)
Barry Gonder, Managing Partner, Grove Street Advisors, LLC
Doug Pearce, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC)
Maurício da Rocha Wanderley, CIO, Valia

Sebastien Burdel, Principal, Coller Capital Ltd.
Alan Hibben, Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions, RBC Capital Markets
John McCoach, President, TSX Venture Exchange
Andrew Rippy, Managing Director - Investment Banking, Pacific Crest Securities

Blair Cowan, Vice-President, Corporate Finance, CIBC
Vipon Ghai, Managing Director, Manulife Capital
Mark Jenkins, Vice-President and Head of Private Debt, CPP Investment Board
Greg Woynarski, Managing Director and Head of the Global Debt Capital Markets Group and Global Co-Head of Credit Capital Markets Group, Scotia Capital

Chris Arsenault, Managing Partner, iNovia Capital Inc.
Jeff Clavier, Founder and Managing Partner, SoftTechVC
John Ruffolo, Senior Vice-President and Head of Knowledge Investing, OMERS
Boris Wertz, CEO, W Media Ventures

Frank Dennis, President and CEO, Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company
Brett Hodson, President and CEO, Corix Group of Companies
Peter Luit, President and CEO, Livingston International

Tim April , Managing Director, Fund Investments, BDC Venture Capital
Jacques Bernier, Managing Partner, Teralys Capital
Jennifer Brooy, Vice President and Head of Equity, Export Development Canada
Melissa McJannet, Managing Director, Northleaf Capital Partners
Todd Tessier, Vice President, BC Renaissance Capital Fund

Stephen Dent, Partner, Birch Hill Equity Partners
Kelly DePonte, Partner, Probitas Partners
Aaron Gershenberg, Managing Partner, SVB Capital
David Henderson, Managing Director , XPV Capital Corporation
Tim Kelly, Partner, Adams Street Partners

Susan Long McAndrews, Partner, Pantheon
Dave Mullen, CEO and Head of Private Equity North America, HSBC Capital (Canada) Inc.
Deanna Brown, CEO, Federated Media Publishing Inc.
Matt Klainer, Business Development Manager , Google
Michael Shim, Vice President, Mobile Partnerships, Groupon

Jim Orlando, Managing Director, OMERS Private Equity
Scott Stedman, Partner, The Yucaipa Companies

Gary Rubinoff, Managing Director, Summerhill Venture Partners
Chris Wormald, Vice President – Strategic Alliances, Research In Motion
Paul Deninger, Senior Managing Director, Evercore Partners

Jennifer Morais , Senior Principal, Funds and Secondaries, CPP Investment Board
Jim Pittman, Vice President, Private Equity, PSP Investments
Rakesh Saraf, Portfolio Manager, Private Investments, Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund Board
Lincoln Webb, Vice President, Private Equity & Infrastructure, BC Investment Management Corporation

Miguel Ferreira, Head of International Markets, Tarpon
Tim Formuziewich, Managing Partner, Brookfield Brazil
Miguel Perrotti, President, Invest Tech
Maurício da Rocha Wanderley, CIO, Valia
Duncan Littlejohn, Managing Director for Latin America, Paul Capital Partners
Michael Woolhouse, Senior Principal, Private Investments, CPP Investment Board

Sidney Chameh, Chairman, ABVCAP Founder and Partner, DGF Investimentos
Martin Pose, Partner, TozziniFreire Advogados

David Snow, Founder & CEO, Privcap

Bing Gordon, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Don Mattrick , President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft
Neil Young, CEO, Ngmoco

Stephen Todd Walker, Managing Director, Oppenheimer & Co., and Author of ‘Wave Theory for Alternative Investments’

And yes! The rumors were well-founded. Entertainment before the traditional Scotch Tasting Evening on the 26^th will be provided by none other than “Great Canadian Entrepreneur and Entertainer Howie Mandel”

HOWIE MANDEL

Howie Mandel, one of the biggest names in comedy, will entertain us after dinner. Howie Mandel has remained a constant force in show business for over 30 years. This summer he embarked on his latest endeavor as a judge on NBC’s hit talent competition series “America’s Got Talent” alongside Sharon Osborne and Piers Morgan. Howie recently received an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Reality/Competition Host” for “Deal or No Deal” and a Daytime Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Game Show Host” for the syndicated version of the show.

So if you are not registered and are looking for “the place to be” later this month, then LINK TO CONFERENCE WEB SITE, SPEAKER LIST & AGENDA and register today – we are almost sold out!

See you in Vancouver!

Originally posted February 16th 2011 for MRI blog

When I first heard of the MaRS Discovery District initiative to put together a delegation of Ontario digital media companies with the objective of storming down to New York to connect with the Madison Avenue influencers, I was somewhat sceptical of the true impact it could have: “How can a few Canadian tech companies take on the Big Apple and get results?”, I thought.

Surprise, I was impressed!

Peter Evans, a great entrepreneur who is now spending his time and energy as part of the MaRS Advisory Services, and his team, simply made it happen. The goal of gathering strong local New York coverage for a select group of Ontario based digital media companies was achieved in part because of Evan’s idea of inviting a group of active Canadian VCs along to join the delegation and participate in every aspect of the two and a half day event. This group of investors automatically called upon their New Yorker based co-investors and VC colleagues to join in. Furthermore, the idea of holding a “pre-conference” half day session the before the opening cocktail reception of the AlwaysOn New York OnMedia 2011 Conference, was well thought through. The selected companies had the unique opportunity to pitch their businesses to the privileged group of Canadian investors as well as the invited New York VC locals and industry colleagues. Even Tony Perkins, founder and editor of AlwaysOn attended the pre-conference sessions and met up with a few of the companies!

But it didn’t stop there. Peter organized two on-site visits and Q&A sessions with hot local digital media companies (AppNexus & Yodle) where both VCs and Entrepreneurs tagged along. Finally, the integration of our 6 Canadian digital media companies into the OnMedia 2011 Conference itself was well orchestrated. Each and every one of the selected companies had the opportunity to either present at the conference or be part of a panel. A lot of knowledge sharing and networking activities.
The select Ontario based digital media companies that attended were:

• gShift Labs - search engine optimization
• InGamer Sports - live event social gaming
• OpenFile - user-generated online newspaper
• PostRank - social engagement and influence ratings
• Viafoura - online user engagement
• Wave Accounting - free accounting application for small businesses

I really appreciated this initiative and meeting up with the selected startups, because it directly supports the message that we can be more successful by being better connected. I think Canada spawns a respectable number of technology startup companies across a broad range of industry sectors, but successful outcomes are still infrequent because they are not sufficiently “connected”. This initiative along-side many others such as: the CIX – Accelerate Program, the C100 48Hrs in the Valley and theGROW conferences are helping mind-the-gap and creates unique opportunities to build stronger relationships across the border and across industries.

We have some amazing tech entrepreneurs in Canada and we are seeing more and more of our tech and digital media companies hit the limelight. AlwaysOn 2011 OnMedia Top Private Companies included two Canadian companies this year:

• Adenyo - Toronto, Ont., Canada (who has been acquired last week!)
• Tynt - Calgary, Alb., Canada (who is one of iNovia Capital’s portfolio companies)

Being part of ground-breaking technology companies recognized for their contributions to marketing, branding, advertising, and publishing is a great way to showcase some of our best companies. But, I do think we should have 5 or even 10 on the list next year!

Like MaRS, we need to continue to showcase our top entrepreneurs, our companies, and further deploy efforts not only across the board but across the continents. We need to be connected, we need to support our entrepreneurs beyond capital.

Connectedness!

Publié pour le MIO le 16 février 2011

Initialement, quand j'ai pris connaissance de l'initiative du MaRs Discovery District destinée à mettre sur pied une délégation commercial de compagnies ontariennes dans le domaine des médias numériques de se rendre à New York pour développer des contacts d’affaires avec les  influents de la Madison Avenue, je dois avouer que j’étais un peu sceptique des résultats espérés :

« Comment est-ce possible pour un si petit groupe d’entreprises canadiennes en technologie de faire leur marque, d’établir une crédibilité et de démontrer notre savoir faire en si peu de temps et y espérer des résultats concrets? »

Finalement, je fus plus qu’impressionné!

Peter Evans, grand entrepreneur qui consacre maintenant son temps et son énergie aux services consultatifs de MaRS, et son équipe ont réalisé un tour de force et ont tout simplement livrés la marchandise. Afin d'obtenir une solide couverture New Yorkaise pour ce petit groupe de compagnies ontariennes dans les médias numériques, ils ont appliqués, entre autre, l'idée de Mr. Evans qui consistait à inviter un groupe d’investisseur actifs en capital-risque canadiens à accompagner la délégation et à participer à  chaque aspect de l'évènement de deux jours et demi. Instinctivement, ce groupe d'investisseurs a incité automatiquement leurs collègues en investissement de la région de New York à se joindre à eux.

De plus, l'idée de tenir une séance d'une demi-journée « pré-conférence » avant le cocktail d'ouverture donné à la conférence OnMedia 2011 Always On New York était géniale. Les compagnies sélectionnées ont eu une occasion unique de se présenter à un groupe privilégié d'investisseurs canadiens, aux partenaires locaux ainsi qu'au groupe d’investisseur en capital-risque de New York. Même Tony Perkins, fondateur et éditeur d'AlwaysOn, a assisté aux séances pré-conférence et a rencontré nos entrepreneurs Canadiens!

Mais on n'en est pas resté-là. Peter a organisé, en plus, deux visites et des séances de questions-réponses avec des compagnies locales en vogue de médias numériques (AppNexus et Yodle), où tant les investisseurs en capital-risque que les entrepreneurs furent invités. Enfin, l'intégration de nos six entreprises canadiennes en médias numériques à la conférence OnMedia 2011 elle-même a été bien orchestrée. Chacune des compagnies sélectionnées, sans exception, a eu l'occasion de présenter un exposé à la conférence ou de faire partie d'un groupe d'experts. Ce qui à donné lieux à beaucoup d'activités de réseautage et de partage de connaissances.

Voici les compagnies distinguées de médias numériques de l'Ontario qui ont assisté à l'événement :

• gShift Labs - Optimisation des moteurs de recherche
• InGamer Sports – Interaction sociaux pour événements en direct
• OpenFile - Journal en ligne créé par les usagers
• PostRank - Cotes de participation et d'influence sociales
• Viafoura – Plateforme de participation et d’interaction d’usagers en ligne
• Wave Accounting - Application de comptabilité gratuite pour les petites entreprises

J'ai vraiment aimé cette initiative et le fait d'avoir rencontré une groupe d’entrepreneurs avec tellement d’énergie. J'appuie avec force le message voulant que nos réussites Canadienne seraient plus grande si nous mettions plus d’énergie à bâtir nos réseaux d’affaires dans des secteurs plus spécialisés. Je crois que le Canada crée un nombre respectable d’entrepreneurs en technologie qui, trop souvent, se limite dans leur réseautage, et avec, comme conséquence, voient des réussites moins fréquentes que nos cousins du sud. Nos jeunes entrepreneurs doivent tisser les liens d’affaire afin d’augmenter de façon radicale leurs chances de succès.

Cette initiative, comme plusieurs autres qui ont vus le jour dans les dernières années, comme CIX – Accelerate Program, le C100 48Hrs dans la Silicone Vallée et les conférences GROW, servent justement à bâtir des ponts et créent des possibilités uniques de consolider ses relations des deux cotés de la frontière et par industrie.

Le Canada dispose de grand entrepreneurs en technologie. Et nous constatons que de plus en plus, nos entreprises en technologie et médias numériques se font remarquer au états-unis. Cette année-ci, au palmarès des Top Private Companies d'AlwaysOn 2011OnMedia se trouvaient deux compagnies canadiennes :

• Adenyo - Toronto, Ontario, Canada (acquise tout récemment)
• Tynt - Calgary, Alberta, Canada (une des compagnies du portefeuille d'iNovia Capital)

En faisant partie de cette liste d’entreprises en technologie révolutionnaire reconnues pour leur contribution commerciale, pour leur stratégie de marque, leur réputation dans les médias et leur positionnement unique, ces entreprises aident à promouvoir le Canada tout entier. Cependant, je crois fermement que, dès l'an prochain, nous devrions avoir sur la liste cinq, voire dix de nos entreprises!

Comme MaRs Discovery District, nous devons continuer de bâtir de la visibilité et des occasions de réseautage pour nos meilleurs entrepreneurs et entreprises en technologies. Nous devons trouver des moyens de déployer plus de ressources, mettre plus d’effort pour supporter notre génération d’entrepreneur en innovation. Il nous faut être connectés, il nous faut appuyer nos entrepreneurs au-delà du capital.

I think the Canadian Tech Community is on fire, and even more so in Montreal. The next few years will be of utmost interest. Many elements required to build a solid foundation for Entrepreneurs seeking to not only launch but also to grow their tech business from their home town, are coming together and I think that the Canadian Innovation Exchange (the “CIX) provides one of those elements. Over the last few years, the CIX quickly became a must-attend conference for the principal players in the innovation economy aiming to showcase and accelerate the development of the great technology-based innovation emanating from Canada. And now, CIX can do even more.

The CIX has offered a great platform for tech leaders, entrepreneurs and investors alike, to connect, to share and to build relationships. This conference has not only been extremely successful, it has been very complementary to other innovation and entrepreneurial driven events such as Startup Camp Montreal (SCMTL), the Banff Venture Forum and The Canadian Financing Forum. Being innovative and taking the lead in developing unique opportunities is what entrepreneurship is all about, and I think that the CIX is doing just that.

By taking the lead in celebrating Canadian successes, showcasing the tremendous innovations coming to market and providing Canadian tech entrepreneurs with more than a “must-attend” conference, with the tools to exchange and access information and people throughout the year, the CIX can become a true catalyst for growth.  By tying into the top Canadians in the Valley (the C100) in order to build stronger links with the global 500 Tech Companies as well as the top tier Valley VC’s, as well as leveraging the multiple initiatives to attract foreign investment into Canada that the CVCA has initiated, and by forging even stronger links with entrepreneurial events such as SCMTL, A100, Anges Quebec, Réseau Capital and others, I expect the CIX to play a critical role in connecting the dots and help deliver even more value to our community.

It’s an honour for me to have the opportunity to collaborate even more closely, as co-chair, with such a great team and to help make CIX an even more important partner to the tech & VC community. I’m really looking forward to gathering feedback, ideas and support from my colleagues and all of those actively wanting to play a part in building up our tech community here in Montreal and across Quebec.

If you have an idea to share please contact me @chrisarsenault

Here is a link to the full CIX press release posted on nextMontreal.com