Jobdeals, SoJo and Tiny Hearts accelerate to success within university’s business incubator
Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone welcomed three new companies into its downtown hub in January 2012. The ventures include an award-winning designer of children’s apps, an online tool for social change and local service provider website. They join 28 other startups currently operating out of Ryerson University’s interdisciplinary workspace for digital thought leadership. Visit www.ryerson.ca/dmz to learn more about these teams and the Zone’s other entrepreneurs.
“We are proud to welcome these three groundbreaking young companies into our business incubator,” said Valerie Fox, Director of the Digital Media Zone. “By fostering these new ideas and connecting the entrepreneurs to helpful businesses and investors, the Zone is fulfilling its mission to build Canada’s digital innovation economy.”
Ryerson University alumnus Robert Platek used the skills he acquired studying for his Bachelor of Computer Engineering to help create Jobdeals.com. Functioning like an eBay® for local jobs, Jobdeals facilitates finding service providers online. Instead of digging through countless postings on sites like craigslist or Kijiji, users post the services they are seeking, such as tutoring, accounting or photographer services, on the website or mobile app. Jobdeals then notifies matching local businesses and professionals and invites them to submit a price quote for that job. With one click users can book an appointment with the service provider of their choice, after perusing respondents’ price, customer feedback and certifications. Jobdeals is a one-stop marketplace for local services, saving time and money for users.
SoJo, short for Social Journal, is an online learning tool that supports youth passionate about social change by providing them with the tools and informational resources necessary to take action and build social ventures. Currently in public beta form, SoJo focuses on the practical “how-to” of idea development and project execution, and on the personal growth of the individual behind the idea. By helping young people navigate the challenges of launching a social venture, the site enables them to focus their creative energies on working with their target to affect social change. Devised by Founder and CEO Kanika Gupta, SoJo is a pioneer and leading example of a product that bridges the gap between technology and social enterprise.
Founded by Robleh Jama, Tiny Hearts creates playful iOS apps, including the #1 Education App Pocket Zoo, a portable zoo for kids and nature lovers. Pocket Zoo ranked as a Top 50 overall (paid) app on the Apple App Store, has been featured in the New York Times and named a “must-have app” by Wired Magazine. Pocket Zoo has also won the Parents’ Choice Award (2011) and been named as App Star Awards runner-up (2010).
Opened in April 2010, Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone is a multidisciplinary workspace for young entrepreneurs infused with the energy and resources of downtown Toronto. Set atop Yonge-Dundas Square, this hub of digital media innovation, collaboration and commercialization is home to both entrepreneurial startups and industry solution-providers. With access to overhead and business services, students and alumni can fast-track their product launches, stimulating Canada’s emerging digital economy through spending and job creation. Since its launch, the Digital Media Zone has incubated and accelerated 39 startup businesses to launch more than 62 projects. Currently the Zone houses 188 innovators in 41 teams. For more information on the Zone, visit www.ryerson.ca/dmz.
Ryerson University is Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 28,000 students, including 2,300 master’s and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 140,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada’s leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca
- 30 -
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Schneider
Media Relations Officer
Digital Media Zone
Ryerson University
416-979-5000 x 2997
lauren.schneider@ryerson.ca
On Twitter: @RyersonDMZ | @RyersonNews
If you require this in another format, please contact Ryerson University Public Affairs at
416-979-5000 x 7134.
