Since its inception in 2009, Canada 3.0 has always been hosted in Stratford, but this year’s event marked the first ever Toronto lineup — and what a way to kick things off.

The Digital Media Zone was there to promote and showcase our startups, as well as network with Canada 3.0 attendees, and a few of our DMZ teams came out to promote too! Alongside DMZ rep Matthew Kerry was Debora Rubin of Ping Pong Story. Other DMZ teams that were at Canada 3.0 included Komodo OpenLab, HitSend, Viafoura and Authintic.

According to the CDMN site, over 1,800 attendees came in person, and nearly 8,000 virtual attendees followed along via the Internet.

Keynote speeches from this year’s Canada 3.0 event included talks by former Wired editor-in-chief Chris Anderson, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, and Club Penguin co-founder Lane Merrifield. We got a chance to catch Mr. Merrifield’s talk, and he had no shortage of advice for startups.

“Canada has excellent entrepreneurial spirit, & is the best place to start a new business,” says Lane Merrifield, co-founder, @clubpenguin.

— Digital Media Zone (@RyersonDMZ) May 15, 2013

(On hiring friends) “if you’re not prepared to fire em, don’t hire em,” says @clubpenguin co-founder Lane Merrifield. Good #startup advice!

— Digital Media Zone (@RyersonDMZ) May 15, 2013

We even got a chance to catch the Director of NASA’s social media manager Jason Townsend.

So much cool stuff happening at #CDA30 @can3_0, including a live chat with @nasa‘s social media director! twitter.com/RyersonDMZ/sta…

— Digital Media Zone (@RyersonDMZ) May 15, 2013

The Digital Media Zone is a big believer in Canadian entrepreneurial talent, and based on our startup teams, we know we have no shortage of digital prowess and homegrown skill in Canada. We’re very happy to see organizations like the Canadian Digital Media Network do what they are doing to help our digital landscape flourish.

Overall, the two-day event was a great success, and we’re definitely looking forward to next year’s event, which will be in Calgary!

Robert Platek, CEO of brand new DMZ team SensorSuite, was recently on Business News Network’s The Pitch, the show that gives Canadian entrepreneurs an opportunity to chat with risk capitalists and investors who have the bank to help get their startup businesses off the ground. Hosted by BNN’s Andrew Bell, it airs every Friday at 8:30 pm EST.

In his SensorSuite presentation, Rob demonstrates how to correctly translate high-energy excitement and business-savvy facts into an informative, focused pitch.

Take note startups, this is how it’s done! Great job, Rob!

 By Alysha D’Souza

Saturday, May 11th was Science Rendezvous’ annual cross-county celebration of innovations and new technology in several different areas of science. For one day every year, several venues all across Canada are transformed into hundreds of interactive displays, experiments and educational performances. Each participating University or science-related organization gets assigned their own “playground” in the city they are located in. The challenge is to create an array of attractions that are free and interactive to the public, to encourage the audience to take a look at the latest scientific advancements. In Toronto, alongside Ryerson University, the following schools were involved in making this event a success:

University of Toronto
Hospital of Sick Children (SickKids)
Ontario Genomics Institute
Ontario Science Centre
Toronto Public Libraries
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
York University

Dundas Square was taken over by Ryerson University this year, setting up demonstrations of all sorts, including: Biology, Architecture, Agriculture, Robotics, Technology, Science Equipment, Kids Zone, and of course, Digital Media.

The DMZ was proud to showcase some of our newest technologies, encouraging children and audience members of all ages to discover what Digital Media means for science. Some of our very own teams such as Komodo OpenLab and Flybits were accompanied by Dr. Mad Science in displaying their innovative ideas in the heart of Toronto, attracting large audiences and inspiring hundreds of miniature future scientists. Visitors who came to the Digital Media Zone section of Science Rendezvous got a hands-on tutorial on how Komodo OpenLab is creating hardware and software to improve the lives of people with disabilities. They also got introduced to Flybits’ singing, dancing, face-recognizing robot (named Jacques-Louis) who specialized in augmented reality!

Children who came to our booth also got a better understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur by taking part in our “Design the Phone of the Future” activity, allowing them to rely on their creative minds to come up with a customized, futuristic cell phone using arts, crafts and their imagination.

For more information, please visit www.sciencerendezvous.ca

Here at the Digital Media Zone, we welcome the newest, hottest, and latest technology with open arms. We sure loove our internet, too. Most of our startups are involved in industries that exist completely in the virtual world.

Heck, the word digital is in our name!

Still though, we believe some things are best left to experience IRL. That’s internet-speak for “in real life,” meaning, um, not through a screen.

So that’s why we’re opening our doors and inviting you to come get a first-hand account of what makes our collaborative, thriving work culture so empowering for entrepreneurs, startups, and creative minds.

Hot off the heels of our third anniversary (!!!), we’ll be celebrating three years of DMZ expansion during the tour. Starting from one office at 10 Dundas St. E, we now occupy five floors and can’t wait to show you what we’ve done with it.

On Wednesday May 22, join us for a full tour of the new digs, come meet some of our entrepreneurs who will demo their latest projects, and see for yourself what goes on at one of Canada’s largest incubators.

If you’re an entrepreneur with ideas that you’d love to make a reality, please RSVP and bring your ideas, enthusiasm, and potential with you.

Please let us know you’re coming as we only have a limited number of available spaces. If you have any questions, contact Kirstyn, our tour guide extraordinaire.

Mejuri co-founder Noura Sakkijha gives a first-hand account of her participation in the CN Tower Elevator Pitch, a challenge hosted by the International Startup Festival.

The doors of the CN Tower elevator are closing, leaving me shoulder-to-shoulder with two potential investors and a large stop clock. I have 58 seconds to pitch my company, Mejuri, and that 58 seconds starts now.

Normally, this would be a piece of cake. Like any ambitious entrepreneur, I’ve practiced my pitch over and over. I’m just not used to pitching in an elevator with a glass floor.

Did I mention that I’m scared of heights?

Now the doors are shut completely, and I find myself feeling very thankful that the elevator windows are covered…but that doesn’t help the floor.

Don’t look down, I think to myself. Whatever you do, don’t look down.

And then I realize: that’s exactly the philosophy to take with my pitch: take a deep breath and jump right in, never looking down. With less than a minute on the clock, I take it back to basics, focusing on the five things all investors want to hear:

The problem:

• With lack of innovation in the fine jewellery market, there is little means for talented designers to take their products to market and for customers to access unique designs.

The solution:

• Mejuri is the first and only crowdsourcing platform for jewellery designers and jewellery lovers.

Metrics:

• In just six months, Mejuri has 16,000 Facebook likes and 290 registered designers in 21 countries.

Short and medium-term goals:

• To develop offline sales partnerships with retailers and enhance the technology.

The USP:

• Mejuri is a web-based company with manufacturing capabilities and a strong network of suppliers creating a just-in-time inventory system.

My pitch is finished with a few seconds to spare. The elevator doors open and I see a growing crowd of young startups anxiously waiting their turn. I step out with a new found confidence. If I could conquer my fear of heights while delivering a high-pressure pitch in under a minute, I can do anything.

–

Noura Sakkijha went on to win the CN Tower elevator pitch challenge. As winner, she will be flown to Montreal to participate in another elevator pitch contest against winners from other cities. Noura is co-founder of Mejuri and received an MBA from The Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

DMZ reps Stacy Woloschuk and Alysha D’Souza chat with CUTC conference attendees.

Over the weekend, the Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference had its annual Infect conference at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM). Attracting leaders in the technology industry, bright-eyed students and entrepreneurs to a weekend of networking, collaborating and idea sharing, Infect focused on “satiating curiosity without drowning delegates in unnecessary formality.”

Taking place on May 4th and 5th in both Toronto and Vancouver, this year’s conference included talks by Mike Shaver, Director of Mobile Engineering at Facebook, space entrepreneur Dr. Bob Richards, Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, as well as CEO of Wolfram Research, Dr. Stephen Wolfram. The conference also held breakout sessions with many industry pros from the tech startup scene, sharing their unique insights and perspectives with ambitious students interested in pursuing a career in the field.

On Saturday afternoon, Infect’s Tech Expo portion packed two floors of the TRSM with companies of all sizes giving demos and information about their potential opportunities.

DMZ representatives Alysha D’Souza and Stacy Woloschuk set up shop, and gave attendees information about what the DMZ is about, how their potential idea might come alive at the DMZ, and what Ryerson University is doing to help young, ambitious minds interested in getting their big concepts off the ground.

Mauricio Meza of Komodo OpenLab talking with Infect members.

DMZ team members Mauricio Meza of Komodo OpenLab and Cammi Pham of Thumble also had tables set up, demoing their products to Infect participants.

Thumble rep Cammi Pham and volunteer Alicia Nguyen give an app demonstration at Infect.

As the Tech Expo portion of the Infect weekend came to a close, we got to talking with a few of the companies at the CUTC, and took place in a Twitter contest with Big Viking Games.

Our #BigViking Digital Media Zone Vikings. Yeah, Vikings. #infect13 twitter.com/RyersonDMZ/sta…

— Digital Media Zone (@RyersonDMZ) May 4, 2013

 

Love the Digital Media Zone Crew! #infect13 #bigviking twitter.com/b_medeiro/stat…

— Brittany Medeiros (@b_medeiro) May 4, 2013

Unfortunately, we didn’t win.

But we did get a chance to make some wonderful connections with young entrepreneurs at the CUTC’s Infect event and are happy to report that the whole weekend went off without a hitch! Thanks to everybody who stopped by our booth to learn about startup opportunities at the DMZ, and we’ll see you next year.

The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University Celebrates its Third Anniversary

Startup incubator evolves and grows to help more innovators achieve success

TORONTO, May 1, 2013 —- The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) is celebrating its third anniversary with a look its achievements and impact to date, and a view ahead to more ingenuity, experiential learning and innovation.  Marking the occasion is an interactive microsite detailing landmark moments in the incubator’s three-year history, including a visit by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the graduation of 500px, voted Canada’s top startup, and the launch of Flybits’ internationally recognized context-aware and cloud computing technology.  The site also provides information on new ways for budding entrepreneurs to engage with the DMZ over the next year, including a variety of hack-a-thons, workshops and tours. To view the microsite, visit the DMZ’s website at www.ryerson.ca/dmz and click the image entitled “Ready to Break Down the Walls?”

Looking forward, the DMZ announces a significant expansion with the addition of  20,000 sq. ft. of new space on two additional floors. DMZ offerings have also evolved with new educational programs and industry opportunities supporting innovators on their path to business success. These additions ensure that the Ryerson University and the DMZ continue to lead in innovation, responding to the needs of its entrepreneurs at every stage of growth of a young business.

“The Digital Media Zone is a phenomenon in postsecondary education,” said Sheldon Levy, president, Ryerson University. “The response here at home and globally is passionate because the link to our economy, society and culture is clear. Our entrepreneurs and innovators are seen as adapting new technologies to create jobs and businesses, and this excitement will continue to grow as DMZ breaks new ground.”

“The DMZ first opened its doors in April 2010,” added Valerie Fox, executive director, Digital Media Zone. “In three short years, we’ve incubated 80 companies, launched 130 projects and created more than 750 new jobs. Our new expanded offerings and opportunities will reinforce Ryerson as a world-class innovation leader and a unique ecosystem of collaboration and cross-pollination between students, entrepreneurs and industry partners.”

Moving ahead, the DMZ continues to provide a variety of incubator tools, including workspace, mentoring, business and market plan advice, early-stage entrepreneurial teams need to successfully launch their businesses. In order to further support high-potential startups, Ryerson Futures Inc. (RFI) launched in the fall of 2012 to operate an acceleration program. RFI also manages an Innovation for Hire program that assembles teams of students, entrepreneurs and industry experts to collaborate and develop solutions to real-world industry problems. For more information about Ryerson Futures Inc., visit www.ryersonfutures.ca.

Beginning in June 2013 the DMZ will also host its first international fellows from China. These student innovators join the DMZ for four-month tenures as part of Ryerson University’s ongoing international outreach efforts to bring together the world’s best and brightest innovators in the DMZ. To date, students from India and Israel have incubated their companies alongside the DMZ’s other entrepreneurs providing and receiving an international business perspective.

New Ryerson educational programs embedded within the DMZ provide students with opportunities to learn to about digital media entrepreneurship and develop their own business ideas. The first of its kind in Canada, Ryerson’s Digital Specialization Program offers students, graduates, and professionals the opportunity to combine their area of study with specialized learning in digital innovation, startup strategy, and industry problem solving. For more information about the Digital Specialization Program, visit www.digitalspecialization.ryerson.ca. Ryerson’s brand new Master’s in Digital Media is an intensive 12-month professional program designed to equip students with the skills and experience they need to lead the way in Canada’s growing digital media industry. Set to start in September 2013, the program will be a combination of technical, creative and business learning and application of those skills in a final six-month project. This final “thesis” is either the development of a digital media company, product or service and/or can be traditional MA research on a particular digital specialization.  For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca/graduate/digitalmedia.

Also located with the DMZ is the new Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario funded Ryerson Centre for Cloud and Context-Aware Computing (RC4). The only centre of its kind in the world, RC4 supports southern Ontario companies to develop context aware applications—the future of mobile computing—for smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices. Context-aware computing automatically provides users with timely content in response to physical surroundings, activities and time of day that is relevant to their gender, age and preferences. Another key area of focus for RC4 is the advancement of the “Internet of Everything”, an infrastructure to support a future where everyday objects will be virtually connected to the cloud. RC4 will be the only centre in Canada dedicated to context-aware computing and will position southern Ontario as a global leader in this emerging technology sector.

The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) is one of Canada’s largest incubators and multi-disciplinary co-working spaces for young entrepreneurs. Set atop Yonge-Dundas Square, and infused with the energy and resources of downtown Toronto, this hub of digital media innovation, collaboration and commercialization is home to both startups and industry solution-providers. The DMZ leads the way in experiential learning and business success by creating a unique ecosystem of education and entrepreneurship. Emerging leaders fast-track their product launches and grow their companies in this supportive community by connecting with mentors, customers and each other. Since opening in April 2010, the DMZ has stimulated Canada’s digital economy by incubating and accelerating 84 startups and launching 134 projects. For more information about the Digital Media 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 38,900 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.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Clegg
Media Relations Officer
Digital Media Zone, Ryerson University
416-979-5000 x 2997
lauren.clegg@ryerson.ca

By Ricky Fung

Does the world need another photo-sharing app?  

The honest answer is No. The world does not NEED another photo-sharing app. I think what we really need is a cure for cancer  but unfortunately that’s not something I’m going to be able to contribute to the world.

So, why did we build Thumble?

Clay and I built Thumble because we got bored with the photos that are on the other apps.  We felt like it was the same stuff over and over again.  I guess when you make it so easy to take a photo, we are all inevitably going to fall into some pattern.

A better photo-sharing experience

So, we decided to build a photo-sharing app that’s going to call people out to take the photos we think would be more interesting.

We’ve created badges that asks you to post pics to albums like ‘Super Dance Moves,’ ‘Kicks,’ ‘Lonely Man Dinners,’ etc.  Users will also have the ability to create their own albums and move the world to take the photos that they want to see.

Rewards from the brands you love

The second motivation, albeit a rather ambitious one, was to build a system where users and advertisers don’t have to be at odds. There’s a million reasons why people don’t want to see ads, and having been a small business owner for the better half of the last decade, that really pains me.

I believe small businesses are the lifeforce of our economy and I certainly don’t want users to hate my business because I am forced to advertise in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.

I think people generally put up with these types of ads because their friends use the app, and there are enough hooks in the system for you to stomach them.  But if you were given a fresh slate and you could transport all your friends and content to another system, would you?

Respecting users’ privacy

Here at Thumble, we don’t believe in ‘push’ ads that invade your privacy and tell others what you like without your permission.  We believe that the best way for brands to spread the word about their business is to just ask nicely.  If you like them, you will tell others about them, it’s as simple as that.  And, if you are nice enough to help them out, they should offer you a reward for it.

And, that’s it.  We created Thumble – A photo app that offers exclusive rewards for your photos.

Uber campaign

One campaign we are running for our launch is from our friends at Uber: Post a photo of you and your friends after a few drinks to /dontdrinkanddrive and receive a $20 credit on your first black car ride.

If you share our ideals, please do give Thumble a try.  It’s hard to communicate our feelings of gratitude through the app, but know that we appreciate each and every one of you who is willing to take a chance on us.

Win tickets to a Maple Leafs playoff game!

Oh, and as an incentive to try the app, we thought what better rewards than to give away Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs playoff tickets for the first round. The contest details are inside the “Rewards” section of the app.

We hope to see you all inside Thumble!  You can download the app at this link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thumble/id581959752?ls=1&mt=8

The Intelligent Community Forum visited the DMZ on April 17.

Feeling particularly smart? If you’re reading this from Toronto, you should! Our city was recently named one the world’s brainiest communities by a New York-based think tank called the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). Shuffling through a list of 400 city applications last October, the ICF awarded Toronto, along with our Ontario neighbour Stratford, as one of seven top intelligent cities worldwide.

Members of the ICF’s executive team came for a tour of Toronto’s most unique beacons for driving innovation, research, and opportunity. Among their stops was the Digital Media Zone, where ICF co-founder Robert Bell and other members of the Forum paid a visit on April 17.

Greeted by DMZ Director Valerie Fox, the ICF was met with a full overview of our space. They received presentations by some of our entrepreneurs, including Mauricio Meza of Komodo Open Lab, Mark Patterson of WhoPlusYou, Robert Platek of SensorSuite, Thiago Ciares and Michal Prywata of Bionik Labs, HitSend co-founder Brennan McEachran, Jonathan Ingham of Phosphorus Media, and DMZ alumni 500px founders Oleg Gustol and Evgeny Tchebotarev. The ICF then shared lunch with Ryerson University President Sheldon Levy, and finished the visit with a talk from Dr. Hossein Rahnama, the DMZ’s Research and Innovation Director.

We thank the Intelligent Community Forum for paying us a visit, and look forward to seeing where Toronto will place at the ICF Summit. The annual Summit, which takes place on June 5-7 in New York City, is where the ICF will present the award for 2013′s Intelligent Community of the Year. Our fingers are crossed!

Viafoura and Ryerson University bring the global event to Toronto for the first time

Big Data Week Toronto is co-hosted by Viafoura and Ryerson University. It takes place April 22 – 28, 2013

 TORONTO, April 22, 2013 —- Viafoura and Ryerson University are proud to co-host Big Data Week Toronto, taking place April 22^nd to 28^th. The week-long event will consist of a series of meet-ups, a hack-a-thon and a cocktail networking soirée, all designed to bring together business and technology leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities inherent in ‘big data.’ To learn more about or register to attend Big Data Week Toronto, visit www.viafoura.com/bdw.

The term ‘big data’ has emerged in recent years to refer to the proliferation of data that has resulted from the advent of the Internet, social media and other digital technologies. Experts warn that the current pace and scale of data generation will bring about significant technological and societal challenges. Conversely, entrepreneurs and business leaders see ‘big data’ as a potential treasure trove, a resource with which entirely new products, services and even industries will be built.

“In the next ten years, big data will cause as much transformation in the way we live and work as the Internet has in the past ten,” said Ali Ghafour, Chief Technology Officer at Viafoura and co-chair of Big Data Week Toronto. “We’re organizing this event to better understand what that transformation will look like, for businesses and individuals alike.”

The marquee event during Big Data Week Toronto will be a cocktail and networking soirée to be held at the Drake Hotel the evening of Thursday, April 25^th. Senior executives from three media companies will convene for a panel discussion titled “Media Meets Big Data,” which will explore the unique challenges and opportunities that big data holds for the media industry. Panelists include Tom Cochran, Chief Technology Officer at Atlantic Media, Tessa Sproule, Director of Digital at the CBC, and Craig Saila, Director of Digital Media at the Globe and Mail.

The Toronto edition is part of an international affiliation of Big Data Weeks, 25 of which will concurrently take place in cities all over the world. This is the second annual Big Data Week internationally but the first year Toronto will be participating.

 “We’re honoured to co-host with Viafoura to help create a platform to better understand this important technology trend,” said Valerie Fox, Executive Director Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ), which is providing venues and support for Big Data Week Toronto. “Given Ryerson’s deep ties to the technology world, the startup community and the media industry, it makes sense to start these important conversations at the DMZ, a hub of digital innovation.”

ABOUT BIG DATA

“Humans now create in two days the same amount of data that it took from the dawn of civilization until 2003 to create.” - Eric Schmidt, Chairman of Google

 Human civilization is creating data at a nearly incomprehensible pace and scale. The advent of the Internet and subsequent creation of social media have caused millions of organizations and hundreds of millions of people to be data generators. Every day, the connected world produces billions of individual pieces of content, via web pages, tweets, blog posts, status updates, location check-ins, video and photo uploads, and much more.

The scale of data proliferation represents many challenges. How are businesses and governments to store, organize and secure such huge amounts of data? But for every challenge there is a corresponding opportunity. In these haystacks of data there lie needles of insight that could make governments more effective, businesses more profitable, individual lives more fruitful, civilization itself more self-aware.

Viafoura is the leading audience engagement and monetization platform for large media companies. Our software-as-a-service platform helps our clients increase audience engagement, capture valuable user data and deliver smarter, data-driven monetization strategies. Our growing client roster includes Hearst Media, France 24, Bell Media, Discovery Channel, Gatehouse Media, and other top-tier media brands. To learn more about our technology and how it can drive monetization for your company, visit www.viafoura.com.

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 38,900 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.

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 If you would like more information on Big Data Week Toronto or to schedule an interview with the event’s organizers or speakers, contact:

Chris Advansun,
Director of Marketing
Viafoura
647-966-6743
chris@viafoura.com

Ryerson media contact:      

Lauren Clegg
Media Relations Officer
Digital Media Zone, Ryerson University
416-979-5000 x 2997
lauren.clegg@ryerson.ca