Code is a Founder and
Managing Director of Mistral Venture Partners - an early stage venture capital
firm with offices in Ottawa, Ontario and San Jose, California. Code has more
than 25 years of experience as a company founder, operating executive and
investor. As a Venture Capital and
private investor, Code has invested in more than 30 technology companies across
North America.
Prior to Mistral, Code
was the Chief Operating Officer of Zephyr Technology (acquired by Covidien
NYSE: COV), an Investment Director at Motorola Ventures in California and a
Principal at Gabriel Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley based Venture Capital
Firm. Code began his career as a design engineer at IBM in Toronto Canada,
before moving to the United States in 1997.
Techstars is a global network that helps entrepeneurs succeed.
A curated source for everything entrepreneurial in your community.
Startup Week: Celebrating entrepreneurs is communities across the globe.
Start building your future in just 54 hours. Learn, Network, Startup.
Learn More
- Overview
- Schedule
- Judges
- Coaches and Mentors
- Organizing Team
Startup Weekend UOttawa
Friday, November 16 - 18, 2018
Event Alerts and Updates
Get the latest on Techstars Startup Weekend, Ottawa-Gatineau, and other local events through Techstars Startup Digest.
Startup Weekend UOttawa
Friday, November 16 - 18, 2018
Friday, November 16 - 18, 2018
Event starts at 6:30 pm
STEaM Multi-Purpose Space, STEM 117
150 Louis-Pasteur Private
Ottawa,
ON
K1N 9A7
Buy Tickets
Your idea in 54 hours
Do you have an idea you'd like to pursue or a problem you'd like to solve but don't know where to start or who to start with?
Techstars Startup Weekend - University of Ottawa Edition is the place to look for a team, create a prototype of your idea, validate your business idea, and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, all in one weekend.
What do you need to bring?
Lots of energy! You'll pitch your own idea or listen to others, then vote on the most interesting ideas and form teams with diverse skill sets. You can come with friends, but you’ll get the full experience if you participate in separate teams. Remember, it’s all about the team.
Your idea should be something you have not previously worked on. The idea you pitch and the problem you set out to solve can span social, educational, financial, environmental, or other issues. Over the course of the weekend you'll be challenged to create a prototype of your MVP, or minimum viable product, that fits the needs of your target customer. You'll get feedback, iterate, and likely pivot your approach entirely! Important: You cannot have worked previously on your idea.
This time around, you can win The Startup Weekend First Place Award and three additional non-ranking prizes in:
1) The largest Social Impact
2) Includes the best Maker Component
3) Uses or impacts Health Technology the most effectively
Teams can compete in multiple categories, but we reserve the right to not award a prize in a category if minimum standards are not met.
Techstars Startup Weekend is a full weekend long experience. Your ticket includes:
- 7 full (and delicious) meals over the course of the weekend
- Benefits and discounts from our global partners
- One-on-one time with amazing mentors
- A new network of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs eager, like you, to change the world.
- All the internet and coffee you can consume.
Watch the video below to see what you can expect, and if you’re feeling inspired click on the “Buy Ticket” button now!
We hope to see you out there and welcome you to send any and all questions to ehub@uottawa.ca
Don’t wait any longer and join the Techstars Startup Weekend movement!
No talk, all action!
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday November 16th
6:30 pm
Registration
Arrive at the venue and get checked in
7:00 pm
Dinner & Networking
Eat food, share ideas, practice pitches, get to know fellow participants
7:20 pm
Welcome & Speakers
Review agenda for the weekend and introduce speakers, coaches, and community leaders
7:30 pm
Pitches Start
Optionally line up to give your pitch
9:00 pm
Voting
Attendees vote for the top pitches
9:15 pm
Form Teams
Teams start forming and discussing ideas
10:00 pm
Begin Work
Start to formalize teams and take an inventory of skills. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
Saturday November 17th
9:00 am
Breakfast
Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
9:30 am
Begin Work
Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
Check-In
After-lunch check-in, status reports, call for help
2:00 pm
Coach Meetings
Coaches help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!
6:30 pm
Dinner
7:30 pm
Check-In
After-dinner check-in, status reports, call for help
10:00 pm
Wrap-Up
Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
Sunday November 18th
9:00 am
Breakfast
Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
10:00 am
Check-In
Coaches arrive. Final opportunity to ask questions
12:00 pm
Lunch
12:30 pm
Coach Meetings
Coaches arrive… ASK QUESTIONS
3:00 pm
Presentation Prep & Tech Check
Final hours of worktime should be focused on perfecting your presentation, tech-check for final presentations also takes place
4:00 pm
Dinner
5:00 pm
Final Presentations
7:30 pm
Judging & Awards
8:30 pm
Wrap-Up
9:00 pm
Go Home!
Event Judges
Code Cubitt
Code is a Founder and Managing Director - Mistral Venture Partners
Catherine Geci | Business Mentor
Program Manager, Startup Garage
Catherine is the Program Manager at Startup Garage - a 3-month accelerator program to foster and support youth entrepreneurship in the Ottawa area. Since 2011, she has worked with Innovation Support Services at the University of Ottawa where she is responsible for assessing new technologies, and develops and implements commercialization plans.
Catherine holds a Bachelor and Masters of Science from McGill University and a law degree from the Universite de Montreal.
Catherine holds a Bachelor and Masters of Science from McGill University and a law degree from the Universite de Montreal.
Frank Bouchard | Maker & General
Co-founder Wipebook
Frank Bouchard is the inventor of the Wipebook: The Reusable Whiteboard Notebook.
Frank combined a prototype, creativity and a entrepreneurship class project and turned them into a company. The idea took off after Frank and his classmate/co-founder launched a $4,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund product development. The result: 7,978 backers and $424 314 to kick Wipebook into overdrive! The team then had the opportunity to pitch on Dragon’s Den where they were offered a deal from Arlene Dickinson for 300,000$. Wipebook now sells its product in 68 countries around the world and can be found in Staples and Wallmart retail stores across Canada.
Frank combined a prototype, creativity and a entrepreneurship class project and turned them into a company. The idea took off after Frank and his classmate/co-founder launched a $4,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund product development. The result: 7,978 backers and $424 314 to kick Wipebook into overdrive! The team then had the opportunity to pitch on Dragon’s Den where they were offered a deal from Arlene Dickinson for 300,000$. Wipebook now sells its product in 68 countries around the world and can be found in Staples and Wallmart retail stores across Canada.
Michael Murr
Executive Director CSED
Collaborative and client focused, Michael comes to CSED with more than 25 years of experience developing and implementing strategies and initiatives that improve the economic prosperity and environmental sustainability of local communities.At the City of Ottawa, Michael spearheaded economic development programs and partnerships with industry stakeholders, chambers of commerce, business improvement areas and other levels of government to improve business conditions and support business success.
Michael also served in an environmental role at the City of Ottawa, developing long-term sustainability plans, coordinating the installation of solar energy arrays on municipal buildings and supporting the renewal of a green building partnership program.In Michael’s most recent role as Executive Director of EnviroCentre, an Ottawa-based not-for-profit, Michael led the organization through a time of significant change and renewal. He realigned and expanded service offerings, energized the team and ensured that the organization delivered on its commitments to clients across Ontario.
Michael also served in an environmental role at the City of Ottawa, developing long-term sustainability plans, coordinating the installation of solar energy arrays on municipal buildings and supporting the renewal of a green building partnership program.In Michael’s most recent role as Executive Director of EnviroCentre, an Ottawa-based not-for-profit, Michael led the organization through a time of significant change and renewal. He realigned and expanded service offerings, energized the team and ensured that the organization delivered on its commitments to clients across Ontario.
Coaches and Mentors
Marco Janeczek
Director Accelerator + Incubator, L-Spark
Marco Janeczek’s currently serves as a director to L-SPARK,
an Ottawa based SaaS accelerator and is the Managing Partner of Infinite Ventures,
where he invests, advises and creates early stage startups.
Marco’s entrepreneurial journey began with the creation of Gables Medical Billing System and Perfumes.ca.
His early passion for startups has given him the possibilities to be part of great teams and products,
in a variety of roles including CEO, VP Sales, and Product Development, as well as advisory roles in
companies such as Yostro, OnTab, Pat Group, TOWNHILL Software, Gbatteries, hatchbrands, Pcsso, Responsa, Zikera, Zooppa, DomainsIncome, Ottawa Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy,
Planet Domains and Decisyon. Marco experience ranges from idea creation, product development,
customer development, M&A and partnerships. When possible, Marco commits time to StartupWeekends and FounderInstitute.
Manu Sharma
Founder, Managing Partner - OAK Computing
Manu is an Engineer by background, Technology Entrepreneur by choice, and Community Activist at heart. He has spent the last 15 years of his life building unique technology solutions, encouraging young entrepreneurs, supporting community betterment initiatives, facilitating innovation relationships and developing niche talent advancement programs. Manu has a strong strategic interest in creating opportunities to empower individuals, organizations and communities to connect, communicate, collaborate and co-create.
Manu is currently engaged as a Managing Partner with OAK Computing, an Ottawa based full service software development firm that he co-founded. Manu manages the commercial and business interests at OAK, making sure that the creative success of the team is continually translated into viable and sustainable business opportunities. Recently Manu accepted the position of Entrepreneur-in-Residence at 1125@Carleton, an experimental, collaborative space at Carleton University dedicated to problem solving, whether focused on new products and services, or addressing irritants or complex “wicked” problems. Manu is a Trustee with Kiva Zip and he sits on the board of HUB Ottawa. Previously, Manu worked with Ottawa Centre for Reseach and Innovation (OCRI) as the Manager of Entrepreneurship Development & Innovation Support, a role in which he developed, managed, facilitated and supported youth leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation support programs in Ottawa.
Manu is currently engaged as a Managing Partner with OAK Computing, an Ottawa based full service software development firm that he co-founded. Manu manages the commercial and business interests at OAK, making sure that the creative success of the team is continually translated into viable and sustainable business opportunities. Recently Manu accepted the position of Entrepreneur-in-Residence at 1125@Carleton, an experimental, collaborative space at Carleton University dedicated to problem solving, whether focused on new products and services, or addressing irritants or complex “wicked” problems. Manu is a Trustee with Kiva Zip and he sits on the board of HUB Ottawa. Previously, Manu worked with Ottawa Centre for Reseach and Innovation (OCRI) as the Manager of Entrepreneurship Development & Innovation Support, a role in which he developed, managed, facilitated and supported youth leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation support programs in Ottawa.
Brad Forsyth
Entrepreneur, Executive, Director, Advisor
Forsyth has been working in the Canadian tech ecosystem over the past 30 years in several leadership roles. He was the founding CEO of Mxi Technologies, where he grew the company from 12 to 300 employees. He has also held board and advisory roles in companies like TrueNorth Avionics, WorldReach software, and Grantium.
Terri Storey
Founder SnapClarity
Terri Storey is the Founder and President of Terrace Wellness GroupTerrace Youth Residential Services (TYRS), an Ontario-wide residential treatment program for youth, and the more recent Terrace Wellness Centre, a family mental health clinic offering a broad range of integrated assessment and therapeutic services. Terri started TYRS over 20 years ago with a personal passion “to develop services that meet the mental health needs of youth, without the barriers”. A recipient of Ottawa’s 2014 Entrepreneur Businesswoman of the Year, Terri is a leader and a visionary in the field of mental health and she brings this expertise and deep understanding of Canadian mental health issues and barriers to treatment to Snapclarity.
Organizing Team
Techstars Startup Weekend Ottawa-Gatineau is 100% led by volunteer community leaders.
Learn how to get involved here
Facilitators
Krissie Harrigan
Organizer, Operations Lead
Proud to be geeky. Unhealthy obsessions with the internet, data, marketing, and customer experience. Spent a decade working with enterprises like Google, American Express, and Chase Bank on demand gen and marketing campaigns, then took a leap of faith with an early stage tech startup (acquired in 2013) and have never looked back.
Currently Co-Founder of TenStartups - A community-based accelerator program (Alpha), and JustReply - A performance reporting platform that prompts employees to report things back by simply replying to an email. (Beta).
Passionate about helping startups and entrepreneurs with growth and marketing strategies and execution. Unofficial Startup Weekend, Ladies Learning Code, and Code for Kids ambassador.
Currently Co-Founder of TenStartups - A community-based accelerator program (Alpha), and JustReply - A performance reporting platform that prompts employees to report things back by simply replying to an email. (Beta).
Passionate about helping startups and entrepreneurs with growth and marketing strategies and execution. Unofficial Startup Weekend, Ladies Learning Code, and Code for Kids ambassador.
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