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Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

communitech.ca

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Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#11

Post by rdrimmie »

noirman wrote: post #7

I've spent a couple of weeks at Communitech and the energy is absolutely amazing. Everybody was incredibly driven. If not mistaken, Communitech even claimed that "one new startup comes out from there every day".

For somewhere around a year now, we've had an average of one new startup registering with our Venture Services Group each day. I am struggling with the correct way to be pedantic about it, it's just the connotation of "comes out" that I want to highlight - the startups registering with us don't necessarily meet any minimum requirements, versus those who graduate from one of the incubation or accelerator programs we run or are associated with.

(I work for Communitech, but not in VSG so my understanding is likely to be only slightly more refined than noirman's, and could have a hole or two)

(edit to add: we're working on fixing the site!)

Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#12

Post by yesimahuman »

I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.

Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#13

Post by davidcrow »

yesimahuman wrote: post #12

I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.

I think a lot of the "startup hubs" are missing the need for a "top notch university". The ~4 year talent turn over and resupply is key, it provides an ongoing top up as talent churns. Does it work in startup hubs that don't have a "top notch technical university"?

Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#16

Post by rocky1138 »

noirman wrote: post #7

I've spent a couple of weeks at Communitech and the energy is absolutely amazing. Everybody was incredibly driven. If not mistaken, Communitech even claimed that "one new startup comes out from there every day".

Being part of Hyperdrive was an amazing experience! But, the work doesn't stop at the end of our three months :) In a way, it's just beginning.

Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#18

Post by rdrimmie »

davidcrow wrote: post #13
yesimahuman wrote: post #12

I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.

I think a lot of the "startup hubs" are missing the need for a "top notch university". The ~4 year talent turn over and resupply is key, it provides an ongoing top up as talent churns. Does it work in startup hubs that don't have a "top notch technical university"?

Portland (OR) comes to mind as a place where there's some fantastic tech people and no university, but I'm not sure if it's considered a startup hub or not.

Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#19

Post by prostoalex »

yesimahuman wrote: post #12

I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.

Most people in Waterloo dream of getting out of Waterloo.

Re: Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

#20

Post by bradtgmurray »

prostoalex wrote: post #19
yesimahuman wrote: post #12

I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.

Most people in Waterloo dream of getting out of Waterloo.

As a person living and working in Waterloo for a startup, I wouldn't be so quick to generalize. I quite like it here.
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