Archive for November, 2011

Celebrating youth entrepreneurship: Introducing the 2011 FuEL award winners

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This year, Rogers sponsored PROFIT Magazine’s 2011 FuEL Awards – an initiative created to promote entrepreneurship among young professionals. The 20 winners of the inaugural FuEL Awards represent youth entrepreneurship at its best. Selected by a panel of judges in recognition of their innovation, job creation, community building and financial performance or potential, the winners come from across Canada and a wide array of industries. As a sponsor of the 2011 FuEL Awards we’re pleased to introduce you to some of the winners:

Alexander Levy- Founder, CEO and Lead Designer, MyVoice Inc. Toronto Ont. Age: 24

Alex LevyFor decades, people with communications disorders, such as those caused by stroke, autism and ALS, have had to use super-expensive electronic devices in order to speak. Now, thanks to Alexander Levy and MyVoice, they can make themselves heard much more easily with the company’s app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablet PCs. The basic version of the app is free, and almost 9,000 users—nearly double the number Levy had forecast—have downloaded it in 30 countries. As word spreads and consumer electronics drop in price, Levy expects subscribers to multiply in the years to come.

Matt Rendall – Co-founder and CEO, Clearpath Robotics Inc. Kitchener, Ont. Age: 27

matt rendallAfter graduating from the University of Waterloo’s inaugural graduating class in mechatronics engineering, and earning a master’s degree in business, entrepreneurship and technology. Matt Rendall founded Clearpath Robotics in 2009 with classmates Ryan Gariepy, Patrick Martinson and Bryan Webb. Clearpath Robotics specializes in the design and manufacture of robust and reliable unmanned vehicle solutions for industrial R&D. Stacked with a lot of deep talent and an excellent plan, Clearpath Robotics became a success, with high-profile organizations such as the Canadian Space Agency and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology using its unmanned vehicles for research and development.

Rattan Bagga – CEO, Jiva Organics Manufacturing and Distributing Inc. Burnaby, B.C. Age: 26

Rattan BaggaAs CEO of the family business, Rattan Bagga’s ultimate goal is not just to turn a profit (although that’s a prerequisite), but to maximize the benefits of his decisions on those around him. Jiva Organics Manufacturing produces certified organic and natural products but has also raised funds for disaster relief in Pakistan and Haiti, sourcing ingredients from Canadian farmers and that training inexperienced young recruits to give them something valuable to put on their based DiverseCity initiative, which aims to increase the number of visible minorities in leadership positions.

For more information and to learn more about the other winners visit  http://www.fuelawards.ca/

 Lauren is a regular contributor to RedBoard Biz

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BizLaunch.ca guest post: Top 10 apps for small business

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Andrew Patricio of BizLaunch.caAs a small business, you often need to be the jack-of-all-trades. Luckily technology has made this a bit easier and it can be even more so now with the abundance of mobile apps available for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone devices.

To learn about the most popular apps for small business, we invited Andrew Patricio, co-founder of Canada’s largest SMB training company, BizLaunch, to share his top ten list of mobile apps for small business:

Top 10 Mobile Apps for Small Business from BizLaunch

These days, apps for your phone or tablet aren’t just for entertainment. Many apps make it easier for small businesses to communicate, give presentations and connect with others.

1.    Evernote

Ever been on your morning commute when genius strikes? You certainly can’t pull over to write down your amazing idea, nor do you want to text while driving.  Evernote lets you take notes from your phone or tablet, and you can even use voice recognition software to get those ideas down while on the go. It connects with your account, which can also be accessed from any computer.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, BlackBerry Playbook, Palm Pre

2.    Wunderlist

If staying organized is hard the minute you leave your desktop, try Wunderlist. With its iPhone, iPad, Android, Linux, Mac OSX and Windows versions (whew!) you can organize and prioritize tasks for home and work.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android

3.    Podio

Podio is fantastic for small business teams who need to collaborate virtually. Create projects, assign tasks and upload documents that your team needs.

Available for:  iPhone, Android

4.    Roambi

Roambi turns plain data into interactive images. Ideal for sales presentations, this app provides visual appeal to interactive mobile analytics. Presentations can easily be shared with anyone who wants a copy (cuts down on printing!).

Available for:  iPhone, iPad

5.    Work etc.

Managing contacts, projects and time gets difficult out of the office, but  Work Etc. makes it easier. Designed as a simple Customer Relationship Management platform online, the mobile app lets you access your projects virtually, as well as track your time spent on projects.

Available for: iPhone, Android

6.    Kindle

Small business owners often travel, and no one wants to be weighed down with magazines and books on a flight. The Kindle app turns your mobile device into a bookstore so that you can get your reading done without the weight.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android

7.    Salesforce

If you use Salesforce.com to manage your sales cycle, you can also use the Salesforce mobile app, which lets you access new leads and stay on top of customer service issues from your phone.

Available for: iPhone, BlackBerry, Android

8.    Google Maps

Late for a client meeting? The Google Maps app has got to be the most underrated small biz app ever (or app for anyone, really). You can even find sales prospects by finding businesses in the area where you are.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android, Nokia, Windows

9.    Hootsuite

Everyone’s got a favourite social media app, but  Hootsuite by far packs the best punch. Check social network statuses and post your own updates for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android, Keitai

10. Facebook Mobile App

So many small businesses use Facebook, so adding the Facebook mobile app to this list makes sense. You can view and post updates directly in the app, or by texting or emailing your updates from your phone.

Available for: iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android, Palm, Sony Ericsson, Windows

What’s your favourite mobile app?

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Customer Experience, Trends, Wireless
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A conversation about entrepreneurship with Wendy Mayhew

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Idea2Delivery sponsored by RogersAs this is Global Entrepreneurship Week, we thought we would highlight a valuable resource that helps innovative, driven people launch and grow new businesses. With an average of 130,000 new business startups each year in Canada, entrepreneurs are clearly a critical engine of our economy.

We connected with Wendy Mayhew, creator of the Idea2Delivery website and video series, to get her perspective on entrepreneurship and her advice for those launching new businesses.

November 14 – 20 is Global Entrepreneurship Week, with 115 countries participating this year. Steven Harper declared 2011 the Year of the Entrepreneur in Canada. Why do you think there is there so much focus on entrepreneurship right now?

One of the main reasons is that the cost of starting a business is very low, giving anyone with a good idea the opportunity to give it a try. The next generation of business owners, most of whom are young with brilliant ideas, is not afraid of risk.

There isn’t much to hold anyone back, with all the technology available to reach potential customers. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are all free social media tools – you just have to know how to use them. Finding resources that offer free or low-cost tools to manage your business is as easy as searching the web.

How does Idea2Delivery support Canadian entrepreneurship?

Idea2Delivery supports Canadian entrepreneurship through encouragement, speaking engagements, mentoring and advising on what it takes to launch a business.

Canadians lack concrete information that should be easily accessible to entrepreneurs. I observed that there was a need for a website that would support Canadian entrepreneurs by providing them with the information they need to launch any type of business. Content on the Idea2Delivery website focuses on Canadian laws and policies, business books by Canadian authors and links to resources. It also features entrepreneurs from across Canada, which provides an opportunity for others to learn about their businesses.

The website also hosts a reality video series that follows companies through the start-up process and covers the fundamentals needed to launch a business. The series puts entrepreneurs in front of experts who help them with their start-up.

What three key pieces of advice would you give to people considering starting their own business?

Research, research, research – talk about your idea to whomever you can, get their feedback, understand your competition and do it better.

Don’t do it alone and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Every business needs an advisory team. You need to have a mentor whom you can talk to on a regular basis.

Marketing is critical to any business. Understand that you have to know how to market your business – if you don’t, then you need to hire someone to do it for you.

The latest episode in the Idea2Delivery series—about Accounting—is now available at idea2delivery.ca. Rogers is proud to sponsor this program.

What tools or resources would you recommend for entrepreneurs?

Geoffrey is a regular contributor to Redboard Biz. 

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Be worry free on-the-go with No Panic Computing and Rogers

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Working remotely is a reality for many small business professionals. Using mobile tools can help you be more connected and more productive from anywhere. But working on-the-go can also be nerve-wracking with many important and confidential files on your laptop.

If the thought of a lost, stolen or broken laptop makes you sweat, you’ll want to take a look at the No Panic Computing Notebook with Rogers Rocket Built-in.  This innovative notebook protects your data by automatically backing it up to a secure server using the built-in Rogers internet connection.  That means that if your laptop goes missing or stops working, you can easily get access to your files.  No Panic Computing also adds extra security features to keep bad guys away from your sensitive data.

To find out more, we caught up with Larry Keating, President & Chief Executive Officer of No Panic Computing to talk about how a managed notebook solution can give busy professionals peace of mind that the data on their laptop is always secure.

For more information, go to http://www.nopaniccomputing.com

Would your business benefit from this kind of solution?

Miranda is a regular contributor to RedBoard

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Top five tips for business – shared by YOU!

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Rogers small businessIf you own or manage a business, you know that no decision is ever easy. But one thing’s for sure – advice given at a time when you’re receptive can change your entire career—but only if you’re listening. As part of our first Share Your Know-How Contest, we asked readers “What is the best business advice you have ever received?” We were met with lots of inspired and interesting comments and thought we would share with you five of our favorites:

Listen

“Listen to your customers, vendors, truck drivers, and secretaries, anyone you interact with throughout the business day. There is information that all these parties have to offer that can be invaluable” – Bhupinder D

Ask for help when it is needed

“Don’t be afraid to bring in partners or ask for assistance from people who are good at things that you are not good at, or who enjoy doing things that you do not enjoy doing. No one goes it alone.” – Colleen C.

Identify your target customer

“Best business advice was to first identify your target customer. Work hard to understand who will use your product/service, what their habits are, how much money they might spend, what your value proposition is, and what your unique selling propositions will be.”- Jeff B.

Network

“Always look for opportunities. This does not mean trying to be a sales man at friendly gatherings, but look for new ways to network, to promote, or to cut costs.” – Contest_B

Follow-up

“One of the most important pieces of advice is to always make sure you follow up, whether it is to contact someone or if they contact you and you need to respond. You don’t know who they know and if you don’t follow up you could lose out on a potential opportunity.” – BLevy

For more insight from Redboard Biz readers, check out the many comments submitted for part two and part three of the Share Your Know-Contest.

Lauren is a regular contributor to Redboard Biz

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RedBoard Biz video: What does LTE mean for business?

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Over the past few weeks, we have been talking a lot about our new LTE network, which is delivering the world’s fastest wireless network speeds across the country. For business, this means time saved on everyday tasks such as sending emails, video conferencing and uploading files.

The network also enhances your experience with business applications. For example, remote workers can now leverage real-time video streaming without jitter or latency issues while on the road, or in the field.

To use the network, you need to pick up an LTE smartphone, tablet or wireless internet stick. You can check out the roster of devices we have available here.

Last week, we had the opportunity to catch up with Reade Barber, Senior Director Data Product Management here at Rogers on our very own LTE bus to learn more about the benefits of the new network for business. Check out what he had to say in the videos below:

Video 1: What is LTE & Online Collaboration Demo

Reade Barber talks about LTE and how businesses will benefit from faster speeds and reduced latency. Video includes a demonstration of real-time collaboration between two people using Google Docs.

Video 2: LTE Devices for Business

Reade Barber shows off the latest LTE devices including the LTE Rocket Stick (Sierra Wireless AirCard 313U), HTC JetStream LTE tablet and Samsung Galaxy S II LTE smartphone.

Video 3: Remote Worker Healthcare Application on LTE

Reade Barber demonstrates how LTE data speeds can help remote workers interact with experts in real time to solve problems. For more information on the tablet and software featured, visit www.motioncomputing.ca.  

For more information on the latest LTE devices and solutions for business, visit www.rogers.com/smallbusiness.

Allison is a regular contributor to RedBoardBiz. 

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Healthcare, Mobile, Trends, Video, Wireless
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Share Your Know-How contest: What’s the best piece of communication technology you own?

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Rogers RedBoard BizWhen you think about the communications technology that helps power your business, what comes to mind? Is it your BlackBerry? Your laptop? What about cloud-based collaboration software? How about video conferencing or mobile working technology?

In our third and final week of the Share Your Know-How contest, we’re asking you to share with us the most important piece of communication technology you own or use in your business. What is the technology that you simply can’t imagine living without and what are the benefits for you and your business?

If you’ve been following along over the past few weeks, you know the drill but to recap, all you have to do to enter is leave us a comment on this week’s topic (100 words or less) to be entered into our final draw. The prize? A great piece of communication technology of course: a new BlackBerry Torch 9810.

A contest winner will be announced both here on RedBoard Biz and via our Twitter account, @RogersBiz.

UPDATE (November 9, 2011, 4:00 pm): The final Share-Your-Know-How contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone for sharing your feedback on your most important piece of communications technology. We’ll be announcing the winner of the BlackBerry Torch 9810 both here on this post and on our Twitter account, @RogersBiz. The post will remain open for comments, so please continue to leave us comments on your most important piece of communications technology, however, any comments received after 4:00pm on November 9 will be ineligible for the draw for the BlackBerry.

UPDATE (November 10, 2011, 11:20 am): Congratulations to Truly, the winner of the BlackBerry Torch 9810. We’ll be sending you your prize this week. Thanks to everyone who participated in our contest!

Miranda is a regular contributor to RedBoard Biz

Contest closes at 4:00 pm ET on November 9, 2011. Open to residents of Canada who are 18 years or older, excluding residents of Quebec. To enter, tell us in 100 words or less, in the comments section of this blog post, about where you go for inspiration.  Prize: Participants are eligible to win one (1) BlackBerry torch 9810 valued at approximately $599.00 each. One entry/person. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries. Mathematical skill-testing question to be correctly answered to win. No Purchase Necessary. Full rules here. 

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