Cool Companies 2005

Vol 1 Issue 1: Premiere issue
Issue Theme: Calgary & Edmonton Innovation Leaders
Cool Companies Profiles
40 Cool Companies profiles of Cool Companies Award winners include:
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Dynastream makes wireless devices that digitize the motion of a person or object. It wants to find partners to apply its technology to new products. Dynastream also offers its expertise in wireless devices to companies as consulting services.
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ITSportsNet has an online service that makes it easier for amateur and recreational sport clubs and leagues to simplify and streamline their registration, management, and communication activities. It is looking for global agents to customize its service for clients around the world, and for third-parties to help it capitalize on the direct channel it has built with sport organizations.
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Madentec’s products allow people with severe disabilities to use a computer. It is looking for global marketing partners to increase its distribution, and for third-party partners to create successful charity events demonstrating the impact Madentec’s products have on its customers.
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Upside Software has an online service that helps companies manage their contracts more efficiently. It is looking for third-parties to help distribute its product in Asia and Latin America. Having recently launched a product version for small and medium business customers, it is looking for ways to increase the awareness and sales of this product to this target market.
Experience Stories
Founding entrepreneurs from some of the Cool Companies profiled in this issue told us in their own words of the challenges they faced and overcame in starting and growing their companies, and the lessons they learnt along the way. Here are four of those stories:
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Co-founder, President & CEO, Dynastream
Direct from the entrepreneur: “Imagine several adults huddling around a laptop computer, taking their turn at pushing a baby jogger around the block. It looked even stranger because there was not a baby as cargo, but a 20Kg bag of flour (needed for stability) and a computer…. In the end, you have to make sure you enjoy your work, because there is a lot of it.”
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Founder, President & CEO, ITSportsNet
Direct from the entrepreneur: “Talking to other entrepreneurs and learning from them is still an important part of my career development today. When I come across a new problem or need to grow a certain area of my business I look around for who is already doing what I want to do and ask them how they do it.” Cool Companies profiles allows entrepreneurs like David Cooper to quickly discover new companies and find out what they do, and to imagine how ITSportsNet and David Cooper might work together.
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Founder, President & CEO, Madentec
Direct from the entrepreneur: “Many people have noble stories of how they started their companies as a result of a unique insight, passion, or vision. Not me. Mine was from goofing off. …Sometimes goofing around can really pay off.”
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Founder, President & CEO, Upside Software
Direct from the entrepreneur: “I spent a lot of time surfing eBay to find great deals for the company. We could not afford to buy anything new. For a while, I had the title CEB, Chief eBay Bidder.” Also, “It’s the opportunities where you are doing something you enjoy and feel you are growing as a person that brings out your best qualities. It also produces your best results that get noticed!”