best,

Ian

I think newspapers might have an excuse because names like Google will still mean something to people who work outside of hi-tech. But, anyone blogging about the IT sector should keep in mind the players at different levels.

I agree, that local tech companies deserve a shot. But at the same time, those companies have to support the momentum by becoming involved with the community tech initiatives. We can’t sit and wait for opportunities to come to us, whether they are clients or employees or venture capitalists. We have to prove we are worthy .

RKD Web Studios Inc. has always worked with local clientele, but we have been guilty of not mingling within the local tech community. Perhaps we were too busy, or maybe unaware (not real excuses – I know). That is all changing with the local connections that social media has allowed many of us to develop, along with the amazing Demo Camp and other networking sessions.

So I agree, orgs should support local tech, but at the same time, local tech has to make an effort to prove their abilities by becoming a presence in the community. We have to support local talent (ie. hiring a co-op student, attending networking events and by providing mentoring resources when it is required). RKD has made that a key initiative in 2009 and moving forward. It think all local tech should do the same if they aren’t yet.

Thanks and see you at next Demo Camp.

Kelly Brooks
Managing Director, SpeakFeel Mobile
(a Div of RKD Web Studios Inc.)

Having been in Guelph for a bit over 16 months without getting any local client here (or in Waterloo for that matter), I am moving back to Toronto where I did (it’s not the only reason I am moving back though, to be fair), so I must first agree with the mayor that something should be done about the local tech scene and especially the limited focus on commercialization. I guess no one needs an experienced commercialization consultant here, and I leave with the feeling that having an MBA from stanford was a handicap in this region, when clients in other regions – all the way to Florida and South Africa – all found great use for my time. I know this will sound arrogant, but I had to say it.

Having said that, I think that adding more so-called “nonprofit” commercialization hubs (where a large proportion of the staff gets $100K+ salaries…) is certainly not the solution. The existing ones are good when they limit their roles at connecting people, organizing events, and lobbying the government for start-up friendly policies. But they have received so much money that they are now expanding into private sector territory, and doing so with no public reporting requirement and poor performance management. They have legions of good people moving lots of air and giving an impression of activity, but delivering very little results for start-ups (and only for handpicked ones on top)

It is clear to me that the ROI is not there, and their increasing expansion in the delivery of services is worrying. Adding one in Guelph won’t do anything, and in fact there already is the GPI at http://www.guelphinnovation.com/, they could simply beef up the IT pole of that one (interested recommendation: use private consultants, at least there is a clear performance management framework in place when you do)

For instance when Linamar developed a Centre of Excellence here in Guelph did it receive financial backing or incentives from our local municipal government? If so why not tie to that a requirement for local tech utilization. Linamar may have done this on their own accord of course – they are a great company and very focused on Guelph’s continued success!