Quick guide to the Halifax Startup Ecosystem for newcommers.

1. A hitchhiker’s guide
to the Halifax Startup
Community
Milan Vrekic, Zora.io
@truejebus
milan@voltaeffect.com
Last update: 4th of Dec. 2014

2. House Rules
• Let the Entrepreneurs lead.
• Give before you get.
• Promote Halifax as awesome.
• Contribute something. Anything.
• Give back to the community once you make it big.
• Take random meetings (Open door policy).
• Be inclusive (introduce newcomers to people).
• Don’t complain. Act.

3. Some (not all) notable startups
AnalyzeRe
TopLog
GetGifted
FundMetric
GoInstant
Compilr
DashHudson
Introhive
Affin.io
ModestTree
TitanFile
OHS Data
Leadsift
Karma Gaming
TheRounds
InNetwork
UpMyGame
Equals6
SimplyCast
TruLeaf
Kinduct
Aio.TV
SeaForth Energy
Spring Loaded
Swapskis
Athletigen
EmailOpened
pursue.it
Alpha Dog Games
Blue Light Analytics
Databoliks
Geode Technology
Kinduct Tech
Interview Rocket
Oris4
SageCrowd
WeUsThem
VidSnippets
GoFullSteam
Zora
Salubrian Health
Proposify.biz
Mambo
…

4. More on the Ecosystem
• Angelist - Halifax:
https://angel.co/companies?locations[]=Halifax
• Entrevestor Infographic:
http://entrevestor.com/images/uploads/
Entrevestor_Infographic_WEB.jpg

5. Local Startup Bloggers
• Ben Yoskovitz (Ben moved to Toronto, but you should still follow his blog)
www.instigatorblog.com
Thomas Rankin:
http://impossibleconfidence.com
• Jevon Macdonald
http://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/author/jevon/
Peter Moreira
http://entrevestor.com/blog/
WE REALLY NEED MORE TECH BLOGGERS!

6. Movements
• Ladies Learning Code
http://ladieslearningcode.com
• BrilliantLabs
http://www.brilliantlabs.ca
• CodeCamp
http://www.artechcamps.com/camps/summer-camps/
• HaliHax
www.halihax.com
• CodeKids
http://www.codekids.ca
• MakerSpace
http://halifaxmakerspace.org

7. Coworking/Office Space
• Volta
www.voltaeffect.com
• The HUB (the Hub closed it’s doors unfortunately)
http://thehubhalifax.ca
• ICT Sandbox @Dal
http://ictsandbox.ca

8. Conferences (in no particular order)
• StartupEmpire
www.startupempireconf.com
• MentorCamp
www.mentorcamp.ca
• Atlantic Venture Forum
http://www.atlanticventureforum.ca
• Big Data Congress
http://bigdatacongress.t4g.com
• DemoCamp Halifax
www.democamphalifax.com
• Invest Atlantic
www.investatlantic.ca
• PodCamp Halifax
http://podcamphalifax.ca
• HPX Digital
halifaxpopexplosion.com
• Collide Conference
collidehalifax.com

9. Finding Talent
• 3rd Wednesdays
http://www.3whfx.com
• HaliHax
www.halihax.com
• Volta Labs Events
www.voltaeffect.com/calendar/

10. Finding a job with a Startup
• Tech Jobs Halifax
http://www.techjobshalifax.com
• Startup Careers Halifax
www.startupcareers.ca

11. Funding Sources
• BUILD Ventures
http://www.buildventures.ca
• Innovacorp
www.innovacorp.ca
• Atlantic Angels
www.atlanticangels.ca
• ACOA
http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/
• IRAP
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/index.html
• First Angel Network
http://www.firstangelnetwork.ca

12. Startup Friendly Service Providers
• Legal
http://www.coxandpalmerlaw.com - Richard Norman
http://www.mcinnescooper.com - Rob Cowan
• Accounting
www.bdo.ca - Dan Jennings
www.deloitte.ca - Steve Carr
• Banking
www.rbc.ca - Alex MacKenzie
• Bell Aliant
http://www.bellaliant.net

13. Startup Friendly Hangouts
• Tom’s Little Havana (Local’s secret spot)
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/235/1432676/restaurant/Atlantic-
Provinces/Toms-Little-Havana-Cafe-Halifax
• Mid-Point (for a coffee meeting)
http://www.midpointcoffee.ca
• Fireside (team lunch)
http://thefireside.ca
• MODA (for a more formal setting)
http://www.modaurbandining.com

14. Engage
• Email is the best way to start a relationship.
• Keep it short
• Have a clear ask
• Make it easy to say yes
• Do your research, make it relevant
• Take initiative, suggest times and places that work.
• Don’t ask busy people to meet you for coffee. Offer to
go to their office for 15 minutes after a few emails are
exchanged.

15. That is it!
• Email me with stuff I missed at:
milan@milanvrekic.com
and follow me at @trujebus
• And if you are new to Halifax, find me at Volta (5415 Spring
Garden Road) and I will introduce you to a few people :)