The CBC's Dragon's Den -- you remember, the entrepreneurship reality show competiton -- is in the news again. This time the Toronto Star has a good story about the people who will take their own money and invest it in the winning proposals. Here are the judges:

Kevin O'Leary, co-founder of The Learning Company, an educational software firm that was sold to The Mattel Co. in 1999 for $3.2 billion.
Laurence Lewin, co-founder and president of national women's lingerie chain La Senza Corp.
Jim Treliving, the former cop who founded casual dining restaurant chain Boston Pizza.
Jennifer Wood, a bush pilot, Alberta cattle rancher and businesswoman.
Robert Herjavec, a pioneer in computer networking and security, and head of The Herjavec Group.

Stay tuned. The show begins in October.

Friend of Gagglkescape.com, Sean Wise, has the last word in the story.

On the other hand, any one of the many applicants who will be rejected by the Dragons over the next four days may go on to be very successful in their business, said Lewin.
After all, as Wise points out: "Everyone told George Lucas that Star Wars wasn't a good idea."

Vancouver based Convedia has been purchased by RadiSys of the US for a reported $105 million. Convedia's CMS Media Server products captured about 50% of the growing market for mobile media servers. The purchase price was for 5 times Convedia's annual revenue.

The Hamilton Spectator has a story on the company's CEO, Grant Henderson. It is worth a read because it shows that success - especially in Canada's struggling tech market - is often the result of numerous attempts and failures.

Bell sent him to Ottawa to work at Canada Telecom. But Henderson grew tired of life at a large corporation and took a job as manager of the University of Ottawa's Multimedia Research Lab. It was there that Henderson conducted the first Canadian experiments on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), a network protocol that preceded the now widespread Internet protocol (IP). It was also at the University of Ottawa that Henderson met Peter Briscoe, a manager at Ottawa's Newbridge Networks who later become Henderson's partner at Convedia.

Henderson eventually joined Briscoe at Newbridge, then moved to B.C. to work on Briscoe's now defunct start up called Starvision in 1995. Convedia was born in 2000.

"Starvision had its day," Briscoe said. "We learned a lot from it, but really the IP protocol was it. Grant's been a key person in getting Convedia to where it is now."

It finally rose from the Conglan ashes like a Phoenix with a new episode on paper-clip trading. The interim host is Joanne Colan. I'm surprised to say this but she does do a good job as Amanda's replacement. I like the classy invitation for Amanda to come back. Was it worth the wait?

Business Edge has a good story on long-time Ontario entrepreneur, Derek Tennant. Mr. Tennant founded - among other companies - Holiday Rent a Car. He is also the driving force behind Flesherton Wind Energy.

What I find interesting about Tennant's career is that it reinforces the idea that successful business depends on uniting capital with good ideas and good people. MBA's tend to forget this at times becoming obsessed with structural concerns that, as we all know, are the by-product of exploiting good ideas.

4. What advice would you give a young entrepreneur?

"The best thing I ever did was to get a little peer group of advisers and run things by them. You have to be thoughtful and strategic in what you're doing. Entrepreneurs are impulsive and there are gut reactions. But you've got to be smarter than that. The guys that really make it are the guys that line themselves up with people that will look after what they can't look after. And you've got to choose those people wisely and really value them."

I also enjoyed his comments on Ken Lay and business ethics. Read the article for more.

I took Sean Wise up on his offer to visit the CBC atrium during Saturday's auditions for the new Dragon's Den reality show (That's what they call them... ). My first encounter with a potential contestant was outside the CBC's west doors just under the big Hockey Night in Canada sign featuring Don Cherry. Take a look at the photo of this tri-wheeled vehicle. Interesting from a "I can't believe they actually made it" perspective, but not something that would interest many of Canada's VCs.


The action picked up inside. The place wasn't thronged with people but there seemed to be a steady flow of candidates. The CBC production staff, accompanied by Sean, gave each contestant a screen test. I left as number 23 made his pitch.

Some of the ideas were interesting. One guy had a small device that dispensed antibacterial lotion. Intended for hospital workers, he claimed it reduced infection rates and would save a hospital about $50 per day per user. Another fellow, a steel executive, had experienced an epiphany while travelling in Africa on business. He and a number of his coworkers sacrificed their holiday time to travel to Africa and help make things better. He has a plan that would help entrepreneurs in Africa and, in doing that, solve some of that continent's pressing issues.

Another entrepreneur has a system that would warn drivers when cars obscured by traffic ahead were slowing down. Nice idea but it would require every car to have one - at about $200 each. Now, let's think about this. There are some 10 million cars in Canada times $200... But, hey, they said seat-belts would never be in every car.

I didn't speak to any Web 2.0 types but then it was before noon. The show begins its run this fall (...read more...)

The man people alternatively credit or blame for the homogeneity of "Windows" announced yesterday that he is stepping away from day-to-day involvement with Microsoft. Will that company survive his departure? Maybe Bill couldn't take Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble's defection to a startup. Who knows what motivates one of the world's richest people.

Many are wondering what will happen to Microsoft. The company seems stalled these days. Its latest OS is delayed. Google is eating Microsoft's lunch on Internet solutions. Heck, they even came out with online competitors to Excel and Word. Watch out.

Maybe one of the benefits will be the end to the long standing, often bitter rivalry with Apple. Is there the possibility of a joint venture with the two companies that would make the Mac OS the PC standard -- of course, under a Microsoft banner. Does that seem too far fetched? Why did Apple convert to Intel chips again? Oh, that's right, the speed. If you believe that I have some Web 2.0 stocks you might want to invest in.

I will be posting semi-live from the TSX BootCamp today. The camp starts this afternoon at the Eatons' Mariott Hotel. The tireless Sean Wise will be the Camp's facilitator. Stay tuned...

AceTech Symposium in Ontario, June 7 – 9 at the Deerhurst Resort, Muskoka
By CEOs exclusively for CEOs of technology companies

AceTech's brings CEOs of technology companies together to give them access to the support, knowledge and understanding of their peers. A CEO must periodically connect with peers to share experiences and open up to new ideas to become a more effective leader.

This is an opportunity to learn from your peers. At AceTech, there are high profile CEOs and industry leaders who can help you take your company to the next level.This year there are CEOs like Frank Clegg, past President of Microsoft Canada and David Yoffie, Director of Intel and a Professor at Harvard Business School.

See Who’s Coming: http://www.acetech.org/acetechhomepage.asp?action=category&id=119

Program-at-glance: http://www.acetech.org/acetechhomepage.asp?action=category&id=117

Register now: http://www.acetech.org/acetechhomepage.asp?action=category&id=65

[email this story] Posted by the editor on 05/26

Our friends at Creative Generalist uncovered a good story about the alternative to paying $150,000 for an MBA. Just for the record, I'm glad I went to school for mine. The energy of the class and the team dynamics resulted in a broad and deep educational experience. But, if you don't have the money, there are alternatives.

"You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for a buck fifty in late charges at the public library."
- Will Hunting (played by Matt Damon), Good Will Hunting

Josh Kaufman launched his Personal MBA site as a resource for anyone who wants to know more about business theory. The Personal MBA references 42 business books.

At the core of the PMBA is a list of 42 books and periodicals. By investing time and effort in using these resources, you will progressively develop a greater understanding of business and increase your effectiveness at work. Even if you only read a few, you’ll get a substantial return on your investment.

There is even a PDF available of the book list.

Tara is a Canadian who has gone to California. She is a big part of the BarCamp movement. How many people read blogs? All of the audience.

Tara is talking about how blogging is changing the marketing landscape. People are pissed. Two thing shave changed. There are companies offering alternatives. Look at http://www.thresdless.com - SHOP-PARTICIPATE! and FireFox (The Web Browser).

There is a video called "Bowiechick." Go to YouTube.com. A teen girl is showing the personalities a piece of face-tracking software on her Logitec webcam allows her to adopt. It's a remarkable example of what I'll call the simulacra of identity the Internet allows. The crowd loves it.

Tara wants the audience to reflect on the nature of citizen media on marketing. We are all taking a moment to talk with the people around us. People have seen examples of the face-tracking personal video before. Some discussion about what happened to Kryptonite Locks when the Net found out about how easy it was to open them. That cost the company 40% of its sales.

Audience: Speaking out for "Expert" analysis rather than just people making funny faces.

Audience: It shows the power of product placement online. Some are wondering if the video - which became hugely popular - was a marketing setup.

Tara: Peer to Peer stuff is powerful.

Audience: I thought it was much more powerful than any traditional advertising. How does one define expertise?

Audience: If an expert stepped up and did the same video it would not work. It goes around MySpace because it is a kid.

Tara: The Pinko Principles are:

1) Inbound rather than outbound messages

2) Be a company community advocate

3) 100% authenticity (this is opposed to "viral" which is antithetical to the Pinko rules)

4) Serve niche markets (like providing a Mac uploader (...read more...)

Matthew Ingram talks with Dr. Paul Kedrosky on Venture Capital and Web 2.0.

He was an equity analyst and is now doing venture capital. He is with Venture West as well and is a Canadian.

MI: Is this another bubble?

PK: In a sense we've returned full-cicle to '95. In a sense it sure feels like one but so what, it takes a lot of dead bodies to fill a swamp. We've got to waste a ton of money before we figure out how things work. There is way to much enthusiasm. A UCLA economist writes that the first bubble - tulips - was not a real bubble but was not as euphoric as it was painted - we spot nine bubbles before one actually happens.

MI: There is money and people have to make investment.

PK: VC is at record levels - even more than in the nineties. The venture industry is a rigged market because the big investors fish from the best pond. the smaller players have to fight for the scraps. For example, one fund looked for 250 million but got offered 3 billion in the same week. Cash is falling on your head.

MI: Do entrepreneurs need VCs today?

PK: If you don't need money don't take. You'd be an idiot not to keep 100% of the stock. The trouble is that some markets need money. A lot of the consumer-centric Web 2.0 companies don't need a lot of money. Technology has democratized the ability to start a company.

Audience: Companies can raise money with no business model. Like YouTube.

PK: They might be the next television... Google initially had no idea what their business model. they had 30 million and had no model. The trouble they have now is because they are spending money like Amazon. (...read more...)

Are Canadian politics influenced by blogs? Will we follow the path of the US? Here is a synopsis of the discussion:

This afternoon Warren Kinsella lawyer/consultant talks with Paul Wells of Maclean's, Andrew Coyne of the National Post and Brad Davis, National Director of Policy and Internet Strategy, of the Michael Ignatieff Leadership Campaign.

Andrew Coyne of the National Post - and an economist - is leading off the panel. The power of the blogosphere is its ability to break down issues into small pieces that can be studied and reconnected. He calls this phenomenon "Horizontal Editing." The benefit is how it breaks up the group-think of the main-stream media. Now, because of blogging, issues are less predictable.

Brad Davis says that he is inspired by blogs. During the recent election, he had twenty people across Canada following the various political blogs. This continues with the leadership campaigns. They are managing the relationship with bloggers as though they are as influential as MSM. Blogs to the Ignatieff team is a way to inform their campaign.

Paul Wells of Macleans says he doubts that blogs will have an influence. He talks about the Dean campaign in the US. There is a boom and bust cycle related to blogs - too much attention leads to a pull back of support. Wells is waiting to see blogs influence the leadership campaign. But his blog seems to have influence, at least with the Ignatieff campaign. He has not seen evidence that it drive votes. Next month that might change.

WK: There is an MIT study from '04 that says 65% are male, 80% are white, etc. Will bloggers ever include other demographics?

Panel: The "recombinant loops" are changing the way politics is communicated. It is accelerating the way the message gets out. Messages get out (...read more...)

Om Malik is a respected blogger and Web 2.0 analyst with Business 2.0. Mark Evans of the National Post is interviewing him on "The Future of Media." Here are some paraphrased excerpts:

OM: This is a flux point in media.

There is a need for traditional "Brand" media outlets like the New York Times and the National Post.

ME: Traditional media cannot figure out the value proposition.

OM: This is Darwinian - they have to figure it out to survive. Forbes.com is doing well, for example.

ME: Jeff Cole of Annenberg Univ. says that newspapers will be gone.

OM: Each newspaper will have to find its own niche. He'll be happy to see a lot of papers go.... People don't listen to what the market wants.

ME: Three Cs - Credibility , Content, and Cash are the drivers of an effective blog.

OM: There is no difference between the old and new worlds relative to credibility. People read and make judgement calls. They decide if you are the real thing. It is harder to be found now. The world needs the editorial leader right now. Rating services help.... Local blogs like "Gothamist" are growing rapidly. it is a new kind of local news. there is an opportunity here. the economics of doing this are low. (Note: as editor of local news service, http://www.readingtoronto.com, I know that his remarks here are accurate).

Update

Audience: Opinion is important.

OM: With so much info available what becomes important is context - why does it matter to me? You can build a brand around bringing context which is the biggest thing missing in the media right now.

Audience: Ads are the lifeblood of blogs - what is the value proposition for blogging?

OM: Advertising is seriously lagging in the blog space. It is 1.0 approach (...read more...)

The MESH Conference kicks off today and Toronto, the centre of Canada's commodity and Income Trust based financial markets, may never be the same. MESH is the brainchild of five local innovators who looked around the entrepreneurial landscape and decided that there is an emerging Web 2.0 movement here with the momentum of a runaway tornado. They write:

Canada needs a conference like mesh. Web 2.0 is happening all around us, as the Internet becomes the place to communicate, collaborate and entertain. mesh is brought to you by people who want to inspire enthusiasm, creativity and opportunity; by people who believe that for Canada to remain vibrant and competitive, we have to connect with each other and share our ideas about what the Web should be.

The people bringing us MESH are:

Mark Evans - senior technology reporter, The National Post
Mathew Ingram - technology and business writer, Globe & Mail
Mike McDerment - CEO, 2ndSite Online Invoicing
Rob Hyndman - business lawyer, Hyndman | Law
Stuart MacDonald - entrepreneur, marketer, founder Expedia.ca

Gagglescape is covering the conference today and tomorrow. We will take a look at the people, technology, and capital behind Web 2.0.

Let us know if there is something you would like to see covered.

What's on today?

Keynote Conversation: The Future of Media

Keynote Conversation: The Web and Society, Rob Hyndman talks with U of Ottawa law professor and blogger Dr. Michael Geist

Panel Conversation: Are Bloggers Journalists? Mathew Ingram talks with Om Malik, Michael Tippett of NowPublic.com and journalist/blogger Scott Karp of Publishing 2.0;

Panel Conversation: Can Blogs Influence Politics? Warren Kinsella lawyer/consultant talks with Paul Wells of Maclean's, Andrew Coyne of the National Post and Brad

Davis, National Director of Policy and Internet Strategy, of the Michael Ignatieff Leadership Campaign

Barnaby Marshall talks with podcaster (...read more...)

Virtual Expert Clinics - Cynthia Howroyd CEO

If ever there was a company that deserves to do well it is Virtual Expert Clinics. VEC offers online expert resources to service any number of health related needs. Their first project targets the growing phenomenon of autistic children. There are 1.2 million autistic children in the world. An additional 15% more kids are diagnosed with autism every year. Take ten minutes and listen to Cynthia's presentation.