Boris Mann and Danny Robinson have started a technology startup incubator called Bootup Labs in Vancouver.
Boris is a dear friend. Danny I recently met and was very impressed by. Their backers — well, Boris says they aren’t a fund, but it is safe to say they are very well connected in Vancouver and aboard.
When putting together a startup people tend to be most concerned with securing the $$. But there’s so much more to a startup than getting the seed money.1
These guys will help you find the funding to take your product/service and turn it into a business. But what you will discover along the yellow brick startup road is, if you don’t want to wind up crushed by your house or enslaved by the wicked warlocks of the West, you need good advice, good advisors.Even if you already have the funding you need and know what you are doing, access to the best advisors is invaluable:
What we’ve been looking for is the wisdom of a very special entrepreneur who’s been through what we’re going through. Someone who sees things a little differently and makes us feel right at home. Someone with a long term outlook, not a build-to-flip mentality.2
If I was putting together my own startup, I would ask, beg, plead, literally do everything possible to get Boris to be an advisor. With Bootup Labs that is part of the package.
Back in November, Boris let me in on some of the details of the “package” (and there sounds to be a lot more than just a package here. Lots of dynamic elements specific to each startup’s unique needs), but it isn’t my story to tell, so subscribe to Bootup Labs blog. What I want to know is how he will balance this and his role as VP Product Development for Raincity Studios — I know he will find the time, but I want to know his secrets 
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One Comment
You are right about Boris’ mad skillz and the importance of mentoring over raw bucks. If interested, i recorded a mighty podcast with Mr. Mann over beers and mussels to discuss myriad topics from Drupal to Boot-up to wine etc.
Here’s an enormous URL for your listening pleasure:
http://www.raincitystudios.com/raincity-radio/the-boris-speaks-bryght-drupal-boot-and-vancouver-raincity-radio
One Trackback
[...] Regardless, Boris and Danny have started up a start up incubator in Gas Town to help folks wanting to get a company going in Vancouver (and the rest of BC I assume), well, get going. From Lloyd’s post: These guys will help you find the funding to take your product/service and turn it into a business. But what you will discover along the yellow brick startup road is, if you don’t want to wind up crushed by your house or enslaved by the wicked warlocks of the West, you need good advice, good advisors.Even if you already have the funding you need and know what you are doing, access to the best advisors is invaluable: What we’ve been looking for is the wisdom of a very special entrepreneur who’s been through what we’re going through. Someone who sees things a little differently and makes us feel right at home. Someone with a long term outlook, not a build-to-flip mentality.2 [...]