Here’s the startup news making headlines today on other Web sites and blogs for May 29.
All about accelerators
Ben Yoskovitz was interviewed by a Wall Street Journal reporter about the recent boom in startup accelerators, and his comments didn’t make the cut for the print story. But that’s OK, because he fills us in on his thoughts in blog form! Ben discusses why it’s important that accelerators actually make money instead of just build community, how accelerators must adapt to their eco-systems, how it’s likely that some of the accelerators starting up these days just won’t last, and more.
Ben Yoskovitz on Instigator blog
Venture Capitalists: up your game
The U.S.-Canada border is gone – at least when it comes to startups seeking venture capital funding. Whereas Canadian entrepreneurs used to be required to raise a first round of funding north of the border, that’s no longer the case. Canadian entrepreneurs have been told to become “world class” for years, and they’ve finally grown up. Now it’s the turn of the venture capital funds supporting them to also show they can support the startups they are courting.
Jevon MacDonald on StartupNorth
Canada is sexy
Further proof that Americans are rushing north to find good startup investments came out of the Canadian Venture Capital Association conference held last week in Montreal. Silicon Valley investor Paul Ferris described Canada as a “sexy place” because there are a lot of investment opportunities here, but not enough capital available. On the same panel, Baltimore-based VC partner Jit Sinha affirmed Canada’s sexiness because of government support to research and development, and a high level of technical expertise.