Emotions were running high at the office of Toronto-based online publishing company Wattpad the day after Donald Trump's surprise victory in the U.S. election. Some staff shed tears after watching Hillary Clinton give her concession speech. Wattpad co-founder and CEO Allen Lau used his daily blog to staff to try to put a positive spin on the reaction, talking about human resilience, what happens when a business loses touch with customers, and how Wattpad could benefit by trying to lure skilled American workers to Canada.
His final thoughts were the most pointed: "While Trump being elected is certainly a setback in humanity, I do believe that the future is not as grim as you may think," Mr. Lau wrote in the piece, which he then posted on his personal blog and on social media.
It was a potentially risky move for a company with American customers and investors and where 10 of its 130 employees are American. Full story.
LCBO launches innovation hub in Kitchener to explore new technology
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the government agency that manages alcohol sales across the province, is tapping into Kitchener-Waterloo's startup community as it seeks to modernize the way it interacts with customers at its retail stores. Even though the LCBO already has an innovation lab at its downtown Toronto headquarters, the scope of development there has been limited because of what the LCBO admits is a lagging approach to problem-solving. Full story.
Is online shopping on the wane?
I went online to read more about this crazy new trend of shopping in stores. In an Inc. magazine article entitled Amazon Could Open up to 2,000 Grocery Stores, author Eugene Kim noted "Physical stores are becoming increasingly central to Amazon's business ambitions as the company expands beyond its online-retailing stronghold and looks for new ways to reach customers." New ways to reach customers? Incredible. Physical stores are now being heralded as innovative solutions to tech companies' growth challenges. What Tier One consulting firm helped Amazon achieve this stunning breakthrough? Full story.
Vancouver space imagery company tops this year's Deloitte Technology Fast 50
Vancouver's UrtheCast Corp., a company that provides high-definition images and data from space, has topped this year's Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list of growing companies. Full story.
Drone company hits turbulence in the oil patch
From aerial surveys of real estate listings to bird's-eye views of sports stadiums, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer vantage points that are useful to a broad range of industries.
Capitalizing on the growth of this technology is the goal of Adam Sax, who founded Sky Guys Ltd. in March of 2015. Full story.
More small business news from around the web
I'm a tech CEO and I got hacked on social media
Earlier this summer, this message was blasted out to my followers on Twitter… only I didn't send it. "Hey, it's OurMine Team, we are just testing your security, please send us a message." Full story.
Why food is the new retail must-have
Shopping centres in Canada have gradually devoted more real estate to food services in recent years. Experts say that is reflective of efforts to lure customers inside and keep them longer, particularly those who shop online. Full story.
Seven email etiquette strategies that will win you clients for life
Most of us are so comfortable communicating via email that we don't give it much thought. We dash off messages while eating lunch with the other hand, riding the subway or sprinting to a meeting. But each time we mindlessly send an email, we're missing out on meaningful business opportunities. Full story.
Top 10 startup ecosystems in the world 2016
To find this top 10, we looked at eight factors: Funding Ecosystem & Exits, Engineering Talent, Active Mentoring, Technical Infrastructure, Startup Culture, Legal & Policy Infrastructure, Economic Foundation, and Government Policies & Programs. Full story.
Compiled by Sarah Efron.