By Francis Moran
Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit program is undoubtedly one of the most popular industrial incentive schemes around. Shortened to SR&ED and usually referred to as “Shred,” the program provides a 35 percent investment tax credit, topping out at just over $1-million a year, to private Canadian companies that carry out eligible R&D activities in Canada. Many other Canadian entities, including public corporations, can tap SR&ED for a 20 percent tax credit, soon to be reduced to 15 percent, and several provinces add even more with their own programs.
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By Leo Valiquette
I’ve referenced before the old joke about the easy-going work-life balance that results from being an entrepreneur. “I can work for only half the day,” says the entrepreneur. “And I get to decide which 12 hours that will be.”
But long hours are certainly not reserved for the start-up of a new business. I’ve worked with clients with professional practices whose emails often bear time stamps of 3 a.m. And in many industries, there is an ebb and flow to the volume of work based on the time of year.
Take, for example, the accounting industry, where the run up to tax season can be insanely busy. I know one accountant who maintains his focus through the daily practice of martial arts. “It gives me the energy to work until midnight when I have to,” he told me. “Instead of losing steam by 8 p.m.”
But there is always the risk of allowing such extreme work patterns to become habit, endangering personal health and relationships outside of the office.
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By Alexandra Reid
This month saw a lot of action in the Canadian startup scene and we covered much of it here on our blog. Most notably, Startup Canada launched its much anticipated Startup Blueprints, an ambitious web platform that summarizes what the organisation heard this past summer, and sets out what needs to be done to turn those ideas and reflections into concrete action.
But that shouldn’t eclipse the wonderful work of Maple Leaf Angels and CanWit, two organisations that have fostered a partnership to create new investment opportunities for women-led startups in Canada. The National Angel Capital Organization also held its annual conference in Halifax, where important debates took place about the value of crowdfunding and how investment in this country could be improved.
Of course, those stories don’t even scratch the surface of our coverage this month. In case you missed any, here’s a handy roundup of our posts, ranked by the enthusiasm of our readers.
November 19: Lessons for entrepreneurs who wish to globalize their startups upon inception: Part 2 by Tony Bailetti
November 28: If Jack and Jill had worked together to engineer a well water system … by Leo Valiquette
November 20: Celebrating 25 years of community support by Alexandra Reid
November 29: A clarion call to make Canada an entrepreneurial economy by Francis Moran
November 6: CMI-MarketingProfs report reveals B2B content marketing confusion by Alexandra Reid
November 12: The CMO is dead by Dominique Turpin
November 27: Product management: Give the user the best possible mobile experience by Peter Hanschke
November 13: Hey, kid, I hear you want to be an entrepreneur by Leo Valiquette
November 26: Supporting investment in women-led startups by Alexandra Reid
November 7: Give capitalists the ball, let them run by Leo Valiquette
November 14: Lessons for entrepreneurs who wish to globalize their startups upon inception by Tony Bailetti
November 5: The neuroscience behind elections by Bob Bailly
November 8: Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes inspires hometown crowd: Video by Fiona Campbell
November 14: The subsistence diet of government — and some VC — funding by Francis Moran
November 21: Walking the digital tightrope: The perils of co-branded employees by Megan Totka
November 22: Startup Canada to call for urgent action to support Canadian entrepreneurs by Francis Moran
November 1: Even angels are going enterprise by Francis Moran
November 16: How to create brighter lives with content marketing by Alexandra Reid
Image: Oana Befort
By Francis Moran
Startup Canada, the grassroots organisation that spent six months consulting entrepreneurs and their support ecosystem about what was needed to foster a stronger entrepreneurial culture in this country, Tuesday issued a sharp clarion call to make Canada one of the top five entrepreneurial economies in the world.
In a series of six news conferences across Canada, including a national version that I MC’d here in Ottawa, Startup Canada released its Startup Blueprints, an ambitious web platform that summarizes what the organisation heard this past summer, and sets out what needs to be done to put those ideas and reflections into concrete action.
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By Leo Valiquette
Alex’s post on Monday about the economic necessity of supporting investment in more women-led startups is all the more timely as it comes the same week that we cheer the release of Startup Canada’s Action Plan to drive economic development, job creation and innovation coast to coast.
During its 40-city Canadian tour over the past year, Startup Canada confirmed what those of us involved with the startup community already know:
- Canadians in general are hyper-rational and risk averse, and view entrepreneurship with disbelief, mistrust and apathy.
- Young people are often unaware of what it means to be an entrepreneur, and are not educated in the basics of what it takes to launch and grow a business.
- Young people are often dissuaded by parents, school guidance counsellors and other influencers from pursuing entrepreneurship as a career path.
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By Francis Moran
