Research
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Scaling Success
What's holding back Canada's tech sector? This report co-authored by Dan Herman and Sarah Marion for the Lazaridis Institute at Wilfrid Laurier University finds that while science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related (STEM) talent is abundant, the talent pool in general lacks business and management knowledge. Shortages of experienced management and/or executive talent are the primary inhibitors to scaling up. Canadian technology firms lack key management competencies in specific areas including sales, marketing, organizational design and product management. The talent shortage is linked to the lack of existing and/or exited growth firms in Canada’s technology sector.
You can read the full report here.
Billion Dollar Firms
While startups and fast growing small firms garner most of our collective attention, the role of large, billion dollar revenue firms shouldn't be overlooked. This study by the DEEP Centre, authored by Dan Herman and Anthony Williams, looks at Canada's population of billion dollar revenue firms, its evolution over time and its contribution to Canada's overall employment and economic trajectory.
Read the full report here.
Do accelerators and incubators contribute to the success of the startups they host? This report from 2015 authored by Dan Herman, Anthony Williams and Warren Clarke via the DEEP Centre was Canada's first definitive look at how leading accelerators structure their programs to support startups and whether these efforts lead to better outcomes for startups.
Read the full report here.
Accelerators & Incubators
Canada's Innovation Economy
In an evolving global knowledge economy, can Canada compete, and if so, how? This report from 2013 provides three answers - 1. Focus on high-growth firms, not simply all startups; 2. Don't forget traditional drivers of economic strength such as manufacturing; and 3. Managing rural-urban divides in attempts to build clusters of economic activity.
Read the full report here.