Supercomputers
More research emerges in defense of D-Wave as a quantum machine
D-Wave is cleverly and effectively using expert testimonials as its primary marketing strategy = credibility
Nuclear Fusion
The Other "Big Idea" Taking Root in Greater Vancouver: Nuclear Fusion
Maybe three years ago, I recall hearing something about a “nuclear fusion” company starting up in Burnaby. In my mind, the thought of a nuclear fusion company in Burnaby was outlandish and preposterous. Growing up in southern California, and later northern California, I had grown up close and personal with the Space Program, and nuclear physics at UC Berkeley Lawrence Nuclear Labs and the super secret Lawrence Livermore National Labs.
Supercomputers
Google Buys a D-Wave Quantum Computer
Earlier this week, I was advised by a VC friend in Vancouver to expect another blockbuster announcement from D-Wave. And so it has happened. As if to stem any further skepticism and debate about D-Wave’s quantum computing technology, Google today announced that it has bought a D-Wave quantum computing system, in a partnership with NASA and Lockheed Martin Aerospace. This is the second major sale of a D-Wave system, and further evidence that this is not simple tire kicking by a group of ivory tower scientists.
Canada
Glut of Startup Accelerators Points Toward a Shakeout
Yesterday, I was an invited guest at an annual “entrepreneurship” event held in Vancouver. The event is an extraordinary opportunity to connect with most of the major figures, leaders, and investors in the entrepreneurship community. It also prominently showcased presentations from a number of the most promising new startups. But the undercurrents in conversations around the room were soul searching questions about the current glut of startup accelerators around North America, and the frothy euphoria and enthusiasm about “entrepreneurship.” Some experienced entrepreneurial investors complained about the air of unreality of it all, and the excess of mediocre companies being cranked out. A very prominent and experienced Vancouver venture capitalist pointed out to me that a glut of Canadian startups only compounds the long-standing issue that Canada could not produce the necessary risk capital even if more of these companies were investment ready, which they are not. A related issues is the waste of government money in these companies. Clearly, the situation is a mess.
Mobile OS
Smartphone Classroom Participation Startup Top Hat Monocle Strengthens Its Team
Toronto-based classroom education startup Top Hat Monocle takes a contrarian position on students’ smartphones. Rather than insist that they put them away, which we all know is a losing proposition, the company uses the devices to drive engagement and participation. Today, the company has beefed up its executive team, announcing the addition Ralf Riekers as its new Chief Financial Officer and Malgosia Green as its Chief Product Officer.
Supercomputers
Vancouver D-Wave's Groundbreaking Quantum Computer Sale to Lockheed Martin Aerospace
This is a very Big Deal, which increases the likelihood that Big Data will be a very Big Deal.
While the Canadian economy is expected to languish in the doldrums for the foreseeable future, D-Wave, a Vancouver quantum computing company, with e@UBC funding, is making big waves (pun intended). Seemingly out of the blue we now have two Vancouver companies that may be showing Canada the way out of its “natural resource curse:” D-Wave and potentially also Hootsuite.
Computer graphics
The Importance of "Convergence" In Market and Industry Analysis
I came across this book during my most recent visit to the UBC Vancouver campus. As good as I think this book is at focusing attention, in workbook style, on the importance of market and industry analysis, there is an issue that I think is not adequately addressed by any model or theory: not Porter, not STEEP or SWAT. Convergence is the issue.
Mobile OS
Silicon Valley's Misguided Love Affair With An "App" For Everything
The knee jerk joke of “There’s an app for that!” isn’t really that funny. Many experienced Silicon Valley veterans have complained loudly about the current malaise of misplaced infatuation with mobile apps, as the apparent end all and be all of Silicon Valley. Vinod Khosla, Marc Andreeson, Max Marmer and a laundry list of others have asked rhetorically how Silicon Valley could have lost its way so badly? Silicon Valley was founded on Big Ideas.
UBC
Red Herring "Awards": An Ironic Double Entendre
This morning TechCrunch posted an interesting article on the strange odyssey of Red Herring (the brand), and its current owner, Frenchman Alex Vieux (pictured above), since RH was sold to Vieux by Tony Perkins, back in 2003. Tony Perkins and Red Herring were Silicon Valley phenoms back in the 1990’s, so the blog post caught my eye. This story has a local angle. A startup here that was recently “parked,” also apparently won a Red Herring award a few years back. I was intrigued at that time, because I was intimately familiar with Red Herring from its founder, Tony Perkins, and its heyday in Silicon Valley in the 1990’s.
Energy harvesting
The Humble Thermostat: Another Strategic Web Battle
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat, fully Internet capable For years thermostats have been ugly and downright…
