Pictured in 2017, Derrick Fung is the chief executive officer of Drop, a loyalty-rewards startup that received early investment from an AngelList syndicate. Derrick Fung, who has founded a startup called Drop, which is a loyalty rewards app, poses at the Breather.com offices in Toronto, Ont. on Thursday, April 13, 2017. (J.P. Moczulski/The Globe and Mail)J.P. MOCZULSKI/Globe and Mail
AngelList to offer ‘microfunds’ for startups in Canada
After nearly two years in Canada, U.S. startup platform AngelList is extending a program here that lets angel investors more easily build “microfund” startup portfolios to draw private capital from a broader range of sources into early-stage Canadian businesses. Full story
Toronto entrepreneur eyes vast expansion for her business producing ready-made international cuisine meals
Five years after Lisa Sohanpal started her business – and with a couple of false starts already behind her – Nom Noms World Food is finally on the rails and picking up speed. The only problem? It may be moving too fast for her to manage on her own. Ms. Sohanpal is what you might call a woman of the world – an Aussie of Indian heritage who married a Brit and then moved the family to Canada. Full story (for Globe subscribers)
Warehouse of rotten fish sparks legal dispute
It was an odour that Albert Testa says is still very vivid in his memory, even seven years later. “The second I opened the door, there was a smell that was vomit-inducing. I don’t know how else to describe it,” he recounted. Full story
Diesel fuel shortage impact could be felt beyond the gas pumps
If you’re a motorist that relies on diesel fuel to get around, you have likely noticed its becoming a scarce commodity across the GTA. Full story
Montreal startup ‘Kiid’ connects parents to babysitters online like Uber connects people to drivers
Christine Hodgson is a mother to Alice and Lévi. When she needs someone to watch her kids, like many, she calls her parents or in-laws. When that’s not possible, she turns to Kiid. Full story
ApplyBoard stepping up growth with new funding
A startup that helps international students apply to schools across North America will ramp up its growth after securing US$13 million in funding. ApplyBoard will use the money, announced Thursday, to beef up sales and marketing, add more schools to its platform, hire more software developers and add more international business developers, said Martin Basiri, the Kitchener company’s chief executive officer and co-founder. Full story
Cutting out the middle-man, like Uber did, not always best for startups
Whether it’s shopping on Amazon or hailing a ride through Uber, the point of most e-commerce is the same – cutting out the middle-man. Eliminating retail stores or taxi dispatchers, after all, allows service providers to reduce costs and reach more customers. Consumers usually benefit in the form of lower prices or more convenient services. Full story