Disqus - Latest Comments for dannyrobinson

Re: Cash Management In Startups

dannyrobinson — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 13:17:54 -0000

Al (seed), then you via Rex @ SoftbankVC, gave me my big break. I'm forever grateful for everything I learned from you guys back then

Re: Do distributed teams need new tools?

dannyrobinson — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 14:00:38 -0000

There are fundamental problems with remote teams with a few immature solutions, but nobody has solved the culture issue that you mention. Humans are social people, even us introverts need to feel connected to other humans. Text doesn't cut it, and the transactional nature of Zoom leave no room for relationships to form in the same way as they do when you're in the office. This is the problem we were trying to solve at Perch back in 2014/2015.

Interestingly, over the past 2 months alone, I've been contacted by multiple entrepreneurs taking another shot at building an ambient presence product. it seems that solving the remote team problem has finally become in vogue. All of these ideas sound exciting, mostly because the problem is so large, and will have massively disruptive effects.

But, ask yourself this: Why we need to physically go to the office? Now, imagine a world where there was no need to go in for the reasons you answered in the first question. Solve those problems, and you've disrupted some of the largest industries on the planet: Transportation, Energy, and the very concept of a city even becomes questionable. It's hard to think about any single technology having that size of impact on the world, yet despite the recent emergence of remote teams, it's highly underfunded.

Engaged and socially connected remote teams are the inevitable future.

Re: Episode 00: Transparency

dannyrobinson — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 18:18:42 -0000

Pat - I'm suspending our friendship until you brush up on your Tesla knowledge! Kalv, proud of ya!

Great podcast guys. Inspiring me to do a big transparent Perch update post.

Re: Let’s Stay Connected: Communication Tools For Working Remotely With Clients & Colleagues

dannyrobinson — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:58:20 -0000

Great list Adarsh! Of course, at Perch, we also use Perch :). Haven't tried Trello. I'll check that out.

Re: Closing Our Seed Round

dannyrobinson — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:19:56 -0000

Big congrats to all you guys! Great solution to a huge problem.

Re: While Well-Intentioned, Canada’s Startup Visa Will Have No Impact

dannyrobinson — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 18:50:44 -0000

Correct, to date there has been little money, but that's because startup visa never existed before and accelerators were not approved yet.

What I am objecting to is that you're using past data to conclude a future result as if it was a fact. What you're not taking into consideration is that the variables have changed. The variable in this case is Startup Visa itself, which you cannot measure. (nobody can)

I don't *believe* that the startup visa's impact will be muted because there isn't enough money, and there is no way for you to prove that it will be.

I'm asking you to keep an open mind, and admit when you don't know something.

Re: While Well-Intentioned, Canada’s Startup Visa Will Have No Impact

dannyrobinson — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:27:28 -0000

Unless you have a crystal ball, no such data exists to predict the Startup Visa's outcome. What if the next Larry and Sergey create the next Google, and they came to Canada through Startup Visa? Considering how many companies are started by foreigners, it's quite plausible.

You see, that's the entire point. All great companies were started by a group of people with a dream, and if they can't build their dream in canada none of them will exist here.

You have no ability to conclude anything from any data that exists. Especially because (to date) these hasn't even been 1 company accepted into the Startup Visa program.

I hope you now understand my earlier comment.

Re: While Well-Intentioned, Canada’s Startup Visa Will Have No Impact

dannyrobinson — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 02:09:55 -0000

At most, short sighted, at worst an ignorant analysis to Startup Visa Canada. I'm curious at what the unnamed author expected would happen with the startup visa. Who promised anything more than what has happened so far. Why do you feel let down so early in the cycle?

Re: Will Google Helpouts Provide Clarity?

dannyrobinson — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:30:33 -0000

Love it. More video, less text = more human interactions and more lasting relationships.

Re: One Year In

dannyrobinson — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:03:25 -0000

I'll never forget when my daughter showed me her report card on Redhand. That single 23 second video changed me, and the company's trajectory forever. Soon after that, Maura renamed the company, and Perch, as you know it today, was born. It felt like all the insight, data, and feedback we have gathered during our Redhand tests culminated in one moment to reveal something none of us expected.

Re: I don’t care about crowded markets

dannyrobinson — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:45:34 -0000

Wholeheartedly agree Mark. If a market is crowded, there probably a reason. It's probably a lucrative market, with lots of data to help an entrepreneur find the little things that make a big difference...aka innovation.

Re: The 2012 Techvibes Holiday Giveaway: Day Five

dannyrobinson — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:07:25 -0000

HD TV for the office

Re: holiday giveaway one - Techvibes.com

dannyrobinson — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 13:53:24 -0000

I'd buy an iPad 2 or Mini, engrave it with "Techvibes Loves Perch" and regift it to one of our users with Perch preinstalled. :-)

Re: Danny Robinson's Perch Hits App Store After Raising $1 Million

dannyrobinson — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:53:45 -0000

Awesome. Love some feedback too.

Re: The one barrier to entry startups should focus on

dannyrobinson — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:35:52 -0000

Agree in the case where the technology that is used to build the product is fully commoditized. As was the case for companies like Instagram etc. but when the technology never existed, there is still a barrier established by patenting. (Although in my opinion of a perfect world, there would be no patents). The other Barrier is complexity. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but when the value proposition is so high that the user invests time and energy setting up the technology, like installing the Nest thermostat on the wall, or setting up a new CRM, it create its own elasticIty for change, even if a better product comes around.

Re: Strutta to Deliver Social Promotions to ExactTarget Customers

dannyrobinson — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:37:35 -0000

Super excited about the possibilities of this and similar agreements will bring to Strutta!

Re: GrowLab Demo Day 2012: the participants | VentureBeat

dannyrobinson — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:14:25 -0000

That was great group of companies. Best graduating class I've seen from an accelerator

Re: Does Canada Even Need a Technology Sector?

dannyrobinson — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 18:57:12 -0000

HA! The very title of this article "Do we need a tech sector" gets my hair up. Maybe that was the point, to get our (the reader's) hair on end. The question is laughable. Of course we do! As you even state at the end of the article, "Canada does need a tech sector." You might as well ask "Do we need money to sustain an economy"

One thing is certain, our economies and societies are changing in ways that the past can't predict. They're moving faster and in more complex ways that require new businesses and cutting edge "technologies" just to merely survive, let alone prosper.

Knowlton points out, Canada's crutch (aka Natural resources), are being exploited. It would be foolish (to an extreme) to create a future around them since they will eventually run out. And It's going to take a few more Hootsuites to get us to a level playing field. So what do we do?

Trust me when I say (and I should know) that the powers that be, Pat Bell, does not share this sense of urgency and importance. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating that it's up to us, not them. I've hard many times that the Government should step in and do something. fuck that. The absolute hard truth is they can't, cause the don't know how, so they shouldn't, or they'll make it worse, which they already have.

It's up to us. Build something big. Don't sell early. Prosper together!

Re: Introducing Mighty Apps, With a Brand New Builder and Dashboard

dannyrobinson — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:21:14 -0000

I'm so excited for you guys. I know how hard you've worked and it sure does show in the final product. It's going to be a huge success.

Re: Meltwater Partners with Vancouver's Strutta

dannyrobinson — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:24:13 -0000

not commenting on what actually happened, but in either case, it's safe to say there's lots of upside in Strutta. And we're in no rush to exit now.

Re: Is the Startup Boom Just a Job Fair for Big Corporations?

dannyrobinson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:46:34 -0000

Couldn't have said it better Kevin

Re: Pissed Off Billionaire Flames Canada: 'You Have The Most Inefficient Telcos In The World!'

dannyrobinson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:13:16 -0000

Fantastic!

Re: Launch at GROW

dannyrobinson — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:05:00 -0000

Thanks Jonas. We would really love to see the east coast represented. All you have to do is upload your logo and hit submit. Get some exposure. The only reason you *wouldn't* do it, is you think you're too cool - which you're not, so just do it. :-) Seriously though, let's showing off the best Canada has to offer.

Re: Incubators, incubators, every where

dannyrobinson — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:16:13 -0000

The GrowLab team has kept me up to date with all the details as they have been assembling it. Most of the team there is actually comprised of the Bootup Labs funders, and those that weren't funders, I consider close friends. I am not involved in GrowLab, and the only link between GrowLab and Bootup Labs is in the form of the lessons we learned together about what we did right and what we did wrong.

I hope it goes without saying that I'm extremely excited that there will be a world-class Seed Accelerator in Vancouver, operated by an experienced, well connected team, taking over where Bootup Labs left off.

Also, as a point of clarification, there has always been Bootup Labs (the Seed Accelerator) and Bootup Entrepreneurial Society (the non-profit). BES produces the Launch Party events, works closely with Debbie to create the GROW conference, and provides a series of community driven entrepreneurial mentoring and workshop events. BES is still ongoing, chaired by Boris Wertz, and I'm sure will work closely with GrowLab to build the best Internet startup culture around.

It's a great time to be a founder in Vancouver!

Re: Prior to Town Hall

dannyrobinson — Thu, 05 May 2011 00:19:06 -0000

Thanks Mack. We're trying!