A few resources to help you navigate Halifax startup Community if you are new here. If you are not new to the city, I hope you will find some things new to you.

1. A hitchhiker’s guide
to the Halifax Startup
Community
Milan Vrekic, Zora.io
@milanvrekic
milan@zora.io
Last update: March 5th 2016

2. Rules of Engagement
• Let the Entrepreneurs lead.
• Give before you get.
• Promote Halifax as awesome.
• Contribute something. Anything.
• Give back to the community once you make it big.
• Take random meetings (Open door policy).
• Be inclusive (introduce newcomers to people).
• Don’t complain. Act.

3. Some of our ICT startups
AnalyzeRe
FundMetric
DashHudson
Introhive
Affin.io
ModestTree
TitanFile
Leadsift
Karma Gaming
TheRounds
Site2020
Swell Advantage
PACTA
WoodsCamp
Eyeread
HealthQR
InNetwork
UpMyGame
Equals6
SimplyCast
TruLeaf
Kinduct
Aio.TV
SeaForth Energy
Spring Loaded
vendeve.com
Athletigen
EmailOpened
pursue.it
Blue Light Analytics
Clean Simple
Saute
Databoliks
Kinduct Tech
Interview Rocket
Oris4
SageCrowd
WeUsThem
VidSnippets
GoFullSteam
Zora
Proposify.biz
TopLog
Addo
AdLyft
PitchPlay
Backdrop
bitness.io

4. More on the Ecosystem
• Angelist - Halifax:
https://angel.co/companies?locations[]=Halifax
• Entrevestor Infographic:
http://entrevestor.com/images/uploads/
Entrevestor_Infographic_WEB.jpg
• OneNS
http://onens.ca/

5. Local Startup Bloggers
• Thomas Rankin:
http://impossibleconfidence.com
• Jevon Macdonald
http://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/author/jevon/
• Rob Begg
http://robbegg.com/
•
WE REALLY NEED MORE TECH BLOGGERS!

6. Movements
• Ladies Learning Code
http://ladieslearningcode.com
• BrilliantLabs
http://www.brilliantlabs.ca
• HaliHax
www.halihax.com
• CodeKids
http://www.codekids.ca
• Hoist
http://hoisthalifax.com/

7. Coworking/Office Space
• Volta (free coworking space)
www.voltaeffect.com
• ShiftKeyLabs (if you are a student)
http://shiftkeylabs.ca/

8. Conferences (in no particular order)
• StartupEmpire
www.startupempireconf.com
• MentorCamp
www.mentorcamp.ca
• Atlantic Venture Forum
http://www.atlanticventureforum.ca
• Big Data Congress
http://bigdatacongress.t4g.com
• DemoCamp Halifax
www.democamphalifax.com
• Invest Atlantic
www.investatlantic.ca
• PodCamp Halifax
http://podcamphalifax.ca
• HPX Digital
halifaxpopexplosion.com
• Collide Conference
collidehalifax.com

9. Events
• 3rd Wednesdays
http://www.3whfx.com
• HaliHax
www.halihax.com
• Volta Labs Events
www.voltaeffect.com/calendar/

10. Finding a job with a Startup
• Digital Nova Scotia Connector
http://opportunities.digitalnovascotia.com/
• Entrevestor job board
https://entrevestor.qimple.com/

11. Funding Sources
• BUILD Ventures
http://www.buildventures.ca
• Innovacorp
www.innovacorp.ca
• Atlantic Angels
www.atlanticangels.ca
• ACOA
http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/
• IRAP
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/index.html
• First Angel Network
http://www.firstangelnetwork.ca

12. Startup Friendly Service Providers
• Legal:
http://www.beyondtheboxlaw.com - Christian Weisenburger
http://www.coxandpalmerlaw.com - Richard Norman
http://www.mcinnescooper.com - Rob Cowan
• Accounting
www.deloitte.ca - Steve Carr
www.liveca.ca - If you are ok with virtual accounting
• Banking
www.rbc.ca - Alex MacKenzie

13. Startup Friendly Hangouts
• Lion and Bright (Local’s secret spot)
http://www.lionandbright.com/
• Mid-Point (for a coffee meeting)
http://www.midpointcoffee.ca
• Fireside (team lunch)
http://thefireside.ca
• MODA (for a more formal setting)
http://www.modaurbandining.com

14. Engage
• Email is the best way to start a relationship.
• Keep it short
• Have a clear ask
• Make it easy to say yes
• Do your research, make it relevant
• Take initiative, suggest times and places that work.
• Don’t ask busy people to meet you for coffee. Offer to
go to their office for 15 minutes after a few emails are
exchanged.

15. That is it!
• Email me with stuff I missed at:
milan@milanvrekic.com
and follow me at @milanvrekic
• And if you are new to Halifax, find me at Volta (1505 Barrington
street, 7th floor) and I will introduce you to a few people.