Canadian and Silicon Valley Technology Innovators Converge at Sold Out AccelerateTO 2011

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We are seeing unprecedented interest and investment in high-quality Canadian startups from experienced venture investors on both sides of the border. With over $1.5B in technology exits so far, 2011 has been the best year in two decades.

Toronto, ON, Canada (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

Today AccelerateTO brings together over 650 Canadian technology entrepreneurs with Canadian and Silicon Valley-based investors for a day of connection and celebration.

Leading into Global Entrepreneur Week and in Canada’s Year of the Entrepreneur, the C100, an organization representing successful Canadian technology leaders in the Silicon Valley, partnered with 13 generous sponsors including KPMG, Ontario Venture Capital Fund, and the Business Development Bank of Canada to bring together the entirely volunteer-run event.

The AccelerateTO 2011 agenda includes Entrepreneur Workshops, Investor Pitch Panel, and Evening Charity Gala & Keynote along with several networking opportunities to connect Canada’s most promising entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and influencers.

“The excitement surrounding AccelerateTO is an important barometer of the sentiment in the Canadian technology community right now,” states Anthony Lee, co-founder of C100. “We are seeing unprecedented interest and investment in high-quality Canadian startups from experienced venture investors on both sides of the border. And with over $1.5B in technology exits so far, 2011 has been the best year in two decades.”

The day’s workshops are being led by notable technology leaders from Facebook, FreshBooks, Rypple, Firmex and Dayforce, along with local startup entrepreneurs, influencers and investors. The afternoon agenda culminates in an interactive panel discussion with veteran founders and CEOs of FreshBooks, Fixmo, and Wattpad.

In a private session, five companies were selected from over 110 applications to pitch to a distinguished panel of Canadian and US Venture Capitalists:

•     gShiftLabs – provider of SEO software for non-SEO professionals. Its Web Presence OptimizerTM simplifies, demystifies and standardizes the way a website gets found on the internet and enables companies to get top rankings in organic search engines.
•     Maide – a start-up harnessing the power of mobile devices to improve the way people interact with their computer. Their first product turns the iPad into an easy to use, collaborative controller for computer aided design software.
•     Creative D – an entertainment company focused on creating platforms that blend content, social and games to make new products that engage audiences.
•     Locationary – developer of “Saturn”- a breakthrough, multi-patent-pending, cloud-based federated local data management system that improves the quality of local business places data for mobile and web content, search, daily deals and navigation apps. Saturn enables the frictionless exchange and real-time distribution of local business information worldwide.
•     GridCentric – an award winning software startup that has invented a way for Enterprises to implement Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) with up to 75% savings in server costs. Gridcentric's VMS technology allows virtual desktops to use server memory on demand, optimising server utilisation and dramatically lowering the Total Cost of Ownership of VDI.

The evening Charity Cocktails & Keynote reception is being held at the Royal Ontario Museum, and will be keynoted by Chris O’Neill, Managing Director of Google Canada. Also seven local startups have been selected to be showcased and demonstrate their new and innovative products: 500px, Guardly, HugeMonster, Pressly, Rocketr, Upverter and Vizualize Me. The event’s attendees will tweet or text votes for their favourite demonstration and the winner will be awarded $2500 at the end of the evening. The evening’s proceeds will be donated to the United Way.

About AccelerateTO 2011
The Accelerate Events began as community-organized celebrations of Canadian technology entrepreneurs in conjunction with the C100 organization. The first event, AccelerateTO 2010, drew over 300 participants from across Canada and Silicon Valley. At the intersection of Global Entrepreneur Week and Canada’s Year of the Entrepreneur, AccelerateTO 2011 promises to have an even greater impact with 13 sponsors & stakeholder organizations, and over 650 participants. It is free for all participants with the exception of the evening’s charity event for which proceeds raised will be in support of United Way.

About C100
The C100 is a vibrant and highly sought-after network of successful Canadian technology leaders in the Silicon Valley dedicated to supporting Canadian entrepreneurs. C100 Charter Members include startup CEOs, top executives of companies such as Apple, Cisco, EA, eBay, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Oracle, and venture investors representing more than $10 billion in capital. C100 members are passionate about leveraging their collective experience, expertise and relationships to help mentor and grow a new generation of successful Canadian-led technology companies.

The C100 facilitates the interaction between its Charter Members and Canadian entrepreneurs through mentoring programs, networking events and providing eminent speakers for events and meetings in the Silicon Valley and in Canada. http://www.thec100.org

For more information, visit the AccelerateTO website at http://www.accelerateto.com or contact: Elizabeth Caley, ecaley (at) theC100 (dot) org

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