Community Innovation Survey

Greenlight Appoints Janet Lamkin to its Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Greenlight® Financial Technology, Inc. ("Greenlight"), the fintech company on a mission to help parents raise financially-smart kids, today announced the addition of Janet Lamkin to its Board of Directors.

Key Points: 
  • Greenlight® Financial Technology, Inc. ("Greenlight"), the fintech company on a mission to help parents raise financially-smart kids, today announced the addition of Janet Lamkin to its Board of Directors.
  • Janet is an industry veteran with more than 30 years’ experience in building innovative brands across consumer and financial services sectors.
  • Janet was also the first female CEO of the California Bankers Association, the largest state banking association in the country.
  • “Greenlight continues to advance its mission to empower parents to raise financially-smart kids,” said Tim Sheehan, co-founder and CEO of Greenlight.

New sophisticated lab anchors Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, joined Seneca officials on Monday to officially open the new home of the Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences (SCILS).

Key Points: 
  • Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, joined Seneca officials on Monday to officially open the new home of the Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences (SCILS).
  • "This new, dedicated space for the Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences will enable us to provide more applied research opportunities than ever before for our students, faculty and life sciences enterprises in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • "I would like to congratulate Seneca College on the grand opening of its new Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences.
  • We wish success to Seneca Polytechnic on the launch of the new Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences."

How building more backyard homes, granny flats and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 5, 2023

However, this ideal is relatively new within a broader history of housing and development in the U.S. It’s also a goal that has become increasingly unattainable.

Key Points: 
  • However, this ideal is relatively new within a broader history of housing and development in the U.S. It’s also a goal that has become increasingly unattainable.
  • As professors of architecture, we explore how cities change over time, and how certain building trends become commonplace through cultural, political, technological and economic shifts.
  • Single-family zoning restricts the supply of affordable housing, leading to higher costs, displacement and segregation.

Enter the ADU

    • To accommodate these living situations, a range of housing types emerged: multifamily apartment complexes, housing cooperatives, and duplexes and triplexes.
    • They include full amenities – a kitchen and a bathroom, along with a separate entry from the primary dwelling.
    • You may have heard of minimalist living trends such as van life and tiny homes, but the ADU was the original compact housing.

Addressing the ‘missing middle’

    • We believe ADUs – with their social, economic and environmental benefits – should become a more common housing option.
    • Many new neighborhood developments are marketed as “luxury” and try to take advantage of hot markets by maximizing price points.
    • But they also provide space and privacy for younger people who may not be able to afford a larger single-family home.
    • By adding units to the existing rental market, they can stanch soaring rental costs.
    • They can also provide passive income for homeowners who need help paying off their mortgage.

California leads the way

    • Similarly, bureaucratic hurdles can sometimes discourage homeowners who might otherwise be interested in having their own ADU.
    • Sometimes six or seven separate permits are required, significantly delaying construction.
    • Plans range from a studio structure of less than 400 square feet to a 1,200-square-foot house with three bedrooms.
    • ADU permits increased from 9,000 in 2018 to 12,392 in 2020, according to the UC Berkeley Center for Community Innovation.

HeroX Welcomes Jessie Ford as New Head of Community

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023

With over 18 years of experience in the crowdsourcing industry, Jessie brings a wealth of knowledge and a true passion for community building to the HeroX team.

Key Points: 
  • With over 18 years of experience in the crowdsourcing industry, Jessie brings a wealth of knowledge and a true passion for community building to the HeroX team.
  • In 2005, Jessie began her career at Topcoder, where she held various positions, including project manager, community manager, and Director of Community Innovation.
  • "I am honored and excited to work at HeroX because of the company's undeniable passion for community-driven problem-solving," said Jessie, Director of Community Innovation, HeroX.
  • "We are absolutely thrilled to have Jessie Ford join the HeroX team as our new Head of Community," said Kal K. Sahota, CEO, HeroX.

Techstars State of Innovation Survey Finds Silicon Valley’s Crown is Slipping As Emerging Technology Hubs Gain Influence

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 3, 2023

Asked to select up to five hubs, close to two-thirds (63%) of respondents identified Silicon Valley as the most innovative hub today.

Key Points: 
  • Asked to select up to five hubs, close to two-thirds (63%) of respondents identified Silicon Valley as the most innovative hub today.
  • However, when asked which hubs will be the most innovative in five years’ time, Silicon Valley’s share dips to under half (45%).
  • To read more about the survey results, download the complete research report here: Techstars 2023 State of Innovation Survey .
  • The survey was administered online and respondents were recruited via a contact list provided by Techstars Central LLC.

Post-secondary institutions still unprotected, largely excluded from Budget 2023

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Ottawa, March 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The federal budget failed to make needed investments in post-secondary education or protect colleges and universities from corporate insolvency, says the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).

Key Points: 
  • Ottawa, March 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The federal budget failed to make needed investments in post-secondary education or protect colleges and universities from corporate insolvency, says the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).
  • In its pre-budget submission , CAUT recommended the government invest in research and graduate student scholarships, increase transfers to the provinces to support affordable post-secondary education, and that public universities and colleges be excluded from the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).
  • Moreover, this budget provided no new operating funding nor investments in basic research.
  • “Education and research are key to helping Canadians meet present and future challenges, whether the climate emergency or public health crisis,” said McInnis.

Canada Supports Tarquti Energy to Empower Inuit to Take Charge of Nunavik's Energy Transition

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 10, 2023

For Inuit and Northern communities, building community readiness based on Inuit knowledge and expertise is key to the clean energy transition in some of the most remote places in Canada.

Key Points: 
  • For Inuit and Northern communities, building community readiness based on Inuit knowledge and expertise is key to the clean energy transition in some of the most remote places in Canada.
  • In Northern Quebec, Tarquti is acting efficiently by leading Nunavik's clean energy transition in partnership with community stakeholders.
  • "Through the leadership of organizations such as Tarquti Energy, Inuit are leading the energy transition while growing their economies and building resilient communities.
  • The investment from the Government of Canada means that Tarquti can move forward in the creation of innovative clean energy solutions by Inuit for Inuit."

Alida Launches Conversational Surveys

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Alida, a leader in experience management, today delivered its Fall 2022 product release, bringing to market new technology innovations on its market-leading Total Experience Management (TXM) platform, including a new Conversational Surveys product.

Key Points: 
  • Alida, a leader in experience management, today delivered its Fall 2022 product release, bringing to market new technology innovations on its market-leading Total Experience Management (TXM) platform, including a new Conversational Surveys product.
  • With Alidas latest product, Conversational Surveys, companies can easily engage with customers via SMS in a conversational style.
  • The Fall 2022 product release provides Alidas customers with the ability to:
    Engage with more customers faster with Conversational Surveys, delivered via SMS
    Reach a wider array of audiences and unlock new insights to build truly exceptional customer experiences with new Conversational Surveys.
  • Leverage the universal channel of SMS and the power of conversational design to create engaging feedback surveys that minimize friction and enable faster responses.

Ladies Who Launch to Host Free Resilient Leadership Summit to Support Women- and Nonbinary-Owned Small Businesses

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 3, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, October 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PST, Ladies Who Launch (LWL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and empowers women and nonbinary small business owners and entrepreneurs, will convene a free Resilient Leadership Summit at Bespoke San Francisco. Panels will discuss the challenges facing small businesses today and the resources available to help entrepreneurs mitigate, manage and thrive.

Key Points: 
  • Small business capacity building nonprofit Ladies Who Launch to host evening of conversations & networking in San Francisco, CA.
  • Panels will discuss the challenges facing small businesses today and the resources available to help entrepreneurs mitigate, manage and thrive.
  • Panelists at the Resilient Leadership Summit will include small business owners and the organizations that support them.
  • The San Francisco Summit is part one of a two-part event Ladies Who Launch is hosting to support women- and nonbinary-owned small businesses.

Government of Canada makes additional investments in college applied research partnerships

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 5, 2022

This funding is being provided through additional investments announced in the 2021 Federal Budget for the Applied Research and Technology Partnership grants , made available through the Tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program, managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Key Points: 
  • This funding is being provided through additional investments announced in the 2021 Federal Budget for the Applied Research and Technology Partnership grants , made available through the Tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program, managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
  • "This additional support from the Government of Canada is a testament to the value of colleges, CEGEPs and polytechnics and how they contribute to Canadian innovation from exceptional applied research expertise and training experience, to outstanding facilities and equipment.
  • The Tri-agency CCI program is one of the largest vehicles for funding applied research at colleges, polytechnics and CGEPs across Canada.
  • In 2021 alone, participants reported that 350 applied research projects involved more than 950 students and over 250 new products developed for partner organizations.