Bold Speaks At RRC Directions Conference

by Scott Riddell | 2 minute read

RRC Directions 2015

On February 4, Jay Myers and Yvan Boisjoli, two of Bold's four co-founders were speakers at the annual “Directions” Conference at Red River College in Winnipeg Manitoba. They discussed the obstacles of success as a tech startup in a small market like Winnipeg, and what teachers need to teach and students need to learn to have the best advantages entering the employment market.

Some of the things they talked about were the core components and what to consider when starting up a tech company. What kind of partners do you need? What kind of capital do you need? What is your unique selling proposition? How and when will your product fit into an existing market? Or can you create a new market with a revolutionary product or service?

Another major component of every Bold address is the corporate culture of the company you're starting or entering into. How will you attract talented employees? How will you attract lucrative partnerships? What can you do that will make people want to do business with you aside from just offering a valuable product? These have always been staples of the business ethos at Bold.

  During the breakout sessions and round table discussions, Jay and Yvan found themselves at the epicentre of attention with students lined up to grab a seat and ask direct questions to the Bold co-founders. "It was incredible to see how enthusiastic and interested the students were, hanging on to everything that we and all the other speakers had to say." said Myers after the event. "Red River really did a great job putting this together and providing an opportunity for students to interact with potential employers and find out a lot more what the professional world is like."

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While Bold has fostered a great relationship with the professors and administration at Red River, this speaking engagement offered another opportunity. In Winnipeg, the local industry leaders have a major influence on the curriculum that the student's learn from. It makes perfect sense. The companies that are going to hire the students get to help decide what students are learning in order to prepare them for their  eventual careers upon graduation.

Recently there has been a massive growth in the tech industry. Where once, there was a limited number of companies hiring developers and designers who only needed a small skill set for a limited spectrum of jobs, there are now a variety of tech companies exploring, creating, and innovating at the cutting edge of technology. Bold was more than happy to be able start influencing students on the kinds of skills they are going to need, and similarly let the Red River admin know that there is a shift in Winnipeg toward more diverse skill requirements when it comes to the tech industry.  

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Scott Riddell

Written by Scott Riddell

Scott is a chin-scratching gentleman who has a wealth of eCommerce experience. He works as a product manager at Bold, envisioning and shaping new apps that empower entrepreneurs to sell more.

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