Alberta Ingenuity Fund Congratulates EzSeer

Alberta Ingenuity President and CEO Dr. Peter Hackett sends EzSeer his warmest regards. Much of EzSeer's cutting edge Artificial Intelligence software was created at the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Machine Learning (AICML) located on campus at the University of Alberta. Alberta Ingenuity is proud to support the development of leading edge technologies, the creation of commercialization opportunities, and the lasting positive impact that these elements will have on Alberta.

EzSeer gratefully acknowledges Dr. Hackett's kind remarks, and looks forward to Alberta Ingenuity's continued success in reshaping Alberta's technology landscape.

EzSeer Enters SEP Prize Competition

EzSeer COO, and Alberta School of Business MBA Candidate, James Ortlieb has announced EzSeer's entry into the TEC Edmonton Student Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) Prize competition. At stake is a $25,000.00 cash award and office space for a year at the new TEC Edmonton offices located downtown in the former landmark Hudson Bay building.

The entire EzSeer team is grateful for the many opportunities extended by the SEP Program. The program has been instrumental in creating EzSeer as a spin-off company from the UofA. Meeting, office, legal and support services provided by SEP have been vital to the needs of the fledgling organization. Being paired with an industry leading mentor in the likes of Mr. Bruce Johnson has been a highlight of the entire program. Regardless of the how the judging turns out at the SEP Prize competition, EzSeer is already a winner. EzSeer thanks Andrew Pryor, Kim Ito, Jayant Kumar, Laine Woollard, Hugh Wyatt, Ken Gordon, Pamela Freeman, CEO Dr. David Cox, and everyone else at TEC Edmonton who has been an essential part of EzSeer's success to date.

EzSeer goes to Entrepreneur School

EzSeer COO James Ortlieb attended Entrepreneur School 2008 at the Shaw Conference centre January 22 - 24, 2008. The event was hosted by Randy Thompson from the Alberta California Venture Channel (ACVC www.acventure.com) and Ken Gordon from TEC Edmonton. The session was also sponsored by Western Economic Diversification Canada, Alberta Advanced Education and Technology, Alberta Deal Generator, and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.

Over the three days attendees learned how valuations are placed on high tech companies, how IP can be protected and what kinds of legal and financing strategies are available. The course also featured a presentation on sales techniques and gave insights on what "keeps investors up at nights". The highlight of the three days was the opportunity to create a 10 minute investor ready presentation and "Pitch It" to fellow classmates, instructors and mentors. Three lucky students went on to pitch their ideas to a group of Angel investors.

Overall, the quality of the presentations, the opportunity to interact with instructors and mentors, and the feedback and networking offered at Boot Camp was all real world and of the highest calibre possible. Many thanks from the EzSeer team.

TEC Source advises EzSeer

TEC Edmonton's TEC Source Panel offered start up advice to EzSeer at the December 19, 2007 meeting. Hugh Wyatt organized the event which featured a panel of experts from legal, accounting, banking and business circles. Topics of discussion featured financial records and reporting, minute book and business plan updates, and business strategies. A special thanks goes to TEC Edmonton's Executive in Residence, Robert Murakami, for sharing some of his previous business experiences. EzSeer looks forward to its next meeting with TEC Source.

TEC Source Panel offers EzSeer Advice

EzSeer attended a mentorship session with TEC Edmonton's TEC Source Panel. At the December 19, 2007 meeting sage council was received from

EzSeer at ECAT Dinner

The Edmonton Council for Advanced Technology (ECAT) invited EzSeer to present it's unique Behavioral Recommender system at their November 20, 2007 dinner. EzSeer COO James Ortlieb presented an interactive session in which the audience learned about some of the issues faced by EzSeer in the process of commercializing its technology. Attendees then had the opportunity to vote on what directions EzSeer should take in its future product development and marketing activities. Although the results of the voting may not have been binding on EzSeer's executive, the audience input was very much appreciated.

EzSeer CTO Kevin Jewell was also in attendance. In addition, there were several other interesting speakers. A fine time was had by all.

Accelerating Technology Commercialization

As we approach the end of the first year that this blog was initiated by the Technology Commercialization Centre (TCC) and Techcom Program at the University of Alberta Business School, it is a good time to reflect on the value of this communication medium and how it can be utilized more effectively. The promise of the Techcom Program at the School of Business is to address the Provincial talent gap of business savvy entrepreneurs that understand science and technology--in order to facilitate and accelerate technology commercialization. Our students are actively involved in facilitating technology development and company creation through the Ingenuity Enterprise program supported by TEC Edmonton and the TCC at the School of Business as well as other initiatives. The TCC has, for instance, also been active in assisting researchers at the National Institute for Nanotechnology evaluate options for commercialization as well as supporting the development of major new technology initiatives in biomedical engineering (through the BERRI effort). We are also actively pursuing a more aggressive Science to Business training strategy. Such initiatives provide opportunities for our MBA students and facilitate technology commercialization in the Province. This blog can provide a key mechanism for more interactive learning by MBA students, as well as a very instrumental network and information sharing forum for those interested in technology commercialization in Alberta. My hope for 2008 is that this blog will pick up momentum and will be actively used by UA MBA students (current and past) and facilitate dialogue between University scientists and business people and the community at large--government, industry and capital. One of the deficits in the Province is the lack of a forum for communication that links disparate efforts and forms of expertise. To wit, we are in the process of making this an open access forum and encourage everyone to responsibly contribute to making this a generative venue for technology commercialization talk and knowledge.

All the best for the holidays and for an innovative and entrepreneurial 2008!

Michael Lounsbury
Director Technology Commercialization Centre
University of Alberta School of Business & National Institute for Technology.