Here’s the startup news making headlines today on other Web sites and blogs. Toronto gets a new startup organization, New York racks up VC deals, and a toymaker offers fun (and funding) for entrepreneurs.
Startup Grind now in Toronto
A new startuporganization has sprung up in Toronto. Startup Grind Torontosays it will help connect entrepreneurs, programmers, designers,founders, mentors and “globally-oriented investors” within the city’sstartup scene. Michael Cayley is the director of the new group, whichhopes to hold its first “fireside chat” event with food, drinks andspeakers in late May or early June. Startup Grind already has branchesin Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Tx., San Francisco, Tempe, Az.,Marin, Ca. and Ottawa.
By Michael Cayley on startupgrind.com
NYC loves tech VC
The Big Apple is taking abite out of Silicon Valley’s status as the centre of the venturecapital universe, according to new figures gathered by CBInsights. There were 81 tech VC deals in New York City in the firstquarter of 2012, up from 72 a year earlier. This led Forbes magazine toproclaim that NYC may become a startup hub “equal to anything on theleft coast.” Although NYC suffers from a dearth of tech mentors, thereare fewer tech startups competing for money in the Big Apple whichworks to the city’s advantage, one local tech entrepreneur said.
By Ian Vandaelle in the Globe and Mail
Spin Master funding
Time is running out toapply for this year’s Spin Master Innovation Fund. For thesecond year running, the Canadian toy company and the Canadian YouthBusiness Foundation (CYBF) are offering entrepreneurs aged 18 to 34 thechance to win 10 packages that give each firm up to $50,000 in funding,a personally-matched mentor, and a paid trip to attend the InnovationLaunch Pad Workshop in Toronto. Apply online by May 10.