November 30, 2023: Hungry?

For today’s edition, we sit down with Founder and CEO of New School Foods, Chris Bryson to learn more about the goals, potential outcomes and inspiration for disrupting an industry.

What is New School Foods?

New School is the next big thing in food, creating options for everyone. It is whole-cut seafood, entirely made from plants.

What was the insight and inspiration behind this idea?

Realizing that today's plant-based meats are all made using the same antiquated & deficient technology, and that a new processing technology is needed for more realistic plant-based alternatives.

What is your plan for launching? How has it been received?

We are launching next year, but reception thus far has been very positive given that the product looks, cooks, tastes and flakes like salmon - which blows people away.

How did you know you were ready to be a Founder?

This is my 2nd startup. I love building & creating, and putting together awesome teams.

What are you trying to achieve over the next 12 months?

Launch a groundbreaking product into select restaurants in Canada and the US, while completing the commissioning of the supporting assembly line and optimizing its performance.

Who are the Canadian startups you admire most in your market?

Smallfood - unearthing the future of food

Genuine Taste - improving the taste, texture and nutrition of alternative meats

Konscious Foods - crave worthy sushi made from plants

Algarithm - fish-free Omega-3, straight from the source

Wamame Foods (now Waygu) - the world’s first plant-based alternative to waygu beef

What advice do you wish you had received when you were first starting out?

Trust your gut!

Schulich Tech MBA and OneEleven create Venture Studio

York University’s Schulich School of Business and OneEleven have formalized a joint ‘Venture Studio’ as part of the School’s MBA in Technology Leadership (Tech MBA).

The first of its kind in Canada, the Tech MBA launched in September 2023 to help develop the next generation of leaders for a business world that is increasingly tech driven.

The Venture Studio is co-led by Schulich Adjunct Professor Chris Carder and matches teams of top students with member companies from both OneEleven and the Schulich Startups communities, completing pro bono strategic product and fundraising analysis for select startups.

The Venture Studio also features guest lectures by top founders and venture capitalists, project mentorship by leading innovators and investors, special joint events with OneEleven community members, and networking opportunities with OneEleven and the Schulich Startups community recruiting for new talent. Current instructors include Jack Fraser, Partner, BDC Growth Venture Capital Fund, Matthew Lombardi, Director, Platform Services, Telus Ventures and Vincent Liu, Lead Product Management, Square Point-of-Sale.

*this is sponsored content

Guiker's Acquisition of Willow.ca Sets Sights on Reshaping Residential Investment Market

In recent breaking news, Montreal-based Guiker made a significant stride by acquiring Toronto-based Willow.ca.

What These Companies Do

Willow.ca specializes in fractional real estate ownership, holding approval from the Ontario Securities Commission. Meanwhile, Guiker operates as a rental platform across Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, and Boston. It stands out for its focus on optimizing rental efficiency through a digitized end-to-end process.

Why This News Matters

Several noteworthy aspects underline the significance of this acquisition:

• Guiker's move is transformative, aiming beyond mere product enhancement. It’s not just about building software or obtaining regulatory approval for fractional home ownership; it's about creating a vertically integrated solution. This positions Guiker to offer landlords the ability to facilitate fractional ownership, manage properties, and gain unique insights into each investment property.
  

• This acquisition, executed by an "early stage" company rather than a late-stage growth entity, might forecast a trend for 2024. It signifies how smaller, capital-efficient companies strategically acquire complementary firms to amplify their offerings and expand their business scope.
  

• Despite the vastness of the property market and the robust financing of proptech companies during the tech boom, altering the residential market dynamics has proven immensely challenging.

Challenges in Impacting the Residential Market

The residential market's inherent structure has contributed to its resilience against technological changes. Its high fragmentation, coupled with infrequent interactions on the demand side (such as annual house rentals or property purchases every six to eight years), and the advantages enjoyed by the current supply structure, present obstacles. Additionally, the market's composition of hundreds of regional markets, each with distinct regulations, complicates efforts to achieve genuine scalability and local network effects. Consequently, the stakeholders who could benefit most from change lack significant motivation.

Guiker's Approach and It’s Implications

Guiker’s comprehensive approach offers a full-stack solution, enabling new customers to venture into investment. By allowing investors to acquire assets for as little as $100 while handling operational aspects, Guiker simplifies the process. This might signal a potential avenue for catalyzing change in the industry.

Community Impact

This move by Guiker signifies a trend where emerging startups are seizing opportunities to acquire other fledgling companies. This trend could potentially pave the way for unexpected acquisitions, bolstering overlooked startups towards greater scalability.

The Future of Proptech

The proptech landscape will likely witness numerous founders attempting to revolutionize the residential experience. However, investor caution will prevail, resulting in several startup failures. The market is inundated with ideas, yet executing them successfully remains a challenge. Many companies either falter or transform into mere marketing tools for established players (similar to Zillow’s trajectory).

Takeaways for the Community

IGuiker's strategic acquisition of Willow.ca marks a pivotal moment, showcasing a roadmap for innovative shifts in the real estate investment sphere amidst the persisting challenges faced by the proptech industry.

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