IBM Innovation Center Canada

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is an international 48-hour code-a-thon where developers, scientists, students, entrepreneurs and educators gather to build applications, software, hardware, data visualization and platform solutions in four categories: Humans, Earth, Outer Space and Robotics.
 
This year on April 11-12, more than 10,000 developers are expected to participate across 138 cities and online through the virtual challenge.
 
IBM is offering Bluemix as a cloud development platform for the NASA Virtual Space App Challenge to help developers rapidly build applications for the challenge.
 
In addition to the prizes from NASA, IBM will award one prize per hackathon location for the most innovative use of IBM Bluemix. Selected winners will receive $12K of Cloud credit including high-level technical support.
 
For additional information on the challenge, please visit https://ibm.biz/spaceapp2015.
 
For participating cities (including Cambridge!), please visit the official Space Apps Challenge website ibm.biz/spaceapp15.
 
Check out what other cities are doing via Twitter: #spaceapps @spaceapps #bluemix
 

Happy New Year!!

Have you heard about IBM Verse?   It is a very exciting product that will definately increase your productivity!!

IBM Verse is a collaboration tool guided by powerful analytics to help you prioritize the people and projects you need to focus on. There’s a new way to work and it’s made with IBM. Learn more at http://www.ibm.com/verse

Something is happening to the world economy. Our traditional understanding of the Information Economy is giving way to a new variation that will have an enormous impact on jobs, wealth, and entire industries. This new economy has its roots in data, but of equal importance are two other components: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and Mobile Apps. There is also a fourth factor working as an accelerator on each of the three others: the Internet of Things.

Graham Churchill has explored this New Innovation Economy with a great Whitepaper....Read more about it here

You are invited to SportsHack, on November 14-16, 2014, the first Wearable Technology Hackathon in Toronto where the main theme is Sports. Get inspired in this 3-day event by working with fellow hackers at the former home of hockey! 

From one of the most iconic buildings in Toronto, the former Maple Leaf Gardens; IBM, Ryerson University, and We Are Wearables Toronto (WWTO) have joined forces to bring you SportsHack. This event will allow participants to work with the coolest wearable, Cloud and Analytics technologies applied in the world of sports.

Hack Sports with the Myo ( Thalmic Labs ), the Kiwi (  Kiwi Wearables  ), and the Muse ( InteraXon ); three devices from local companies in Ontario driving innovation in the wearable space; or bring your own wearable and hack sports!

You will be able to rapidly develop your apps on the Cloud using IBM Bluemix ( bluemix ) Platform As a Service (PAAS), and integrate your solution with Big Data, Analytics, Mobile, and many more services available with this platform.

Register at http://www.sportshackweekend.org/

To learn more about the Myo, Kiwi, Muse and Bluemix before the day of the Hackaton join us on November 4th at the DMZ. 

Register for this session at http://bit.ly/1Dfy11W

Great Interview with the Design team on IBM Bluemix!!

In March 2014 at SXSW Sandy Carter, IBM General Manager for Ecosystem Development caught up with a number of the young rockstars from the Austin design studio, and asked them to explain the process for the design of IBM Bluemix.

To learn more about Bluemix and play in the Sandbox visit http://Bluemix.net

Great Interview with the Design team on IBM Bluemix!!

In March 2014 at SXSW Sandy Carter, IBM General Manager for Ecosystem Development caught up with a number of the young rockstars from the Austin design studio, and asked them to explain the process for the design of IBM Bluemix.

To learn more about Bluemix and play in the Sandbox visit http://Bluemix.net

Are you a pacesetter?

The 3 key take aways to help You become a pacesetter  are:

1. Understanding the Pacesetters secrets.   Download the picture book:  https://ibm.biz/IBMBTT14
2. Leverage the data in the study and experiment Developing an App on Bluemix : https://ibm.biz/biztechjam
3. Register now for Watson Analytics Beta!  This solution brings predictive capability to the non techy! http://www.watsonanalytics.com

Bluemix is an implementation of IBM’s Open Cloud Architecture, leveraging Cloud Foundry to enable developers to rapidly build, deploy, and manage their cloud applications, while tapping a growing ecosystem of available services and runtime frameworks. IBM will provide services and runtimes into the ecosystem based on our extensive software portfolio.

In practical terms, this means that cloud applications built on Bluemix will:

1. Reduce time for application/infrastructure provisioning
2. Allow for flexible capacity
3. Help to address any lack of internal tech resources
4. Reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
5. Accelerate exploration of new workloads – social, mobile, big data

What can you create using Bluemix?   Check out this Android App for World Cup 2014    Football Fantasy League

Want to learn more about Bluemix and how to build Apps on Bluemix?

Bluemix Advantage: Developers and business leaders alike will benefit from hearing how Bluemix and SoftLayer offer a low-risk, secure, cost sensitive environment - using new capabilities and technologies geared towards the cloud. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to differentiate and leap-frog your competition with IBM Bluemix and SoftLayer.

Bluemix Hands-On Workshops:  Take the opportunity to build and deploy applications and services like DevOps and Data in a matter of hours on Bluemix (built on SoftLayer)! 

As part of this workshop you will be able to:

• Learn the fundamentals of building and deploying your application in the Cloud (Bluemix DevOps Services)
• Work with Bluemix experts on how to use the product and migrate your application
• Help shape Bluemix with your input and feedback
• Data Management Services hands-on lab

Bring your own simple application or use our sample labs and learn how to build and deploy on Bluemix.

Join us in the following locations:

Vancouver - July 24, 2014 - downtown venue TBC - Bluemix Advantage Workshop -  http://ibm.co/1oCeJjL    

Vancouver - July 24, 2014 - downtown venue TBC -  Bluemix Hands-On Workshop - http://ibm.co/1obhbh3

Calgary -  September 16, 2014 - 227 – 11th Avenue SW, Calgary AB T2R 1R9 - Bluemix Advantage Workshop  http://ibm.co/1iaMLJh    

Calgary  - September 16, 2014  - 227 – 11th Avenue SW, Calgary AB T2R 1R9 - Bluemix Hands-On Workshop   http://ibm.co/T7MCul

Edmonton -  October 29, 2014 - 10044 - 108 St., Suite 141, Edmonton AB T5J 3S7 - Bluemix Advantage Workshop   http://ibm.co/1jDBhZz

Edmonton -  October 29, 2014  - 10044 - 108 St., Suite 141, Edmonton AB T5J 3S7 - Bluemix Hands-On Workshop    http://ibm.co/1uL90pp

For an overview of all locations and all Bluemix events please visit - http://ibm.co/1pmS2Mv

For more information on IBM Bluemix please visit - http://ibm.co/1kBGhT8

Mobile, Social, Cloud, Data....all Made with IBM.

IBM Social Media Evangelist Sandy Carter on Business Transformation

The IBM Innovation Center invites you to attend our event on March 17th in Montreal.  
Register today at: http://ibm.co/1gBXIPg

Agenda
12:30 pm Registration
1:00 pm Welcome
1:10 pm Opening Keynote - Theresa Laurico, Founder/CVO, SociaLight
1:30 pm IBM Global Entrepreneur Program - Joe Perry, US East & Canada Region Manager, IBM Innovation Center
1:40 pm Keynote:  Evan Borysko, Business Unit Executive, Avnet
2:00 pm IBM BLU - John Park, IBM Application Consultant
2:15pm  Top Entrepreneur and Startup Success Panel:
                Phillipe Telio, Enzo Blasi, Scott Rozansky, Mike Lee
3:00 pm Break
3:20 pm Softlayer/Cloud
3:45 pm Entrepreneur Insights - Ethan Song, Co-Founder, CEO, Creative Director, Frank & Oak
4:15 pm Closing Remarks - Lila Adamec, Ecosystem Development Manager IBM Innovation Center Canada
4:30 pm Network with Canada's top investors & entrepreneurs
Complimentary drinks and appetizers will be served.

Speaker Line-up:

Inspiration:
Theresa Laurico, Founder/CVO, SociaLIGHT - www.socialightconference.com 
2012 Lean Startup Machine Winner, 2012 Nominee for Startup of the Year, Business
Excellence, Toronto Board of Trade
National Leadership Recipient, Lieutenant Governor Ontario
Featured in Huffington Post, PROFIT, Forbes, Financial Post, You Inc.
Keynote:
Evan Borysko, Business Unit Executive, Mobility Practice Avnet
Evan has built his career in the professional services for the last 15 years and has experience in in all aspects of the consultative space.
Keynote:
Ethan Song, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Frank and Oak - www.frankandoak.com
Collaborated on an array of Creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Canada's Top Innovators & Entrepreneurs Panel:
Phillipe Telio, Founder, Startup Festival, www.startupfestival.com
Enzo Blasi, Angel Investor, President, Intellio
Scott Rozansky, Lawyer, Dentons LLP
Mike Lee, President Fundica, www.fundica.com

Register today...  http://ibm.co/1fU8vaE

What are you waiting for?  Make new connections and get inspired by joining other entrepreneurs and innovators at this unique weeklong event.  Join IBM’s Canadian launch into entrepreneurship.

Visit the Global Entrepreneur Program website to learn more about the program.


Look forward to seeing you at this event.

 

IBM Chairman and CEO reveals how the company prepares for future markets at the 2013 Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C.

Ginni Rometty's advice to companies: Don't define your business by a product. In a world of consistent and constant change, it's the most dangerous thing for a company to do. "You'll miss [technology] shifts. You'll miss dangerous ones like business models," said Rometty.

IBM wants to team with entrepreneurs to build a smarter planet.

Are you an early stage startup?

Does your solution address issues enterprise customers are facing in the Smarter Planet industries? If so, IBM Global Entrepreneur can provide the support and resources to help you change the way the world works.

To find out more about our Global Entrepreneur Program visit us at http://ibm.co/1dQ3xuy

Here is a short video that talks about the SmartCamps which are a part of our Global Entrepreneur Program and the Mentoring sessions in general.

• What is SmartCamp?

  SmartCamp is an exclusive global program bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and experienced mentors who want to build a Smarter Planet. SmartCamp provides access to world-class advisors plus a direct route to seed and venture capital.

Are you thankful for your Mobile Device?

I am.   I do so many things with my Mobile Device, I am not sure if I could now survive without it.  Or at least not in the way that I do right now.  It certainly allows freedom and security for me.

Have you registered for Connect 2014?

IBM Connect will provide the opportunity to dive deeply into topics, such as collaboration, socially enabling your business processes, talent management, and creating exceptional digital and customer experiences with varied tracks relevant to professionals responsible for technology, human resources, marketing, customer service and digital experience.

This year at IBM Connect you will also find the Lotusphere Technical Program and Kenexa World Conference.

Register today at http://ibm.co/17GpjHw

Come join us at the IBM Big Data Connect to Win - Big Insights at the Speed of Business event on Tuesday, October 16 where industry experts will share their real-world experiences to help you learn how to take control of your ever-growing supply of data and turn it into an enterprise source of knowledge.

HIGHLIGHTS
     - Evolve your data warehouse to take advantage of new technologies like Hadoop
     - Speed up your analytics with DB2 BLU
     - Discover insights and optimize decisions fast enough to impact your business in real-time
     - Deliver trusted information for data warehousing and business analytics
     - Network and create relationships with other Business Partners in the community

DATE
     Tuesday, October 16, 2013
     2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

LOCATION
     IBM Innovation Center
     3600 Steeles Ave. E.
     Markham ON L3R 9Z7

REGISTER at http://ibm.co/154ayDZ

Throughout the summer there are many sporting events to both watch and participate in.  One of my personal favourites is Tennis.  

Wimbledon is one of the most well known tennis event.   From a technical standpoint it was extremely well done and the IBM tools used to "make it happen"  are being implemented in many businesses today.  Watch how IBM uses Mobile, Cloud and Big Data Offerings to make the Wimbledon experience much richer for all involved.