What’s so great about Canadian software developers, anyway?

I have often spoken about the fact that we have great developers right here in Canada.

At Brightspark, our model is predicated on trying to grow more Canadian software companies and, in the process, make lots of money for these developers, our investors (and ourselves).

 

So, what is the “secret sauce”? Well, it's not a secret, it's simply a combination of factors.

1. Schools - We have great universities which create great software developers. Why do you think Google and Microsoft keep advertising here? Why are Google and Microsoft competing to hire
Waterloo grads? Simple – our grads are the best.

 

2. Attitude - Our developers are not looking to change jobs every week. They are not looking to hop from company to company. They are looking for a great environment, which is challenging, interesting, fun, fair, lucrative and with the right value system. Too many developers in “hot areas” like Silicon Valley and Seattle spend a lot of time proving that they are superstars, hop from company to company looking for the next pot of gold and burn themselves out very quickly.

 

3. Focus - We have seen that Canadian companies are able to see an opportunity and then seize the opportunity. So, they spend their time and effort creating great products. They don’t spend too much time making great demos for the CEO to prove that they are great, but instead spend their time making great software.

 

Our opportunity is to capitalize on this. Instead of our graduates being lured away to Google and Microsoft, let's find ways to create more local opportunity. I am not suggesting that we can have companies here that can compete with Microsoft or Google, I am suggesting that we can create GREAT parts companies. The trend is for the large companies to acquire the smaller players. And, in many cases the development teams today stay in their location. So, the opportunity is to create great small companies with incredible developers right here and prove that even if they are acquired they should stay here.

 

I have countless examples of seeing this work. So, don’t get lured away too early. Create your own opportunity right here. And remember, productivity here is high because its too cold to go outside anyway……

Comments

[Paresh]

Hi Mark,

I accidently ‘bumped’ into your blog today. It is great to see you sharing the recipe to (secret!) sauce that drives success of Bright Spark backed ventures.

Having been through the rigor that Bright Spark brings to a tech startup and first-hand experience with the great management team from Bright Spark I would like to deep into the secret-sauce that is available on your blog.

Cheers,
Paresh

[Oshoma Momoh]

We do have great grads. Waterloo is among the top tech undergrad schools in the world for software hires. We just aren't very good -- yet -- at turning that pipeline into world-beating tech companies.

Not sure I buy your atttitude point. Lots of Canadians are down it the valley, hopping around with the rest of them.

I think we can do better than "parts". :)