Frequently Asked Questions

Lead to Win (LTW) FAQ (updated July 15, 2009)

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What is the objective of the LTW program?

Lead to Win is a business development program. The objective of the Lead to Win program is to establish and grow technology businesses in Canada's Capital Region. The goal is for each business to generate a minimum of six technology jobs in the next three years.

The objective of the six-day "Phase II: Opportunity Development" component of the program is to first harden (days 1-3) and then strengthen (days 4-6) participants’ business opportunities.

Why re-launch the program now?

In Ottawa-Gatineau technology jobs have been evaporating at an alarming rate - in just the last 12 months, the region has lost 8,800 tech jobs. This represents greater then a 14% loss. Further, Ottawa-Gatineau has lost almost 30% of its regional tech jobs compared to 2000. Ottawa-Gatineau tech jobs peaked at 74,000 in 2000 and are now down to 53, 800 as of March 2009.

Stats Canada has published that during the 2002 bubble burst - 4 out of 5 laid off tech workers did not find work in high tech, and 2 of 5 left the City of Ottawa.

For Ottawa-Gatineau, what is at risk issue is the loss of tech capability in Ottawa-Gatineau and the associated economic impact for the region.

LTW is focused on launching new technology businesses to retain and create new tech jobs.

Who is the LTW program intended for?

Lead to Win is intended for talented individuals who are serious about starting a technology company in Canada's National Capital Region.

What does it cost a participant to attend LTW?

There is no cost to participants other than a firm time commitment and the requirement that they complete an application and be interviewed before the program begins. Applicants are initially asked to complete a simple application which seeks brief responses to questions about the applicant's:

Experience
Skills
Intended product or service
Target customer types
Basis for differentiation
Expected staffing

Applicants are interviewed briefly to further assess

Degree of focus: Is the applicant pursing their venture as a priority?
Job creation: Are 6 or more knowledge jobs likely to be created over the next three years?
Program fit: Is Lead to Win likely to add value to the applicant’s venture?

What is the value to participants?

The program offers the following value to participants:

Reduce time to develop strong business opportunities
Identify and fill the gaps between what they know and what they need to know to profitably grow businesses
Harden and strengthen their business opportunities
Build the right foundation to sell to first customers, raise funds, and attract and retain talent
Establish a large and diversified network to obtain resources, reputation and peer support
Increase motivation, energy and confidence

What do the participants value the most about the program?

The 2009 participants have said that the four things they valued the most about participating in the program were:

Program is delivered by experienced individuals who have been through the process of developing a technology company themselves and have practical solutions to real world problems
Brings reviewers with diverse experiences who provide substantive feedback on a business opportunity multiple times
Focus is on reducing time to cash
Uses the ecosystem approach to harness the creativity required to launch and grow companies

What is the value of LTW to Ottawa and the Ottawa Technology Community?

The program's points of difference that add significant value to the region are:

Proven success measured in terms of the number of knowledge jobs created in the region and the amount of capital attracted, not the number of participants who enroll in the program
Volunteers from a large number of organizations contribute to the success of the program
Strategy is set by stakeholders of an innovative community and program governance is transparent and open
Content is freely available for use by other communities and organizations, not proprietary

How does LTW define success for the program?

Success = number of local knowledge jobs created + amount of capital investment attracted

What results does LTW expect to achieve?

Our original plan for 2009-2011 said that we would achieve the following:

$44 M payroll, for 556 new knowledge jobs, and $20 M direct investment over three years.

We are running at about twice the number of people/startups coming into the program vs our original plan. At this rate we will see over 150 tech businesses started in Canada's Capital Region with over 1000 knowledge jobs over the next three years. This translates to over $80M in payroll and $40M in direct investment. The program may extend beyond Canada's Capital Region as well.

How does LTW relate to other programs?

LTW complements programs like OCRI Entrepreneurial Edge which provides professional development training and the OCRI Accelerator which provides facilities and services to new ventures.

What is the LTW program?

Lead to Win is a business development program. It consists of three phases: (1) selection/screening of participants; (2) business opportunity development (through training and mentoring); and (3) support in launching and growing a new knowledge-based business.

What is covered in the training part of the program?

See "Training Documentation" for typical agenda, content and faculty.

Is LTW an ongoing program?

LTW will run for as long as the current economic downturn continues and as long as there are qualified applicants.

What were the results from the 2002 LTW program?

Of the 29 participants in the 2002 LTW program, over half created a new business in Ottawa. The new businesses collectively created over 300 new jobs and attracted over $90M US in investment to the city of Ottawa.

What are the names of the companies that were launched by 2002 LTW alumni?

19 businesses were founded by Lead to Win Alumni: Liquid Computing, Nakina Systems, Trigence (AppZero), OnConference, BioPeak, Congruance IT, Totient Networks, Connectme TV, Purple Forge, Surve, Wise Eyes, THANN, Phenomena Tech, TenXC, Mobia Communications, Firesnacks, Timeline Interactive, Memoridia, Babble.

What companies launched by 2002 LTW alumni are active in 2009?

12 businesses founded by Lead to Win Alumni are currently active: Liquid Computing, Nakina Systems, Trigence (AppZero), OnConference, Congruance IT, Connectme TV, Purple Forge, WeyesEyes, THANN, BioPeak, TenXC, Timeline Interactive

How was the LTW 2002 program funded?

The program was financed by Dr. Bailetti in response to the economic situation and availability of very experienced high tech workers who had great ideas but lacked the necessary knowledge to turn their ideas into business realities.

What is different in the LTW 2009 program compared to LTW 2002?

The LTW 2002 program was venture capital focused, the LTW 2009 program is micro-business/bootstrap focused. The LTW 2009 program also trains participants on emerging business ecosystems and how they can take advantage of them.

How many participants have been through the 2009 LTW program?

61 were accepted into the first two sessions which were held in May-June 2009. Of those, 39 participants launched 30 new businesses.

Applications for the third session to be held in July-Aug 2009 are currently being accepted. 45 participants are expected to be accepted into this session (currently limited by size of available facilities).

A fourth session is expected to be held in Oct-Nov 2009.

Additional sessions are being planned for 2010.

Does LTW 2009 involve academic institutions?

Lead to Win includes Carleton University, Algonquin College and the Telfler School of Management University of Ottawa. The objective of Lead to Win is rapid job creation and Carleton is open to involving other academic institutions and community groups which can contribute to advance that objective.

Are there any testimonials available for the 2002 LTW program?

Yes, numerous alumni have provided testimonials on the program, some are provided below:

The Lead to Win program gave me a chance to explore new business ideas within a theoretical and hands-on guided framework. Tony Bailetti built a first-class team of instructors that could not only present -on such topics as VC funding, legal, HR, Marketing and many more- but also had real-life business experience. I also built a great connection network of local entrepreneurs and learned invaluable skills that are definitely not taught at engineering schools. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is considering starting a technology company.

-- Serge Lafontaine, FAE - Arrow Electronics

I had the good fortune to previously attend Lead to Win offered by Tony Bailetti. Lead to Win is such an apt title; leadership is THE key success factor in winning. Leadership to cultivate the attitudes necessary to set and hold a compelling vision, to accept the need to continuously learn and to win customers with confidence. In 20+ years of business, including large corporations and 4 startups, I know of no package of practical knowledge and the assembly of more practiced people to deliver it that has been rolled out anywhere better than this program. I think anyone considering launching their own startup (or already leading one) would find Lead to Win invaluable in improving their success and profitability.

-- Chuck Colford, President and Founder – Congruance IT, Inc. (previously President and Founder of Trigence)

Tony is absolutely dedicated to the Ottawa high technology community. Tony appears to work around the clock helping individuals in the community to learn more about high technology business and management and with this knowledge and the right conditions, he has helped numerous people get businesses launched. He must sleep but I am not quite sure when. With his energy and wisdom Tony, adapts programs such as Lead to Win to channel the appropriate arsenal of knowledge for the economic climate. I am eternally grateful for Tony's personal advice and guidance and thank him for helping me and many others in the community through his programs, his honest and hard hitting advice and despite his busy schedule, his readiness to meet and help at a moments notice.
-- Rick Cuthill, VP Product Management & Marketing, ReVerb Networks (previously member of founding team of TenXC)

I found Lead To Win to be an immensely valuable course that significantly contributed to my leadership of our start-up company. Overall program delivery suited the timing and focus available to busy executive entrepreneurs. The selected instructors brought deep credibility and experience to each session. The topics were fundamentally relevant to the launching, financing and operating any business. Lead to Win provided a source of readily applicable and constantly reference-able learnings to me in the formative stages of our company.

-- Jerry Everett. President and Founder. OnConference Inc.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The Lead to Win program was developed to help entrepreneurs in tough times. The first iteration of the course was delivered in 2002 at the pinnacle of the high-tech meltdown in Ottawa. Tony Bailetti created the course to expose first-time and often naive entrepreneurs to the many facets of establishing and growing a business. I was one of those naive entrepreneurs, having just left Nortel with hopes of starting a company. I found the course thorough, enlightening and encouraging. I was particularly impressed with the no-nonsense approach to the fundamentals of business. The lessons learned in the Lead to Win course were critical to my success in founding and growing Nakina Systems.
-- David Vicary, Founder Weyeseyes (previously President and Founder of Nakina Systems)

Several years and 3 start-ups later, I am still using the tools and knowledge that I acquired through the Lead to Win Program. Professor Bailetti and his team were able to introduce us, a bunch of techies focused on the art of product development, to the science of business management. From proper market research, business plan development and pitching investors to selecting the appropriate legal structure, financing, cash flow management and the art of sales, the toolbox that this program armed us with are essential for any entrepreneur trying to get their business off the ground in today’s market conditions. Outside the classroom, Tony was always available to provide advice and help us see the forest through the trees, or focus on the details when we have to. I am immensely grateful for Tony’s continuous guidance and support.

-- Ahmed Metwally, Chairman & CEO ConnectmeTV and Timeline Interactive.