As a startup founder, staying ahead of the curve and remaining informed are key ingredients for success. By proactively seeking knowledge, you empower yourself to make strategic decisions, seize opportunities, and position your startup for sustained growth.

However, in today’s world, lack of content and information is hardly the issue. Quite the opposite, there’s an abundance of content, which can make it difficult to stay focussed on the news that matters to your business. If you’re a startup founder entering the Canadian market and wondering how to stay up-to-date with your industry, this is the ultimate list for you.

Here are 5 simple things that every founder must add to their daily systems to ensure the information they consume helps them stay in the loop:

1. Set up Google Alerts

Google Alerts help you monitor specific keywords that appear in news articles or blogs. When Google Alerts finds a new piece of content matching your chosen keyword, it automatically sends you an email notification with the article. 

The best way to optimize the use of Google Alerts is to select a few keywords related to your industry, market, competitors, and emerging trends. For example, you can try “cleantech”, “ekona power inc”, or “cleantech funding in Canada”. It is recommended to add your own brand name as well to track your brand mentions in the media. 

You can even add filters on which country’s news sources you’d like to be shown articles from. Select ‘Canada’ here if you only want filtered news pieces from your industry within Canada. Below, we also help you with a list of trusted news sources for startups in Canada. 

You can also control how often you get these notifications; once a day is generally a comfortable alert duration without feeling like spam. 

Google will send you email notifications whenever new content matching your chosen keywords appears online.

2. Google Trends:

Google Trends is another powerful tool that can help your startup stay on top of industry trends and consumer interests. Based on your industry, you can type keywords into Google Trends and select a time period, and it will show you search data, emerging interests, and shifts in consumer behaviour. 

You can use Google Trends to compare different keywords related to your business to determine which ones are gaining popularity, compare a competitor’s brand name with yours, and get geographical insights on trending keywords as well.

These insights can help you refine your product strategy, SEO strategy, content creation, and marketing efforts to target the most relevant and trending search terms.

3. Follow Trusted News Sources

 Stay informed and plugged into the Canadian startup ecosystem by bookmarking these top publications for a steady stream of news and analysis.

Betakit: BetaKit is a Canadian authority on technology and startup focussed news, analysis, and insights. You can find all the latest happenings in the Canadian startup world here. 

The Logic: The Logic is a subscription-based Canadian digital media outlet focusing on in-depth reporting and analysis of the technology and innovation sectors. It is known for its investigative journalism that breaks down complex issues and their implications. 

Toronto Star: The Toronto Star is one of the most prominent and widely read newspapers in Canada, with a strong focus on local, national, and international news. 

Techcrunch: TechCrunch is a highly influential technology news media based in the United States, but it has a dedicated section for Canada. It is the right fit for coverage of global startups, venture capital trends, and emerging technologies worldwide in your industry.

StartupCanada: Startup Canada has a popular weekly newsletter you can subscribe to that shares curated content on current events and the latest success stories.

4. Use Social Media Wisely:

By following the right people, publications (like above), groups, and hashtags, you can actually curate your social media feed to serve the purpose of keeping you updated about your industry and trends.  

Identify key influencers and thought leaders in your industry and follow them on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and industry-specific forums. They are often the first to share their insights on trending topics within your industry. 

You can also follow relevant hashtags for your industry on Twitter or Instagram to get more updates on them. Additionally, find relevant Facebook groups or Linkedin Groups to stay in tune with industry conversations. 

5. Attend Industry Events and Conferences:

Finally, participate in relevant conferences, webinars, and industry events once in a while to keep up with industry advancements. These gatherings also offer fantastic opportunities to network and build a community. 

Remember that being on top of the latest trends and news is an ongoing process. Continuously refine your information sources, and keep reading and listening!

Want to start up in Canada? 
TBDC is the bridge you’re looking for! We are Canada’s premier startup incubator. Successful companies like Ibentos and Ayottaz have graduated from our programs and scaled through North America and the world. Are you ready to do the same and make your mark? To learn more, click here.