Rob Woodbridge didn’t exactly invent the Internet, but he sure helped make it work.
Way back in 1993, (a full year before Netscape released the first
mass-market web browser), I founded Thunder Rd. Communications, one of
the first Internet service providers in Ottawa. Once established, the
company quickly moved beyond the mere provision of net access and within
twelve months, Thunder Rd. was developing and delivering custom
software applications over the Internet. By 1998, when it was acquired
by Animatics Interactive, the firm was generating revenues in excess of
$1,500,000.
In 1998 I formally joined Animatics as Director of Internet
Development. From day one, my unique ability to integrate technology
into marketing communications strategy began to pay off.
When I arrived, Animatics was creatively strong, but had become mired
in the offline world. Fully 95% of AI projects were CD-based, against
just 5% web. Within six months, those figures were almost exactly
reversed. From there, having taken Animatics online, I went on to move
the company from a simple provider of static brochure-ware to a
developer of vibrant, interactive digital marketing tools. As well, I
personally built and launched EARL, Animatics’ combined company intranet
and client extranet. One of the first online collaborative tools, EARL
was simple and primitive looking by today’s standards, but pioneering
stuff in those early days — at least I thought it was…
As Animatics evolved into Filament Communications, I took on
additional roles (now promoted to Chief Net Officer) and put my blend of
technological skills and communications expertise to work for clients
as diverse as Nortel Networks, Infospace, Xerox, the Royal Bank, and
more. I was amongst the first to embrace database-driven websites, built
online training environments for global clients, and translated
marketing strategies into functional e-business applications. It was the
greatest time to embrace learning and, man was there a ton to learn!
It was a busy time. But within a few years, I had become recognised a
technologist who understands communications mixed with the
communications expert who understands technology.
By 2000, I was ready for a new challenge. I found it at getHOW!
An Ottawa-based start-up, getHOW! had identified a viable market
niche and designed some powerful software. But the company needed
capital and a marketing strategy. I jumped on as President and
repositioned and re-branded getHOW! from a “how-to” web portal to a B2B
streaming video provider. From there, and following dozens of
presentations to VCs and angel investors, I secured first-round
financing, enabling getHOW! to complete its software development and
begin to generate revenue.
Unfortunately, like so many companies back then, we weren’t able to
secure our next round of funding after the Internet bubble burst — a
much longer story that I will happily tell over a beer sometime, just
ask me — and we were forced to shut this promising company down and
strike out again.
So I jumped on with a Boutique consulting company called SystemScope
and learned how to create trusted relationships with customers from two
great guys in Denis Barbeau and Steve Karam. After assisting Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada roll out their largest videoconferencing network
across the country (seeing Canada from coast to coast was a perk)
through Systemscope, I joined OCRI’s Entrepreneurship Centre to run the
Ottawa Capital Network.
The OCN focused on matching angel and venture capital investors from
around the world with local entrepreneurs through a number of programs
and private consultations. I ran and re-branded a pretty successful
event called the Ottawa Venture & Technology Summit for 2 years to
critical acclaim – it has been rated one of the top 3 venture fairs in
North America – and has generated a strong brand and revenue stream for
the Entrepreneurship Centre during a period of budgetary cuts and
layoffs. Happy to say that this great event is still going strong, now
in it’s 12th year!
Then the wireless revolution started and I knew I had to be a part of
it, joining Magmic Games as VP Operations in 2005. Magmic is a pioneer
in mobile games for smartphones such as RIM’s BlackBerry and Apple’s
iPhone and I had a blast as we grew the company’s revenue and efficiency
while going from 7 to 120 employees.
At the same time as my involvement in Magmic, I joined the board of
advisors for a company called Idokorro Mobile. Idokorro built a bunch of
mobile applications targeting the IT professional and was WAY ahead of
anyone else’s thinking about what smartphones will eventually be used
for.
I eventually joined Idokorro in 2006 as President & CEO and ran
the company for three incredible years. In that time we re-branded the
company to Rove Mobile, refocused the company product offering and grew
revenue 6X. One of the most amazing pieces of my job was the
relationships I formed with co-workers and partners.
