Top Canadian Startups (June 2009)

techvibes.com

21 points·jsatok··7 comments

Lists like this are so bogus. It penalizes companies that actually sell a product behind their main web site like Freshbooks and my own Shopify (30) but rewards sites that are the product such as tr.im.

(I work for FreshBooks) I agree. First ones I actually recognized: PlentyofFish Media, RedFlagDeals.com, FreshBooks, Shopify, Skyscraper Source Media.

Personally, I just find it to be a good way to find out about Canadian startups, especially since there are also regional lists.

For comparative purposes the absolute positions are out of whack since each company can be so different, so you're seeing a lot of apples-to-oranges comparisons. But if you can pick out companies in your specific field then it's actually not a bad way to gauge relative success as a benchmark.

For service-companies like Shopify and FreshBooks to come in at top 30 in this list is actually mighty impressive. Not everyone appreciates that, but I do :)

Indeed, those aren't even really startups, just small businesses. Startup implies some sort of innovation taking place.

Good list of startups, but I think more metrics are needed than just Alexa rank (who still uses the alexa toolbar?)

It's absurd that this list is missing backtype.com, run by two of our favorite Canadians from our YC Summer 08 batch.

Only in the top10 there are 2 URL shortener (ow.ly and tr.im) I think I overestimated for a long time the concept that you really need an original idea to make money with the web.

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