Canadian Digital Media Network hosts Brazil's Yupi Studios for visit to Waterloo Region

Visit supports international collaboration, economic development

WATERLOO REGION, ON, July 22, 2013 /CNW/ - In recognition of being selected Best Startup at the inaugural Brazil-Canada 3.0 conference last December, Yupi Studios has come to town for a busy week of mentoring, networking and collaboration.

The visit, which takes place from July 21 to 31 at the Communitech Hub, was facilitated by the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) and funded by OpenText, Canada's largest software company.

Hosting the Brazilian startup is part of a broader strategy to support international trade and cooperation between emerging technology companies, both at home and abroad.

"Bringing innovators and technology startups together with like-minded Canadian companies to create jobs and growth is our government priority," said the Honourable Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade. "Brazil-Canada 3.0 is helping building those important ties to foster innovation and create opportunities in both our countries and in international markets."

Brazil-Canada 3.0, which took place in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, was modelled after CDMN's Canada 3.0, an annual digital media conference that explores topics and issues related to commercialization of innovation. Brazil-Canada 3.0 brought together representatives from government, academia and the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in both countries to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the digital economy in Brazil. In the months since the conference, a number of joint initiatives have been undertaken. This growing culture of collaboration builds on the bilateral Science, Technology and Innovation Agreement adopted by the two countries in 2011.

"Events like these illustrate the great importance of cooperation between countries as well as among the various stakeholders involved from the private sector, academia and government," said Alexandre Fontenelle, co-lead of the Brazil-Canada ICT workgroup and Acting Head of the Division for the Information Society at Brazil's Ministry of External Relations. "Without Brazil-Canada 3.0, Yupi Studios may not have had such an opportunity. It will not only broaden the startup's business and entrepreneurial knowledge, but its global experience as well."

Yupi Studios develops apps, games and innovative tools for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and social networks. It is partnered with Tapjoy - a leader in mobile app marketing and monetization - and was incubated last year by Start-Up Chile. During its visit to Waterloo Region, Yupi Studios will be immersed in Communitech's HYPERDRIVE incubator program, which will include pitch-off practice events, coaching from executives in residence, meetings with potential investors, and mentoring from some of the most successful gaming companies in Canada.

"This visit by Yupi Studios is an example of CDMN's Soft Landing Program by which we provide support for companies to gain traction in different business environments - both Canadian companies seeking to grow abroad as well as companies coming to Canada from other geographies such as Brazil," said Kevin Tuer, CDMN's Managing Director.

About The Canadian Digital Media Network

The Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) www.cdmn.ca, a federal Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR), is dedicated to establishing Canada as a world leader in digital media (ICT + mobile) by creating and enabling connections and collaboration between entrepreneurs, companies, research institutes, government and intermediary organizations across the country. CDMN helps bring more digital media solutions to market to create more companies, jobs and wealth in Canada. Follow @CDMN on Twitter, join the Canadian Digital Media Network Group on LinkedIn and like the Canadian Digital Media Network Page on Facebook.

SOURCE: The Canadian Digital Media Network

Media Contact
Tony Niederer, Senior Director, Marketing and Events, CDMN
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