Didn't See It Coming By Marc Stoiber

Quick, name two top tech cities. San Francisco, and, ummm... Exactly. Being a top tech city and being known as a top tech city are two quite different things. I challenge that the difference all comes down to brand. Here in Victoria BC, my hometown, we're blessed with an exploding tech industry. Even better, we have an amazing tech city brand. At least part of that is due to the hard work and creativity of people like Dan Gunn, CEO of VIATEC.  I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dan and unpack the elements of the Victoria tech brand. Among other things, we dug into... What's in a name - and why Tectoria (the name created as an umbrella for everything from conferences to VIATEC's building) is a great one, The complexities of creating a brand in a city where virtually none of the stakeholders sell their products, The brand power in Fort Tectoria - an HQ that is open to the public as well as VIATEC staffers and stakeholders The connection between tech, spilled wine bottles, and inflatable kil