Dear Friends … I’m now on my final countdown to completing my 6th and final year as CEO at MaRS Discovery District, and my 3rd attempt at retirement. As I reflect on my experience, I am left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Leading MaRS has been one of the peak experiences in my life … even more enriching than […]
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Finishing my term as CEO, MaRS Discovery District
Dear Friends … I’m now on my final countdown to completing my 6th and final year as CEO at MaRS Discovery District, and my 3rd attempt at retirement. As I reflect on my experience, I am left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Leading MaRS has been one of the peak experiences in my life … even more enriching than […]
Why the tech sector is key to Canada’s economic success | Toronto Star
By Renee TratchThursday, April 20, 2023 https://www.thestar.com/business/why-the-tech-sector-is-key-to-canada-s-economic-success/article_3676112e-fdd3-510f-90f2-1d90756c1809.html? Over his three decades as a serial entrepreneur and as the head of the MaRS Discovery District, Yung Wu has seen his fair share of economic downturns and challenges. That’s why he’s still bullish on Canada’s tech sector: some of the biggest and most valuable companies were created during hard times. And despite the […]
Renewal is the key to Innovation
My dream for Canada has always been to create the conditions for our country to lead in an inclusive global innovation economy … by activating a multi-generational re-investment of entrepreneurial experience, capital and networks to build the Canada that we all imagine. Together, we can inspire Toronto, Ontario and Canada as a global destination for the talent, investment and partners […]
Mars head Yung Wu announces plan to step down from role as tech incubator’s CEO | Canadian Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2023.Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press TORONTO — Yung Wu has founded, built and invested in at least seven companies, but there’s one thing that’s not his strong suit: retiring. The first time the serial entrepreneur retired was in 2007, after the sale of his first company, Castek Inc., to […]
On Leadership and Entrepreneurship …
So … I sat down with my friend, David Kinley several months ago at his request, to do an interview for his new podcast on leadership and entrepreneurship, The Riddick Show. David has been one of the top executive search practitioners in the tech industry over several decades, and a trusted partner for many of the companies that I have founded and invested […]
Lest we forget …
Today is Remembrance Day. On this day, we honour those who have made great sacrifices while serving our country. Canada is a beacon of liberty throughout the world thanks to the brave service people who have dedicated their lives to our country. We live in a liberal democracy in one of the best countries in the world. Even here … especially here, we must always remember […]
NFQ !!
I founded my first company over two decades ago, on a couple of credit cards and a dream (at the time, we referred to it as a “wing and a prayer” … now we prefer to remember it as a “vision for global leadership” *lol*). After 2 economic cycles, 3 major rounds of financing, 3 business model changes, and 2 “perfect storms”, I have reached the conclusion that “success” and “failure” are
My Manifesto for Canadian Innovation …
I had the pleasure of being invited to speak on the main stage of the Sony Centre during the Elevate Tech Festival, about our window of opportunity to leverage our innovation economy to chalk up wins for Canada on the global stage. It’s something that I am passionate about, and it is the reason why I left a very comfortable […]
It’s Time to Stand on Guard …
The so called Freedom Convoy is headed to our city, to occupy Queen’s Park including our critically important hospital district where MaRS is located, this morning. It is disheartening to see that the convoy has been co-opted by fringe groups who are using this as a platform to promote racism and hate against our brothers and sisters from the Jewish, […]
Canada’s Chance to Lead the Climate Economy | MediaPlanet @NationalPost
MediaPlanet @NationalPost Dec 16, 2020 5:00 PM EDT Yung Wu, CEO of MaRS Discovery District — North America’s largest urban innovation hub — discusses how cleantech ventures are poised to play a key role in the transition to a sustainable future. Of all the climate-change solutions out there, why are you so passionate about cleantech? Defeating climate change requires many […]
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