This article discusses the opportunities for growth for technology companies that start up in Toronto, but its principles could be applied to tech startups anywhere.

Appropriate Subject Area(s):

Entrepreneurship, business management, marketing

Key Questions to Explore:

• What environmental and economic conditions support tech company growth?

Introduction to lesson and task:

This lesson explores new business concepts and language related to economic growth.

Action (lesson plan and task):

•  Write the following words on the board or flip chart:
  • Unicorn
  • Creative hubs
  • Equilibrium
  • Geographic fragmentation
  • Big data
  • Cluster theory
  • Not-for-profit incubator
  • Accelerator
  • Venture fund
  • Virtuous cycle
  • Tier one venture capital
  • Billion dollar valuation
  • Private equity
  • Ecosystem
• Have students work in pairs and select three words from the list.
• Ask students to discover the meaning of their words and to write a short paragraph using these words.
• Pass the paragraphs around, asking each pair to read the paragraph they have received and either write down a question or add a sentence to it that makes sense and uses at least one of the words they originally had.
• Once the paragraphs are passed around, have each home group share their paragraph out loud and answer any questions that have been posed.

Consolidation of Learning:

• Have a class discussion on the environmental and economic conditions that best support tech company growth.

Success Criteria:

• Students understand the language and business concepts discussed and are able to use them in the correct context.

Confirming Activity:

• In pairs, have students select a Canadian unicorn company and research and write a profile on the company, incorporating some of the language learned in this lesson.

Additional Activity:

• In the article, Mayor Tory referred to talent as the next gold rush. What does this mean? What plan of action should you take as a student to ensure that you are able to cash in on this gold rush?