Michael Cheng (businessman)
Michael Cheng | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | Chinese Canadian |
| Alma mater | Simon Fraser University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
Michael Cheng is a Canadian entrepreneur.[1] Cheng co-founded Lumen5,[2] Sniply, Beta Collective, Covr, Needle HR, WittyCookie, TEDxSFU, and 12 other ventures.[3]
Early life and education[edit]
Cheng was born an only child in Hong Kong and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 7.[1][4] While in high school Cheng started a business called Auto Quick Trade.[1] Cheng studied Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and was "offered a lecturer's position, teaching digital design" during his freshman year.[1]
Career[edit]
In 2009, Cheng co-founded International Student Connection, an international student agency that was named "Best New Student Business of the Year".[5]
In 2011, Cheng launched TEDxSFU, an annual TEDx event at Simon Fraser University.[6] That year, Cheng also co-founded WittyCookie which offers website creation and maintenance to small businesses.[7]
In 2012, Cheng was selected by the Surrey Board of Trade as one of the "Top 25 Under 25" entrepreneurs.[4] He was also given the "SFU Entrepreneur of the Year" award[1][8] and the "Surrey Business Excellence Award".[9]
In 2013, Cheng co-founded Needle HR, an Internet marketplace for web designers and other creative services.[10] Cheng received "The Satchu Prize" and "Outstanding Venture Award" from educational organization, The Next 36.[11][12] and was selected by Maclean's Magazine as one of the "Future Leaders of Canada".[1] He was also selected by 24 Hours (newspaper) as one of "Top 24 Under 24".[13]
In 2014, Cheng co-founded Covr,[14] a music discovery platform,[15] and was selected by BCBusiness as one of "Top 30 Under 30".[16] That year, Cheng also co-founded Beta Collective,[17] the first Coworking space in Surrey, British Columbia.,[18] as well as Sniply, an online marketing tool[19] which was later acquired in a multi-million dollar deal.[20]
In 2017, Cheng co-founded Lumen5,[21] an online video creator,[22] which was ranked one of "Canada's Top Growing Companies" at #93 by The Globe and Mail in 2020,[23] as well as one of "Canada's 50 fastest-growing technology companies" at #34 as ranked by Deloitte in 2021.[24]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f MacDonald, Nancy. Canada's Future Leaders Under 25. Maclean's. April 12, 2013.
- ^ Hotchkiss, Caitlin. Video Creation Platform Lumen5 Awarded Top Prize at 2019 New Ventures BC Competition. Betakit. April 12, 2013.
- ^ Czikk, Joseph. Both Failure and Success Define Entrepreneurs Like Snip.ly's Michael Cheng. Betakit.
- ^ a b Scott, Alec. Where Canada's next billion-dollar idea is being hatched. The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Diakiw, Kevin. Surrey's Top 25 Under 25 honoured. Surrey Leader.
- ^ SFU Surrey student hosts local TED Conference Archived 2015-01-01 at the Wayback Machine. The Now (newspaper).
- ^ Meadahl, Marianne. WittyCookie founder nets fourth award. SFU.
- ^ Toth, Spencer. SFU Entrepreneur of the Year 2012. Enactus.
- ^ Surrey Business Excellence Award Winners Archived 2014-07-28 at the Wayback Machine. The Now (newspaper).
- ^ Czikk, Joseph. How The Next 36's Needle HR is Changing the Creative Industry. Techvibes.
- ^ Maimona, Mashoka. The Next 36 venture day: Program adds 36 new graduates. Financial Post.
- ^ Poon, Christopher. Young entrepreneur noticed nationally Archived 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine. The Now (newspaper).
- ^ Czikk, Joseph. Next 36 Alum Named Among Top 24 Under 24. Betakit.
- ^ Czikk, Joseph. Next 36 Grad Michael Cheng Launches Platform for Discovering the Greatest Musicians You've Never Heard Of. Betakit.
- ^ Woods, Ben. If you love cover versions, check out Covr's music discovery platform. The Next Web.
- ^ Czikk, Joseph. BC Business Releases Inaugural 30 Under 30 List. Betakit.
- ^ Czikk, Joseph. SFU Alumni Launch Surrey Coworking Space, Beta Collective. Betakit.
- ^ Bjornson, Leah. Alumni make space for Surrey entrepreneurs. The Peak (newspaper).
- ^ Ali, Anwar. Are incubators relevant to all startups? How Snip.ly profited from not making the cut. Financial Post.
- ^ SFU alum Michael Cheng's venture Sniply acquired in multi-million dollar deal. Simon Fraser University News.
- ^ Caddell, Nathan. 5 questions with Lumen5 CEO and serial entrepreneur Michael Cheng. BC Business Magazine.
- ^ Lumen5 entered the CDL program with a genius product and left with a world-class business. Creative Destruction Lab.
- ^ Canada's Top Growing Companies 2020. The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Technology Fast 50 program winners. Deloitte.