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