This week, Blue Ocean Games officially launched with a $30 million USD venture fund to back the next generation of indie game developers, operating from its new home base in Toronto. Backed by South Korea’s KRAFTON, Inc., the company behind global hits like PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, this investment is not just a win for game creators but a major vote of confidence in Toronto’s tech ecosystem, even as geopolitical headwinds grow stronger.

Founded by Damian Lee, former Head of Investments at KRAFTON, Blue Ocean Games aims to fund 100 indie developers over the next three years. Following the first three years, Blue Ocean Games has plans to launch a second, larger fund with a dedicated regional allocation.

Its unique investment model supports developers at the concept stage, before they have even built a demo, with funding, mentorship, and full IP ownership. The mission is to empower underrepresented creators and spark innovation that traditional investment channels might otherwise overlook.

“Toronto gives us the best of both worlds: the analytics talent we need to run a fund and one of the world’s deepest benches of creative indie developers to invest in. Ontario’s Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit also means we can invest in more teams,” said Damian Lee, CEO of Blue Ocean Games.

Connected through the Canadian Embassy in the Republic of Korea, our team worked closely with KRAFTON and Blue Ocean Games to help them navigate this move. “Toronto Global has been exceptionally proactive, quickly connecting us with key public‑sector bodies, leading educational institutions, and influential industry groups—support that’s been invaluable as we work to build a robust ecosystem around Blue Ocean Games,” said Lee.

The timing of this announcement is especially significant. In a climate where global expansion is becoming increasingly complex and many companies are hesitant to move across borders, Blue Ocean Games is taking a confident step forward. Rather than retreating in the face of economic uncertainty, it is embracing international collaboration and investing in long-term potential.

And that potential is substantial. Toronto has emerged as one of North America’s fastest-growing tech hubs, with over 400,000 tech workers in the region and more tech job growth than the San Francisco Bay Area between 2017 and 2022. It ranks among the top 10 global cities for video game development and is home to over 200 game studios including Ubisoft Toronto, Behaviour Interactive, and Digital Extremes. The city’s diverse talent pool, high-quality education system, and relative affordability make it a magnet for startups and global players alike. Toronto’s developers are world-class, and the ecosystem here is built to nurture long-term creativity.

Blue Ocean’s first initiative, Rising Tide, launches May 1 in partnership with Global Game Jam, offering developers worldwide a chance to validate ideas and access funding. In addition to capital, Blue Ocean is offering developers back-office support, legal help, and cohort-based mentorship, all designed to make game creation more accessible and sustainable.

The takeaway? While new trade policies may be reshaping the global economy, Toronto’s foundation as a center for tech innovation is stronger than ever. Companies like Blue Ocean Games are not just adapting; they are leaning into the regional strengths that are built to last.

We sat down with four of the program’s advisors, to talk about the program’s mission, why they chose Toronto, and what sort of startups they are seeking.

Patrick Tammer, as an AI Investor and Policy Advisor for the Canadian government, what specific guidance can you offer AI startups to help them fully maximize the benefits of the Adapting For Tomorrow program?

PT: Take full advantage of the workshops and lessons covering everything from business planning to legal and HR. These operational factors become increasingly important as your company grows. Also, focus on leveraging the unique access to the ecosystem that the Adaptavist Group brings. This can significantly impact your ability to understand industry pain points and validate your problem-solving approach.

Harp Athwal, as Managing Director of Adaptavist Canada, why have you picked AI as a focus for this incubation program?

HA: Our focus on AI for this program is deliberate and timely. AI is simultaneously the most exciting and fear-inducing technology of our time. It’s undeniably the biggest thing happening in the tech space right now, making it incredibly relevant for startups looking to make an impact. At The Adaptavist Group, we’re excited by the potential for change that AI brings. Our goal with this program is to help companies find value in AI and expand their capabilities.

James Appleyard, as a seasoned Investor in 20+ Canadian startups, what is a key factor you look for when evaluating the potential of an AI startup?

JA: Consider this: Once people start using your application, will it be difficult for them to live without it? Is it a nice-to-have or a need-to-have? This distinction will determine whether you’re building a high-churn, low-efficiency company or one that is built to last.

Also James, why is Toronto a great place to launch the Adapting for Tomorrow program?

JA: The Toronto-Waterloo/Southern Ontario tech corridor has a winning formula. We’re blessed with great educational institutions, an attractive place to live and work that draws global talent, and we can build on the foundations laid by pioneering tech firms and entrepreneurs. Adaptavist’s Adapting for Tomorrow program is another excellent example of a leading tech player giving back to its community.

With your extensive background in Business Development, what excites you about working with these startups in the coming months Maria Harrington?

MH: I’m thrilled about the collaboration and networking opportunities. As someone known as the ‘tech matchmaker’ in Ontario and throughout Canada, I’m looking forward to learning about these exciting new technologies within Gen AI. I’m eager to work side by side with driven individuals, helping with everything from go-to-market strategies to cold calling and LinkedIn outreach.

As leaders in the tech space, what top tips do you have for startups looking to set up a GenAI business?

MH: Come prepared with your company goals so we can ensure success in working together. Also, approach the program with an open mind.

HA: For startups joining our program, I have a few key pieces of advice. Embrace flexibility: the ideas you start with may not be the ones you end up pursuing. Be open-minded and ready to pivot based on market needs and feedback. Also, leverage your program’s advisors, we are here to help you refine your ideas and harness their full potential. Don’t hesitate to tap into this wealth of experience and knowledge.

The Adaptavist Group is actively seeking applications for this exciting new program, the deadline is September 15^th. To learn more about “Adapting for Tomorrow” check out their website.

We had the opportunity to speak with Naohiro Yamaura, the COO of Ayudante Canada, about the company’s strategic vision, plans, and the unique value they bring.

Q: Can you tell us more about Ayudante Canada?

Ayudante Canada is dedicated to providing high-quality consultation services for Google Analytics (GA) and the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Our approach blends consulting expertise, technical skills, and marketing knowledge to help build our clients’ analytics platforms by delivering our high-value solutions. This integration ensures we can effectively and efficiently address a wide range of client needs.

Based in Tokyo, Ayudante has been a trusted GMP and GCP partner for nearly two decades. We are proud to be recognized as one of the top Google Analytics 360 resellers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence and our ability to deliver outstanding results for our clients.

Q: Can you share one of your recent projects?

We partnered with SUBARU, one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. Due to their large organization, they had over 200 websites, each managed by different vendors with their own tag management accounts.

The lack of a centralized system led to data discrepancies and made it difficult for SUBARU to get a clear picture of their web performance.

We unified all 200+ websites into a single, cohesive system using Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager. By consolidating these websites, we created a centralized environment for managing and analyzing web data. We also implemented standardized tracking and reporting across all websites, ensuring that different teams and partners had the appropriate access to the data they needed.

This solution significantly improved SUBARU’s ability to manage their websites and provided clearer, more accurate insights into their web traffic, leading to better decision-making and operational efficiency.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

Our company aims to support many Canadian businesses in leveraging their Google Analytics data, contributing to their business success by utilizing the mature knowledge, expertise, and advanced case studies developed in the Japanese market.

In the Canadian market, the benefits of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for businesses might not yet be fully understood. To address this situation, we actively organize seminars and workshops to educate local companies on the advantages and applications of GA4. These events aim to demonstrate the power of GA4 in driving business insights and improving marketing strategies.

In the near future, our company plans to hire more skilled professionals and expand our services to include comprehensive GA4 data utilization solutions, extending our reach to not only Canadian but also North American companies, including those in the United States. Our goal is to establish a strong team capable of providing top-tier consulting services, enhancing our presence in this market by contributing to the businesses of Canadian and North American companies, all while being based in Toronto.

Q: What makes Ayudante Canada unique?

Our company is confident in providing unparalleled technical support and consulting services. Our highly skilled and experienced consultants, who have experience as seminar instructors and authors, contribute to building analytical environments using Google Analytics for our client companies. Through our exceptional consulting, we not only assist with the implementation and technical support of Google Analytics but also support the overall utilization of user data by constructing analytical environments integrated with Google Ads and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), thereby contributing to our clients’ businesses.

We firmly believe that our consulting services, which have received high praise in the mature Japanese market, will also be highly regarded in the global market.

Q: Why did Ayudante Canada choose the Toronto Region?

Toronto is the business hub of Canada, with a concentration of many companies, talent, and information. It is the optimal location for our company’s expansion into the Canadian market. Additionally, as a gateway to the United States, Toronto serves as an ideal location for realizing our vision.

Q: How has Toronto Global supported Ayudante Canada throughout this journey?

Toronto Global has been instrumental in our successful expansion into the Canadian market. From the outset, they provided us with critical information on business registration, legal regulations, and internal company policies specific to Canada. Their expertise helped us navigate the complexities of establishing a new office in a foreign country.

Catherine Lee, Senior Advisor, Investment Attraction – Asia at Toronto Global, has been particularly supportive. She quickly understood our needs and provided tailored advice and resources, helping us identify potential office locations and connect with local service providers. Her insights into the local market dynamics and her ongoing support have been invaluable. Thanks to her, we were able to make informed decisions and establish a solid foundation for our operations in Toronto.

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Company Expansion News Release: https://torontoglobal.ca/news/ayudante-japan-expands-to-toronto/

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Ayudante, Inc. is a long-standing Google Marketing Platform (GMP) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) sales partner. It is ranked as one of the top 360 Google Analytics 360 resellers in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The announcement was made at this year’s Collision Conference.

We sat down with Phonexa CEO, Lilit Davtyan to learn more about why the U.S. and U.K.-based company chose Canada to open its third office as it continues to expand its global footprint.

Before we discuss why Phonexa is expanding into Canada, please tell us about the company’s origins and who the software is built for?

Phonexa was created by performance marketers for performance marketers. It was originally a proprietary tool and solution for one of the largest affiliate networks in the financial services industry, and it has exponentially grown since its inception in 2016. The company’s roots are humble. Founder and President David Gasparyan is a military veteran and immigrant who once had a hundred dollars left in his name.

Now, Phonexa has evolved into a global company and an enterprise-grade tracking software for performance, affiliate, and partner marketing. We power direct advertisers, networks, and performance marketers by optimizing inbound web and call campaigns and outbound call, email, and SMS campaigns – all while having the ability to enhance the consumer journey every step of the way. With a suite of turnkey marketing products and solutions, Phonexa’s customizable tools are uniquely designed to maximize performance for high-volume direct-to-consumer companies. Some examples of those industries include home services, insurance, legal, lending, and financial services, among others.

The Phonexa Suite consists of 8 core products. It unifies various marketing activities in a single integrated platform. By bringing these business functions together, Phonexa connects technology, and typically disconnected subscriptions, under an all-in-one suite.

What prompted the decision for Phonexa to expand into Canada?

Phonexa’s new office in Toronto marks yet another significant milestone for our company as we continue to experience rapid growth powered by our outstanding team and customer-centric innovations. Toronto is a central hub for Canada’s business, tech, and financial sectors, and this strategic expansion highlights Phonexa’s dedication to innovation and growth in a city celebrated for its dynamic ecosystem. The region’s vibrant business landscape and top-tier infrastructure will enable Phonexa to enhance collaboration and advance our affiliate and performance marketing products and solutions to better serve our global clientele. We’re excited to expand Phonexa with the diverse tech talent found in Toronto.

Phonexa’s global headquarters have been in Los Angeles since the company was founded in 2016. We opened our second headquarters in the United Kingdom in 2017. Phonexa celebrated the expansion of its existing Los Angeles headquarters last year by crowning the 16-story building with a sign and taking over the top three floors. Establishing a footprint in Canada was the next great step in our company’s journey. We’ve been incredibly pleased by the support received across government levels, including Mayor Olivia Chow, her staff, and the entire Toronto Global team.

How will the expansion into Canada benefit Phonexa?

The expansion will enable Phonexa to tap into new markets and build stronger relationships with Canadian clients across performance, affiliate, and partner marketing. Additionally, having a presence in Canada will allow us to better serve our North American clients by providing localized support and services. Our move into Canada represents a significant milestone in our growth journey. It underscores our dedication to innovation, our ambition to serve new markets, and our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients, employees, and partners. We look forward to the opportunities this expansion will bring and are confident it will drive significant growth and success for our company.

How will the new offices impact Phonexa’s existing workforce?

The new offices will complement our existing operations and provide growth opportunities for our current employees. We plan to facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration between teams across regions, fostering a culture of innovation and shared expertise. Additionally, we expect to create numerous job opportunities locally, contributing to the growth of the Canadian tech workforce.

Phonexa’s Toronto office will serve as a second home to the company’s technology and marketing teams. Phonexa employs 200 people worldwide, including a significant staff in Ukraine. From Phonexa’s 14-person global C-level, 12 of its executives are women or from ethnic minorities, and we’re looking forward to growing on those figures.

Through Phonexa Cares, the company’s community outreach initiative program, we plan to work closely with the Canadian government to arrange relocation for any of Phonexa’s global team members looking to move to Canada. This has already happened for some of Phonexa’s staff, including CTO Alexey Sidora, who recently relocated his family from Ukraine to Toronto amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.

What investment is Phonexa making in the new Toronto offices?

We aim to create an inspiring and productive work environment that attracts top talent and supports our teams in delivering exceptional results across the performance, affiliate, and partner marketing space. We are also committed to investing in community initiatives and partnerships that drive technological advancement in the region for performance marketers.

What impact does this expansion have on Phonexa’s clients and partners?

For our clients and partners, this expansion means enhanced service delivery and greater accessibility to our solutions and expertise. The presence in Canada will allow for more personalized interactions and faster response times. Additionally, our increased capabilities and resources will lead to more innovative and effective solutions, driving success for our clients and partners.

How does the move into Canada align with Phonexa’s long-term vision and goals?

Expanding into Canada is a strategic step toward achieving Phonexa’s long-term vision of becoming a global leader in software solutions for performance marketers. It aligns with our goals of fostering innovation, expanding our market reach, and enhancing our service offerings. By establishing a strong presence in Canada, we are positioning Phonexa to better compete in the global market and drive sustainable growth for the company.

What challenges do you anticipate in this expansion, and how do you plan to address them?

While we anticipate some challenges integrating into a new market, we are confident in our ability to address them. We have a dedicated leadership team for market entry strategies. Additionally, we plan to leverage local expertise and build strong relationships with Canadian businesses and tech communities to ensure a smooth and successful expansion.

What is the one thing Phonexa is excited about for the second half of this year?

Phonexa also owns and operates MailCon, the largest in-person gathering and conference for email marketers. We’re excited to share that Phonexa will be heading to the Big Apple in a big way when MailCon returns for a one-day conference at Convene in Times Square, New York, on Sunday, July 28, one day before Affiliate Summit East.

MailCon arrives during a pivotal period due to the deliverability issues plaguing mailers, performance marketers, affiliate marketers, and lead generators. Businesses have found it challenging to adapt to technological and automation advances and stay ahead of the curve, especially due to Gmail and Yahoo’s new bulk email sender requirements. All of that will be strategically discussed, as the event features an all-star lineup of speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, Phonexa product announcements, and much more. MailCon assembles a diverse group of email marketing influencers. Nearly 6,000 mailers, affiliates, advertisers, and networks have attended MailCon since its inception, and 70% of event attendees are directors and C-level marketing decision-makers.

To learn more about Phonexa’s all-in-one marketing automation solution, schedule a consultation, email info@phonexa.com, call (818) 800-0000, or click here for a self-guided interactive tour.

Phonexa offers the following solutions in its suite of performance marketing products:

• LMS Sync (lead tracking and distribution)
• Call Logic (call tracking and distribution)
• E-Delivery (email and SMS marketing)
• Cloud PBX (cloud phone system)
• Lynx (click tracking)
• Opt-Intel (suppression list management)
• HitMetrix (user behavior recording and analytics)
• Books360 (automated accounting)

Qaiser Habib currently serves as the Head of Canada Engineering at Snowflake. Habib is a veteran engineering leader and a well-recognized expert in the Canadian market, currently focused on building and leading the Canadian engineering presence for Snowflake. Habib is a champion for community engagement and is committed to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow through university relations and hands-on mentorship.

Shannon Katschilo currently serves as the Country Manager of Canada at Snowflake. Katschilo brings over 15 years of client connection-building and employee stewardship to her role, scaling Snowflake’s presence in the market and taking a data-first approach to improving experiences at all levels of operation. Katschilo is passionate about female mentorship and sponsorship and prioritizes bringing an equitable lens to data-driven decisions by creating opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to take on leadership positions within the field.

SK: Can you give us the backstory on your career and how you landed at Snowflake?

When I made the decision to join Snowflake in 2022, I saw an opportunity to bring my 15 years of client connection-building experience and employee stewardship to a leadership role and be at the forefront of the rapidly evolving data and AI landscape.

I’m laser-focused on expanding the company’s customer base and partnering with Canada’s most iconic brands to strengthen their data foundations to accelerate AI adoption. Since landing in Canada, Snowflake’s achieved significant revenue growth, making Snowflake Canada one of the fastest-growing markets globally for the company.

Throughout my career, I’ve always been committed to knowledge-sharing in the industry by devising and chairing meetings, hosting client events, and regularly presenting at conferences and webinars. I’m also passionate about female mentorship and sponsorship and prioritize bringing an equitable lens to data-driven decisions by creating opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to take on leadership positions within the field.

QH: What has the engineering team been up to since you opened the Toronto office in 2022?

Since first opening our Canadian headquarters in 2022, making Toronto home to one of Snowflake’s five global Engineering Hubs, we’ve grown our headcount and footprint significantly. To support our strategic growth in the Canadian market, we’re on track to double our engineering team in 2024 and we opened a newly expanded headquarters in April 2024, which is more than double the size of our original office space and reflects the evolving needs of our team. 

Snowflake Canada’s Toronto Engineering Hub is powering ground-breaking innovations including the Snowflake Native App Framework and the transformation of how customers globally are building applications. This technology eliminates the need for organizations to move or copy their data during application development, which increases security and helps maintain governance controls.

We’ve seen incredible momentum around Snowflake Native Apps, which we are proud to announce is generally available on AWS and Azure. More than 90 Snowflake Native Apps (as of January 2024) are currently available in Snowflake Marketplace, which opens up opportunities for businesses to create entirely new revenue streams.

SK: What Canadian relationships or partnerships have been instrumental to Snowflake’s growth?

There are a myriad of factors and partnerships that have come together to promote Snowflake’s success and growth in the Canadian market. 

Internally, hiring the right talent and fostering a strong culture has been paramount. It’s imperative to hire from diverse backgrounds and expertise to have people who think differently and can identify problems to create solutions that train AI with an inclusive and broader lens. I also prioritize recognition and spotlighting talent within the workplace to boost visibility and retention.

Externally, building strong relationships with our customers and practicing a customer-first approach has been instrumental. I’ve dedicated my efforts to expanding the company’s customer base and collaborating with some of Canada’s most renowned brands to fortify their data infrastructure and facilitate AI adoption.

Additionally, our strategic partnerships with established industry cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google have played a crucial role in our growth trajectory. These key relationships continue to fuel our innovation and drive our success in the Canadian tech landscape, with the Snowflake platform being multi-cloud and cross-cloud across all three.

QH: Toronto continues to be one of the world’s top tech talent hubs. Tell us about your hiring efforts and what you look for when selecting a candidate. 

At Snowflake, our hiring efforts are focused on attracting top-tier candidates who align with our values and our dynamic team culture. We prioritize diversity, experience, empathy, and a genuine commitment to serving our customers and collaborating effectively with colleagues. 

From a hiring standpoint, we believe in being ‘engaged employers’ and focusing on the candidate experience.  This involves getting to know each candidate, understanding their potential fit within our team, assessing their unique strengths and assets, and ensuring alignment with our corporate culture.

We encourage and engage in open and honest conversations with candidates. This approach allows us to cover key topics such as soft skills, hard skills, and culture fit comprehensively. We understand that assessing these aspects requires depth and exploration beyond a single conversation, which is why we encourage our team to delve deep into different aspects of a candidate’s profile to assess the overall fit.

Snowflake’s Toronto office is continuing to hire for positions across engineering, sales, and more as the organization scales to meet increasing demand from customers. The region has a rich tech talent pool and top universities including the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, which we have deep relationships with. Our ultimate goal is to create a workforce and workplace where every team member thrives, and our hiring process reflects that commitment.

SK: Goldman Sachs, Kash Rangan, compared Snowflake to a Ferrari- bigger, better faster, analyzing data. How has the Snowflake platform evolved to deliver more value to customers? 

Snowflake is pioneering the next wave of AI innovation by providing enterprises with the data foundation and cutting-edge AI building blocks they need to fuel powerful AI and machine learning apps while keeping their data safe and governed.

An example of a recent innovation that I’m very excited about is Snowflake Cortex, which empowers all users to securely tap into the power of generative AI with their enterprise data — regardless of their technical expertise.

Snowflake Cortex is Snowflake’s new fully managed service that enables organizations to discover, analyze, and build AI apps in the Data Cloud more easily. With Snowflake Cortex, businesses can now build custom LLM-powered apps within minutes and maintain flexibility and control over their data. This also supports the democratization of generative AI, a key development in making AI accessible so every organization can harness it to drive value. 

QH: What industry trends are you currently seeing in data and AI, and how will these trends impact Canadian organizations [OR] the country’s tech talent? 

Several key trends in the data and AI landscape are impacting Canadian organizations and businesses in 2024, and beyond. 

We are seeing an explosion of large language model (LLM) apps, with the biggest surge in apps that put a natural language conversational layer on top of business problems, making it dramatically easier to talk to your data, generate insights, and even talk to your customers with intelligent chatbots. LLMs are growing exponentially as businesses leverage them to bring customer engagement and operational efficiency to a new standard. 

Additionally, we are seeing organizations get finer-grained about their data governance. There is a shift in focus from stringent data lockdowns to more nuanced data governance approaches. Businesses are exploring ways to make data accessible for authorized uses that align with their values and policies, reflecting an evolving approach to data management.

Lastly, the rise of the unified data platform is reshaping how enterprises are managing and utilizing data. Modern organizations are seeking centralized platforms that break down silos, facilitate integrations, ensure governance and security, and promote collaboration across departments. The growth of Snowflake Native Apps reflects this demand for unified data platforms, offering advantages in efficiency and collaboration.

SK: How do you keep an edge in a competitive tech environment? What are you reading now? Podcasts? Workouts? 

To stay competitive, I maintain open lines of communication with customers, as their feedback is crucial for product development to ensure we meet their needs and bolster their data and AI initiatives. 

Upskilling is another area of emphasis to maintain a competitive edge for my professional growth, alongside the professional growth of my teams. The evolving tech landscape demands continuous skill enhancement for everyone. From my perspective, as AI becomes more prevalent, employer-led upskilling programs will be critical for improved productivity. 

Physical well-being and community involvement have also been priorities throughout my career – from cold plunging to delivering presentations at local schools and forming partnerships with organizations like Toronto Womxn in Data Science. These experiences continue to be valuable for learning best practices, sharing experiences, and making meaningful contributions.

For more information about Snowflake Inc. visit https://www.snowflake.com/en/.

It all started with a conversation with Alan Hutchison, CEO of ProsFit, a startup from Bulgaria that leverages digital technology to improve the fitting of prosthetics for people with limb loss. Alan came to Toronto Global offices in December 2022 with a mission to make his solutions available in Toronto and Canada.

As it often happens inside our walls, one conversation led to many others and here we are last Thursday morning attending the launch of the Mobility Unlimited Hub, which came to fruition thanks to the huge efforts of our partners at MaRS Discovery District and the great vision and support of Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF).

In the words of Ryan Klem, Director of Programs, TMF had a simple yet audacious vision to help people with impaired mobility to move freely and safely. They recognized that mobility barriers for some people are so huge and there is no single entity that can solve all of them at once; hence, they came up with this incredible initiative to create the Mobility Unlimited Hub. And where else could this happen other than our unique city where so many players have come together to realize the creation of this important Hub?

Our partners at MaRS did the heavy lifting in bringing this amazing initiative to reality with the support of other organizations such as KITE at University Health Network, Sheridan College, George Brown College, Sixty Degree Capital, Toronto Global and others.

The Hub in Toronto will foster innovations in the mobility space to help people move in a way that is safe, reliable, and accessible for all and in low-carbon environments. It’s that meaningful place where the individual needs of users of all mobility products and technologies will be heard and taken into account by companies that will create innovative and impactful technologies. The theme “There is nothing about us without us” is very relevant here.

So, if you are a company with a mission to improve the lives of people with lesser forms of mobility and looking to scale in a conducive ecosystem, the Application Process for the First Cohort is now live! Join the Mobility Unlimited Hub to get commercialization support, intros to relevant community of collaborators, PR and of course, funding!

Learn more about Prosfit here.

How has Pariveda grown since first landing in the Toronto Region over 3 years ago?

Pariveda’s Toronto office opened on a special occasion – one week before the pandemic put the city in lockdown. While this timing may seem like a disadvantage for the company, Safdar Mahmood sees it as a catalyst for digital growth. During the pandemic, there was an uplift in data, cloud, and technology development by companies seeking to become more digital and additionally accommodate the workforce shift to remote work. Adversity turned out to be an advantage for Pariveda.

Fast forward from March 2020 to December 2023, the company has grown significantly. Starting with two employees, they currently have a team of more than 20 in their Toronto office. They are also leveraging local technology partners and Toronto’s end-to-end supply chain by importing resources to Canada. The expansion to the Toronto Region opened more opportunities to work with larger firms across North America

“We imported resources into Toronto to deliver for Canadian clients, and we found our experience in working with certain larger US-based firms gave us a strong degree of credibility and differentiation,” said Safdar.

Why did Pariveda choose the Toronto Region?

Pariveda chose the Toronto Region because of its diversity, location, and reputation. Toronto is a vibrant, global city with access to 1.5 billion consumers. As a business hub, Toronto contributes 20 percent to Canada’s overall economy. Establishing a footprint in Toronto is a milestone for the company on its journey to becoming a multinational organization.

“The founding CEO’s vision was to be in the top 50 to 100 highest GDP cities in the world. Starting in the US and expanding to larger cities. We always wanted to be known as a global company, so Toronto was a great next step,” said Leslie Garza, Senior Marketing Manager at Pariveda.

How has the experience been operating in the Toronto Region? What has been different or similar to other regions?

While sharing similarities with the United States, Canada has its own unique flavor. The Toronto Region is diverse and dynamic, with over 50 percent of its population born in other countries and over 190 languages spoken.

“With the ambition to become a multinational organization, Toronto was selected because it has a large GDP and has a very similar – yet different – business culture to America, creating the perfect testbed and growth opportunity for a firm that is looking to go multinational,” said Safdar.

What are Pariveda’s plans for the future?

Pariveda wants to continue its growth in the Toronto Region and integrate more deeply with the local network. With the tremendous connectedness of the regional business community, the company aims for Toronto to be one of its key offices.

Since their expansion to the Toronto Region, the Pariveda team has received significant support from established companies and startups in the area. They aim to return the favour by supporting other non-profit organizations and tech companies in the Toronto Region.

Is Pariveda looking to hire talent in the Toronto Region?

Pariveda has plans to continue recruiting Toronto talent in 2024, ranging from entry-level to executive-level positions. In preparation for this recruitment, Pariveda forged partnerships with the University of Toronto (U of T) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), hiring several employees from the universities’ talent streams. The positive outcomes from this initial recruitment effort have encouraged them to further expand their workforce in the Toronto Region.

Thanks to their partnerships with the U of T, Pariveda received a warm welcome and strong support from the university. Additionally, they are anticipating positive results from their partnership with the Digital Media Zone (DMZ) at TMU.

What is your most valued philosophy or motto for running a business?

“People, people, people,” said Safdar.

Safdar Mahmood confidently expressed that the emphasis and focus you put on your team and the collective effort is what allows you to move forward and care for your customers. Pariveda believes that when employees feel recognized and have the opportunity for growth, they have the chance to challenge themselves by getting out of their comfort zone.

This philosophy is exemplified by Emad Ahmed, Manager at Pariveda. “It is unique and refreshing for me. The focus is on employee development and the transparency with which it operates in terms of how you progress in your career, what you need to do, and what the expectations are across all levels. I couldn’t agree with that more.”

Transparency is another key value. Pariveda encourages regular feedback and maintains a straightforward promotion system that motivates employees to work diligently and enhance their skills.

The future is bright and full of opportunity for Pariveda and their team in Toronto.

For more information about how Pariveda Solutions can help elevate your business, visit their website (parivedasolutions.com) or contact us.