Published: October 18, 2011
Technology Fast 50(TM) Companies' Growth in 2011 Shows That the Canadian Tech Sector is Alive and Well
Deloitte Canada Survey: Tech CEOs Want to See a Strengthened Culture of Risk and Entrepreneurship
Attention Business and Tech Editors
In spite of global economic uncertainty, the winners of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ have not only continued to grow their revenues in 2011, but done so with increased focus on an international customer base. Although the sector is still hindered by the lack of a robust community of domestic investors to support a stronger entrepreneurial culture at home, Canada's tech sector continues to grow and to create jobs. "Almost half of last year's winners are back on the list in 2011, which is remarkable, and there are 20 newcomers alongside a handful of multiyear winners," said Richard Lee, National Leader, Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Group, Deloitte. "Fast 50 companies are active in enterprise or consumer software development, as well as digital media content and platforms."
"As in previous years, the bulk of winners are in Ontario (26), followed by Quebec (11) and British-Columbia (10), with the balance of the winners coming from Newfoundland and Labrador (2) and Alberta (1)," said Duncan Stewart, Director of TMT Research with Deloitte. "The average growth of a Fast 50 company was 5,020 per cent in 2011, down from over 5,600 per cent last year - but still the third-highest number ever. These companies aren't just growing fast, they are investing too: the average research and development spending was a new record, at almost $22.5 million per company. The difficult global economic conditions might not be reflected in our winners' growth rates, but weak capital markets meant that only a round dozen of the fifty are publicly traded: a new low, and down about 70 per cent from 2005."
Saint-Laurent-based Accedian Networks, a telecom and wireless company specializing in performance monitoring solutions, and newcomer on the Fast 50 list, is at the top of this year's ranking with a 50,136 per cent five-year revenue growth. Accedian Networks is also a winner in this year's leadership category.
Second and third spots go to RTI Cryogenics Inc. (46,278 per cent) a Cambridge-based company operating in recycling technologies, and Avigilon (38,796 per cent) a Vancouver-based high-definition surveillance telecom company. Rounding out the top five are Toronto-based NexJ Systems Inc. (29,161 per cent), an enterprise CRM software company, and Real Matters (28,265 per cent), a Markham-based property information solutions firm.
Also noteworthy, 8D Technologies inc. of Montreal and Wi-LAN Inc. of Ottawa are back among the 50 fastest growing tech firms for the first time since 2002 and 2004 respectively; Toronto's ViXS Systems Inc. and Vancouver's Corinex Communications Corp are returning for a fifth consecutive year while RuggedCom Inc. from Concord, Ontario and Toronto's Impact Mobile are back for the sixth consecutive year; Kitchener-Waterloo-based Research In Motion, a consistent winner since the beginning of the program 14 years ago has qualified again in 2011; and Richmond-Hill-based Paymentus Corporation is a new Fast 50 winner after appearing on the Companies-to-Watch list in 2008.
Immigration system creating the right talent pool: Tech CEOs
Deloitte's annual survey of Fast 50 Tech CEOs, also released today, provides insight into the current talent debate. A strong majority (85 per cent) of Tech CEOs said Canada's graduates have the right skill set, and over two-thirds said that Canada's immigration system is creating the proper pool of talent. "Unlike studies that suggest our education and immigration systems are not working, most Tech CEOs believe we are doing well on both fronts, even though things are not perfect," said Lee.
Recommended education improvements include a stronger focus on science, engineering and IT, and an emphasis on practical work exposure to business. On the immigration front, survey respondents would like to see a better use of immigrants' skills as well as reduced barriers for talented individuals to enter Canada.
Lee pointed out that these results echo Deloitte's recent report The future of productivity - An eight-step plan for Canada - which identified the re-tooling of Canada's immigration system as one of the key steps in the country's productivity action plan. "In the report, Deloitte recommended concrete short-term fixes to our immigration system that should have a long-term effect in this area."
Entrepreneurship top of mind for winning CEOs
According to the new survey results, Tech CEOs are concerned about Canada's entrepreneurial culture. When asked whether Canadians are entrepreneurial and risk tolerant, only 56 per cent agreed and 44 per cent said no. "There is a sense that we need to shift away from a mentality that punishes risk, and focus instead on building a community that supports entrepreneurship and that chalks up failures as part of learning," Lee commented, "There are so many great entrepreneurs in this country who can help propel Canada forward, and we need to create an environment that supports them."
Leadership Awards
Leadership environment Awards single out companies that are the elite members of the Canadian technology industry, whose ability to create a distinct competitive advantage in a high-growth market allows them to dominate their sector and quickly join the ranks of other Canadian global leaders. This year's four Leadership Awards recipients are: EcoSynthetix Inc., a Burlington, Ontario-based emerging technology company; Kanata, Ontario-based Solace Systems, a hardware company; Desire2Learn Incorporated, a Kitchener, Ontario-based software company; and Saint-Laurent, Quebec-based Accedian Networks.
Companies-to-Watch Awards
The Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ Companies-to-Watch (CTW) Awards honour early-stage Canadian technology companies who have been in business less than five years, and have the potential to be future Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ winners.
The ten companies recognized as CTW this year are: Beyond the Rack (Saint-Laurent, QC), Chango (Toronto, ON), Enflick, Inc. (Waterloo, ON), Kobo Inc. (Toronto, ON), MoboVivo (Calgary, AB), Mobiroo (Toronto, ON), ScreenScape Networks (Charlottetown, PEI), Syncapse (Toronto, ON), WaveAccounting (Toronto, ON), and Well.ca (Guelph, ON).
Deloitte Technology Green 15™ Awards
These awards recognize Canada's leading GreenTech companies who promote a more efficient use and re-use of the earth's resources in industrial production and consumption. In doing so, they use new, innovative technologies to create products and services that compete with existing products and services on price and performance while reducing our impact on the environment.
The 15 winners are: 5N Plus (Saint-Laurent, QC), Bionest (Grand-Mere, QC), BIOX Corporation (Oakville, ON), FleetCarma (Waterloo, ON), ecobee (Toronto, ON), EcoSythentix Inc. (Burlington, ON), evandtec, Inc. (Toronto, ON), Fifth Light Technology Ltd. (Oakville, ON), H2O Innovation (Grand-Mere, QC), Log-One Ltd. (Loretto, ON), Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. (Vancouver, BC), Panacis Medical Inc. (Ottawa, ON), Real Tech Inc. (Whitby, ON), RTI Cryogenics (Cambridge, ON), Tantalus (Burnaby, BC).
About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™
The Deloitte Technology Fast 50™, the country's pre-eminent leading technology awards, ranks companies based on their past five-year revenue growth rates. Celebrating business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, the program features four distinct categories: the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ Ranking, Companies-to-Watch Awards (early-stage Canadian tech companies in business less than five years, with the potential to be a future Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ candidate,) Leadership Awards (companies that demonstrate technological leadership in four industry subcategories: hardware/semiconductor, software, telecommunications and emerging technologies) and the Deloitte Technology Green 15™ Awards (Canada's leading GreenTech companies that promote a more efficient use and re-use of the earth's resources in industrial production and consumption.)
Program sponsors include Deloitte, Gowlings, Wellington Financial, TMX, HKMB Hub, CVCA, NACO, MaRS, IGLOO Software.
For further information, visit .
About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through more than 7,700 people in 58 offices. Deloitte operates in Quebec as Samson Belair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Deloitte & Touche LLP, an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.
2011 Deloitte Technology Fast 50™
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Rank Growth Company name City Prov Sector Product service
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1 50,136% Accedian Saint- QC Telecom High Performance
Networks Laurent Service Assurance
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2 46,278% RTI Cryogenics Cambridge ON Emerging Value-added tire
Inc. recycling
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3 38,796% Avigilon Vancouver BC Hardware High definition
surveillance
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4 29,161% NexJ Systems Toronto ON Software Enterprise CRM
Inc. Software
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5 28,265% Real Matters Markham ON Software Property
Information
Solutions
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6 10,017% ARISE Waterloo ON Software Solar Technology
Technologies
Corporation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 7,976% Clevest Richmond BC Emerging Mobile Workforce
Solutions Inc. Management
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8 3,539% Dominion Voting Toronto ON Hardware Election
Systems solutions +
Corporation services
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 2,622% Acquisio Saint- QC Digital Campaign
Lambert Media management
platforms
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10 2,322% GuestLogix Inc. Toronto ON Software On-board Retail
Platform
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11 2,306% Wi-LAN Inc. Ottawa ON Telecom Technology
Licensing
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12 2,011% Vital Insights Mississauga ON Software Software
Solutions
Provider
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13 1,915% Varicent Toronto ON Software Sales Performance
Software Management
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14 1,904% Cyberplex Inc. Toronto ON Digital Web advertising
Media solutions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 1,710% Layer 7 Vancouver BC Emerging Cloud & Mobile
Technologies security
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 1,332% SherWeb Sherbrooke QC Software Software as-a
Service (SaaS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 1,131% Marport St. John's NL Software Underwater
Acoustics
Technology
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 1,093% Global Relay Vancouver BC Software Compliance
Communications Message Archiving
Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 1,069% Paymentus Richmond ON Software Real-time Bill
Corporation Hill Payment Network
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 1,069% Tantalus Burnaby BC Emerging Smart Grid
Systems Corp. Technology
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21 1,017% CarProof London ON Software Vehicle History
Reports
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22 973% ProSep Montreal QC Emerging Oil and gas
process equipment
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23 971% 8D Technologies Montreal QC Emerging Transportation
inc. Management &
Payment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 939% ParetoLogic Victoria BC Software Security/Optimiz-
Inc. ation software
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25 937% Solace Systems Kanata ON Hardware Middleware
appliances
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26 904% Route1 Inc Toronto ON Software secure remote
access
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27 840% Verafin Inc. St. John's NFLD Software financial crime
detection
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28 666% H2O Innovation Quebec City QC Emerging Water treatment
systems
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29 634% Research In Waterloo ON Telecom Smartphones and
Motion tablets
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 547% Yardstick Edmonton AB Software Testing and
Training Experts
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31 524% ViXS Systems Toronto ON Hardware Network
Inc. Multimedia
Processors
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32 522% PNI Digital Vancouver BC Software Transaction
Media software platform
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33 476% iBwave Saint- QC Software Wireless software
Solutions Inc. Laurent
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34 464% Corinex Vancouver BC Telecom Computer
Communications networking
Corp products
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35 447% Vantrix Montreal QC Telecom Mobile video
optimization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
36 445% RuggedCom Inc. Concord ON Telecom Rugged
Communications
Equipment
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37 437% Obzerv Quebec City QC Hardware Surveillance
Technologies cameras
Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 413% 5N Plus inc. Saint- QC Emerging Purification and
Laurent metal recycling
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39 397% Moment Factory Montreal QC Digital Multimedia
Media environments
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39 397% Impact Mobile Toronto ON Telecom Mobile Marketing
Solutions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
41 388% Doxim Inc. Markham ON Software SaaS Document
Processing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
42 367% BTI Systems Kanata ON Telecom Packet Optical
Networking
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43 365% Vivonet Inc. Burnaby BC Software POS solutions
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44 360% Complete Markham ON Software Mobile Workforce
Innovations Solutions
Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
44 360% QuickPlay Media Toronto ON Digital Mobile Video
Media Platform
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
46 327% The Code Toronto ON Software Developer
Project Inc. Community Website
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
47 326% BlueCat Toronto ON Software IP Address
Networks Management
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
48 306% Nulogx Mississauga ON Transportation
Management
Solutions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 304% QHR Kelowna BC Software Healthcare
Technologies efficiency
Inc software
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50 294% Nightingale Markham ON Software Electronic
Informatix Medical Records
Corporation
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