Thanks to the success of locally grown companies like Vendasta, 7shifts and Coconut Software (just to name a few), Saskatoon has emerged from the shadows of its famous berry and has become better known as a hub for tech investment, incubation and commercialization. Through blood, sweat, tears and code, our cluster has grown into a powerhouse of creativity and innovation, fuelled by Co.Labs and the founders that keep the place buzzing.

According to figures compiled by SREDA, Co.Labs generated over $10 million in revenue and created more than 160 full-time jobs for economy. Not bad for a tech incubator that emerged on the scene a decade ago and today boosts some of the best companies on the Prairies.

With all this love and attention, it’s not surprising that others are sitting up and taking notice. Our neighbours to the east and west, specifically, are pulling together investment funds, incentives and pitch packages aimed at our Founders. Pick up your tech and move to Manitoba. Accelerate your growth in Alberta. When your product is code, and it lives in a cloud, you can take your idea and business anywhere.

That’s why we’ve made “Shoring Up Saskatoon’s Tech Hub” one of our advocacy priorities heading into 2023-2024. To keep what we’ve built – and continue to grow – we need to ensure our Founders and start-ups have the tools, capital, connections and climate to thrive right here.

If you’re a Founder who has been approached to move your tech or company to Alberta or Manitoba, we want to hear from you. Email ceo@saskatoonchamber.com today.