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30 yearscelebrating

Hello & WelcomeWe couldn’t have asked for a better time to celebrate 30 years of Digital Nova Scotia (DNS). After one of our most successful years to date, we have plenty to celebrate.

For those of you who may not know, Digital Nova Scotia has gone by many names and had many important people play a role in its history. What first began as SIANS – the Software Association of Nova Scotia, soon evolved into ITANS – the Information Technology Alliance of Nova Scotia, which then transformed into Digital Nova Scotia. Although we’ve had many names, our roots have remained in the same. We’re grounded in Nova Scotia’s tech community and we thrive as our industry thrives.

Building this magazine to highlight some of our phenomenal members and to share a little about what we do and who we do it with has been one of our most favourite creations ever. At almost 140 members, Digital Nova Scotia has grown year after year, just as our industry has.

The ICT and digital tech sector has transformed into something that is embedded in our daily lives, and in almost every other sector from fishing and forestry, to transportation, retail, athletics, arts, tourism, and banking, to only name a few. Almost every business has become a technology business, and with it, digital skills are a growing demand globally.

As the ICT and digital tech industry

association for the province, we support our sector and everyone within it, across Nova Scotia - from startups and small and medium size businesses to large multinational corporations, universities and colleges, government and non-profits. We aim to address the digital divide at any level with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, lead skill building and innovative programming, promote our industry, facilitate connections and engage with youth pan-provincially. As a connector and information hub, we are an active voice within our community and everything we do is designed to support the rapid growth of our sector.

Over the years, DNS has transformed and adapted to meet the needs of our sector, and as our sector continues to grow and expand, so must we. Once a volunteer driven organization, Digital Nova Scotia has now grown to eight employees, seeing a 75% growth in this year alone. We’ve had greater industry reach, membership numbers, learning and development opportunities, and support from the digital community than ever before.

To celebrate our 30 wonderful years, what better way than to profile 30 of our members. Nova Scotia's tech scene is growing faster than ever before, and it's the people within our community that are making it happen.

We're world leaders from right here, at home.

We are so fortunate to work with such an innovative, engaged and collaborative network. Our members, Board of Directors, funders, and partners have allowed Digital Nova Scotia to not only be around for 30 years, but also have a true and meaningful impact. Our phenomenal team and Board of Directors have created something we are all extremely proud to be a part of, and I know that our journey has just begun. Bring on the next 30 years!

Thank you,

Ulrike & Team

Ulrike Bahr-GedaliaPresident & CEO

30 yearscelebrating

TABLE OF CONTENTS30 yearscelebrating

30 years ago many amazing things took place! Digital Nova Scotia was first created, Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist, invented the World Wide Web (WWW) and… Bill & Ted’s Excellent

Adventure was released!

Digital Nova Scotia is the industry association for the tech sector. Our programs and initiatives enable us to connect our digital community and proudly promote its successes. Through skills

development, capacity building, industry events, partnerships and the promotion, we support our sector as it continues to grow, evolve and thrive.

2 Welcome Message

6 30 Member Profiles

67 Provincial Impact

68 Our Members

70 Projects and Programs

72 Project Highlight: Opening Doors

76 Project Highlight: Skills Development

78 Project Highlight: Skills for Hire

79 Thank you

4 5

WALKING THE LINE: ALISON K. CONSULTING

A designer that codes and a coder that designs, Alison Knott of Alison K. Consulting naturally walks the line between tech and creative.

When you first meet Alison, the web and branding powerhouse behind Alison K. Consulting – there is an instant connection. Her energy and passion is infectious, and after spending five minutes with her you will instantly want to make everything you do online look better, work better and drive better results.

Alison began her career in print design, never anticipating owning and running a small business. Before she knew it, she found herself taking on different marketing jobs for clients, and then (by no surprise) she felt the pull of web design and development. Today, her consultancy provides strategic web and brand design for Canada’s movers and shakers and offers hands-on training in both Google Analytics and WordPress. In fact, her content has even been shared by Google Analytics (so cool)!

With no interest in delivering vanity stats or just building good looking websites, Alison ensures her clients walk away with a true web strategy, connecting audiences with business needs, and knowing the metrics necessary to track success. Her approach encourages clients to look at their business goals and target clients so that together they can

create digital solutions that bring in more sales, more traffic, and better ROI – the fact that they look amazing while doing it is the icing on the cake! An advocate for better web knowledge, Alison offers insights and top tips for small businesses through her blog, on everything from how to freshen websites to profitable copywriting.

Beyond directly working with clients, Alison is an international creative tech speaker who is known for her bold presentations, energy, quick wit, and genuine passion. By blending humour, real-talk, and actionable takeaways, Alison’s presentations leave people feeling inspired.

If all of that isn't enough to keep Alison busy, she is the co-creator and organizer of the monthly WordPress Halifax Meetup, creator and lead organizer for East Coast Creative Collective (a meetup and online hub for designers, illustrators and animators), and was the lead organizer for Atlantic Canada’s only WordPress Conference - WordCamp Halifax in 2017 and 2018.

Alison’s quirky and down-to-earth approach, combined with her energy and a great sense of humour has resulted in a decade of doing what she loves. Amazing.

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Everyone knows the name Lockheed Martin, but did you know that tucked away in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, inside a highly secured facility, a team of talented employees are doing some really cool things?

When you stand outside their Nova Scotian office, the pure grandeur of what truly happens inside leaves you with a feeling of awe. Walking through the doors to be greeted by security allows you to truly appreciate the importance of what they do,

BUILDING THE IMPOSSIBLE: LOCKHEED

MARTIN CANADA

and as you sit in their conference room, it’s hard not to imagine the critical discussions that have taken place at that table.

As one of the most well known global security and aerospace companies in the world, Lockheed Martin employs more than 105,000 people worldwide, with Lockheed Martin Canada acting as the Canadian-based arm of the corporation. Leading the research, design, development, manufacturing, integration and sustainability of advanced technological systems and products, they have been Canada’s trusted defence partner for over 80 years.

From the Department of National Defence, to

local and provincial governments, and Defence and Commercial industries across the world, Lockheed Martin Canada serves a diverse and innovative customer base. They are at the forefront of technology - innovating, creating and solving problems every single day.

Behind the brilliance of the company are the people. As vocal leaders of diversity and inclusion, Lockheed Martin Canada embrace the diverse talents and perspectives, leveraging their insights, intelligence and ideas to power innovation. The comradery, connectedness and collaboration among the team allow them to create a positive workplace that thrives on new ideas.

Inspiring tomorrow’s innovators, Lockheed Martin Canada actively supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and has launched campaigns that focus on student engagement and achievement, teacher development and diversity. On a local level, the Dartmouth team have hosted demo days with students, and sponsored activities for Techsploration, a not-for-profit focused on engaging girls and young women in STEM fields.

Whether it’s on the front lines, at sea, in the air, in cyberspace, outer space or on the cutting edge of technology, Lockheed Martin builds the impossible, invents the inconceivable, and gets the job done.

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CHOOSING NOVA SCOTIA: DILYTICS

From California to Nova Scotia, DiLytics jumped feet-first into Nova Scotia’s tech scene and is making waves when it comes to data. DiLytics are leading the charge in Data-Warehousing, Data integration, Visualization, and BI/Analytics and they’ve only just begun.

Developing & supporting Business Intelligence systems for clients around the world, DiLytics have offices in the US, India, and Canada, and provide solutions in various tools like Oracle BI, Tableau, MS Power BI, Incorta, Oracle Data Integrator, Informatica, MS SSIS to name a few. DiLytics has experience providing IT solutions in the public sector and has worked at the Federal, State, City level and K-12 Public Education in the US. They have also successfully implemented solutions in the verticals of pharmaceuticals, supply chain & retailers, shipping, and semiconductors in the private sector.

With data at the forefront of everyone’s mind, data management is a top priority for our sector. After being in Nova Scotia less than a year, DiLytics have been busy making connections. Some of the events already conducted by DiLytics include "Harnessing the Power of BI/Analytics" with Digital Nova Scotia, a working session at St. Mary’s University during Evolve 2019 on BI/Analytics, Data Integration & Data-Warehousing, and most recently an "Advanced Analytics" working demo at Volta.

The team at DiLytics are passionate about showing organizations how to transform their data into valuable information.

Now more than ever, data needs to be effectively managed to impact performance, productivity, and decision-making. Through data visualization and dashboards, DiLytics allows organizations to see their data and make educated decisions that are customized to their business and customers.

Nachiket Parab has been spearheading Canadian operations, immediately connecting with key partners such as Digital Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc., Halifax Partnership and Halifax Chamber of Commerce to name a few. When asked about why he and CEO, Shyam Panda chose Nova Scotia as the home for their latest expansion, their list was long. After much analysis (we would expect nothing less), Nova Scotia’s booming IT market, start-up scene, and deep network helped seal the deal. The cost of living and work-life balance for their employees was also an important factor. Ensuring that there was an opportunity for their team to grow and build lives somewhere great was essential for them, which gives insight as to what it’s really like to work for a company like DiLytics.

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HINDI FOR GOLD:SONA NANOTECH

With a vision of producing innovative market-leading products that will allow people to take control of their own health and help fight some of the world’s most deadly diseases – Sona Nanotech is a bold life sciences company with plans to change the world.

Their story began in a unique location - a laboratory at St. Francis Xavier University. Professor Gerrard Marangoni launched a research project looking into gold nanorods - which are nanoparticles that

can be used for diagnostics, imaging and cancer therapy equipment. Research associates Dr. Kulbir Singh and Dr. Mike McAlduff were exploring toxin-free gold nanorods, and within just four months they had succeeded in developing affordable gold nanorods free of CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide), and Sona Nanotech was born – Sona being the Hindi word for gold.

Four years (and a couple of awards) later, Sona has two gold nanorod products that are used for

diagnostics and medical applications. In 2017, Darren Rowles joined the team as CEO, bringing 15 years’ experience of working closely with gold nanoparticle technology.

Sona is the first company in the world to be able to synthesize and stabilize high quality gold nanorods without the use of CTAB, and they have signed agreements with companies around the globe to distribute and advance their technology.

If you’re not a scientist, a great way to think about gold nanorods is how they can be used. In the world of cancer treatment, current radiation therapy techniques are damaging to healthy bone and tissue, but with gold nanorods – microscopic gold particles – the treatment may be able to destroy cancer cells from inside with no harmful side effects. They are also used for lateral flow tests such as pregnancy tests, offering a number of improvements over existing products such as gold nanospheres or latex beads.

Their advancements in this technology could transform diagnostic and medical treatments, as we know them today. The brilliant minds that are behind Sona came together here in Nova Scotia.

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PREDICTING THE FUTURE: HARBR

Nova Scotia has been a hub for innovative and creative start-ups and Harbr is amongst some of the best and brightest we’ve got.

Located in downtown Halifax, Harbr’s project management automation software delivers real-time progress analytics, bringing everyone together on a project and providing them with an easy way to collaborate, connect, report and show progress. It acts just like a project assistant, enhancing real-time collaboration between all of the teams and organizations involved in a rollout. From boots to cloud.

After being in business just over three years, Harbr is working with emerging retail brands that are scaling up their brick-and-mortar strategy, as well as established brands who are expanding and refreshing concepts at scale. Their impressive list of clients already includes NSLC, Lovepop, Sobeys, Solidcore, Armour Group, Kiel Developments, and Green Growth Brands, just to name a few.

The company was born when construction minds and technical intelligence collided through a renovation project, and now their team has built a platform where project management can be automated and scaled. Working within male-dominated industries, Harbr has been committed to gender parity, valuing diversity and its ability to create better products that result in better business. The Harbr team have innovation, diversity and creativity engrained in their DNA. As a SaaS work management AI for

retail and construction, they’re actually able to predict what is next – not through a crystal ball, but from real data about the work being done and the people doing it.

Clearly, what Harbr is doing is working for them. In February 2019, CIO Applications (a Silicon-Valley based technology magazine) recognized them as one of the Top 10 Construction Technology Solution Providers for 2019, and they were nominated and accepted into the 2019 C100 48Hrs in the Valley Cohort. They were a member of the inaugural Creative Destruction Lab Cohort in 2018, launched their own certified training program, participated in the largest retail conference in the world, and have pivoted their company to meet the evolving needs of their customers.

An active supporter of the Women in Communications and Technology Nova Scotia Chapter, and local non-profit, Techsploration – Harbr actively seeks to contribute in meaningful ways to our tech industry, start-up ecosystem and community.

From securing $1.75M in initial seed funding to winning the Digital Nova Scotia Diversity Champion Award, this young start-up has made a real splash in the construction and retail industries.

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A TRUE SUCCESS STORY: REDSPACE

The work, the people, the office… impressive.

A software company specializing in web, mobile, gaming, and video solutions, REDspace is building the future of television, entertainment, and learning. Their client list is a who’s-who of the entertainment and corporate learning world, and they service them all from right here in Nova Scotia.

Staying on top of industry trends while also looking ahead to new and exciting technologies, REDspace helps clients capitalize on digital transformation happening in their industries. Their creative and energetic team of 200 employees (oh yes, 200!) allows them to specialize in a variety of technologies needed to support their hearty client roster, which includes

Viacom, Turner, Sony, Sesame Workshop, and IBM.

REDspace really is an impressive success story. Nineteen years ago, President & CEO, Mike Johnston, a Truro native, returned from a career in the United States and started REDspace. The company’s first projects were building corporate training applications for IBM’s internal teams. It didn’t take long for him to realize that the combination of well-built and scalable software platforms along with engaging and unique user experiences, would appeal to a lot of clients. REDspace landed their first media client, Nickelodeon almost 13 years ago and have since grown to service some of the world’s largest media and entertainment brands.

Walking into the REDspace office, you may think you’ve landed in New York City or Los Angeles, but nope, you’re actually in Bedford! Tucked away inside the Sunnyside Mall, just beside that delicious food court – REDspace lives. You’re greeted by a sleek interior featuring a putting green and a smiling face. Once you get beyond those first few steps, you’ll find a fully stocked snack bar, a slide, a sauna, and a bright outdoor space. Yes, people really work here.

In fact, being in Atlantic Canada actually has given REDspace some unique advantages above their competitors. We love a quote Mike once gave about building his business here… “Even more than this ecosystem, what I think has really helped REDspace succeed is our ability to foster trust with our clients. I think that comes down to the people and the culture of Atlantic Canada. There’s a degree of honesty, integrity, and a willingness to be collaborative in solving problems here that I don’t think you’ll find anywhere else.”

You don’t need to be in a big city to have a big impact – just look at REDspace, they’re showing the world what we can really do.

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NO HEADACHES, NO SPREADSHEETS:

GUILD SOFTWARE INC. Bedford houses some amazing tech companies, just like Guild.

No hassle, headaches, paper or spreadsheets – Guild is a SaaS based database management solution that automates and simplifies the management of professional colleges and associations.

Greeting you at the door of Guild is an office filled with super-talented people, working hard to create something that solves their client’s biggest challenges. A fully customizable License Registration Management (LRM) platform, Guild’s software moves association management to the cloud. Eliminating legacy software and outdated tools such as printing and faxing, their product is a real game changer for the association management industry.

With every organization needing something a little different, Guild takes a one-on-one approach to deliver a system that is tailored to each client's operation – this really makes them stand out from the crowd. Their passion for creating a streamlined, user-friendly product that their clients love is inspiring – it makes us proud to know them.

Interesting fact about Guild – they are actually the only software of their kind that provides technical support directly to end users. This saves registrars countless hours of acting as an intermediary providing support, which is a serious game changer for association executives. Their

system fully integrates with current tools such as Stripe so clients can collect and process fees instantly, from any major credit card or Apple Pay – knowing details are safe and secure.

Once you understand Guild’s client-base, it’s easy to see the major benefits of this young SaaS company. Specifically, Guild targets professional colleges, which are the organizations that oversee the credentials and membership of

licensed professions – such as the Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists. Guild gets their clients, and takes the time to understand their challenges and work alongside them to create opportunities.

The growing company now has fourteen core customers, and over 15,000 users, and expects to sign ten more customers by the end of the year!

Guild’s customers are in Canada but the team is currently working on their first international sale in Malta, as well as several in the USA.

The team at Guild are approachable, upbeat and extremely smart, so you can imagine the brilliant products they produce.

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Companies evolve, and ABM Integrated Solutions is the perfect example of how to do it well.

Over 40 years ago, ABM started as a field services company reselling third party Point of Sale (POS) systems, cash registers and

providing help desk support. Today, the company has evolved into a multimillion-dollar service provider that delivers innovative solutions across all sectors from retail and healthcare to financial services and transportation.

LEADING THE WAY: ABM INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS

Founded by Cape Breton entrepreneur, Joseph Shannon through Atlantic Corporation Limited, ABM Integrated Solutions has now grown to more than 30 locations across Canada. Their cutting edge IT solutions are backed with the highest level of service, expertise and experience.

Their solutions and services include business and IT consulting, cloud services, field operations, lifecycle management, managed services and service desk support. With the wide range of services available, ABM connects directly with their clients to analyze business needs and develop

customized recommendations using leading innovative technology solutions.

“At ABM, our people are our most important asset. Culture is critical to any organization, but perhaps even more so in the technology business. It is fundamental to our success that we foster an atmosphere where our talented people can grow and develop.” says ABM President, Craig Lynk.

With a tagline of “We Make Technology Work” the Nova Scotian company has built a team of people committed to growing and learning, who love generating ideas and problem solving, and who put titles to the side and work together to get things done. ABM has exceptional people with a passion for technology and a commitment to results and they pride themselves on combining minds, experience and knowledge to drive innovation.

The beautiful thing about tech, is it can bring people together. Working in collaboration with two other tech companies, ABM is the lead on developing and implementing a shared IT system for Apprenticeship in Atlantic Canada. Through the creation of this system, employers will be able to register apprentices, track on-the-job hours and manage training – seamlessly.

A company that embraces evolution and innovation – ABM is leading the way.

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THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE: 20/20XD

When you first meet Jamie Gerrard, you’ll quickly realize that he doesn’t take himself too seriously, but when it comes to his work, it’s is a different story altogether.

Lead UX Strategy and Training Consultant, Jamie is the Founder and Owner of 20/20 Experience Design. The newly launched boutique company helps teams design better by understanding and implementing a human-centered approach. What does that actually mean? It means infusing the customer experience into every stage of the product, from the initial concept design to how the customer interacts with it.

A human-centered design approach can be applied to everything and anything, but at 20/20XD they work in the digital space. When looking at design, Jamie and his team take a holistic view with their clients. Helping teams and companies design better products and software, 20/20XD

looks at everything from the language companies use, to the look and navigation of the platforms, right through to how teams interact and work together.

One of the things that make 20/20XD stand out from the crowd (besides their clear love of all things design) is that they ditch the jargon and talk to their customers like real people, without industry or marketing speak getting in the way. Just like how they design, they make sure that when speaking to their clients, they put their clients experience first. Uncovering and understanding the problems that users face, the 20/20XD team consult, coach and

train teams so that companies can find customized solutions and know-how to leverage user experiences to drive business results. Designing with experience in mind enables a company to be forward-thinking, and it has measurable outcomes on business retention, growth, sales, and product success.

With their official launch just this year, 20/20XD has been operating as Jamie Gerrard’s independent consultancy since 2017. A well-known person in our tech community, Jamie is a down-to-earth, approachable and super funny human who genuinely wants to see everyone succeed.

Often found at Third Wednesday/Tech Lounge (with Digital Nova Scotia) and UX Salon Meetups, Jamie is a natural relationship builder who fosters connections for people in the industry from students to successful business owners. With a background in Library Information Technology, Business, Marketing, and Development, and over 16 years of experience working in digital, Jamie found his true calling in product experience design. After building a successful career, he is known as a thought-leader on the East Coast for all things design.

Having both hindsight and vision, 20/20XD beam with pride when you ask them about what they do – it’s impossible not to get excited about it too.

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Unless you’ve worked in the medical field, you might not have thought too much about the technology needed for pre-hospital care, but Medusa Medical Technologies have.

With the major technological advancements in healthcare and health-data, it’s hard to believe that some areas still maintain patient information with a pen and paper. Changing the way information

BRINGING TOGETHER TECH & HEALTHCARE:

MEDUSA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES

and data is recorded and maintained for pre-hospital care, Medusa have been solely focused on delivering quality electronic patient care reporting (ePCR) software and deployment services for over 18 years to the global pre-hospital care market.

Their Siren ePCR suite of solutions was first developed in 2000, and within one year they had secured their first customer in the United States. After almost two decades of collaborating with paramedics, doctor, nurses, and EMS administrators, you can be sure their software is secure, fast, easy to use and customizable.

Today, Medusa is a global company and market leader with a dedicated and talented staff. Walking into their Halifax office, you may not realize that they have a unique global presence until you check out their world map with dozens of pins showing where they’ve had an impact. In fact, these pins represent Siren ePCR in use by more than 25,000 paramedics, nurses, and physicians from ambulance services across Canada, the US, UK, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ireland, and Australia.

We know they’re globally recognized and experts in what they do – but what exactly does their software do? Siren's robust software solutions allow EMS practitioners to compile patient information, share data instantly, and analyze patient reports in a pre-hospital setting (such as an ambulance), which can help with clinical evaluation, treatment, and reporting. Having access to accurate and real-time patient data allows paramedics, doctors, and medical professionals to make the best decision possible.

With customers spanning 9 countries and 5 continents, there are thousands of Siren users charting millions of records each year. After talking with their team, it’s clear that Medusa has a commitment to staying ahead of the curve both with technology and their hiring practices, organically growing a diverse and innovative team of professionals. With their head office based in Halifax, Medusa has offices strategically located internationally to accommodate their global presence, with satellite offices in the United Kingdom, and British Columbia. They also have distribution partners in Switzerland, Chile, Australia, the Caribbean, and New Zealand.

Forever innovating and driving the value of data and technology, Medusa’s passion for healthcare is helping communities around the world.

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BEHIND A TECH START-UP: PROPOSIFYAn unassuming door nestled in the heart of downtown Halifax has hundreds of passersby every day, with few people thinking to look up at the 10-inch sign carefully placed on the brick wall. Behind that door, a lighted entrance takes you to a small elevator where just a few floors up, one of Halifax’s fastest-growing startups is booming.

When you first walk into Proposify, the energy radiates from every corner of the room. With values of positivity, integrity, empathy, and drive, the team is proud of what they do and how they do it. Surrounded by high ceilings and exposed beams, the rooms are filled with laughter and sunlight, as developers, quality assurance, sales and marketing teams collaborate to find innovative and creative solutions for their product.

Revolutionizing the sales process, Proposify was founded on the belief that proposals shouldn’t be painful. After spending years writing and designing proposals as employees, freelancers, and agency owners, co-founders Kyle Racki and Kevin Springer knew there had to be a better way. Some creativity and serious coding later, their cool idea became a thriving start-up . In 2013 - and in March 2016, they officially reached $1M in annual recurring revenue! By identifying and solving an expensive and common problem among sales teams, Proposify has reached new global heights,

achieved unprecedented growth and made Nova Scotia proud.

Leveraging their beautifully designed and effective software, customers can create customized, interactive and stunning proposals at a click of a button, automating the process while making it feel more personalized than ever before. Their software streamlines the creation of quotes, contracts, and other sales documents, and enables customers to transform their sales teams into closing machines.

A SaaS secret weapon for more than 8,000 businesses and counting, Proposify now stands at more than 70 employees from 15 countries, has been translated into 15 different languages, and as of 2019, has reached $6M in annual recurring revenue. Their software fully integrates with international leaders such as Salesforce and Stripe and has been proven to secure contract signoffs more than 60% faster for their customers. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear that this is only the beginning for Proposify.

With raw and honest blogs, podcasts and interviews, Proposify loves to share their journey and has become an inspiration to many. Sharing expertise on everything from how to build scalable SaaS sales processes to human resources, the team has opened the doors and invited the world to see life behind a tech start-up.

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SETTING THE PACE: GARVIN-ALLEN

SOLUTIONS

Insurance and technology may seem like a peculiar combination for some, but for Garvin-Allen, it’s their world. In the business of tech since 1992, they work closely with clients to develop solutions to industry challenges. Simple and effective.

Staying current on changes in the property and casualty insurance business and driving innovation for companies to achieve their goals with technology is what Garvin-Allen is all about. An international business with offices in Bayers Lake, clients depend on their quality products, personal service, and solid expertise. With product features including quoting & rating,

issuing, claims, billing, reinsurance, agent and consumer portals, Garvin-Allen’s portfolio is custom designed for their niche market. The team members have backgrounds in product development, insurance, strategic planning, project management, and advanced technology, which allows them to maximize their internal talent for the best results. Their enthusiastic and talented team’s vision has helped insurance companies of various sizes achieve exactly what they need.

All work and no play is not the Garvin-Allen way. For 25 years they’ve managed to maintain a

corporate culture they can be proud of, and have stayed true to the casual office environment they started with. Although an open office might not work for all companies, at Garvin-Allen their open setting facilitates and fuels a collaborative team that works together on building their evolving products.

Spending eight-hours a day in a workplace may feel long for some, but the typical work day is about so much more than sitting behind desks at Garvin-Allen. Injecting personal interests into their work life, they strive to nurture a culture that embraces the work/life balance philosophy.

They work hard and they play hard. Beyond running the office, the team actually likes to run together. Like, run run. Several members of the Garvin-Allen team started a running group and have participated in the Maritime Race Weekend and Eastern Passage’s Sunset and Sunrise runs - with only a few complaints about sore muscles.

From running a successful business to running races, Garvin-Allen sets the pace.

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"Our company 's name represents the love we have fo r the Mar i t imes, we want to put

Nova Scot ia on the map."THEY MAKE IT EASY:

ATLANTIC BLOCKCHAIN COMPANY

Keegan and Mrugakshee – a computer science story.

Keegan Francis and Mrugakshee Palwe are the co-founders of Atlantic Blockchain Company (ABC). And boy-oh-boy, these two know their stuff! Both Computer Science graduates from Acadia University, these two young entrepreneurs are now regional experts in blockchain with a real passion for education.

After the 2017 crypto bubble, a swath of ponzi schemes, mishandling of keys, and misapplication of blockchain gave this technology a bad name. Keegan and Mrugakshee, both being Computer Science graduates from Acadia University, recognized the supreme innovation in blockchain technology and the positive and impactful implication it would bring to the world of finance, among others.

Ready to jump into the world of business, they founded ABC in 2018 with a mission to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology by educating as many people as possible on its innovation and how it can be used. With Halifax being their primary home, their goal is to push Atlantic Canada to take a lead in the blockchain industry.

Over the last few years, blockchain has been a widely discussed topic in the tech sector – but many still find it overwhelming. Keegan

and Mrugakshee work with everyone from students and entrepreneurs to professionals and government officials to better understand blockchain through custom presentations and workshops on topics such as fintech, tokenization, cryptocurrency mining, cryptocurrency exchanges, consensus mechanisms, writing smart contracts, and more! The adoption of blockchain technology demands an acute understanding of how it works, and that’s where they step in. Breaking it down into simple terms, ABC educates people on trade, crypto, and blockchain - no fancy words necessary.

This start-up team doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. This year, the duo joined the Digital Discovery Camp (hosted by us and the Discovery Centre), as mentors and showed the campers ages 9-12 how to create their own digital currency. How neat is that?

Their passion for education, love of innovation and background in computer science allows them to bridge the ever-growing knowledge gap by transforming complicated terms into simple ‘byte’ sized chunks. After being in business less than a year, we can’t wait to see what these young industry leaders will get up to next!

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FROM DALLAS TO DARTMOUTH:

MONKEDIA“Nova Scotia is ideal for our business, as it includes access to global markets and the highly-skilled talent required to operate globally. Halifax is a strategic fit due to its prime geographic

With rows of windows, reclaimed wooden fixtures, beer on tap, and an incredible view of Dartmouth’s Lake Banook, Monkedia’s Nova Scotia office is definitely drool-worthy. The only thing that beats their cool aesthetic is the awesome team and the work they produce.

Specializing in high-performance advertising and growth strategy, Monkedia’s goal is to help businesses grow faster, smarter, and larger. They know that with the right business strategy, an advanced marketing implementation (powered

by AI and machine learning) and a lot of hard work on their part, a brand's opportunity is only as limited as their imagination will allow for. How can they be so sure? They’ve done it time and time again.

They don’t like to name drop, so we will for them. Disney, L’Oreal, Blue Apron, and ESPN are just some of Monkedia’s clients. Monkedia serves everyone from megabrands to celebrities to bestselling authors, eCommerce stores, mom-and-pop shops, B2B organizations, and more.

Monkedia knows there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. They believe achieving the greatest business outcomes requires solid foresight and a strong strategic foundation. They dive deep into the minutiae of a business and work with brands to create growth systems and scalable business models, all rooted in deep business intelligence. Utilizing the most advanced technology available today, Monkedia delivers seemingly personalized communication at a macro scale, allowing your brand real connection with real people.

Identified for their commitment to excellence in human resource practices and employee enrichment, Monkedia is recognized as one of the nation’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For ® for two years running and were identified by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of America’s top 360 entrepreneurial companies.

Monkedia originated in Dallas, Texas in 2014 and opened an additional office in Dartmouth in September 2018. We’re thrilled to have them in our neck of the woods. Welcome to Nova Scotia, Monkedia!

location and time zone, cost-effectiveness, and extensive technical talent pool will enable us to source great resources for a variety of positions.”

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STORYTELLING AT ITS FINEST: PICNIC

VIDEO & AERIAL PRODUCTIONS

Picnic is their name and storytelling is their game. Based in beautiful Mahone Bay, Picnic specializes in video production – it’s their bread and butter. Their ability to capture Nova Scotia’s rugged scenery and authentic people is breathtaking. Using a variety of creative angles, aerial shots and

smooth interview techniques, Picnic goes above and beyond to create videos that are unique and engaging.

From intimate, one-on-one messages to large-scale national campaigns, Picnic brings

the personnel, equipment and no-attitude expertise to help smoothly create, capture and share stories. They’re a professional service with a low-stress approach to a variety of clients big and small.

Justin Pickens and Tim Reeves-Horton are the brilliant minds behind Picnic, believing that the best part of their work is getting behind the scenes in epic locations across Canada.

They have experience in Canadian and European productions, and one of them is even a certified pilot - drone pilot that is! With production credits including CBC, National Geographic Channel and Parks Canada, their experience and work speaks for itself. Justin and Tim see things differently- and that’s what sets them apart.

Collaborating with a large team of creators, they bring a unique perspective to all of their projects. When watching their videos, you’re transported to the world they’ve created. They have an amazing way of allowing others to see Nova Scotia the way we do, a place of beauty, growth and potential. Taking clients’ big ideas and transforming them into a visual experience is what drives this creative duo. Justin and Tim’s excitement, enthusiasm and passion to share stories through video is inspiring.

From community groups to corporations, governments to start-ups, Picnic gives voice to story. Working with people and organizations all over Canada, Picnic helps their clients share their stories in a way that brings personality to their brands.

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CREATING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES: SIDE DOOR

Connecting people, communities and live performances, Side Door brings people together through music. Leveraging technology, they provide performers with a lucrative revenue stream, give hosts access to talent, and give audiences memorable experiences.

The technology-based company is revolutionizing the traditional touring model for performers, live shows, and fan experiences. Side Door facilitates booking and ticketing micro-performances in unique spaces such as bookstores, warehouses, parks, homes and other alternative venues in

Canada and around the world. With over 1400 performers being matched with spaces, Side Door uses easy and transparent digital tools, creating shows anytime, anywhere.

Co-founders Laura Simpson and Dan Mangan formally opened up shop in April 2017, and today Side Door has a team of six full-time employees. It’s easy to understand how Side Door came to fruition once you learn about Laura and Dan.

A music industry professional, Laura lives with her family here in Halifax and is also the founder of The Syrup Factory, a company hosting house concerts and providing strategy and services to artists. A mover and a shaker in the arts scene

since the age of 14, she loved attending shows and eventually delved into live music photography and freelance writing for shows and artists. That experience led Laura into a seven-year career as a journalist with CBC and Rogers Radio. Eventually finding her way back into the music world, Laura worked at Music Nova Scotia and managed and produced for the Halifax Jazz Festival, CAPACOA, and the East Coast Music Association. She even mentored with top-tier music marketing team at Black Box in Los Angeles (so cool!), and juried for Music Nova Scotia, Halifax Pop Explosion, CBC Music Searchlight competition and the Junos.

Dan got his start playing house concerts and other small shows and began a house concert network for artists on his label in 2015. A two-time JUNO award winner and two-time Polaris Music Prize listed musician and songwriter, we guess you could say he knows a thing or two about music! Also, have you seen the movie Hector and the Search for Happiness? Well, Dan along with Jesse Zubot, actually scored the feature film! No stranger to live shows, he has performed concerts with Symphony Nova Scotia on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for Prince William and Duchess Kate, and has spent more than a decade playing dozens of marquee festivals in North America, Europe, the UK and Australia. Dan lives in Vancouver with his family.

The two are dynamic and extremely knowledgeable leaders, and together with their team they are creating a community in which performers gain dedicated fans, hosts gain the pride of having curated something special for their community, and the audience enjoys a unique and intimate experience. Less overhead. More revenue. Building traction with meaningful shows.

Side Door are simply talented people helping other talented people succeed.

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THEY DON’T REALLY SELL TRAMPOLINES:

TRAMPOLINE BRANDINGBut they do just about everything else.

No really, they do! From brand strategy and positioning, to media planning, social media, copywriting, video production, website creation, digital marketing and Google Analytics – the talented team at Trampoline are a 360 degree agency.

Beyond being innovative, strategic and great at what they do – the team at Trampoline are hilarious. Affectionately known as Tramps, they clearly have a playful side. When it comes to client brands, they get down to business, but that doesn’t mean they don’t infuse creativity, humour and push a few boundaries while they

are at it – perhaps that’s one of their secrets to success?

Headquartered on Canada’s stunning East Coast, this integrated marketing agency is proud to call Halifax home. Working with local and national clients, Trampoline has transformed from a design boutique to an established full-service agency and has actually just turned 15 years old! Their office is based in the heart of Halifax, and completely personifies their team and brand. With stylish pops of their signature red, this modern and trendy office really shows their true colours. Taking their style with them, the team will be moving into a new 14,000 sq. ft. space on Hollis Street this October, bringing together their two brands, Trampoline and Twist&Bits.

“Since we were formed in 2004, just as the digital revolution was gaining steam, Trampoline is a true ‘digital native’. We have always had a digital department but today we are truly integrated. There is no distinction between digital and traditional. Tactics may be one or the other but all campaigns need to be omni-channel. And we have lots of tramps to cover that.” says Mark Gascoigne, Director and CEO.

Trampoline are a force for positive change – with exceptional people, they create exceptional things. Clients have included the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Saint Mary’s University, NSLC and the Halifax Shopping Centre. Their work speaks for itself, and at times it can leave you breathless. Don’t believe us? Just check out their latest work with Tourism Nova Scotia. 118 shoot days, 168 finished videos and more than 500 photos for 45 partners later, and our stunning province has been captured for the world to see. From sunset sails across the Atlantic Ocean, to mind-blowing stars set behind an iconic lighthouse, their work triggers a feeling of pride and wonder.

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ACHIEVING SUCCESS ON THE WORLD

STAGE: MAPLEWAVE

Many people in Nova Scotia haven’t heard of the home-grown tech company, Maplewave. Despite their notable 100+ employees, global export success and industry accolades, Maplewave has flown under the radar – until now.

Globally, Maplewave is regarded as a premier provider of telco retail solutions. With their agile software platform and team of expert consultants, Maplewave creates great retail experiences while giving telcos visibility and control over their

operations. Maplewave has clients in over 30 countries; in many places, you can’t buy a new phone without using their software.

Maplewave is a case study in entrepreneurial spirit. Over the past 30 years, their solutions have evolved from a Point of Sale that was originally developed by Russ Brannon for his chain of Music Stop stores, to a complete retail platform for the highly complex world of telco retail.

Their physical presence has grown as well, with international offices in South Africa and the UK. Their strong drive has led them to punch above their weight, regularly beating out competitors many times their size.

Maplewave’s success is rooted in their maritime culture. When they rebranded in 2018, the selection of the name ‘Maplewave’ was very intentional. Where the majority of their clients are international, they chose a name that would highlight their Canadian roots. In the global market, Maplewave’s maritime hospitality and partnership-focused approach is a true differentiator.

Behind every great company is an even better team. Every employee plays a key role in Maplewave’s success, whether they’re a software developer, implementation specialist, part of the support team, or brokering international sales deals. Maplewave continues to assemble a world-class team, leveraging the incredible talent in Nova Scotia and from their footholds around the world.

Maplewave places a strong focus on culture, and works to build an environment that fosters engagement, collaboration, transparency, innovation, growth and development. And as hard as they work, they have just as much fun! They continue to cultivate an enjoyable, diverse environment that supports employee health and wellness.

Maplewave is a shining example of how the right people, combined with the right vision, can lead to incredible success on the world stage.

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FUELED BY INNOVATION:ATLANTIC LOTTERY

CORPORATIONCorporate innovation is a goal for many, but for the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) it’s a value. Embracing innovation from the highest levels of the company, ALC has infused innovation, creativity and play across all levels of the organization, with a special focus on their Atlantic Lottery Outpost, hosted within Volta.

“Our leadership realized we needed the opportunity to learn more and engage players where they are and address their problems. That’s great news and it allowed us to invest in that idea,” says Michael Sandalis, who is the Outpost Lab lead and Manager of Innovation Execution at ALC. “The support we received allows us to do that and it was and continues to be an endless source of ideas and motivation. Not only that, now it is central to our strategy and that really helps.”

The concept of corporate innovation still remains a mystery to many companies, especially those outside of the “typical” tech sector. However, across all industries technology and innovation are fueling change, driving scalability and pushing doors wide open for companies. ALC are leaders, champions and advocates of corporate innovation and digital transformation, and through their phenomenal experience, they are always looking to speak to and support others through their journey.

“In true innovation fashion, we continue to experiment and evolve our approach to

improve and integrate the learnings from past experiments and feedback from everyone around us. Which is why I have a goal to connect with as many Atlantic corporate innovators as possible starting his year. You don’t have to be running a lab either, just have an interest in thinking differently and wanting to compare stories and learnings. ” Sandalis says.

Embracing disruption, design thinking and collaboration, ALC launched their Outpost in 2015 to explore new ideas, understand their feasibility and develop products that are tested in the marketplace, without the high costs that come with a large company. They’ve hosted hackathons, experimented with new technologies such as blockchain and virtual reality, and leveraged tech to solve customer challenges. Through the Outpost, they’ve launched apps, a browser extension and their new Gamelab, which allows users to pilot new game concepts before they are released.

When you visit the ALC Outpost Lab website, you can feel the energy and pride of the team behind it. The first thing you read on the home page is “developing and testing new products to disrupt our company before the competition does.” That statement alone sets the tone for how they think at ALC, they are not searching for an opportunity, they’re creating it.

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23 YEARS AND COUNTING:

SOLUTIONINC.

There is no grey area in the business of WiFi - it either works perfectly or it performs poorly.

With more than 20 years’ in the business, SolutionInc knows good WiFi. A company that began with a vision of providing simple access to the Internet on public networks has now transformed into a company that leverages dynamic networking technologies to modernize and remove the complexities of networks. The company has embraced innovation at every stage of business, and has developed breakthrough software solutions that have completely disrupted and advanced their market.

Their software is at the forefront of wireless technology, and they have seen continued growth and success on a global scale. With a dynamic team of skilled professionals, SolutionInc travels the world, working with airports, restaurants, vacation rentals, retailers and the hospitality industry. And as you can tell by the photo, their team loves to have fun! They are proud to call Nova Scotia home, and if you follow them on Twitter you will often find the SolutionInc mascot, Lester the Lobster sharing his latest adventures from conferences and events around the world (he’s always thoughtful enough to bring a team member along)!

As the tech industry continues to boom in Nova Scotia, it is companies like SolutionInc that have played a key role in the advancement of our sector. For years they have been providing leading-edge technology solutions, Internet connectivity and technical services to customers and partners in more than 50 countries, all from right here in Nova Scotia. They have grown their team, brought in export dollars and shown everyone that major business can happen from anywhere in the world.

Fun fact- the tree in the photo has been around as long as they have, 23 years and counting!

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CHANGING LIVES WITH EVERY BREATH: RESMED

Technology is changing lives, even while we sleep.

No one knows this better than ResMed. An Australia-based global company and pioneer in sleep apnea treatment, ResMed has been developing, manufacturing and distributing innovative and award-winning medical devices and cloud-based software solutions since 1989 (happy 30th birthday, ResMed!). To put it simply, their technology changes lives by providing solutions to better diagnose, treat, and manage sleep-disordered breathing, COPD and other chronic diseases, and improve the lives of those being treated in care settings outside of the hospital.

Growing from a team of nine employees with less than $1 million in revenue to an S&P 500

company with a market value exceeding $17 billion and yearly revenues above $2 billion, ResMed now employs more than 7,500 people globally helping more than 95 million people in over 120 countries. Today, more than 9 million of their devices are cloud-connected, meaning that clinicians can access patient data to take action, and patients can access their own data to take more control over their therapy. Demonstrating their commitment to advancing innovative technology in sleep and respiratory medicine, ResMed dedicates seven percent of annual revenue to research and development.

ResMed has also been actively building a portfolio of software companies focused on a variety of out of hospital care settings, such as home care, hospice, skilled nursing facilities, long term care

and more. The goal is to support seamless and intelligent patient transitions among those care settings, resulting in improved outcomes for patients and better efficiency for providers.

In North America, ResMed’s headquarters is located in San Diego, with multiple other satellite offices, including Halifax. ResMed Halifax was named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers (2016 - 2019) and Nova Scotia’s Top Employers (2016 - 2019). With an energetic company culture, the freedom to innovate and challenge the status quo, ResMed attracts a diverse group of intelligent and motivated people who want to work together to make a positive impact. Walking into the employee lounge, it’s clear the team knows how to unwind. A pool table, video games, and a popcorn machine catch your eye, while the

employees enjoy a daily supply of snacks, fresh fruit, and nuts and a variety of other benefits. The 225+ person team in Halifax bring the best combination of getting things done while embracing every opportunity to connect and have fun.

ResMed has a goal to change the lives of 250 million people by 2025. We’re confident that nothing will stand in their way.

Interesting fact - their logo with the signature blue-to-red pulse curve illustrates a single healthy breath. It was designed to represent ResMed’s goal of helping every patient to experience healthy breathing, knowing that every breath counts.

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END-TO-END MOBILITY AND IT SOLUTIONS: GBS TECHNOLOGIES

Not only are they one of Canada’s fastest growing TELUS dealerships, GBS Technologies are an all-in-one solution for mobility and IT.

With a goal of conquering the mobile industry within Atlantic Canada, Founder and CEO, Eli Hage launched GBS in 2001. Starting out with just one location in Halifax, GBS soon expanded, acquiring new dealerships to align with the organic growth of TELUS. Recognizing the potential and influence of Canada’s growing tech industry, GBS launched their “techy” side and jumped in with both feet.

After acquiring PC Medic in 2013, the GBS team expanded their clientele, services and IT expertise – but that’s not all. That strategic business decision resulted in new, knowledgeable and talented team members joining the GBS family. As their IT arm of the business took off, they invested in the tools and training needed to transform the company into a managed IT service provider. Working with a wide range of businesses, GBS now provides managed IT

infrastructure, cyber security, and offers products to design and implement cloud-based and on-site solutions for their customers. But, that’s not all they do. GBS have created a Business Automation (SmartSecure) division with their central on-site services in HRM and have remote services available for all of Atlantic Canada.

“Our mission is to provide exceptional Mobility and IT support to our customers in Atlantic Canada. We work with you to develop and implement quality & dependable products with secure solutions to protect your business and enable success in the marketplace. We make technology Simple. Safe. Secure.” – Eli Hage, CEO and President

For over 5 years, they have been recognized as a top TELUS dealer and boast a Business Excellence Certified sales force. What started out as potential has blossomed into a 150 employee operation with 21 locations across Nova Scotia, and a company that plays a vital role in our tech industry.

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SOLVING REAL WORLD BUSINESS PROBLEMS:

PROGENY SOFTWARE INC. Wolfville is known for its apple picking, high tides, and beautiful vineyards. But did you know this picturesque town also has a booming tech scene?

If you’ve been watching, you’d have seen that some companies in the valley are doing amazing things and Progeny Software is definitely one of them. Progeny has an established track record for building custom and creative software solutions for businesses across a wide variety of industries.

With more than 20 years’ developing and commercializing desktop, mobile, and browser-based applications, the folks at Progeny have always delivered fresh results and reliable solutions. Fueled by experience, know-how, and some serious creativity, Progeny has been building innovative software since it was founded by President & CEO, Bob Thomas and a business partner in 1995. With over 24 software titles released under the brand (yes, we said 24!), Progeny has continued to innovate and adapt to the market’s ever-evolving needs.

Progeny Software originally gained its footing developing a large number of charting products for the genealogy industry and in the process partnered with many genealogy companies in North America and overseas, including the LDS Church and Ancestry.

com. This portfolio of genealogy tools were moved to a sister company also located in the Annapolis Valley and still operating under the name of Progeny Genealogy Inc.

Over its long tenure, Progeny’s team has been known to deliver high-quality tools for a wide range of companies such as Corel Corp and large international enterprises like Thomson Reuters. Their flagship product, Timeline Maker Pro has been used in over 84 countries in the law enforcement, health care, armed services, energy, finance, manufacturing, and education sectors, to name a few.

No longer a key focus but an important part of the companies’ evolution, Progeny has also developed custom software solutions for regional and international entities, including business applications for Nova Scotia Health, a mobile app for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and energy management software for a local enterprise.

Not only are they great at building software, Progeny really enjoys building software. To them, it’s about creating solutions that meet or even better, exceed the needs of their customers.

Wolfville is so much more than apple picking!

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HELPING CLIENTS SUCCEED: CGI

Globally known for world-class end-to-end IT and business consulting services, CGI is a leader in what they do and how they do it.

Founded in 1976 in Quebec, CGI established a presence in Nova Scotia in 1991 and have been steadily growing their capabilities and offerings ever since. Comprised of trusted advisers and innovators who deliver on their clients’ largest and most complex projects, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting firms in the world. Offering high-end business consulting, systems integration, managed IT and business

process services as well as intellectual property solutions to name a few. They stay at the forefront of technology. The company also offers specialized services in digital transformation, advanced analytics, intelligent automation, hybrid IT, cybersecurity, and DevOps.

With a dream of creating an environment where employees enjoy working together and building a company they can be proud of, individuals within CGI have the opportunity to participate in the life and development of their company. The leadership team engages, motivates and inspires their teams, ensuring everyone is making an impact. When asked why they love working at CGI, people responded by saying it’s the diversity, culture, flexibility, and level of expertise you get to work with. CGI is a place of opportunity, a place where smart people solve problems daily.

If you had to put it in simple terms, CGI cares. They are committed to improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of the communities in which they live and work. Business is about so much more than the bottom line, and corporate social responsibility is a part of who they are as a company.

After more than 40 years of continuous profitable growth, it’s clear that their clients have confidence in them – and we’re not surprised in the least. CGI’s unique combination of diversity, social consciousness and innovation make them an inspiration to many.

This is an exciting time at CGI. Their sights are set ahead, gearing up for change, shaping the future. They are ready for this. #CGIready.

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TEACHING TECH: COLLEGIO

We can describe Collegio in one word. Driven.

Co-founded by Robert Myers, Matt Stewart, and Douglas MacLennan, Collegio, is a Cape Breton company that consists of industry experts with a proven aptitude for web development, entrepreneurship training, and digital skills curriculum design, which has been applied across the province by Nova Scotia Community College, Labour and Advanced Education, and Digital Nova Scotia. Based out of Sydney, with strong ties to the local business and cultural landscape, Collegio understands the needs and barriers rural businesses experience.

How did Collegio get started? When approached by a school over three years ago to develop a mobile app to replace traditional agendas, excited by the opportunity, the Collegio team took on the project. After creating the app and providing it to a few schools, the app’s success quickly gained a lot of media attention. Unexpectedly, there were some concerns from a security perspective which created a challenge when trying to integrate the

app into schools, and the project was put on hold. Quick to pivot, the team used their experience and know-how to focus on a new endeavour.

Already involved in a pilot project teaching people how to create and market apps, the team discovered there was still a demand from professional organizations to provide training to help individuals improve their technology skills. And that’s exactly what they do. The team have successfully created a React bootcamp with Digital Nova Scotia that trained eight new React developers in Nova Scotia.

Collegio’s group of talented, multi-company entrepreneurs believe everyone can be involved in the tech industry. With a passion for education and the expansion of digital skills and fluency, the team ensures all phases of tech development is accessible to all regions across the province, both rural and urban.

Keep up the great work, Collegio!

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CREATIVE ENGINEERING: ENGINUITY

If it needs engineering, it needs Enginuity.

Garages, basements, and kitchen tables. For some people these spaces are simply for storing cars, watching TV, eating meals, and maybe even doing homework – but for others, these are the spaces where brilliant ideas are born. At least, that was the case for Enginuity owner, Ben Garvey.

In 2003, in the basement of Ben’s Halifax home, Enginuity came to life to provide innovative and practical solutions to unique problems. Today, this team of 22 creative engineers, problem solvers and design thinkers offer a full-spectrum of structural, metallurgical, and electrical engineering, along with go-to market assistance.

Their proven systems engineering approach to

product and project engineering may be one of the things they are best known for, taking each initiative they tackle through logical steps to make the best use of time and client resource, whether it’s proving a concept, building a working prototype or scaling for manufacture.

Their numbers speak for themselves. To date, the company has completed over 360 projects for more than 127 customers, from established businesses like Vemco, SureShot, Clearwater to new and growing businesses such as Bluedrop Training and Simulation, ABK Biomedical and Ashored Innovation. Through their experience as a consultancy and design house, they recognized the need for an engineering firm with an entrepreneurial backbone – and that’s exactly what they have.

Embracing the parallel between technical and business allows them to add value to every project, optimizing resources, promoting customer driven design and bringing products to market faster.

For many, encountering problems can be a headache, but for Enginuity it’s what they were made for. It’s what they love to do. Their office is filled with items you might expect to find in a spy movie- with cool technology covering every surface. They think differently and bring an infectious energy to every situation. It’s no surprise people love working with them, the majority of projects come from word of mouth and recommendation.

With a driven team, Enginuity’s engineers and technicians are ideas people – but that’s not all, they test, prototype and deliver too. With extensive experience with harsh environment applications, they bring a rugged and simple approach to much of their design work in true East Coast style. A cornerstone of the start-up ecosystem, based on Herring Cove Road, this powerhouse of dynamic and creative engineers are building careers and contributing to our growing economy.

The Enginuity team is as creative and clever as their name.

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IDEAS BIG OR SMALL, THEY’VE GOT YOU COVERED: SKYSAIL

You can find the Skysail office in a charming and majestic old house located in beautiful Mahone Bay. With funky paintings, reclaimed pieces, and plants growing from the desks, the Skysail workspace is as eccentric, eclectic and colourful

as the work they produce. Five powerhouse women make up the team at Skysail. They are a force to be reckoned with and their work is no different.

Always looking for exciting opportunities and new challenges, this team of passionate and fun-loving individuals transform ideas into reality. Their specialty is building strong brands at any stage in a businesses journey. Guiding you from start to finish - from your brand strategy through to the way that you look, talk, and position yourself, Skysail will coach, provide creative direction, design, and develop solutions tailored to your specific needs.

Skysail’s highly skilled team does it all! Really, all of it! They can help your business with social media, graphic design, signage, packaging, web design, e-commerce, newsletters, domains, emails, SEO, photography, videography, copywriting, publications, illustration, asset management, interior/exterior design, event/course design, and product development. Told you- they really do it all!

Not only is the Skysail team awesome, their clients are awesome as well! They’ve worked with everyone from the folks at Lunenburg Pride, to the cool peeps at Boxing Rock.

Their winning combination of rural hospitality and design excellence has earned them a reputation as thought leaders in the industry. They care as much for each other as they do about their work and that makes their team an unstoppable force.

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Making decisions faster, improving responsiveness, minimizing risk and seizing opportunities are just a few results companies have seen thanks to Concertia.

Leveraging cutting-edge capabilities, a dynamic team, and 20 years’ business experience, Concertia help clients develop their business through innovative business and IT solutions. With a promise to make technology work hand-in-hand with business, Concertia offers business process management, business rules decision automation,

and advisory services to clients around the world.

Based in downtown Halifax, Concertia founders chose this city as it’s home in 1999 after traveling and working throughout North America. Since planting their roots, they have continued to grow, evolve and adapt to maximize new innovations and lead their clients through advanced technologies and digital transformation.

A key element that has contributed to Concertia’s growth is their support of local universities and new

MAKING TECH AND BUSINESS

WORK: CONCERTIA

graduates, offering co-op placements and junior roles to forward-thinking and motivated new team members. In addition to new grads, Concertia is an advocate and supporter of immigration and new talent, facilitating opportunities and careers for new Canadians for more than a decade. Their team is diverse in skillset, age and culture, which brings new ideas and new ways of thinking – driving innovation for both themselves and their clients.

Nova Scotia has played a key role in shaping and defining the culture at Concertia, embedding a welcoming, collaborative, and grounded approach in everything they do. Their new office is busier than ever, with the team jetting in and out visiting clients and launching cool new projects. It’s clear this team loves working together, the work that they do, and the place where they get to do it.

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STRONG AND STEADY: NICOM IT

SOLUTIONSNova Scotia’s tech scene is booming, and there are dozens of new companies launching every month – but what about our strong and steady businesses that have helped build this amazing scene?

Forever at the forefront of technology, Nicom IT Solutions Inc. (Nicom) is a fully integrated IT solutions firm that has been operating since 1982! Working with clients from large international enterprises to small local not-for-profits, the team at Nicom are trained in the latest technologies and know how to translate “tech” into language everyone can understand. They provide IT consulting, software development, IT infrastructure and technical support, IT resourcing, and web development, and also have a team of Microsoft Certified Professionals on hand for Microsoft solutions.

As a company established near the ocean, Nicom is a leader in Seaport Management Systems, helping seaports streamline communication processes, improve efficiencies and reduce operational costs. Nicom’s software allows port authorities to use technology to automate data gathering, billing, and analysis. The team has won awards for their innovative solutions, and clients around the world using their software have seen as much as a 35 percent efficiency improvement.

“I’ve made my entire career in the Nova Scotia Technology sector, and I see it as being as strong now as it ever has been. Nova Scotians have really learned how to create world-class technology,

and how to export this innovation throughout the world.” Pat d’Entremont, Management Consultant & Partner.

When you first meet Nicom business partners Pat d’Entremont and David Nicholson, you’re ready to listen. With established careers in this sector and experience winning international bids and securing significant innovative projects, their dry wit and wisdom draws you in. Advocates and champions of the tech sector, Pat and David have volunteered and contributed to community groups and non-profits across Halifax – even Digital Nova Scotia!

“I’ve always said that it is easy to start a consulting company, but it is very difficult to stay in business. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I am very impressed by the caliber of IT businesses being formed in Nova Scotia and I wish them all the success. I am very pleased to have Nicom be considered ‘an elder statesman’ for our industry in Nova Scotia.” David Nicholson, Partner

Their client list is impressive featuring companies such as Sobeys, the Port of Halifax and a number of large clients throughout the Unites States. But their team is even more so. With highly-qualified and enthusiastic techies, Nicom has a culture that encourages continuous learning, creativity and volunteering.

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CONNECTING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: SIGMAST

COMMUNICATIONS We have a little piece of trivia for you. Did you know that the first official text message was sent in 1992 - with engineer Neil Papworth sending “Merry Christmas” to Vodafone customer, Richard Jarvis? Now, more than 25 years after sending that first text, SMS really hasn’t evolved much - this is where RCS and SigMast Communications come in.

SigMast helps millions of people connect and communicate in new and powerful ways through the research and development of next-generation Rich Communication Service (RCS) solutions for mobile network operators. To put it simply, RCS is the next evolution of text messaging. It includes messaging features such as group chats, file transfers, and typing indicators

to name just a few. It’s not another messaging app, but a technical standard – like a blueprint for organizations to follow. The standards-based nature of RCS allows it to operate across networks, devices, and messaging apps.

How does this technology benefit businesses? It allows them to engage with their customers through branded messages and customized experiences. A great example to look at is the travel industry - they can use the rich features of RCS to provide customers with boarding passes, send flight reminders, and enable seat selection all within a single conversation thread.

For over a decade, SigMast has led in the creation of innovative solutions for next-generation

mobile networks. In 2016, the company became a proud member of the Samsung family, where they lead the development of RCS infrastructure and services for clients around the globe. Joining Samsung was a critical milestone for the two companies and the communications industry as a whole. Since then, SigMast has developed the Samsung RCS Solution, a product which has accelerated the deployment of universal standards-based RCS networks around the world and provided millions of people with access to RCS messaging. Their momentum has continued as Samsung and Google collaborate to ensure their respective RCS solutions work together seamlessly.

The team at SigMast has a mission to engineer the most robust network-based solutions to connect people everywhere. In a world where today’s consumer is busier and more distracted than ever, traditional communications methods are not as effective as they once were. Businesses need to move to new communication channels to meet their

customers and this is exactly what SigMast is helping them do. As a proudly Nova Scotian company, SigMast delivers a uniquely robust, scalable, and available RCS solution.

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LOOKING BACK ON THE YEAR...

PROVINCIAL IMPACT & REACH

Digital Nova Scotia has continued to grow and meet the increasing needs of the ICT sector here in Nova Scotia, and an important element of that growth is our outreach.

This year, we have focused on impacting and supporting the tech sector across the province. We have established strong relationships in the Annapolis Valley, East Hants, Pictou, Mahone Bay, Bridgewater, Cape Breton and Yarmouth that help us and our partners support the digital economy

and increase digital accessibility throughout rural regions.

In addition to provincial outreach, we see the importance of global engagements. We've engaged with national partners such as Innovation Canada, Shared Services Canada, and the Information Technology Association of Canada Cyber Security Talent Aliance, in addition to international stakeholders such as the Consul General of Mexico.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT: YARMOUTH

In September 2018, we officially announced a partnership with Ignite Labs, which led to our organizations collaborating to identify, create and deliver more opportunities for businesses in Nova Scotia’s tech sector. Since announcing the partnership, we’ve partnered to offer six programs to more than 120 people in the community, and many, many neat events!

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OUR MEMBERSAt Digital Nova Scotia, we represent almost 140 members across the province. As an industry-driven organization, our members range from start-ups and small and medium sized businesses to large multinational corporations, universities and colleges, government, and non-profits - and as you can see, we love to visit!

Many are surprised by the local, national and international talent that makes up our tech industry, and our job at Digital Nova Scotia is to help tell everyone about the amazing companies in Nova Scotia. Our companies are hiring local talent, contributing to national initiatives and making global waves.

Featured by media around the world, members have secured multi-million dollar contracts, been accepted into high-profile and exclusive accelerators, expanded from teams of 7 to 200, and opened centres of excellence here on the East Coast. You don’t need to leave our rugged coastal line, maritime kitchen parties or blue skies to find the opportunities of a lifetime – they are just outside your door.

We may be biased, but we wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

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OPPORTUNITIES PORTALOur sector is growing, and with that means new jobs and opportunities. At Digital Nova Scotia, our Opportunities Portal is a platform to showcase jobs, co-op placements and internships available from our member companies. Aligning with the rapid growth of our sector, we have seen job postings increase by 60% for the second consecutive year, posting more than 300 jobs per year from our members!

ADDRESSING THE GAPSIn the technology industry, not all skillsets are required to be highly technical. In fact, our feedback from industry suggests that there is a major skills gap at the intermediate to senior managerial level, roles which require a strong aptitude in traditional “soft skills”. Our research project “Assessing and Addressing the Management Skills Gap in ICT” in partnership with Training Works, is examining the key competencies required for management and leadership specifically in the ICT and Tech sector. The final result of this research will be a fully developed competency model available for use by hiring professionals across our sector, that will help inform professional development programs and best hiring practices.

DIGITAL DISCOVERY CAMPSince 2014, Digital Nova Scotia and the Discovery Centre have co-hosted camps for over 250 youth ages 9-14. The camp increases youth and parent exposure to digital technologies, and careers in ICT in Nova Scotia by bringing in industry mentors and getting hands-on with tech. As we extend our reach beyond Halifax, we were able to bring the Digital Discovery Camp to Bridgewater, Spryfield and Yarmouth in 2019. Special thank you to our EPIC Gigabyte Sponsor, REDspace for their ongoing support, and our funding partner ACOA for helping make the camp a reality.

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

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"I really enjoyed this program as it reminded me of some of my key values that I want to instill in my

classroom that have been pushed to the side while trying to navigate

the day-to-day challenges. I left each session with ideas and topics to

explore in both my teaching practice and what I want my students to be

doing.” - Teacher

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT:OPENING DOORS

In today’s world, the tech sector is rapidly integrating into every industry - it’s in healthcare, oceans, automotive, education, and construction, just to name a few. As technology becomes increasingly prevalent in modern careers, Digital Nova Scotia saw the value and opportunity in exposing educators to Nova Scotia’s thriving tech industry.

In December, we officially announced our Opening Doors Project with our partners at the Discovery Centre. Funded by Salesforce.org for $180,000 USD, this is the first time the company has invested in a Nova Scotia based initiative, and so far, the results have been outstanding!

The project has three main components, a cohort of 70 educators have participated in professional development to become leaders and advocates for the tech sector and its career opportunities. High-school teachers across Halifax and the Annapolis Valley have increased their comfort, capacity and knowledge of technology and workforce opportunities. Resources have been created to highlight the opportunities within the sector for youth.

Excitement is contagious – and by exciting educators about the tech sector, we can excite students. This project has taken teachers out of the classroom and connected them with the

people driving the digital industry. They’ve asked questions about potential careers, gained a better understanding of what the future of technology looks like, and built relationships that can benefit their students. By focusing on educator outreach, this project aims to have a deep and sustainable impact. One teacher can impact hundreds of students per school year, so why not turn our teachers into champions of tech and prepare our future workforce for the amazing opportunities that await them?

This innovative, scalable and holistic solution has brought together provincial and regional

"I learned a lot over the four days and that pushed me to want to

continue to learn more about tech and coding.” - Teacher

education leaders, and people from tech to inspire and educate teachers of the lucrative and long-lasting career paths available to their students, here in Nova Scotia. We’d like to give a special thank you and shout out to our partners and collaborators at the Discovery Centre, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE), the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE) and the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for seeing the potential of this project and helping us implement and integrate it into the education system.

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DIGITAL DIVERSITY AWARDSEstablished to recognize, celebrate and increase awareness of women in tech, our Digital Diversity Awards were, for the fourth consecutive year, a huge success! Joined by our partners at the Centre for Women in Business and Volta, the 2019 award winners were:

Power IT Up: Next Generation Leadership - Eilidh Lindsay-Sinclair, CloudKettleWomen Leaders in the Digital Economy - Kim Scaravelli, Trust CommunicationsDiversity Champion of the Year - Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University

TECH LOUNGETogether with Third Wednesdays, Digital Nova Scotia hosts monthly Tech Lounges featuring guest speakers and presenters on topics and events related to our sector. The collaborative event has been running for almost a decade, with an average of 30-40 attendees each month, and attracts students, immigrants, technology professionals, educators, and tech-enthusiasts. Facilitating connections allow us to strengthen the foundation and community, and creates a welcoming environment for newcomers to become immersed and in-the-know with our ever-changing industry.

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

TECH SHY TO TECH SAVVYAs our day to day communication and traditional goods and services increasingly move online, it is important that no community member gets left behind. At DNS we support inclusion in the digital sector and digital literacy for everyone, which is why we are undertaking a new project called Tech Shy to Tech Savvy. This program has been funded federally by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and focuses on delivering essential digital skills, helping community members integrate technology into their everyday lives. This digital literacy training will teach under-represented groups how to navigate the web safely and securely on desktop and mobile devices, build an online presence through social media and connect with others, and perform daily tasks with efficiency and ease.

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHT:SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

INFO4IMPACTEvery month, Digital Nova Scotia offers a free lunch and learn for our members. Facilitated by industry, for industry, our sessions bring in subject-matter experts with real-life experience and all topics are selected based on industry needs.

WORKSHOPSAdapted from our lunch and learn feedback, we create workshops that are 1-2 day tactile training sessions designed to help participants develop a specific skill or knowledge area. This year, we hosted workshops on everything from cybersecurity and ideation to a React Bootcamp!

PROGRAMSWe create programs designed to be the next step in the skill-building cycle. Following a successful workshop, programs are created to address multi-month learning and build skills within an organization. This year we’ve hosted management and sales training with Sandler, and customer camps with Katelyn Bourgoin.

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHT:SKILLS FOR HIRE

The tech industry is the fastest growing sector in Nova Scotia. Now more than ever, it is important that we connect industry with the pool of talent that exists in our province.

Our Skills for Hire project in collaboration with Bluedrop Learning Networks is building an online program that will create meaningful career pathways into our industry for underemployed, underserved, and under-represented demographics across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador.

The program will support 1200 participants, and provide technical training in QA/QC testing, Web Design and CMS Development, as well as Customer Success and Business Analysis.

The project brings together stakeholders across industry, education, and community groups to gain a holistic view of the skills gap from their perspectives.

After only a few months since the project launch, we have already had deep engagement with industry and six companies have been integrated into the program courseware, providing real insights from companies in the region.

Employment and Social Development Canada has committed $2.5M in federal funding for the project over three years.

Traveling for work pan-provincially might not be fun for everyone, but at Digital Nova Scotia it’s one of the things we look forward to the most – how could you not when you live somewhere so beautiful and with such a collaborative and supportive community? The thriving tech sector is not limited to Halifax. Across Nova Scotia, communities are home to global leaders, high-growth mindsets, innovators and entrepreneurs

– and we are fortunate enough to work with them.

We’d like to thank all of our stakeholders, members, volunteers, and partners for another spectacular year. We’d also like to give a huge thank you and much appreciation to our funding partners who have enabled us to make a big impact across our province.

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30 yearscelebrating

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