When it comes to the number of company headquarters in a Canadian city, Calgary is second only to Toronto. However, this number has long been bolstered by the oil and gas industry, which, in recent years, saw setbacks that closed offices and spiked commercial vacancy rates in the downtown core. Calgary Economic Development and other city stakeholders have since started pushing Calgary as a sound bet for technology and innovation companies to set up head offices or regional headquarters. Here are some of the companies that have moved here, or announced plans to open an office, in the last two years.
Infosys
Moved in March 2021
This multinational information-technology company that provides business consulting and outsourcing services has said it will bring 500 jobs to Calgary by 2023.
5100, 150 6 Ave. S.W., 403-538-2110 infosys.com
Test Driven Solutions
Moved in June 2021
The global software technology consultancy based in Newcastle, England chose Calgary for its first North American headquarters.
3810, 888 3 St. S.W., testdrivensolutions.co.uk
RBC Innovation Hub
Moved in September 2021
This innovation hub is introducing jobs in AI, data engineering, full stack agile software delivery, site reliability, machine learning, data analytics and more across the RBC platform. RBC plans on welcoming 300 tech employees to the Hub by 2024.
339 8 Ave. S.W., 403-292-3311, rbcroyalbank.com
Unity Technologies
Moved in March 2022
While Unity’s claim to fame may be Pokémon Go, its online platform is being used to develop toys, solve business and environmental problems, and more. Calgary’s office currently has 60 employees and will grow to 150 within the year.
225 6 Ave. S.W., unity.com
On the Horizon
mCloud Technologies Corp.
Move-in Date: Mid-Late 2022
The cleantech company that uses AI and analytics to maximize the capacity of ESG (environmental, social and governance) plans to open a Calgary headquarters this year, occupying two floors of Stephen Avenue Place.
Mphasis
Move-in Date: 2023
In June 2021, this Bangalore-based cloud and cognitive service provider, in partnership with the U of C, announced it will create a quantum computing learning space and experiential learning programs for students. Calgary will be Mphasis’s first Canadian headquarters, which is expected to bring in between 500 and 1,000 jobs.
Amazon Web Services
Move-in Date: Late 2023-Early 2024
In November 2021, Amazon Web Services announced the launch of a Calgary-based hub to provide cloud-computing platforms and services to customers, and more than 950 full-time jobs across Canada, an expected $4 billion in investment over time.
Acquisitions & Expansions
Notes from Calgary’s technology and innovation business community over the past two years.
Aquisitions
Groundswell Group
In April 2021, the Calgary-based AI and data integration firm was acquired by Deloitte Canada.
200, 214 11 Ave. S.W., 403-262-2041, deloitte.com
TaxCycle
In January 2022, this Calgary-based tax-preparation software company for accountants and bookkeepers was acquired by Xero, a cloud-based software company for small businesses.
800, 1333 8 St. S.W., taxcycle.com
CAMP Festival
In January 2022, FITC, a global leader in design and technology-focused events, acquired this Calgary-based community event for designers and developers.
1729 12 St. S.W., 403-478-1357, fitc.ca
Expansions
Neo Financial
In January 2022, Calgary-founded banking business Neo Financial expanded into downtown Calgary, leasing 50,000 square feet of space across three floors of the Edison office tower and 62,000 square feet of a formerly empty converted retail floor in the Hudson’s Bay Building.
Symend
In 2021, Symend, a Calgary-based SaaS (software as a service) company that provides companies with solutions for delinquent accounts, announced a US$43 million series B extension, bringing its total funding to-date to over US$100 million and added to its office presence in Calgary and Denver by opening an office in Australia.
[Note: This story has been changed from its original version to include updated information about funding for Symend.]