Fall investment roundup 2021

Location, talent, economic strength and quality of life—you name it, we have it. See why companies around the world are choosing to invest in Ontario

Ontario, Canada has been busy welcoming new business expansions into the province. From companies tackling the digital world of information technology to those creating a sustainable future, it’s no wonder why Ontario is a powerhouse for investment.

Here is a look at the companies that can now call Ontario home:

Billennium

Billennium, a Polish-based company that delivers IT services and solutions for businesses, announced their first-ever delivery centre and headquarters in North America. Working closely with Toronto Global and the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s Investment Services Branch, the expansion into Ontario will provide the necessary framework for the company’s IT specialists to “tighten cooperation with clients and show greater commitment to their needs.” The investment into Ontario’s post-pandemic economic recovery will strengthen the province by creating jobs and putting the province on the map as a leader in information technology.

Cepheid

Cepheid is the global company behind GeneXpert^® Systems and Xpert^® tests that “deliver fast, accurate and reliable real-time PCR test results.” The California-based company announced the launch of direct commercial operations in Markham. Operations at the plant will include direct service, order management and technical support. Irfaan Remtulla, Vice President of Canada Commercial Operations, said, “We are excited to announce the opening of our offices in Markham, Ontario to support current and new customers across Canada. We are proud to deliver innovative solutions to help Canadian communities, from small medical clinics to high-volume reference laboratories and hospitals, to access the speed and accuracy of molecular diagnostics.”

Cubigo

Cubigo, a SaaS integration platform for senior living communities, are expanding their operations to Toronto. Since its founding in 2011, Cubigo has partnered with world-renowned organizations to improve the quality of life for both seniors and community staff and family members by keeping everyone connected. Founder and CEO Geert Houben sees ageing as a “global challenge.” With increased interest from Amica, Seasons, Baycrest and PointClickCare, “having a local presence tightens cooperation with partners and shows greater commitment to their needs.” Toronto Global played a big role in helping to facilitate Cubigo’s Canadian expansion.

DNEG (Double Negative Visual Effects)

Visual effects and animation specialist DNEG are setting up a new facility in Toronto. With offices in Montreal, Vancouver and LA, this further investment into Canada will create 200 new jobs in the Greater Toronto Area. CEO Namit Malhotra said, “growth in our Canadian talent and capabilities will help us strategically align with the demands of the entertainment industry and seize upon our new growth initiatives and content creation opportunities.” Founded in London in 1998, DNEG has won Academy Awards for its work on major hits, including Inception, Interstellar, Ex Machina, Blade Runner 2049, First Man and Tenet.

Infosys

Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, announced that it will establish a new digital development centre at its largest Canadian office in Mississauga, Ontario. Spanning nearly 50,000 square feet and bringing significant investment from Infosys to the country, this digital development centre will “train, upskill and reskill employees in the technologies needed to help Canadian businesses accelerate their digital transformation.” Working closely with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s Investment Services Branch—who helped facilitate the expansion—Infosys aims to create 500 first-rate jobs in the Toronto Region over the next three years.

Jeeves

New-York based fintech startup Jeeves announced a $71.6 million expansion into Canada. Jeeves brings financial solutions to empower businesses globally through their exclusive infrastructure that allows companies to gather their finances almost immediately. Looking to establish themselves as the “largest player in each local market,” Jeeves is looking for offices in both Toronto and Vancouver. With more than a thousand global companies using Jeeves, and 15,000 on a waitlist, Jeeves will continue to reach new heights here in Ontario.

Lumon Canada

Over 35 years of experience, Lumon has been designing, manufacturing and installing outdoor glass rooms. After opening its first Canadian location in Vaughan in 2011, the current factory will serve as a one-stop production facility. With a $1.5 million investment, Lumon Canada continues to thrive in sales, and their “decade of work as a pioneer in the field of balcony glass and railing systems in Canada is finally bearing fruit,” says Olli Vanska, CEO of Lumon North America.

Next Hydrogen

Next Hydrogen, a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen electrolyzers, is opening a new assembly facility in Mississauga. The 27,000 square foot facility will serve as a space for product assembly, testing, product development and engineering. Next Hydrogen’s President and CEO Raveel Afzaal is excited about the company’s future. “We were fortunate to find such a well-suited and conveniently located space. This new facility will provide us with an initial 20 megawatts of annual assembly capacity, which can be expanded significantly in a low-cost fashion as we continue to grow.”

Nitro Software

This global document productivity software company is taking digital transformation to a new level by providing on-demand services across any device. With roots in Melbourne, Australia, Nitro now spans the globe and works with over half of the Fortune 500. Looking to expand their presence in North America and with the aid of Toronto Global, Nitro chose Toronto for their new hub. “Toronto ticked all the boxes in terms of what we were looking for in a second North American hub,” says COO of Nitro Gina O’Reilly, “an easily accessible East-coast location for optimal time zone coverage, general ease of doing business, cultural alignment and most importantly, access to some of the world’s top tech talent.” It’s no wonder Toronto continues to dominate as the fastest-growing tech market.

Options

Options is the number one provider of IT infrastructure to global capital market firms. With offices in major cities such as New York, Chicago, London, Belfast, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand, Toronto was the next clear choice as they expanded into Canada. Thanks to the work of Toronto Global in helping to facilitate this move, Options can now call Ontario home. President and CEO Danny Moore said, “Toronto is known for its deep talent market and having worked with clients in the Toronto region for many years now, it was clear to us that this innovative, vibrant city was the obvious place for our next office opening.”

Stripe

Fintech mogul Stripe has chosen Toronto as the location for their new office. Stripe is more than just a payment processing system—their software brings together every element required to build websites and apps that accept payments. Stripe’s digital infrastructure processes billions of dollars and transactions a year globally. This rapid growth, and with the help of Toronto Global, has brought the company to Toronto. “Toronto has dynamic startups, major financial services and world-leading tech talent, so opening an office was a natural next step,” said Yunong Xiao, Stripe’s Head of Engineering in Canada and Toronto Office Lead. Toronto is the second-largest financial hub in North America, and with Canadian e-commerce growing to 75% in 2020, it was a natural step for the company.

TripleLift

TripleLift is a technology company that has created an advertising platform where creative elements can fit seamlessly into any digital device. Based out of New York, this rapidly growing tech company surveyed various hotspots in North America and decided to expand their operations to Waterloo. Jaison Zachariah, Senior Vice President of Technology at TripleLift, said, “Waterloo should be considered one of the top technology superclusters in North America. Beyond having an incredibly talented and entrepreneurial labour pool, Waterloo has all the resources in-house to help tech companies be successful.” The large technology community, unparalleled talent and geographical location made Waterloo a natural choice. TripleLift has plans to increase their investment, with approximately 50 percent of staff working out of Canada by 2023.

Markham, Mississauga, Toronto, Vaughan and Waterloo were all recognized as 2021-22 fDi Cities of the Future.