Lethbridge is home to a growing number of high-tech businesses, and a centre for new commerce is contributing to their success.
Tecconnect is a high tech business incubator in Lethbridge. Since opening in 2011 it’s provided entrepreneurial support to 33 information technology companies and held events promoting the IT and geo-spatial sectors in Lethbridge.
“Incubator’s a great word for how we help these companies grow,” said Renae Barlow vice president, tecconnect and business development. “With all the resources and assets that we can provide to them to facilitate their growth and commercialize their product.”
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Fail Proof Technology is a Tecconnect client developing cloud computing technology for IT professionals. It is also using part of the data centre that Blackbridge, the third largest provider of satellite imagery in the world has in Lethbridge.
“The magic that we do is we then develop the complicated infrastructure,” said Fail Proof Technology president Akaid Diaz. “We’ve got all the equipment per se, put it in the data centre. IT professionals then are able to bring it to partners like us and then deliver it as a service to them at a monthly fee.”
GranDuke Geomatics graduated from Tecconnect in November. It’s a team of software developers and GIS specialists who help businesses manage, analyze and visualize their data.
“That could be something as simple as creating a map of fish spawning locations or helping medical imaging companies develop algorithms to help burn victims,” said Guy Duke, one of GranDuke Geomatic’s founders.
GranDuke’s primary areas of business though have been in precision agriculture, oil and gas and environmental monitoring.
Tecconnect is already working with more than 30 IT and geomatics entrepreneurs. At 70 per cent capacity, there is room for more.
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