Manitoba's
tech ecosystem

Manitoba has a strong tech industry that keeps getting stronger, thanks to our ecosystem. We have a large number of skilled employees, a favourable investment climate and ancillary resources, like accessible education and training, that create the ideal conditions for you to grow your business. With interconnected companies of all sizes working in close proximity, Manitoba has become a center for tech in the prairies.

questions about the map?

glossary of terms

We’ve provided the glossary of terms and criteria below as a guide to Manitoba’s Tech Ecosystem Map.

Please note that this is our attempt to illustrate the ecosystem and is by no means, an official company categorization. The concepts behind each of these categories are largely elusive and there is no universally established criteria for defining a startup, scaleup or a tech company.

tech company

If you took away the technology that a company has created and it wouldn’t survive, it’s a tech company. These companies are web centric and can theoretically scale from 10 clients to 1000 clients overnight.

scaleups

Born in 2005 or later, these companies have 20+ employees. They have already validated a product and have proven that the unit economics are sustainable. These companies have had a growth rate 80%+ for at least 2 years in a row and $5M+ in funding (if they’ve raised capital recently).

startups

Born in 2005 or later, these companies are searching for a repeatable and scalable business model. They are in their initial business stage and are often financed by the founders or by angel investors.

multinational enterprises (MNEs)

These are international technology companies. The ones highlighted on the map have an established presence in Manitoba.

associations

These organizations are founded and funded by businesses that operate in an industry. They participate in public relations activities such as advertising, education, publishing, lobbying, and political donations, but its focus is collaboration between companies. Associations may offer other services, such as producing conferences, holding networking or charitable events, or offering classes or educational materials. Many associations are non-profit organizations governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members.

accelerators

These organizations are created by experienced entrepreneurs to help early-stage tech companies develop their product, hone their business model, and build connections with investors and the larger ecosystem.

established tech companies

These tech companies have already validated their product and were born prior to 2005.

tech enablers

These companies have a very important role in our ecosystem as they provide technology-related services and help companies innovate. Software development and consulting companies are a good example of a tech enabler.

venture capitalists (VCs)

VCs are private equity investors that provide capital to companies exhibiting high growth potential in exchange for an equity stake.

angel investors

Angels are high net worth individuals who provide financial backing for small startups or entrepreneurs, typically in exchange for ownership equity in the company. They usually invest before a startup looks to raise capital with a VC.