Rocket Builders today released its nineteenth (19th) annual “Ready to Rocket” lists. These lists profile British Columbia technology companies that are best positioned to capitalize on the technology sector trends that will lead them to faster growth than their peers. Rocket Builders also released results from its 2020 lists, with strong revenue growth across all sectors. As is typical with this list, companies profiled tend to attract investment, partnerships and even get acquired. Last year, more than half received investment.
The annual 2021 “Ready to Rocket” lists provide accurate predictions of private companies that will likely experience significant growth, venture capital investment or acquisition by a major player in the coming year. This year the lists feature 213companies across 5 different technology sectors:
- Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- Cleantech (CT)
- Life Science (LS)
- Digital Health (DH)
- Agri-Food (AF)
The “Ready to Rocket” lists are the only predictive lists of its kind in North America, requiring many months of sector and company analysis.
“Over the 19 years of the program, the B.C. technology sector has steadily grown each year, and presents a growing challenge to select and identify the most likely to succeed for our Ready to Rocket lists.” said Geoffrey Hansen, Managing Partner at Rocket Builders. “In recent years, a startup economy has blossomed yielding a rich field of companies for our consideration, with over 600 companies reviewed to make our selections of 213 winners. Our Emerging Rocketlists enables us to profile those earlier stage companies that are well positioned for investment.”
It has also been a difficult year for some BC based technology companies. Many have been impacted by COVID and 47% found that their market slowed due to COVID. However, 24% of those companies still experienced greater than 100% growth.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
The 2020 Ready to Rocket list for ICT performed extremely well. The average growth rate on that list was over 25% growth, with 18 exceeding 100% growth. The list as a whole represented the creation of over 700 jobs. Five companies graduated (achieve >20M revenue or over $50 in investment) or were acquired.
“2020 was an important year for ICT in British Columbia as there was significant job creation and many breakthrough companies.” said Reg Nordman, Managing Partner at Rocket Builders. “Despite the market uncertainty created by the pandemic, we foresee great growth potential for many of these companies as they offer leading edge technology that provides transformational capabilities that the world needs.”
CLEANTECH (CT)
The 2020 Ready to Rocket list for Cleantech performed extremely well. The majority of companies on the list had in excess of 50% growth, and the lists together created over 200 jobs in 2020. Four companies graduated (achieve >20M revenue or over $50 in investment) or were acquired.
According to Dave Thomas, Senior Partner at Rocket Builders, “The Cleantech sector in B.C. continues to see growth despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. Investors are keen on the sector and are making large investments in post-demonstration technologies that are ready to scale.”
LIFE SCIENCE (LS)
The 2020 Ready to Rocket list for Life Science featured many new investments (the majority received new investment) and key milestones. There were over 100 jobs created among companies on the list. The 2020 Ready to Rocket list for Life Science features 10 companies, and the Emerging Rocket list features 10 companies.
According to Thealzel Lee, Senior Partner at Rocket Builders, “The Life Science sector in B.C. continues to demonstrate interesting and innovative technology, especially in medical devices and genomics. Although the healthcare industry is currently under economic strain, most analysts predict strong growth potential coming out of the current pandemic crisis.”
DIGITAL HEALTH (DH)
2020 was the fourth year for the Digital Health sector list, and it continues to show growth. With over 220 jobs created, it was an interesting year for a developing sector. Some companies accelerated quickly with telehealth solutions while others found the year more challenging.
Although none of this sector’s companies have graduated or exited, there are indications that the coming years will continue to see a growth for this sector due to the pandemic.
“2020 was an uneven year for Digital Health in British Columbia as there was significant job creation and with some breakthrough companies.” said Geoffrey Hansen, Managing Partner at Rocket Builders. “In the current pandemic crisis, we are seeing a real acceleration in interest in all areas of digital health. In particular, telehealth is observing exponential growth.”
AGRI-FOOD (AF)
2020 was the second year for the Agri-Food sector list — it is a sector comprising technology companies in the agriculture and food value chains. This mix of Agricultural Technology (AgTech), Food Technology (FoodTech), Food Delivery and Cannabis Technology (CannabisTech) is an area of great innovation and accelerated adoption due to the pandemic. Over 50 jobs were created by companies on this list, with many of them raising investment.
According to Dave Thomas, Senior Partner at Rocket Builders, “The Agri-Food sector in B.C. is making progress despite supply chain challenges and labour uncertainty. Each of the sub-sectors in growing with Food Delivery experiencing particularly strong growth for obvious reasons.”
OKANAGAN-BASED WINNERS
2021 Ready to Rocket List
- Aquify Systems Corp.
- CoreHealth Technologies Inc.
- Curatio Networks Inc.
- StreetText
- TechBrew Robotics Inc.
- Trellis Social Enterprise Inc.
- WTFast
2021 Emerging Rocket List
- Green Step
- Metabolic Insights Inc
- Perfit Dental Solutions Inc.
- Safety Evolution
- Skaha Remote Sensing
- Taste Advisor
- Therabyte
- Winecrush
MORE INFORMATION
For details on the “Ready to Rocket” lists, please visit2021 Ready to Rocket Lists and Today March 23rd), a webinar detailing the trends and unveiling the launch of these lists.
About the Sponsors:
About the Rocket Recognition Program
The Rocket Recognition Program features two branded lists of companies. The “Ready to Rocket” list profiles information technology companies with the greatest potential for revenue growth in the coming year. The “Emerging Rockets” list profiles technology companies from multiple technology sectors with great potential for investment and market breakthroughs in the coming year. Both lists are predictive of future success making them unique in approach and unique in value for our business audience. “Ready to Rocket” and “Emerging Rockets: are trademarks of Rocket Builders, a respected management consulting firm servicing the technology industry.
About Rocket Builders
Rocket Builders is a management consulting firm providing sales and marketing services. With a focus on helping technology companies to grow and prosper, Rocket Builders has a proven track record of success with its clients. Since 2000, we have been engaged in market research, market planning, business development initiatives, strategic selling, and product launches for over 500 organizations.
