Finger Food Advanced Technology Group, a Port Coquitlam, BC-based firm that builds custom technology solutions using artificial intelligence, AR and VR, and blockchain, is opening a Calgary facility and plans on hiring 200 people by 2023.
The facility is supported with $3.5 million from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, a $100 million fund owned by the city of Calgary that invests in initiatives that grow the city’s economy. So far, the fund has deployed $18.6 million to five projects.
“We believe, alongside our strategic partners, we can be a catalyst for growth in Calgary’s tech and business ecosystem.”
– Ryan Peterson, CEO of Finger Food ATG
“The OCIF Board chose to support Finger Food Advanced Technology Group’s investment in Calgary on the basis of three key factors”, said Barry Munro, chair of the board of directors of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. “The company demonstrated strong desire to create highly skilled technology jobs in Calgary in order to support its global client base; its focus on applying its proprietary suite of technologies and processes to solve global issues in areas such as food, health, energy, and transportation; and the positive impact that the creation of the advanced technology centre is expected to have on the Calgary innovation and technology ecosystem.”
Ryan Peterson, Finger Food’s CEO, said there were “compelling reasons” to open an office in Calgary.
“With the talent pool, appetite for growth, and partners like Calgary Economic Development and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, it was the obvious city to launch our first advanced technology centre,” said Peterson. “We believe, alongside our strategic partners, we can be a catalyst for growth in Calgary’s tech and business ecosystem.”
The facility will hire staff in design, software development, and management. Finger Food will use Microsoft’s technology suite throughout the technology centre, including Microsoft Azure, HoloLens 2, Industrial IOT and Microsoft’s artificial intelligence technology. Microsoft will also run several accredited certification programs in the new technology centre that will arm clients with new technical skills to capitalize on the emerging digital market.
“When I first met Ryan and the team at Finger Food, I knew this would be a welcome addition to Calgary’s tech and business ecosystem,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi, a member of the OCIF board. “By combining engineering expertise and design thinking, their business model lines up perfectly with Calgary’s existing talent pool. I believe opportunities like this are exactly what this fund was created for; delivering innovative solutions globally that are effectively ‘made in Calgary.’”
Launched in 2009, Finger Food ATG employs a team of engineers, designers, artists, and developers, partnering with clients to custom-make solutions. One of its most recent partnerships was with Lego, where Finger Food ATG built an immersive app for the company.
Finger Food already has clients in Calgary, including Suncor Energy and Enbridge.
“Fostering a growing ecosystem is key to scale innovation,” said Sandy Martin, senior vice president of digital and enterprise technical for Suncor Energy. “That is why Finger Food’s advanced technology centre will be an important part of building momentum to elevate Calgary as a world leader in digital technologies.”