Calgary’s InceptionU helps to fill Regina’s talent pipeline for software developers
Three grads hired by Saskatchewan-based companies for remote positions
The tech boom that’s happening in Calgary, is happening in Saskatchewan too. Tech-enabled companies are popping up in both Regina and Saskatoon and they’re not just focused on agriculture.
Recently, three graduates of our InceptionU Evolve Full Stack Developer program were scouted by Grassland Ventures, a Regina-based venture studio helping entrepreneurs acquire the tech talent they need to scale their businesses.
President Kirk Morrison attended the InceptionU Demo Day in March (our next one is in August!) and was excited by the level of talent he saw coming through our program. He was so impressed, he recommended our learners to hiring managers at three of Grassland’s venture companies.
“I was really impressed with the presentation skills and also the quality, design and thoughtfulness of the projects and systems they built,” says Morrison. “As I learned more about the project-based learning model and the involvement of industry who worked side-by-side with the teams, I thought the model was very compelling.”
“The program achieves a lot of what we’re doing with entry level software developers in terms of the hands-on training. I feel like it shortens the on-boarding process for them and the time it takes to get up to speed.”
Three learners found positions at Grassland companies, working remotely from Calgary. Other than occasional in-person meetings, they are not required to be in Regina and can work from home in full-time developer roles.
Kate Powers - Store 2 Door
“It has been a great first month with StoreToDoor, I have jumped right into working on tickets - continuing on the path of “learning by doing”. I am supported by a great team, and being part of this exciting start-up will offer so many opportunities to experience different areas of software development and find my niche.”
Kate, who transitioned into tech from new home construction, was hired by Store2Door, one of Grassland’s ventures. The company offers same day fulfillment services to retail stores in over 20 markets in Canada. It competes with Amazon to deliver goods to customers in a same day manner.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the BudSense team. They have created a welcoming environment where I feel supported, which is really important to me as a new developer. Everyday is exciting for me as I am learning new things about tech and the cannabis industry. ”
Michelle - BudSense
A former environmental consultant, Michelle is now working as an entry level software developer for BudSense, a company offering merchandising solutions to legal cannabis operators. It creates web-based cannabis menus and the digital signage retailers need to communicate effectively with their customers.
“Taking part in broadcasting sports events is a dream come true for me and every day I see myself learning different aspects of software development which excites me very much. Overall It’s been a pleasure to work with Home Team Live from the initial interview to everyday stand-ups!”
Reza Naeim-Abadi - Home Team Live
Reza was an Air Canada customer service agent who is now working for Home Team Live, a company providing high quality sports broadcasts in semi-pro and amateur sports venues in Canada. AI fully autonomous cameras record the games and Home Team built a streaming platform that is accessed by paying customers, similar to Twitch and YouTube. Home Team Live currently operates in 40 sports venues in Western Canada.
We are so proud of Kate, Michelle and Reza! We’re also grateful for people like Kirk and the team at Grassland Ventures for supporting our program and our learners.
“We like to hire the whole spectrum - from junior, to intermediate and senior developers. When it comes to new developers, some companies are not willing to put in the time and effort. At Grassland, we believe that’s a core part of what it takes to be successful - we want to create a culture and an environment where people of all levels of experience can collaborate and grow together,” says Morrison.
