2018 Ready to Rocket lists Announced
2018 Ready to Rocket lists Announced to Profile Growth Companies in B.C.’s Technology Sectors
Rocket Builders Names Top Technology Companies To the “Ready to Rocket” lists for 16th Consecutive Year to Highlight Companies with Highest Growth Potential
VANCOUVER, BC – March 14, 2018
Rocket Builders today released its sixteenth (16th) 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 2017 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. This year, the notable acquisition was Buddybuild being acquired by Apple.
The annual 2018 “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 cover 4 different technology sectors:
● Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
● Cleantech (CT)
● Life Science (LS)
● Digital Health (DH)
The “Ready to Rocket” lists are the only predictive lists of its kind in North America, requiring many months of sector and company analysis. The 2018 Lists feature 76 “Ready to Rocket” technology growth companies and 104 “Emerging Rocket” early stage startups.
“Over the 16 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 450 companies reviewed to make our selections of 180 winners. Our Emerging Rocket lists enables us to profile those earlier stage companies that are well positioned for investment.”
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
The 2017 Ready to Rocket list for ICT performed extremely well. The median growth rate on that list was 50% growth, with 15 companies exceeding that growth rate and 8 exceeding 100% growth. The list as a whole represented the creation of over 408 jobs. Over 40% of companies on the list received new investment in 2017. The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for ICT features 39 companies and the 2018 Emerging Rocket list for ICT features 43 companies
"2017 was a great year for ICT in British Columbia as we expanded the list size and the overall list still maintained over 50% growth at a $5M median revenue level." said Reg Nordman, Managing Partner at Rocket Builders. "We have great ambitions for the 2018 list as there are many new areas of interest like VR/AR, artifical intelligence and blockchain is addition to the rapidly expanding fields of digital advertising, Internet of Things and cloud computing."
CLEANTECH (CT)
The 2017 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 250 jobs in 2017. The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for Cleantech features 19 companies, while the Emerging Rocket list features 21 companies.
According to Dave Thomas, Senior Partner at Rocket Builders, “The Cleantech sector in B.C. continues to see growth and diversity with noteworthy examples in LED lighting and Water technologies.”
LIFE SCIENCE (LS)
The 2017 Ready to Rocket list for Life Science featured many new investments (50% received new investment) and key milestones. There were 225 jobs created among companies on the list. The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for Life Science features 10 companies, and the Emerging Rocket list features 10 companies.
DIGITAL HEALTH (DH)
2017 was the inaugural year for the Digital Health sector list, and it did not disappoint. With over 100 jobs created and over 60% of them receiving new investment, it was a great year for a developing sector. In 2018, a total of 38 companies are showcased.
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 350 organizations.
