Toronto’s Tech Talent is Transforming the Entertainment District

Toronto’s tech industry has been a slow burn into what is undeniably a success story. In the past five years, tech talent in the Toronto market have increased by 54 per cent. 80,100 jobs were added in that time frame; more than any US city, including San Francisco – home to Silicon Valley. Not only does Toronto rank third now, just behind San Fran and Seattle, it is also home to the highest concentration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) start-ups in the world. It’s safe to say that Toronto’s tech scene is flourishing. Some of the city’s most notable and successful start-ups are based right here in the Toronto Entertainment District. Meet 500px, BiblioCommons and Hubba! We were fortunate enough to get the insider scoop on what it’s like operating in a thriving tech hub.  

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  500px 20 Duncan St.     Photography buffs around the world are familiar with 500px, the global online photo-sharing platform currently obtaining 15 million users. Through 500px, photographers are given the opportunity to gain global exposure, test their work on a large platform, and even profit through licensing and brand partnerships. An example of the opportunities given to 500px users can be seen through its collab with Collective Arts, a Canadian brewery known for the limited-edition artwork on its beer cans and labels. Four photographers got the opportunity to have their photos featured on Collective Arts’ craft beer sold all around the world – talk about exposure!  

“No matter what time of year, there’s always something drawing people to this area of the city. It was really important for us to be in an area that has so much creativity” – Stephanie Newell, PR & Community Manager,500px

  Brought to life in 2009, 500px came to be as a result of a very frustrating problem: the largest size photo you could upload online at the time was only 500px. Fast forward to 2020, its open concept, dog-friendly, bean bag laden office is a leader in tech talent the Toronto Entertainment District’s start-up scene. Register as a photographer and follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!   BiblioCommons 119 Spadina Ave.     The foundations of BiblioCommons began with a non-profit youth literacy initiative called the PerF!nk Project (Perceive. Feel. Think.). The project strived to develop a connection between new technologies being used by teens to receive digital information (social media) and the sometimes isolating activity of reading. The goal? Finding a way to motivate kids to read for pleasure, the same way they scroll social media feeds. Soon, the perF!nk Project caught the attention of The Ontario Library Association, resulting in the birth of BiblioCommons, which still aspires towards the same goal and aims to provide an engaging user experience. Thanks to its tech talent, BiblioCommons creates a digital space for public libraries; a network not only connecting communities of readers to a public library’s collections and services, but also to each other.  

“We have moved up through a few different locations in the Entertainment District, so it’s always been our home” – Marty Tarle, VP of Engineering/Co-founder, BiblioCommons

  Its nimble team operating out of the Toronto Entertainment District has successfully redefined the library experience! This is reflected in its data confirming a 25 to 57 per cent increase (per capita) in circulation for libraries subscribed to the BiblioCommons software. BiblioCommons is currently partnered with over 100 libraries in Canada and the US, three in Australia & New Zealand, and is still growing! Stay informed by following on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.   Hubba 129 Spadina Ave.     A matchmaker between emerging brands and retailers, Hubba is a B2B (business to business) network providing independent retailers with a platform to find and purchase products from up-and-coming brands. Its roster of products range from beverages, organic snacks, vitamins and supplements, personal care to keto diet essentials.  

“It’s nice to have some sort of cluster – and there are a few that are growing around here – I really like the one we’re in. It’s anchored by a lot of really great home-grown companies” – Ben Zifkin, Founder & CEO, Hubba

  Operating and staying inspired within an area dubbed “Silicon Alley”, Hubba is currently used in over 140 countries, with 60,000 users including prominent brands and retailers like Unilever and Urban Outfitters and emerging ones like Clark’s Cubes, Green Mustache and Populum. Through Hubba, empowered buyers can do it all; search for products, browse through collections, and even find new brands through recommendations curated to their personal needs. Brands have it just as easy, being provided with a single platform to list its products, share its story, and – most importantly – receive and keep track of wholesale orders. Keep Hubba top of mind by following on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Also, click here to find out where Ben Zifkin’s go-to restaurant is in the #TorontoED!   —   These three burgeoning start-ups are only a fraction of the tech talent calling the Toronto Entertainment District home! Toronto’s thriving tech industry is all around you, folks. As it continues to grow, even more Toronto-based start-ups will make a name for themselves on a global scale.