This article was originally written and published on the InBC website. We are sharing it as an example of how InBC, a strategic investment fund created by the Government of British Columbia, invests in growing companies and venture funds to benefit the people of B.C.
Since InBC’s investment, Vancouver-based Netskrt Systems has experienced tremendous growth across markets while keeping its headquarters and R&D in British Columbia.
Netskrt System’s CEO, Siegfried Luft, co-founded the company based on his own challenges with his internet service provider (ISP) and the bandwidth constraints he was experiencing from his home on Salt Spring Island, a small island off the coast of British Columbia (B.C.). He set out to solve an issue common across smaller communities and now exacerbated with the rise of content streaming.
Today, Netskrt is improving content streaming and internet connectivity across Canada, the United States (U.S.) and abroad. The technology company uses its patented last-mile content delivery network (CDN) and edge caching solutions to bring high-quality, on demand and live streaming to underserved and difficult to reach areas with limited internet access. Its technology also frees up bandwidth, improving the overall quality of internet access for entire communities.
InBC invested in Netskrt Systems in 2024 alongside other investors, participating in its Series A round. This marked a milestone for the company, providing it with the capital to transition from startup to scaleup and accelerate its commercial growth.
“Over the last year, our CDN footprint has grown over 10 times while expanding into four new geographic regions, including Canada. 2024 has been a critical growth period for Netskrt, and InBC’s participation in our financing round has been instrumental in helping us achieve those results.”— Siegfried Luft, CEO, Netskrt Systems.
Since its financing round, Netskrt has rapidly increased its market presence. In Canada alone, it is providing edge caching solutions to 25 ISPs (with a global footprint of 450 ISPs) and growing, including smaller ISPs serving rural and remote communities. In B.C. for example, its client BCNet — a not-for-profit serving higher education and research institutions — is using Netskrt technology to provide B.C. students and faculty with improved internet connectivity. Internationally, the company is building CDN infrastructure in markets such as Italy, where many users live outside of city centres.
Notably contributing to Netskrt’s growth is its focus on live streaming sports, where traffic spikes and network congestion are common. The company provides locally embedded caching in the serving ISP network and now delivers live streams of NHL games in Canada and NFL games in the United States, in addition to a variety of other professional and college sports. Netskrt will be helping content providers stream NBA games later this year. With the 2024 NFL season, the company delivered 250 times more traffic than the previous season, reaching peaks of 10Tbps during the highest viewed games.
To support its massive scale, Netskrt has grown its team to more than 70 employees, the majority of whom are based in B.C., with satellite offices in the U.S. and United Kingdom reporting back to Vancouver. While increasing its sales across Canada and global markets, it has kept its headquarters and all its research and development in B.C.
InBC’s investment in Netskrt Systems is supporting a B.C.-grown technology company that has become globally competitive while continuing to create jobs, boost innovation and contribute to economic growth in the province. We are proud to be a part of Netskrt’s story and look forward to continuing to support its growth.
Sig’s Tips for First-Time Entrepreneurs:
- Know what you are selling and the problem you are trying to solve.
- Consider customer demand in addition to building a product.
- Be prepared to pivot and seize unanticipated opportunities.
Are you a growing company with strong connections to B.C. and looking for investment? InBC is making equity investments in private companies that are ready to scale up. Learn more and connect with their team today: Get Started
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