The Fast 50 awards and rankings are presented in distinct categories that characterize and define the unique strengths of Canadian innovation. It is all about revenue growth driven by leading intellectual property. The 2008 program includes the following categories: Fast 50 Ranking — Recognizing the 50 fastest growing Canadian tech companies with the highest revenue growth percentage over the last five-year period. Leadership awards — Chosen by Deloitte and its sponsors from the applicants to the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking, these companies are the elite members of the Canadian technology industry. Their ability to create a distinct competitive advantage in a high-growth market allows them to dominate their sector and quickly join the ranks of other Canadian global leaders. The criteria by which companies are considered are as follows: - Competitive advantage — Clear market focus, successful business model and strategy, superior intellectual property, superior customer adoption rate.
- Size, growth and market attractiveness — Rapidly growing market segment, global market potential of $1 billion or more, product or service that directly addresses customer needs.
- Management effectiveness and organization — Entrepreneurial experience, strength and depth of corporate culture, proven track record of managing profitable growth.
- Financial performance — Five-year growth over 200%, profitability.
Companies-to-Watch awards — Honouring younger, promising Canadian tech companies that are in business for less than 5 years. Eligibility criteria
Applying for the Canadian Tech Fast 50 program is easy. If your company meets the following criteria, you are eligible to apply: Your company must be either Canadian-controlled or headquartered in Canada. In addition, your management team and R&D activities must also be located in Canada. Your company must invest a minimum of 5% of gross revenues in R&D. Your company must own a proprietary technology or have intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of operating revenue. Your company must maintain a minimum revenue of $50,000 and $5,000,000 respectively in its most recent five-year period of operations (not applicable to Companies-to-Watch award applicants). Your company operates within one of the following four sub-sectors:
- Emerging technologies (e.g. green technology, nanotechnology
- Hardware/semiconductor
- Software
- Telecommunications/wireless
Deloitte Technology Green 15 — These awards honour companies creating innovative, important, and economically viable intellectual property in the burgeoning field of green technology. - Your company must be either Canadian-controlled or headquartered in Canada. In addition, your management team and R&D activities must also be located in Canada
- Your company must invest a minimum of 5% of gross revenues in R&D
- Your company must own a proprietary technology or have intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of operating revenue.
- A majority of your company’s revenues must come from products or services that have a positive environmental impact, being one of the following:
- Global warming prevention and energy saving
- Resources Circulation (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle)
- Environmental preservation and safety.
 See the list of 2007 winners
Fast 50 Press Room Listen to our podcast: Spotlight on Canada's 2006 Fast 500 winners | | "We feel fortunate to have developed our expertise in a sector that affords such growth potential and we are grateful to have been recognized by the Fast 50 program for 10 consecutive years." Jim Balsillie — Co-CEO, Research In Motion "As a new enterprise facilitating a worldwide market, our only options were to go big or go home. The recognition that this awards program has given us will make it much easier to achieve the next phase of our growth strategy." Donald I. Clarke — Chairman and CEO, Rutter Inc. |
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