What do B.C. tech darlings Banantag and Thoughtexchange have in common?
It turns out, a lot.
Neither are from Vancouver. Bananatag calls Kelowna home and Thoughtexchange hails from Rossland.
Both were founded around 10 years ago. Bananatag in 2011 by Corey Wagner, Chris Wagner, and Isaac Oslund. Thoughtexchange in 2009 by Amos Michelson and Jim Firstbrook.
Both are trusted by Fortune 500 customers including Allstate, American Airlines, H&R Block, McDonald’s, Samsung, and Volvo to name a few.
Both on are a mission to improve communications. Bananatag develops employee communication software. Thoughtexchange creates software to crowd-source answers to questions in real time.
Both were included on The Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Top Growing Companies list for 2020. Bananatag ranked #132 on the list with 3-year revenue growth of 350% and 2019 revenue in the $5-10 million range. Thoughtexchange ranked #174 on the list with 3-year revenue growth of 255% and 2019 revenue in the $10-25 million range.
Both employ over 100 in B.C. and consider their workforces fully remote.
Bananatag employees 110 and their staff is split 60/40 between Kelowna and Vancouver.
Thoughtexchange is remote-first with flexible offices in Vancouver, Rossland, and Nelson. All 150 employees (pictured) are set up to work remotely with one-third residing in the Kootenays, one-third in the Lower Mainland, and the rest across B.C., Canada, and the U.S.