Recipient: D2L
Region: Kitchener-Waterloo, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo, where FedDev Ontario’s headquarters is located, is home to pioneering companies at the cutting-edge of digital innovation. D2L is one company experiencing success with its online learning technology.
Specializing in online learning solutions for education and business, D2L became a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange in November 2021. Net proceeds will help the company strengthen its financial position and pursue new growth strategies.
Driven by the shift to online learning, D2L has seen a dramatic increase in new bookings during the last three years. The momentum has fueled D2L to expand in the online learning space with its flagship education platform Brightspace, a new upskilling platform called Wave, and demand from schools, post-secondary institutions, businesses and associations around the world.
Founded in 1999 by John Baker when he was a University of Waterloo engineering student, D2L has grown into a global company. It has received indirect support from FedDev Ontario, provided through Communitech, the Waterloo Region innovation hub, a direct recipient of FedDev Ontario’s initiatives.
With the help from the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, Communitech has provided support to D2L through various activities. For example, over the years, Communitech has worked closely with D2L’s team on the development of the Global Talent Stream program, which was built to help companies in the fast-paced innovation sector like D2L bring top-tier talent into Canada to further spur job creation and growth. Communitech has also provided D2L with customer procurement networking through dedicated peer-to-peer service for CEO and sales team members, talent acquisition and retention, employee reskill and upskilling, public relations counsel and support, as well as various promotional opportunities.
Additionally, D2L worked collaboratively with Canada’s Open Data Exchange. Through the funding, D2L was able to get one-time assistance to help with adding data to the Achievement Standards NetworkTM data repository, which D2L manages (more details in D2L’s Press Release).
“At D2L, we’re focused on building the future of working and learning through innovative technology,” said John Baker, President and CEO at D2L. “Today we have an incredible opportunity to revitalize our economy and shape the future of our country, and we’re incredibly grateful to Federal Economic Development Agency for supporting our mission."
With the new, radical shift to hybrid learning and increasing need for upskilling in workplaces throughout the world, more than ever, the future looks auspicious for D2L’s potential sales growth, jobs creation and other spin-off benefits in the southern Ontario region.
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