Fintech Companies Lead the Pack in LinkedIn’s Top Canadian Startups

The list of Canada’s most sought-after startups in 2018 is out, and it’s no surprise that technology is leading the pack, according to a new LinkedIn report.

To be eligible for LinkedIn’s list, companies must be 7 years old or younger, have at least 50 employees, be privately held and headquartered in Canada.

The list is dominated by Fintech companies from Toronto including Wealthsimple, Coinsquare, Ritual, Planswell, Tulip, and TouchBistro.

Robo-adviser Wealthsimple helps investors build well-rounded investment portfolios automatically and affordably, disrupting the traditional financial advice market long dominated by big banks. Since its 2014 launch, the company has grown to manage over $2 billion for more than 75,000 clients in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.

Coinsquare simplifies buying and selling digital currencies like bitcoin and ethereum for Canadians by allowing them to use Canadian dollars directly. The startup also launched a wealth management business so individuals can ride the cryptocurrency wave via curated investment products, including two new securities indices — one focused solely on blockchain.

Ritual, co-founded by former Google Shopping lead Ray Reddy in 2014, wants to change how coworkers grab lunch. The “social ordering app” creates office teams where people can piggyback on lunch or coffee orders, which are then picked up in person. More than 44,500 workplace teams in the U.S. and Canada, including Goldman Sachs and Spotify, use the app. The perk for restaurants: much lower fees than typical delivery apps.

Planswell uses a questionnaire and its patent-pending tech to create free financial plans — and it has built more than 77,000 for users. The startup, which launched nationally (excluding Quebec and the territories) in January, aims to use $13.8 million in seed funding to expand its reach and double its workforce.

Tulip is a mobile app that helps retail workers assist customers on the shop floor; they can look up products, manage customer information and organize things like home delivery on a mobile or tablet device. Founded in 2013, Tulip has been embraced by retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Kate Spade, Coach and Bonobos.

LinkedIn Startups 2018: Canada’s most sought-after startups