Local startup wants to ignite Sask. tech industry

More and more Sask. tech start-ups are moving their headquarters to Toronto or Vancouver and that’s a problem according to one.

“Saskatchewan-based tech startups are trying really hard to stay in the province, but it’s hard without the resources,” said Coconut Calendar CEO Katherine Regnier. 

“That was the point of our event is to come together and learn from each other as a tech community.”

Coconut Calendar is an online appointment scheduling company from Saskatoon and they organized the event at LB Distillers Friday afternoon. 

Joining Regnier on the panel of tech experts were two San Francisco investors Neal Dempsey and Chris Noble, and Saskatchewan’s Deputy Minister of the Economy Laurie Pushor.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be helped along the way of my success in the tech industry and this event was my way of giving back to the tech community,” Regnier said. 

Regnier from Prud’homme, Sask. came up with her company through a life experience that annoyed her.

“I wanted to book an appointment with my massage therapist, but I had to call her leave a voicemail and then play phone tag,” she said.

“It took a week for me to book an appointment and I said to myself ‘there must be a better way.”

Regnier said she feels the government is investing into the tech community.

“We are always willing to have more of an investment, but they really helped me a long the way with my company,” she said.