OUR STORY
Serving Calgary Businesses Since 1986
Founded in Calgary, Alberta, Startech provides IT Managed Services for the SMB market throughout the Calgary area and across Alberta. Startech is one of Calgary’s leading IT services companies providing a full spectrum of high-quality technical services including StarCare® Help Desk, server support, network design, virtualization, data security, and cloud-based solutions for institutional, commercial, and industrial clients. As a full Managed Services provider, we offer end-to-end technology solutions from the user device to the data centre and everything in between. We are a privately-owned company boasting more than 120 years of combined IT experience. We recognize the critical importance of outstanding customer service and support and have earned a reputation for providing prompt, proactive solutions.
We’ve seen significant changes in the IT industry over the past 30+ years. During this time, we’ve developed an accurate understanding of business needs and the requirements of keeping pace with the growth of the industry, alleviating the pain points of IT. We help clients maximize their investments through managed IT services. We believe it is essential to deliver quality-of-service in everything we do in order to remain the obvious choice for an IT company in Calgary. As a boutique, family-owned business, we uphold a tradition of excellence and stand as proponents of diversity, creativity, and enthusiasm.
Timeline
Sole Proprietorship & a Humble Beginning
Frank Faria, the founder of Startech, began supplying residents and businesses alike with IT assets and solutions, based out of his own home. At the time, these solutions geared towards stand-alone PCs running on basic word processing or accounting software.
Startech Business Systems Ltd. Was Born
Frank’s business grew, and the focus shifted towards full business solutions as opposed to residential clients. That year also saw the opening of Startech’s first commercial facility. The primary question for small businesses in those days was, “Have you considered computerizing your business?”
Startech Proudly Introduces the Star PC
This line of powerful custom-built workstations were workhorses in many known and established businesses and organizations at the time. The Star PC offered cutting edge performance at prices that were easier to manage for the SMB market.
Moving On Up!
Startech, along with a group of construction industry colleagues, built a top-class commercial building with 7 bays, 3 of which Startech maintained ownership. This expansion allowed for plentiful space and opportunities for future growth.
From Calgary to Siberia
Startech became the vendor of choice to provide IT assets for an organization’s operations in Siberia, Moscow, Cyprus, and London, UK. As Startech was responsible for delivering all IT assets in each of the locations, this partnership would ultimately result with Star PCs being utilized all over the world with some landing on the desks of prominent world leaders.
The Y2K Problem
As the year 2000 approached, many people feared that computer programs storing year values as two-digit figures (such as 99) would cause significant problems around the world. The primary concern was that software written in prior years, when limitations in storage capacity necessitated such data constraints, were still being used. The problem was that when the two-digit space rolled over to 2000, the number would read, “00”. Usually, software programming logic would assume that the year number gets larger, not smaller — so “00” was anticipated to wreak havoc in various computing platforms that hadn’t been modified to account for the millennium.
Needless to say, 1999 was a hectic year for Startech and IT companies around the world as we strove to ensure a smooth and timely transition to ‘Y2K Compliant’ computing devices.
Steve Jobs Reveals the First iPhone
The iPhone was a revolutionary device, one that put the productivity of a smartphone into everyone’s hands and not just the busy executive types. The dominant business phone at the time was the BlackBerry. It didn’t take long for the iPhone to become universally embraced as the device of choice at home and in the workplace. Arguably, the iPhone was one of the primary catalysts for launching the ‘BYOD’ (bring your own device) trend that began in the early 2010s.
Global Financial Crisis
The 2008 global financial crisis was a severe worldwide economic condition considered by many economists to have been the most serious financial crisis to hit since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This era became a time for Startech to shine and weather the storm by learning from the mistakes of other companies. Startech emerged from the crisis stronger than ever.
Microsoft Announces Office 365
After a beta test that began in October of 2010, Microsoft launched Office 365 later the following year on June 28, 2011. Office 365 was a successor to the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), originally aimed at corporate users. With the release of Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft expanded Office 365 to include options aimed at different types of businesses, along with new plans directed towards general consumers. One of the major benefits to emerge for Microsoft consumers was the introduction of OneDrive.
Same Name; New Look
Startech underwent a branding refresh, introducing a new logo and an update of our corporate branding and colour scheme, one that lives on to this present day.
Calgary Launches Into Recession
In the Fall of 2014, Calgary was struck by declining oil prices. By 2015, Calgarians began to realize that this recession was going to last a while, recognizing the need to streamline operations. By the winter of 2016, the cost of oil hit rock-bottom; at this point, massive layoffs across the province had become the norm. While the latest recession in Calgary has affected the oil and gas industry most significantly, Startech continues to serve small and medium-sized clients in other sectors, understanding the necessity of operating more efficiently and leveraging technology to reduce costs.
Startech Adds Cybersecurity & Enhanced Cloud Offerings
Penetration and vulnerability tests are no longer only within reach for the big guys. Security is at the top of everyone’s mind, and 2018 saw the formal introduction of Startech’s cybersecurity offerings and our first cybersecurity awareness event. This year also marked significant growth for Startech in the cloud solutions space. As smaller businesses began to recognize the cost-saving and energy efficiency benefits, cloud-based solutions, such as private hosting and IaaS, have become a significant area of growth for Startech.
Continuing to Serve Calgary & Beyond
As the market continues to forge ahead, Startech will be at the forefront, continuing to provide excellent service from a company that not only cares but also sees our organization as an extension to your business. You’re not just a number at Startech, nor will you be subjected to any smoke & mirrors sales tactics. We continue to provide our clients with transparent, affordable, and effective solutions that are tailored specifically to your organization. Join us on our journey and allow us to enhance the growth and productivity of your network!
