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Shift Technologies (software company)

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Shift Technologies Inc.
Company typePrivately held company
IndustrySoftware, Application software
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
Headquarters1515 Douglas St #520
Victoria, BC V8W 2G4,
Victoria, British Columbia
,
Canada
Areas served
Worldwide (mainly English-speaking countries)
Key people
  • Neil Henderson (CEO)
  • Michael Foucher (VP of Product)
  • Sabrina Banadyga (VP of Marketing)
ProductsShift browser
ParentRedbrick Technologies Inc.
Websiteshift.com

Shift Technology Inc. is a software company located in Victoria, British Columbia. The company's Shift browser integrates multiple web apps and digital tools, creating a seamless environment that connects various online activities.

Shift Technologies, Inc is a company based in Victoria, BC Canada whose primary product is a web-based browser designed to centralize and simplify the user experience. It is a portfolio company of Redbrick Technologies Inc.

Shift Browser

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Shift was originally released as a beta product in 2016 as a productivity app, and then positioned as a desktop productivity tool in 2017 with the release of version 2.0.

Shift was originally built on the Electron framework but is now based on top of Chromium with a UI written in TypeScript and React.

Features

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Users can create custom browser workspaces to organize their activities, tabs, and apps, with options to adjust notifications, mute alerts, and schedule quiet hours for a more focused browsing experience.

App Integrations: Supports over 1,500 web applications, allowing users to manage tools like Slack, Gmail, Trello, Asana, and more directly within the browser.

Multiple Account Management: Enables seamless switching between multiple accounts (e.g., email or social media) without logging in and out.

Customizable Workspaces: Offers tailored workspaces for organizing apps, tabs, and tools based on specific workflows or projects.

Unified Search: A cross-platform search function that helps users find information across all integrated apps, emails, and tabs.

Privacy and Security: Provides encrypted connections and enhanced privacy settings to protect user data while working online.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users.

History

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Shift browser was first launched in 2016, with regularly updated releases. The table below outlines key milestones achieved for the company each year.

Year Key Milestones
2016 Beta version of Shift launches as a Redbrick side project, by employees who wanted have multiple email accounts and calendars in one place without logging in and out.
2017 Shift V1 launches, built on the Electron framework.

Shift V1.1 launches in February with Office 365 integration and multi-language spell check.
Shift 2.0 launches in November. Electron framework is replaced with Muon to allow for the integration of Chrome extensions.
Shift 2.2 launches in December with 10 additional app integrations.

2018 Shift 2.7 launches in March.

Shift V3 launched
Reached $1M in revenue and has over 35,000 users[1]

2019 Seed Funding: Secured $1 million CAD in seed funding to enhance its workplace productivity desktop application.[2][3][4]

Investment Breakdown:

  • Panache Ventures: Led the round, contributing half of the total amount./li>
  • Redbrick: Provided the remaining $500,000 as debt financing; Redbrick is Shift's parent company and initial investor.


Leadership Appointment: Promoted long-time General Manager Nadia Tatlow to the position of CEO.
Company Growth: Expanded the team from 7 to 15 employees since its founding in 2017.
Shift V4 launches in October with focused web tabs and keyboard short cuts.

2020 Shift V5 launched
2021 Shift V6 launched

Shift positioned as and gaining recognition for being a desktop productivity app.[5]

2022 Shift V7 launched

Shift V8 launches, featuring the ability to add multiple accounts in different called Workspaces, Epic Search which allows users to search across multiple accounts, and badge notifications.

2023 Shift Ultra (V9) launched, marking the transition from a desktop productivity tool to an app-integrated browser with more customization options.
2024 Acquires shift.com domain as part of strategy to innovate and improve browser functionality.[6]

Hired a Chief Nomad Officer to travel and create travel-based content while using Shift.[7]

Awards and Recognition

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In 2024, Shift, as a portfolio company of Redbrick, is BCorp-certified.[8]

Tobyn Sowden, the founder of Redbrick and Shift, was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 Pacific.[9]

Redbrick, Shift Technologies Inc's parent company, was named one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers for 2024, the fifth consecutive year as a top employer.[10] [11]

Shift acquires shift.com in 2024, pioneering a new era of browser innovation.[12]

2023: Shift’s CEO Nadia Tatlow on what it’s like to be a female CEO and breaking gender norms in the tech industry.[13]

Shift is a Webby Award nominee for the categories Apps & Software and Work & Productivity.[14]

Shift was nominated at the 25th Webby Awards in 2021 for the category of Productivity & Collaboration Apps & Software.[15]

In 2019, Shift closes first seed round, led by Panache Ventures and Redbrick Technologies, and appoints Nadia Tatlow as first CEO.[16]

In 2016, Redbrick named to the Profit 500 ranking of Canada’s fastest-growing companies, topping the list of Victoria firms at No. 5.[17]

In 2014, Redbrick was nominated as Emerging Technology Company of the Year at the VIATEC (Victoria, Advanced Technology & Entrepreneurship Council) Awards.

References

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  1. ^ "Million-dollar boost for Victoria software startup Shift". Times Colonist. 10 December 2019. Retrieved Dec 10, 2019.
  2. ^ "Shift closes $1 million CAD seed round, appoints first CEO". Betakit. 4 December 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  3. ^ "Victoria's Shift Closes $1 Million Seed Round and Appoints a CEO". techcouver. 4 December 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  4. ^ "Productivity Tool, Shift, Closes $1M CAD Seed Round and Appoints a CEO". GlobeNewswire (Press release). 4 December 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  5. ^ "Hot New Find! Boost Productivity With Shift". Addell Ryan. 2 November 2021. Retrieved Nov 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Shift Acquires Shift.com: Pioneering a New Era of Browser Innovation". VIATEC. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "This Company Will Pay You $10,000 To Travel The World". Forbes. Retrieved Sep 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Redbrick Technologies Inc. Certified B Corporation". Certified B Corporation.
  9. ^ "CEO and founder of Redbrick named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Pacific". EY.com. Retrieved 26 Oct 2024.
  10. ^ "Redbrick named top employer 5 years running". Redbrick. 29 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2024)". Mediacorp Canada Inc. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Shift Acquires Shift.com: Pioneering a New Era of Browser Innovation". VIATEC. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "The CEO of Victoria-based Shift speaks candidly". Victoria Tech Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  14. ^ "Productivity & Collaboration Apps & Software". Webby Awards.
  15. ^ "2021 Webby Awards Productivity & Collaboration Apps & Software". Webby Awards.
  16. ^ "Shift closes $1 million CAD seed round, appoints first CEO". Betakit. 4 December 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "On the Street: Local software firm No. 5 on Profit's fast-growing list". Times Colonist. 21 September 2016.
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