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Ottawa’s Fastest Growing Companies meet and mingle ahead of this year’s award ceremony

May 9, 2025

Even — or maybe especially — in turbulent times, OBJ’s 2025 Fastest Growing Companies have stayed on top of their game by being ready to adapt to anything that comes their way.

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Even — or maybe especially — in turbulent times, OBJ’s 2025 Fastest Growing Companies have stayed on top of their game by being ready to adapt to anything that comes their way. On Thursday, founders and executives from this year’s top 20 companies gathered at Beckta Dining & Wine on Elgin Street to enjoy a meal and to mingle ahead of the official awards ceremony later this month. What stood out about this year’s winners, according to OBJ publisher Michael Curran, was the ability of recipients to evolve and take unexpected risks to reach new levels of success. “There’s several companies that I’ve talked to here tonight that have dramatically changed from what they once were,” he said. “I was talking to a technology company that started off developing videoconferencing solutions decades ago and then became an app provider for mental health services. There’s a few examples of that, where people realized over time that they needed to make a very substantial change in their business plan to achieve growth.” The annual Fastest Growing Companies program recognizes businesses and organizations across the region that have achieved substantial revenue growth over a three-year period. The full list of 2025 winners was released last month. “When I think about the recipients I’ve met tonight, it really is the diversity of companies,” said Curran. “We’ve got a mental health technology company, a former special forces guy developing defence-tech, we’ve got a technology company for seniors homes and we’ve got commercial real estate.”

Fastest Growing Companies recipients at Beckta Dining and Wine on Thursday. Photo by Mia Jensen

From left: Michael Armbruster from sponsor TD Bank, with Fastest Growing Companies recipient Travis Moriarty (Prestige Home Improvement), Eric Odegard (TD Bank), and recipient Dan Junkins (Celebright Inc.). Photo by Mia Jensen

Fastest Growing Companies recipients mingle at during a dinner at Beckta Dining and Wine. Photo by Mia Jensen

Kyle Simourd, CEO and co-founder of Better Group, said he was honoured to have his company recognized. “It’s not based on, you know, you’re the coolest or the best looking or you’re friends with my dad,” he said. “It’s based on your numbers. I think that’s what’s most validating about this type of award.” For his company, he said the key to growth was knowing how to choose the right opportunities. “There are opportunities that come along that are too small and distracting from our core business,” he said. “Conversely, there’s other opportunities that might be too big. It’s about cherry-picking what’s right for you at whatever point in time. This is the Fastest Growing Companies (award), but it’s really structured, fast growth. That’s how I’d characterize it.” “We definitely wear it as a badge of honour,” said Dan Junkins, founder and CEO of Celebright. “It’s super exciting to be included. I’m coming to a place and seeing a bunch of familiar faces and also meeting new people.” Kyle Turk, CEO of Meerkat Marketing, said he’s proud to have his company’s hard work acknowledged and excited for the opportunity to celebrate his team. When it comes to pursuing growth, Turk said he took a quote from Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer to heart. “He said care more and work harder than your competitors,” said Turk. “I heard him say that in his speech and it hit home for me. That’s exactly what we strive to do and the values we try to carry.”

Fastest Growing Companies recipients were honoured ahead of the official awards ceremony at Beckta Dining and Wine on Thursday. Photo by Mia Jensen

Adam Aronson, from event sponsor GGFL and Eric Dupuis from OBJ. Photo by Mia Jensen

OBJ publisher Michael Curran (right, standing) speaks to Fastest Growing Companies Recipients at Beckta Dining and Wine on Thursday. Photo by Mia Jensen — OBJ publisher Michael Curran (right, standing) speaks to Fastest Growing Companies recipients at Beckta Dining and Wine on Thursday. Photo by Mia Jensen

Kevin Macdonald, vice-president of solutions at H2 Analytics, said he’s glad to see the company’s effort and sacrifices pay off. “We’re a bootstrap company and 100 per cent Canadian-owned and we’re proud of that fact,” he said. “When it comes to bootstrap companies trying to enter growth, you have to be extremely fiscally responsible.” The recognition also opens doors to new connections and opportunities, he said. “We’re extremely honoured to be here and be sitting at this table,” he said. “We are a group of veterans and we’re learning every day and working hard. We will never give up. We always find solutions to every problem. But also hearing the admiration and accommodation being provided to us just assures us we’re on the right path.”