17 Years of Vendasta

Seventeen years ago, Brendan King, Jeff Tomlin, fellow co-founders, and I started Vendasta out of Brendan's garage and then moved into a small office in Innovation Place. Back then, it was just a handful of us, armed with laptops, phones, data plans for hacking, and chairs we had to assemble ourselves. From the very beginning, we defaulted to openness and collaboration.

Every Friday, we invited friends and family to the office for informal beers, sharing what we’d accomplished that week and bouncing around new ideas. Those Fridays weren’t just about celebrating wins, they became the foundation of our culture. It was in those moments that we met many of our best friends, welcomed new team members, and even connected with our first investors.

We wanted the office to feel like anything but grey walls and cubicles, so we brought in my old sailboat and hung sails right in the workspace. It wasn’t just decoration, it was a symbol. A nod to Tom Sukanen and his story of passion, crazy ideas, and determination to build something people said was impossible. That sailboat reminded us that big dreams often look impossible until they’re done.

At the beginning, in 2008, I wrote this:

"As we set sails for this incredibly exciting venture on a flagship called VendAsta, we face the difficult navigation task. Adoption of an orthodrome will require us to make complex calculations along the way, innovate in various frameworks, constantly adjust the course, and most importantly it will force us to always do the right thing. As an oath and a constant reminder to stay on the right path, I chose to name this space 'My Orthodrome.'"

Over the years, Vendasta has gone through many changes and challenges. In a truly agile way, we’ve always been ready to react, adapt, and push the boundaries of comfort. Each evolution, whether big or small, has brought us closer to where we are today.

From those humble beginnings, Vendasta has grown into something far beyond what we could have imagined. What started in Brendan’s garage has expanded to a 17-story building in downtown Saskatoon that bears our name, as well as offices in the U.S., Europe, and India.

Vendasta has been built piece by piece by every single person who has been part of our journey, whether they’re still here or have moved on to new adventures. Every idea, effort, and contribution, no matter how small, has helped shape what Vendasta is today.

This anniversary is about celebrating everyone who has played a role in this incredible journey. Thank you for your part in building something truly special.

Here’s to the spirit of innovation, big ideas, and building what others thought was impossible, and to an exciting future ahead! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za3iJdv5iS8