Bambora
If you look up online payment processing in the history books, you’ll find the name Bambora, which is somewhere between the age of dinosaurs and the dawn of e-commerce.
Finalist for:
Technology Company of the Year (30+ Employees), Leader of the Year (Lauren Welgush)
Interviewee: Jamie Knowles
What’s your company’s story?
Twenty years ago Bambora took a big bet that people wanted to buy things online and that small business would thrive in a digital world. Bambora worked hard to turn that vision into the #1 digital payments processor in Canada. Today, after five acquisitions, three office changes, and one rebrand, Bambora is still thrilled to call Victoria home. Bambora adds about 1,000 new North American businesses every month who trust us to power their payments. Bambora employs 74 Bamborians who come in every day energized to help these 48,000 customers grow and run their businesses better.
Who do you work with? What are some interesting projects you’re involved in?
Bambora works with startups across North America. Software companies who are passionately building technology to disrupt and solve problems for their customers trust Bambora for that critical piece when their growing – getting paid! Bambora powers technology companies who offer sports league registration, camp management software, and food chain in-app ordering just to name a few. Bambora is also the white label provider to two of the leading banks in North America where they support provinces and leading retailers across the country.
What are you most proud of in the work that you do?
Bambora is most proud of how they can be a lifeline to small business. Especially in the early years, cash flow is critical to making a business successful. Bambora is known in the industry for making payments ‘human’, a statement they take seriously. Bambora doesn’t just sell payments to businesses; they partner with them. They coach and recommend payment tools that are specific to a use case. Bambora doesn’t lock businesses into silly contracts, and they reach out proactively to check in. Bambora has some amazing success stories in their portfolio that have grown from small companies with ten customers to #1 in their market.
If your team had a theme song, what would it be and why?
Money, money, money – ABBA. While this may seem like having a song about money needs little explanation for a payments company, the message in this resonates with Bambora on several levels. ABBA’s Swedish roots run deep (Sweden is where the global Bambora head office is located). More importantly, this song is about something near and dear to Bambora’s heart – getting paid! This is something employees at Bambora strive to do each day; equip businesses of all sizes with the tools they need to get that money!
What are some hopes and dreams for your company?
Bambora’s vision is to be the #1 payments provider in Canada and the U.S. for their core software businesses verticals. Crossing the 50,000 active merchant count will be an incredible milestone for the company! Bambora aims to disrupt the payments industry across North America, with a multi-channel ‘payments as a service’ offering that helps people grow their business in a powerful way.
Why is Victoria a great spot for your organization?
Victoria is a special place. The quality of life brings incredible people to the city and Bambora. The Victoria technology community is close-knit and supportive. As such, Bambora can share ideas with their peers and find talented individuals that want to live and work here. Bambora lives in digital payments, and they have found that Victoria is as connected as any city in terms of running a business and supporting their customers. The proximity to Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco is perfect for a payments provider who wants to shake up the industry and connect with businesses in the world.