Kano

Proudly Canadian and fiercely independent; Kano builds meaningful connections through lasting social games and a values driven culture (You might say people and community are their thing).

Finalist for:
Employer of the Year

Interviewee: Magda Rajkowski

What’s your company’s story?

One of the first game developers to find success on Facebook, Kano (www.kanoapps.com) is a locally owned, decisively independent Victoria studio that develops free-to-play social games for platforms like iOS, Android and Facebook.

Bootstrapped by three UVic Alumni in 2008, Kano achieved profitably a year after being founded and continues to be self-funded, profitable, and growing today with 30 employees and over 30 million installs worldwide.

Five successful titles later, Kano is excited to announce the release of its newest game, FUBAR Just Give’r coming in Summer 2019.

Who do you work with? What are some interesting projects you’re involved in?

Kano has fully embraced the Games as a Service model of continually evolving games around a loyal community of players. They really listen to their players and use feedback to create better gaming experiences.

In Summer 2019, Kano will look to grow their player base with their newest game, FUBAR Just Give’r.

Partnering with Vancouver’s East Side Games (ESG) and Busted Tranny (BT) Productions who are behind cult mockumentary films FUBAR, FUBAR II and spin off television series FUBAR – Age of Computer, this will be the first time characters Terry and Dean are set to debut in a mobile game.

What are you most proud of in the work that you do?

Kano’s mission is to build meaningful connections through lasting social games. Their players are the reason for their success, and that’s why Player Obsession is one of their core values.

The team is proud of the values driven culture that it has created and fosters every day. Kano moves at a fast pace so it is imperative that every employee aligns with its values. This allows members to focus on what’s important, and the comfort of knowing that their teammates have their backs.

Lastly, Kano was founded and is headquartered in Victoria, BC. The team is passionate and invested in growing our amazing tech community, working with great organizations like VIATEC, HighTechU, Canada Learns Code and all the amazing and collaborative companies in its city.

If your team had a theme song, what would it be and why?

We polled the team, this is what they said!

Happy
Hooked on a Feeling
Everyone Wants to Rule the World
Black or White
Whatever It Takes – Imagine Dragons
Nothing is going to stop us now
Walk It, Talk It – Migos ft. Drake
We are the Champions x 2 – Queen
I’m Bringing Sexy Back
Shake it Off – Taylor Swift
Techno Syndrome – Mortal Kombat theme song
Drum and bass– the more hardcore the better
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
Sandstorm
Edvard Grieg’s Suite No. 1, Op. 46 – I. Morning Mood
Old Town Road (Remix)

It seems they can’t choose just one! Which really is just a great representation of the diversity and the varying interests they have on their fabulous team!

What are some hopes and dreams for your company?

Kano hopes to continue to develop hit products, create and grow career opportunities, and establish Victoria as a game developers hub.

As a company, it strives to be a great place to work and will continue to iterate on creating a space and culture that people are proud of.

Lastly, Kano will continue to reflect on where the company started and the growth it has seen. Remembering their mission statement, what drove success, and leaning on core values to ensure they push forward with integrity.

Why is Victoria a great spot for your organization?

Just as it tries to foster community for its players, Kano is proud to be a part of a community that invests in the growth of its local tech industry and talent.

With amazing companies generating almost $6B in revenue per year, talent feeding from three major post secondary institutions, and access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs starting new ventures, Victoria is like the unexpected warm smile from the person you kind of know; where you walk away from the interaction feeling energized and like you are a part of something meaningful.

The city itself has great balance of attractions and “the great outdoors.” This appeals to people who not only seek opportunities for growth in their careers, but would like to do so in conjunction with personal “life” goals: whether those are adventure, raising a family, or training for an iron man. Victoria has it all!