Globalive Communications Corporation is a privately held Canadian communications and investment company founded in 1997. Globalive is best known for its Wind Mobile, Yak Communications, and OneConnect brands. The company's investment arm, Globalive Capital, was founded in 2013, making investments in businesses, primarily in technology, media and telecommunications companies operating in Canada and the United States. It holds investments in over 25 private companies, 15 micro-cap public companies and 10 venture funds.
History/Group of Companies
1998: Canopco, Interclear, Assemble, and Globalive Communications Globalive founder and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Lacavera started Canopco, in the hospitality industry. Canopco was ranked 5th in Profit Magazine's list of "Canada's Hottest Start-ups" in 2001. In January 2000, Lacavera also launched InterClear, a billing and collection service. In January 2002, Lacavera launched his third product, Assemble Conferencing. These businesses were consolidated in January 2003 as Globalive Communications. 2000: Enunciate Conferencing Globalive co-founded Enunciate Conferencing, a fast-growing event conferencing service provider, which was divested to Premiere Global Services. 2003: OneConnect Globalive founded OneConnect in 2003 and quickly built it into one of Canada's largest independent business telecommunications providers, selling to small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality, retail, franchise, security, real estate and medical industries. 2006: Yak Communications Globalive acquired Yak Communications Inc. in an all-cash offer of US$67.7 million, and has since grown the company to a leadership position in residential communications services, adding Digital Home Phone and Internet service to its established long-distance calling services. 2007: Pragmatic Globalive co-founded Pragmatic Solutions, a conferencing and collaborations company specializing in audio, web, and video conferencing. Pragmatic has grown into one of North America's conferencing providers with $7.5 million in annual revenue. WIND Mobile Globalive founded WIND Mobile in 2008. WIND Mobile made a bid of $442M to secure the wireless spectrum required for the launch of the WINDMobile network in Canada, with the backing of Egypt's Orascom Telecom. Globalive subsequently made its first purchase in Industry Canada's radio spectrum auction, setting the stage for a new national cell phone network in Canada. WIND Mobile successfully launched wireless phone services in December 2009 in Toronto and Calgary. It launched service in Edmonton and Ottawa soon after, followed by Vancouver in June 2010 In September 2014, Globalive agreed to acquire Vimplecom's majority stake in WIND Mobile for $300 million. Wind Mobile was sold to Shaw Communications in March 2016 for C$1.6 billion. Globalive/Globalive Capital 2013: In January 2013, Globalive launched Globalive Capital, a VC company focused on accelerating early stage technology and telecommunications companies. Globalive Capital also holds interest in real estate and co-investments. Since 2000, the Globalive group has founded, seeded, financed, operated, and divested a number of companies in the Internet, Communications, and Technology sectors. 2015: Anthony Lacavera stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Globalive Capital, staying on as the company's Chairman. Brice Scheschuk, previously Chief Financial Officer, was appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Globalive Communications. 2016: In September 2016, Globalive sold Yak Communications to Distributel, who added the brand to a growing telecommunications portfolio which includes Acanac and Thinktel. Globalive Media 2017: In October 2017, Globalive launched a company that curates and produces multimedia content focused on business and technology trends. Globalive Media was co-founded by Anthony Lacavera and consumer technology journalist Michael Bancroft. 2018: In November 2018, Globalive Media premiered its first television series. The weekly program, which uncovers technologies changing the way people live and do business, airs on Bloomberg Television across its global markets.
Globalive Capital’s Investments
In addition to Globalive's investments in the telecommunications, media and technology sector, Globalive has built a significant portfolio of real estate holdings, primarily in two asset classes: student housing and residential Toronto condominiums. Globalive has also invested in over 25 private companies, 10 venture funds and 15 micro-cap public companies including Blue Ant Media, Mill Street Brewery and TouchBistro Inc.
