With explosions and gunfire rocking parts of Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of its western neighbour, B.C. tech firm GeoComply Solutions Inc. is attempting to get Ukrainian employees and their families to Canada.
“GeoComply is working with its team in the Ukraine on various programs to ensure that they are as safe as they possibly can be,” GeoComply spokeswoman Amy Gill told BIV in an email.
“This is our No. 1 priority. It's an incredibly sensitive time, as I'm sure you can understand, and I can't provide more information.”
Gill did not immediately respond to a follow-up request to speak to a member of the leadership team.
But a source with knowledge of the matter told BIV the company is trying to get 11 employees and 12 of their family members – 23 people in total – out of Ukraine and to GeoComply’s office in Montreal.
The cybersecurity firm is facing challenges due to the fact they need a Quebec-based referral partner to get to Montreal, according to the source.
GeoComply specializes in detecting whether users of streaming services or online gambling websites are trying to mask their locations using means such as virtual private networks (VPN).
Last year it was among a flood of B.C. tech companies to reach unicorn status, a term used to describe privately held tech firms with valuations of US$1 billion or more.
GeoComply opened its office in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 2012 and is currently advertising more than 20 open positions there.
Despite Vancouver being GeoComply’s headquarters, the company advertises Kharkiv on its website as being home to its largest number of employees.
BIV has reached out to GeoComply to confirm how many workers are based in Kharkiv.
The city of 1.4 million is located in Ukraine’s northeast, close to the Russian border, and has been the target of airstrikes since the invasion began Thursday, according to multiple media reports.
It was among the first cities in Ukraine targeted by Russia after the all-out invasion commenced.
Commercial air travel has been cut off amid the armed conflict, meaning Ukrainians seeking to leave the country must travel west on highways.
At 603,548 square kilometres in area, Ukraine is about two-thirds the size of B.C.
