HUNTING for the next Canadian UNICORN

more than 900 people, with a roster of 12,000 senior-care providers using its software. PointClickCare filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Market last September, with a maximum offering price of $100 million. The company said it intends to file for a Canadian listing as well.

One of the more cutting-edge Canadian tech companies, D-Wave designs and builds quantum computers. Quantum computers are theoretically much faster than conventional computers, though the technology D-Wave has developed is in its infancy. Still, the hardware has attracted investments from big names, including Google, NASA, Lockheed Martin and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. D-Wave is currently the only company commercially making quantum computers.

Lightspeed, which provides point-of-sale platforms for retail companies, has been growing rapidly in recent years. The company doubled its revenue in 2014 and one year later, its platform was processing more than $10 billion in sales for its customers. Last year, the company pulled off an $80.7 million funding round led by pension fund manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Montreal-based Lightspeed has 25,000 customers and has managed to reel in some big names to use its platform, including Adidas and Harmon Kardon.

One of the older companies on the list, information technology company Intelex was founded in 1992 and last August secured a $160 million cash injection from investors. The company’s focus is environment, health and safety software, which allows its clients to monitor everything from workplace hazards to emission levels. Intelex has also managed to rope in some big name clients, including Toyota and Campbell’s.

Enerkem is a cleantech company founded in 2000 that converts nonrecyclable solid waste into usable fuels and chemicals. The Montreal-based firm operates two plants in Quebec and has a third under construction in Edmonton. Earlier this year during an appearance on Bloomberg TV, CEO Vincent Chornet strongly hinted that the company may be exploring an initial public offering. Enerkem raised $152.6 million last September for its new Alberta operations.