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Alberta & Prairies  + Cross Border News  + Finance  | 

Activate Receives $72M in Financing to Support Global Expansion

Activate Games has doubled its credit facilities to $72 million to accelerate upcoming global growth.

The Winnipeg-based company said the financing, arranged with Export Development Canada (EDC) and Royal Bank of Canada, will support expansion across North America, Europe and Asia, with a goal of reaching 100 locations in 12 countries by 2027, said the company.

Activate, which offers a technology-driven live-action gaming experience, said it continues to see strong performance at existing locations, with high levels of repeat visitation and growing international demand.

The company has recently entered a number of international markets, including France, Mexico and Finland, while also adding three locations in London. Further expansion is planned in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, Norway and Austria.

“Activate was designed to scale globally,” said Adam Schmidt, the company’s founder and CEO. “We’ve built a capital-efficient model supported by proprietary technology and strong player retention. This financing positions us to accelerate development in priority markets while maintaining disciplined execution.”

The new funding will also support upcoming corporate locations in Miami, Las Vegas, Jacksonville, Ottawa and Montreal, said Activate.

“These expanded facilities provide the financial flexibility to execute our growth strategy with speed and prudence,” said Dan Haroun, CFO of Activate. “Doubling our credit capacity reflects lender confidence in our operating performance, development pipeline, and long-term expansion plan.”

EDC said the financing reflects its support for Canadian companies expanding internationally.

“EDC is proud to continue supporting Activate as it scales and showcases Canadian innovation at the intersection of digital technologies and entertainment – areas where Canada has significant strengths,” said Guillermo Freire, senior vice-president of EDC’s mid-market group. “Through our financing and broader suite of support, we’re helping high-potential Canadian companies like Activate build resilience and advance their growth.”

Founded in Winnipeg, Activate has grown to more than 70 locations across Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Mexico.

Photo: Activate Games

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About Monte Stewart

Monte Stewart serves as Content Director - Canada for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Monte provides daily news coverage of major Canadian commercial real estate markets, including Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. He has written about the real estate sector for various media outlets and Avison Young since the early 2000s. In addition, he has covered sports, general news and business for several leading wire services and publications, including The Canadian Press, The Associated Press, The Calgary Herald, The Globe and Mail, Research Money, The Daily Oil Bulletin, Natural Gas World and The Toronto Star. Monte is active in his community as a youth basketball coach and raises funds for such charitable causes as Movember.

  • ◦Financing
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