The company was launched in the midst of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by a two-person team. It wasn't long before founders Vincent and Pierre gathered investors and convinced them that Crewdle would be a game-changer in the world of virtual communications. Their vision and energy also allowed them to put together a diverse, high-caliber team very quiclky.The first version of the platform launched in the spring of 2020 and was developed, designed, coded, tested and debugged by none other than the founding duo.
Vincent Lamanna, CEO, is an experienced technology and product leader. He’s been developing software, video games and web services and platforms for over 20 years. If you catch him giving an interview or participating in a panel from home, pay attention to the background. You'll see souvenir frames of the video games he programmed when he was working for the industry's biggest players, before launching his own business.
As for Pierre Campeau, COO and CFO, he's one of the pioneers of the IT industry and digital marketing agencies in Quebec. Amongst other things, he was President and Founder of Ergonet and Sid Lee Technologies. In a career spanning over two decades, always at the forefront, he's seen a lot! Insightful and innovative, he has become a talented business manager.
20 years ago, the Web industry in Quebec was at its outset. Pierre and Vincent were among those who paved the way. It takes early adopters to create an innovative technology aiming to revolutionize the way we do our virtual communications!
All the big players in virtual communications use servers through which all streams and data pass before being redirected to the participants of the virtual meeting. While the data is encrypted from the participants to the servers, and then from the servers to the participants, it will (always) be decrypted on the servers. That's how this technology works. Privacy and confidentiality are thus broken promises with server-based services.
So, why do Web giants keep using them? Because using them "correctly" yields data to be sold to third parties for advertising purposes. Because many have their own server companies that profit from it. Because, at the limit of what is acceptable, one can listen to conversations, manipulate information and even entertain unclear objectives...
Peer-to-peer technology is exactly the opposite! At Crewdle, we have developed a unique peer-to-peer technology that eliminates the need for servers that interfere with our virtual communications. By connecting directly with others, Crewdle ensures end-to-end encryption for maximum security.
In other words, "peer-to-peer" simply means "with each other": no servers, no risk of data or identity theft, no intruders or intrusions.
Vincent and Pierre recruited a team of nearly a dozen full-time employees. From the company's inception to the summer of 2021, all work was (and still is!) done remotely, between three continents and half a dozen cities. The first time the team met, in Montréal, was a moving moment! It also confirmed what everyone felt: when we say that a videoconferencing platform can bring users closer together, foster collaboration and help cope with the isolation that sometimes comes with remote work, it's true. So true.
It's simple, the streams travel directly between users rather than making thousand-miles detours through servers. The image and sound quality is just better.
Today, about twenty people gravitate daily around the Crewdle team, and each one of them will tell you: no matter where they work from in the world,the emotion breaks through the screen.
All the big players in virtual communications use servers through which all streams and data pass before being redirected to the participants of the virtual meeting. While the data is encrypted from the participants to the servers, and then from the servers to the participants, it will (always) be decrypted on the servers. That's how this technology works. Privacy and confidentiality are thus broken promises with server-based services.
So, why do Web giants keep using them? Because using them "correctly" yields data to be sold to third parties for advertising purposes. Because many have their own server companies that profit from it. Because, at the limit of what is acceptable, one can listen to conversations, manipulate information and even entertain unclear objectives...
Peer-to-peer technology is the exact opposite! At Crewdle, we have developed a unique peer-to-peer technology that eliminates the need for servers that interfere with our virtual communications. By connecting us directly to each other, Crewdle ensures end-to-end encryption for maximum security.
In other words, "peer-to-peer" simply means "with each other": no servers, no risk of data or identity theft, and no intruders or intrusions.
Vincent Lamanna and Pierre Campeau founded Crewdle with a mission to combine their desire to innovate using peer-to-peer communication with their deep commitment to the preservation of natural resources and respect for the environment.
These are not just intentions or wishful thinking! In addition to striving to develop unique technology with a minimal environmental footprint (the greenest one out there), Crewdle is taking concrete action to fight climate change.
Because the founders chose to invest in Planetair's Gold Standard carbon credits to reduce this already small footprint, we are proud to have achieved carbon neutral certification - and to be the first company in our class in the world to receive the prestigious certification from Canada's leading climate change organization.
During a wine tasting in the purest Montréal tradition, Vincent's wife met Pierre and the two of them engaged in a deep conversation about startups, startup financing and more generally about Montreal. In the middle of the conversation, she paused and said to Pierre: "Wait here, there is someone you just absolutely need to meet!" She was talking about her partner, Vincent.
At the time, the idea of revolutionizing virtual communications was already making its way in Vincent's mind. Little did he know that his partner, who came pulling him by the arm enthusiastically, was about to introduce him to the man who would become his business partner and great friend!
Crewdle really is all about the “crew” and what we can accomplish together when we listen to our instincts and our hearts.
Thank you for being in this with us, whether you’re just getting on board or you’ve been spreading the word from day 1. Now that you are here, you’re making a difference while enjoying a secure, top of the line and simple app for all your video calls and video conferences. One conversation at a time. And that’s something! ✌️ 🌎 💚
