Calgary-based startup TechJutsu is taking the frustration out of phone verification with its Software-as-a-Service platform, CallerVerify.com, offering a secure alternative to outdated security questions.
Founder and CEO Tracey Nyholt was inspired to create the solution after listening to her elderly father struggle to remember security answers when calling his bank. “I thought: there must be a better way,” Nyholt recalls.
CallerVerify’s unique approach leverages a caller’s existing two-factor authentication—such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or Okta Verify—to securely confirm identity over the phone. The result: stronger security without the friction of traditional verification methods.
Since launching, TechJutsu has grown 1,400% and expanded it’s customer base from Canada to include the U.S. and has plans to enter the U.K. this year.
That growth didn’t come without challenges. Nyholt says the biggest hurdle was pivoting from a services company to a product-focused business with recurring revenue. The team used services revenue to fund product development, avoiding outside investment.
Being based in Calgary has played a role in the company’s culture and momentum. “Calgary has a roll-up-your-sleeves and get-it-done attitude, and all our employees embrace that,” says Nyholt. She adds that the city’s strong sense of community, along with support from incubators and advisors, has been instrumental.
Platform Calgary has been one such supporter. Nyholt credits its peer programs with helping her and other entrepreneurs problem-solve and share the load. “It means we are not alone in this epic journey.”
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