Calgary’s tech community will kick off the new year with a compelling conversation as Bobbie Racette — founder and former CEO of Virtual Gurus — headlines Redefining the Room: Bobbie Racette in Conversation on January 13, 2026 at the Platform Innovation Centre. Presented by A100 and Platform Calgary, the morning session runs 7:30-9:00am and features […]
Virtual Gurus
Zirtual Acquires Virtual Gurus’ Virtual Assistant Division, Marking Historic Calgary Exit
Calgary startup Virtual Gurus has sold its Virtual Assistant division to U.S.-based Zirtual, marking what is believed to be Canada’s first tech exit by an Indigenous woman founder. The deal, structured as an asset purchase, is part of Zirtual’s aggressive scale-up strategy to consolidate leading players in the virtual assistant market into a more integrated, […]
Virtual Gurus Founder Bobbie Racette Hands CEO Role to Successor
Calgary-based Virtual Gurus has announced a leadership transition, with founder Bobbie Racette stepping down as chief executive officer. Elliot Schneier, who joined the firm as chief operating officer in 2024, will take over as CEO. Racette led Virtual Gurus for eight years, transforming it from a $300 kitchen-table concept into an award-winning talent marketplace connecting […]
Calgary’s Virtual Gurus Enhances Customer Service with AI Receptionist
Calgary-based Virtual Gurus, a leader in online talent platforms in North America, has launched VG Connect, an AI-powered virtual receptionist service designed to enhance communication and customer relationship management for service-based businesses. Available 24/7, VG Connect leverages advanced conversational and knowledge-based AI across phone, email, chat, and text channels to ensure that businesses never miss […]
Slew of Calgary Tech Firms Rank Among Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies
Calgary’s Neo Financial claimed top spot in Report on Business magazine’s annual ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2024 thanks to three-year revenue growth of 38,000%. It’s the sixth annual edition of the list, which spans all sectors across the whole country to find firms with one thing in common: a “penchant for sustained growth.” And […]
Virtual Gurus Appoints Elliot Schneier as COO to Drive Growth and Innovation
Virtual Gurus has appointed Elliot Schneier as Chief Operating Officer, setting the stage for significant organizational growth. Founded by Bobbie Racette, Virtual Gurus has empowered over 800 professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, including single mothers, Indigenous peoples, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and those with alternate abilities. This commitment to inclusivity, coupled with substantial business growth, has earned […]
Upcoming Calgary Event to Underscore Advancement of Women in Canadian Tech
March 8th is International Women’s Day. The tradition of IWD began more than a century ago in 1911 and continues in 2024 as a “global movement focused on women’s advancement.” In support of the annual affair, local upstart Virtual Gurus intends to host an exclusive event at the organization’s headquarters in Calgary on March 5th. […]
Bobbie Racette’s Virtual Gurus Paves the Way for Diversity and Innovation in Calgary’s Tech Scene
Calgary’s tech community is an innovative space, but not many people understand the power of thinking outside of the box quite like Bobbie Racette. After losing her oil and gas job in 2015, Bobbie (an Indigenous, LGBTQ woman) pivoted and marketed herself as a virtual assistant in a bid to change the way online assistants […]
The Peak’s Bet on Canada Summit Lands in Calgary Next Week
The Peak’s Bet on Canada Summit lands in Calgary next week. The inaugural, one-day summit on October 23rd promises to shine a light on the most important topics, trends, and tools for businesses in 2024, with business leaders sharing practical advice on conquering timely business challenges and offering step-by-step actions business leaders can use immediately. Bet on […]
Virtual Gurus Collaborates with Mastercard on World Elite Mastercard for Business
Calgary’s Virtual Gurus is collaborating with Mastercard as one of their newest partners on the World Elite Mastercard for Business. World Elite Mastercard for Business cardholders will receive a 20 per cent discount on the first three months of their subscription to Virtual Gurus, a talent marketplace that leverages proprietary technology to match organizations with […]