Attending CVPR ’17
15th November 2016 – Andrew A.
This week’s Spotlight on Tech features AltumView, a company that designs and sells intelligent cameras. They also focus on developing advanced algorithms for smart cameras.
Describe your company and the primary products.
Founded in April 2016 by a group of researchers from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and industrial veterans, AltumView Systems Inc. has quickly assembled a strong team with complementary expertise in video compression and processing, computer vision, artificial intelligence, industrial camera design, manufacturing, financing and marketing. The company is developing innovative intelligent camera products and solutions for applications such as machine vision, surveillance, intelligent transportation, smart city, robotics, and other emerging artificial intelligence areas.
Describe the culture at your company.
AltumView currently has about 15 people, and six of them have Ph.D. degrees. One focus of AltumView’s current R&D efforts is deep learning, a revolution in artificial intelligence that has achieved numerous breakthroughs and opened up many new markets in the last few years. In fact, “Altum” is the Latin word for “Deep”. Based on the team’s strong research background in signal processing and video coding, AltumView has already made great strides in deep learning, especially for embedded platforms.
Describe your most recent achievement or milestone.
AltumView has been backed by angel investors, and has already signed customers from US, Japan, and China. It started with a small office in the BC Tech Innovation Hub in June 2016, where they held important meetings with several investors, government officers, suppliers and customers, with the great help from BC Tech. It grew so fast that after only three months, it moved to a 3,000-square-feet office at 8525 Baxter Place, Burnaby, the former PMC Sierra building, which is one of the most prestigious high-tech office buildings in Metro Vancouver. The surprising departure from The Hub was blessed by BC Tech. More than 20 guests attended the opening ceremony of their new office on October 18, including representatives from the Consulate General of China in Vancouver, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), BC Ministry of International Trade, City of Burnaby, SFU, Arrow Electronics Inc, Altera Corporation (an Intel Company), and BC Tech.
What are your short-term goals?
AltumView strives to be one of the most admired high-tech companies in Vancouver. It values contributions from employees and provides enormous career growth opportunities. It offers flexible work arrangements, attractive stock options, free lunches, and many other perks. The company expects to have exponential growth in the next few years, and always welcomes talents in research, software, firmware, hardware, and FPGA.