Investing in Tomorrow's Technology
 Jeff Pelletier, Jonathan Galbraith, Tom Marchand
Vancouver
Principals, Basetwo Media Inc., Vancity
BC's credit unions recognize that today's young entrepreneurs are tomorrow's success stories. A case in point is Basetwo Media, a dynamic Vancouver-based multimedia firm with a promising future. But three years ago when one of the company's founders, Jeff Pelletier, 24, tried to get a business loan at the traditional bank where he'd held an account since he was a kid, he was turned down.
"They weren't very helpful. They couldn't even give us a credit card," Pelletier says in Basetwo Medias' office in the historic Sun Tower near Gastown.
It didn't take much convincing to get Vancity credit union interested and involved. Pelletier and his two partners, Tom Marchand, 24, and Jonathan Galbraith, 33, produce promotional, entertainment and educational videos, provide VR (virtual reality) imaging services and develop websites for an impressive range of corporate and non-profit clients. They also create demo reels, tape casting sessions and produce EPKs (electronic press kits) for people in the film and television industry.
Basetwo Media represents one of the hottest growth industries in the province-new media-according to Leading Edge BC, an association of regional companies in a variety of sectors that is working with the provincial government to promote international and business investment.
Maybe the banks aren't paying attention, but the people at Vancity's Lynn Creek branch knew a good thing when they saw it.
"They were very receptive. They gave us a business chequing account, and EnviroVisa and a loan (in the form of an extended line of credit). We deal with one person, Amber, and it's great to have the same person to talk to instead of someone different every time."
It's paying off. Now into their third year, Basetwo Media is busier than ever and they've had to expand their office space.
"It's a great match," says Pelletier about the company's relationship with one of BC's credit union's, where an investment in people is an investment in the future.
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