Dynamic entrepreneur Sahr Saffa is making waves in the tech and innovation scene with his company, C-Tribe. With over a decade of experience in the technology industry, he’s dedicated to building a diverse, creative, and innovative community. To find out more, visit iCalgary.
From the Basketball Court to the Boardroom
Sahr Saffa’s journey began with a different dream: he was determined to become a professional basketball player. But after an injury, his focus shifted to the business world. He quickly found success as the co-founder of a digital marketing agency, a venture that ignited his entrepreneurial passion and laid the groundwork for his future endeavours. This led him to become the Chairman of Saffa & Company, a modern media and communications holding company that explores the intersection of commerce, technology, and culture.
Saffa’s academic career started in September 2008 at the University of Alberta, where he studied economics and business law, successfully graduating in April 2014.
The Canadian entrepreneur is the founder, Chief Creative Officer, and Chairman of C-Tribe. He also serves as the CEO of his own software startup, Cappsule. Beyond his work with C-Tribe and Cappsule, Saffa is an active member of the community. As noted on Twitter, he’s part of the Global Shapers Edmonton Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. This involvement highlights his commitment to global development and supporting youth initiatives.
C-Tribe: Building a New Vision
Saffa founded C-Tribe in 2017 with a bold goal: to create dynamic opportunities and show the world that a region like Alberta could truly excel in the innovative and creative sectors. After a launch attempt in New York didn’t secure investments, Saffa returned to Canada with a renewed focus on building and nurturing the local innovation ecosystem.
Initially conceived as a tech and business conference, C-Tribe quickly evolved to include fashion shows, music performances, and other cultural events. This broader scope perfectly reflected Saffa’s vision of creating a multifaceted gathering that would blend art, innovation, and culture.
For Saffa, C-Tribe is about bridging gaps between different communities and forging strong connections to drive economic, social, and cultural development. It’s a modern media company that aims to highlight often-overlooked niches, celebrating their diversity and helping people achieve their dreams.
C-Tribe’s vision has attracted support from several major brands and organizations:
- RBC (Royal Bank of Canada): A key partner supporting the company’s goal of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among underrepresented groups.
- Ciroc: This premium vodka brand is also a proud supporter of C-Tribe’s initiatives.
- The Government of Alberta: This crucial government partnership underscores the company’s real impact on the economy and its ability to attract talent and investment. The government provides funding and organizational support, demonstrating its commitment to the growth of technology, culture, and community.
- FACTOR Canada (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings): A non-profit organization that supports the Canadian music industry. Their support for C-Tribe highlights its importance as a platform for promoting new Canadian musicians and performers, providing them with financial backing and resources to expand their opportunities.
The C-Tribe Festival & Conference
The C-Tribe Festival is a unique event that brings together engineers, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and culture enthusiasts. It creates a vibrant hub for sharing groundbreaking ideas and building businesses in the innovative and creative sectors. The festival and conferences have been running since 2017, starting as a gathering of original and avant-garde programs that captured the city’s essence and excitement.
The very first event took place at the Garneau Theatre. It lasted for just one day and hosted around 170 guests. Since then, the festival has grown into a significant social, economic, and cultural driver, expanding to a full five days.
The festival spans multiple verticals, including technology, gaming, culture, music, and fashion. Attendees can enjoy a variety of activities, from workshops and seminars to music events and fashion shows. A key feature of the event is its pitch competitions.
- The C-Elevateher Pitch Competition: This event is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs. It gives them a platform to showcase their innovative business projects to the public.
- The C-Black Pitch Competition: This competition focuses on empowering Black entrepreneurs, highlighting their pioneering ideas and ventures.
The C-Tribe festival offers a launching pad for early-stage entrepreneurs to present their projects. It’s a space that celebrates diversity and innovation, with a program designed to create a “sound space” that fosters creativity across multiple verticals, from tech and music to culture, fashion, and gaming. In 2024, a film vertical was also introduced.
C-Tribe inspires the imagination, stimulates creative thinking, and provides participants with the tools they need for personal and professional growth. To learn more, check out Sahr Saffa’s interview.
C-Tribe News & Media Partnerships
C-Tribe stands out by transcending different verticals and interests, just as people have their own unique characteristics. This makes C-Tribe inclusive and welcoming to all types of individuals. The media and news platform focuses on representing and promoting the stories of individuals and communities that are often overlooked. The platform covers events related to technology, music, culture, fashion, and gaming.
Every year, the C-Tribe news and media partnerships help shine a spotlight on these underestimated individuals and communities. It creates a space where ideas and interests from various fields can collide, fostering innovation and creative collaboration.
A Move to Calgary
Sahr Saffa’s move to Calgary, and his membership in the Social Innovation Centre, further amplified C-Tribe’s influence. He recalled meeting the director, Jerome Morgan, and learning about the Social Innovation Centre’s programs, which led him to get involved with the initiative.
Saffa later explained that he saw a clear connection between C-Tribe’s goals and the Social Innovation Centre.
The Future
Sahr Saffa’s ultimate vision is for C-Tribe to become Canada’s leading gathering for art, innovation, and culture. He aims to attract hundreds of thousands of participants and make a significant economic impact. The goal is to transform C-Tribe into a platform where attendees can gain financial, social, and intellectual capital, all while enjoying an unforgettable entertainment experience.
It’s worth noting that the company is investing heavily in its technology to help discover the hidden potential of the people who come into the C-Tribe ecosystem.
