Firm takes on the world with help from CannyBill

Mar 26 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

IT may sound like the name of a friendly Tyneside neighbour or an affable local shopkeeper, but CannyBill is a new piece of software which is expected to help a fledgling technology firm take on the world.

And such is the global appeal of the product – which is aimed at any company looking to handle online payments – it has already been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian and even Geordie by its Newcastle-based creators.

Digital company dpivision has already gained 600 clients from around the world in the five weeks since its launch and is now in talks with investors in the US over the possibility of setting up an office in North America to grow the business.

Dpivision flew to Texas last week to attend the South by South West Interactive festival – one of the biggest events on the planet for technology businesses which gives firms exposure to more than 29,000 key industry players in the US.

The company was chosen from hundreds of entries in a UK Trade and Investment competition to attend the event and its founder, Wladimir Baranoff-Rossine, says he has met “hundreds” of potential clients and investors during the trip.

He said the company now plans to roll out other products under the Canny label in the hope of growing it into a global brand and is currently in talks to secure investment to fund expansion in the States.

He also said the firm had developed a special Geordie version of the software to highlight its commitment to the region and raise the profile of the North East.