Winnipeg's Hidden Gem: How TAIV Shocked Everyone by Making Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List! Don’t Miss the Inside Scoop!

In a surprising turn of events, Noah Palansky awoke to discover that his company, TAIV, had been named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for 2026 in the Marketing & Advertising category. Alongside co-founder Jordan Davis, Palansky expressed disbelief at the recognition, saying, “It’s genuinely a surprise who makes the list. Seeing they just published our name… yeah, great way to wake up.”

For these two Manitobans, this accolade marks a significant milestone in a journey that began during the North Forge’s RampUp Weekend in 2018. The startup competition, which lasted 50 hours, led to Palansky and Davis winning the top prize, which motivated them to transform their pitch into a functioning business. However, their initial vision for TAIV faced significant hurdles, particularly during the pandemic.

TAIV officially launched in April 2021 but quickly hit roadblocks when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of restaurants and bars across North America. Their original business model, which involved charging venues a monthly fee, became obsolete almost overnight. This prompted a major pivot; the company reinvented itself as an ad-supported platform that replaces traditional live-TV commercials in venues with hyper-targeted, venue-approved promotions.

This strategic shift not only salvaged the business but propelled it forward. Since then, TAIV has seen remarkable growth, with a minimum of doubling its revenue every year. The company has now expanded to power nearly 5,000 venues, primarily in the United States, and collaborates with major advertisers such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Netflix, T-Mobile, FanDuel, Fox, and United Airlines.

The simplicity of TAIV’s product is compelling. When a sports game broadcast cuts to a commercial, the ad is replaced with relevant promotions tailored to the venue, eliminating wasted impressions and creating a seamless experience for patrons. This model allows venues to maintain control over their atmosphere while earning shared revenue from advertisers, who benefit from precise targeting at scale.

Remarkably, the company has grown its workforce from 30 to 75 employees in just this past year, with approximately 80% of the staff based in Winnipeg and the remainder spread across key U.S. cities. Palansky describes this as a period of acceleration, with a focus on expanding partnerships and onboarding new advertisers, leveraging the network effects that come with rapid growth.

Even with this growth, the recognition from Forbes stands out as a rare moment of reflection for Palansky. “There’s very few moments in your journey as an entrepreneur where some third party reaches out… and says, ‘Hey, like we’ve noticed what you did, and we think it’s awesome,’” he noted. “This felt like one of those rare moments.”

Palansky is also mindful of the broader implications this recognition has for Manitoba. He emphasizes the importance of local entrepreneurs achieving global acknowledgment, explaining, “I wish we had more Winnipeg entrepreneurs who are on the global stage getting recognized, because I think it’s really good for the local ecosystem. [Entrepreneurship] is something I’m trying to promote, doing everything I can to help get others off the ground.”

His enthusiasm for entrepreneurship is palpable, particularly when discussing TAIV’s evolution. “You can choose how you want the world to look in the future,” he said, reflecting on the control that entrepreneurship gives in shaping outcomes, even in the face of potential failure. For Palansky, the defining moment came when the technology first went live in a venue, and the system worked—“or mostly worked, back then,” he added with a chuckle.

TAIV’s story is not just one of individual success; it mirrors the innovation ecosystem in Manitoba. Organizations like North Forge, which offers Canada’s largest cost-free startup incubator, are instrumental in helping founders transition from ideas to investment-ready ventures through various educational programs. TAIV’s trajectory serves as a prime example of how local resources can nurture entrepreneurial endeavors into globally recognized brands.

As TAIV continues its expansion across North America, Palansky hopes that more founders from Winnipeg will follow in their footsteps. Local businesses interested in advertising or implementing TAIV’s technology in their venues are encouraged to reach out at [email protected]. With an innovative approach and a commitment to community growth, TAIV exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship that is increasingly gaining recognition on the world stage.