From Toronto to the FIFA World Cup: How BIG Digital is powering fan experiences beyond the stadium

BIG Digital designs and manufactures interactive digital kiosks and portable billboards that combine hardware, software, and analytics into a single solution.

Used at major events, retail locations, and public spaces, their technology allows brands to engage audiences through immersive experiences while capturing real-time data on customer behaviour. 

“We create physical-world digital and interactive technology to engage people where they are,” says co-founder and CEO Jake Neiman.

The company was incubated during the COVID-19 pandemic and officially launched in 2022, just as live events and in-person experiences began to return.

From the beginning, BIG Digital focused on environments where large audiences gather, knowing its technology would be most effective at scale.

For BIG Digital, expanding internationally was less about geography and more about access to large audiences, major events, and global brands.

Breaking into that space came with challenges. Their products are physical, requiring careful coordination to transport and deploy, while building relationships with major brands required credibility and the right connections. 

“We need volume to be successful,” Jake explains.

Early on, gaining that visibility required both investment and a clear strategy. 

BIG Digital began working with Trade Commissioners in 2020, early in its development, engaging with Sarah Mitchell at the Ontario Regional Office and her colleagues to better understand how to approach international markets and where to focus its efforts.

Through this relationship, the company accessed funding through our CanExport SMEs program, enabling participation in key international trade shows and direct engagement with potential clients and partners.

Trade Commissioners also connected the company to targeted programming, including industry roadshows, helping them build relationships in priority markets. 

“These were foundational stepping stones,” says Jake. “They helped us access markets and opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have had.”  

Trade shows quickly became a turning point for BIG Digital.

With support from CanExport and Trade Commissioners, the company was able to participate in industry events where global brands and agencies were actively looking for new ways to engage audiences.

At first, these events were a way to demonstrate their technology. But the team quickly saw a bigger opportunity. Instead of simply exhibiting, they began integrating their kiosks into the event experience, powering schedules, wayfinding, and branded content.

“It evolved to the point where we now power the show,” Jake explains. “Our exposure at those events is beyond anything money could buy.” 

The early support BIG Digital received helped open doors and laid the groundwork for the partnerships that followed.

That visibility led to conversations, and those conversations turned into partnerships. Over time, BIG Digital began working with global brands such as Spotify, LEGO, Nike, and Live Nation, along with agencies delivering large-scale campaigns. 

Since then, the company has experienced rapid growth, with new opportunities and partnerships accelerating.

This project, supported through CanExport and built on relationships developed with Trade Commissioners, reflects how early investments in trade shows and connections can lead to opportunities at globally recognized events. 

Building on this momentum, BIG Digital is now supporting a broader range of FIFA-related promotional opportunities across host markets. These include fan experiences, digital installations in retail environments featuring tournament content, and kiosks in transit hubs designed to engage travellers. 

Together, these experiences extend the reach of the tournament beyond stadiums, connecting brands with fans across multiple touchpoints.

The FIFA World Cup represents a major milestone, showcasing how Canadian innovation can contribute to global experiences at scale. 

Looking ahead, BIG Digital is focused on expanding its technology across larger retail networks and continuing to refine how brands connect with audiences in physical spaces. 

Their experience shows how early support from Trade Commissioners and CanExport, combined with a clear strategy and creative execution, can help Canadian companies expand internationally. 

For Canadian businesses looking to grow beyond their home market, the message is clear: the right support can open doors, but it’s how you use those opportunities that makes the difference. 

Looking to diversify your exports? We help Canadian companies of all sizes succeed in international markets through export advisory services, funding, accelerator programs, and tailored support at trade missions and events.

A solid diversification strategy can help you build long-term stability and global success. You can expand your client base and navigate challenges such as:

• unexpected changes in market access
• exchange-rate fluctuations
• shifts in foreign-government policies

Explore resources from us and our partners to do business with the world.