Big Hat Group

What Big Hat Group does

Big Hat Group Inc. is a Calgary-based, founder-led IT consulting firm established in 2013 that designs digital workspaces and supports mobile, end-user computing environments for enterprise organizations. The company delivers custom .NET, Node.js, and Python application development on Microsoft Azure, reference architectures and Terraform automation for cloud infrastructure, Windows 365 Cloud PC and Microsoft Intune deployments, instructor-led training, and public speaking engagements. Its founder, Kevin Kaminski, is a 17-time Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and personally sells and delivers every engagement, with no offshore handoff or intermediary channel.

The firm's underlying technology stack is anchored in the Microsoft ecosystem (Azure, Windows 365, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Virtual Desktop, Copilot Studio, Azure AI Agent Service) and extends to a technology-agnostic AI strategy that includes the open-source OpenClaw agent platform. In March 2026, Big Hat Group launched BHGBrain, an open-source MCP memory server built on SQLite and Qdrant that provides semantic recall, hybrid search, and tiered retention for AI agents, representing the company's first reusable software product alongside its professional services portfolio.

Big Hat Group monetizes primarily through professional services engagements governed by separate statements of work, supplemented by instructor-led training (with a flagship four-day Windows 365 Now course), paid public speaking, and a books and software storefront. The go-to-market motion is entirely direct and founder-led, supported by a high-cadence content strategy across weekly AI ecosystem blog series (Claude Weekly, Codex Weekly, Copilot Weekly, OpenClaw Weekly, xAI Weekly, China AI Weekly) and conference presence at TechMentor, BriForum, MVPDays, Microsoft Virtual Academy, and the Calgary Citrix User Group. Named enterprise customers span lululemon, TransAlta, Alberta Health Services, Suncor, RBC, and TELUS, and the firm is a founding partner in PortalFuse Inc., a Microsoft Intune and M365 management platform.

Name

Big Hat Group

Legal name

Big Hat Group Inc.

Website

https://bighatgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Hat Group Inc. is a Calgary-based, founder-led IT consulting firm delivering custom application development, Azure infrastructure, Windows 365 deployment, and AI automation services to enterprise clients across Canada. Founded in 2013 by 17x Microsoft MVP Kevin Kaminski, the firm also publishes the open-source BHGBrain MCP memory server.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Consulting Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure Outsourcing (IO) (BPAEAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Infrastructure, Networking & Systems Administration Training (BPAEANAJ)

Keywords

• Microsoft cloud consulting
• Azure infrastructure services
• Windows 365 deployment
• AI automation consulting
• Intune endpoint management

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. IT Consulting Services: Custom software development, cloud infrastructure architecture, and AI automation consulting engagements delivered by the same practitioner who sells the engagement. Governed by separate statements of work or service agreements.
2. Instructor-Led Training: Instructor-led courses on Windows 365, Intune, Azure, and AI agent deployment. Flagship course Windows 365 Now takes attendees from zero to deployment-ready in 4 days. Also produces open-source training materials and reference architectures.
3. Public Speaking: Keynotes, breakout sessions, and hands-on workshops at conferences and corporate events delivered by a 17x Microsoft MVP.
4. Books & Software: Sale of books and software products through the company's own storefront.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Big Hat Group Inc. provides IT consulting, architecture, and deployment services for enterprise customers on Microsoft technologies including Azure, Windows 365, Microsoft Intune, and AI platforms (Copilot Studio, OpenClaw, Azure AI Agent Service). It also delivers instructor-led training (flagship Windows 365 Now course), public speaking engagements, and an open-source MCP memory server called BHGBrain.

Product overview

Big Hat Group is an IT consulting firm offering professional services across Microsoft technologies and AI automation. The portfolio consists of consulting services (Application Development, Azure & Cloud Infrastructure, AI & Automation, Windows 365 & Modern Endpoint, Training, and Public Speaking) plus one open-source tool called BHGBrain — an MCP memory server for AI agents built on SQLite and Qdrant with semantic recall and hybrid search capabilities. The consulting services are delivered by a 17x Microsoft MVP and focus on enterprise deployment of Azure, Windows 365, Intune, and AI agent platforms including OpenClaw, Copilot Studio, and Azure AI Agent Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BHGBrain Open-source MCP memory server providing a shared vector brain for AI agents. Built on SQLite and Qdrant with semantic recall, automatic deduplication, hybrid search, and tiered retention for persistent AI agent memory.
• Application Development Services Custom .NET, Node.js, and Python application development on Azure with SaaS architecture, API design, and AI-augmented development workflows for enterprise customers.
• Azure & Cloud Infrastructure Services Reference architectures, Terraform automation, security hardening, and migration planning for Azure workloads at any scale.
• AI & Automation Services Technology-agnostic AI strategy evaluating and deploying Copilot Studio, OpenClaw, Azure AI Agent Service, and custom AI agent solutions for enterprise deployments.
• Windows 365 & Modern Endpoint Services Cloud PC deployment, Microsoft Intune management, security baselines, and instructor-led training for Windows 365 and endpoint management.
• Training Services Instructor-led courses on Windows 365, Intune, Azure, and AI agent deployment. Flagship Windows 365 Now course takes attendees from zero to deployment-ready in 4 days.
• Public Speaking Keynotes, breakout sessions, and hands-on workshops at conferences and corporate events delivered by 17x Microsoft MVP Kevin Kaminski.
• Books & Software Sale of books and software products through the company's own storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• Windows 365 architecture cut provisioning time from days to minutes and improved security posture

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PortalFuse Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025Big Hat Group is a founding partner in PortalFuse Inc., bringing automation, AI-driven insights, and advanced management capabilities to Microsoft Intune and M365 management. The partnership is focused on shaping the future of Intune and M365 management through joint product development and go-to-market efforts.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Slalom: Global consulting firm with a deeply established Microsoft practice covering Azure, M365, and AI/Copilot. Comparable to Big Hat Group because it targets the same enterprise modernization buyer with overlapping Microsoft technology stack, but Slalom operates with regional delivery centers and a much broader services portfolio.
• Insight Enterprises: Global Microsoft partner offering hardware, software, services, and consulting across Azure, Microsoft 365, and Copilot. Comparable because it competes for the same enterprise Microsoft modernization wallet, though Insight's portfolio is heavily weighted to product resale and managed services rather than bespoke consulting.

Direct peers

• Avanade: Joint Accenture–Microsoft venture and the largest pure-play Microsoft consulting partner globally. Directly comparable because it sells Azure, Microsoft 365, and Copilot consulting services to enterprise customers — the exact same buyer profile and technology stack as Big Hat Group, but at vastly greater scale.
• Adastra: North American (Canadian-headquartered) data and cloud consulting firm specializing in Azure, data platforms, and AI — closely matching Big Hat Group's Azure-first, AI-augmented consulting model and shared Canadian enterprise buyer base.
• Velosio: US-based Microsoft-focused consulting firm delivering cloud, ERP/CRM, and Microsoft 365 modernization services. Closely comparable to Big Hat Group in its Microsoft-centric go-to-market and enterprise modernization focus, though Velosio's practice is broader in scope.
• Modus Create: US-headquartered digital consulting firm (formed via merger with New Signature, a top Microsoft Gold Partner) delivering Azure, Microsoft 365, and custom application development. Closely matches Big Hat Group's custom-development-plus-Microsoft-cloud consulting model and enterprise buyer profile.

Regional players

• Pure IT: Calgary-based IT services and managed services firm with Microsoft partnership serving Alberta enterprises. Highly comparable in geography (same Calgary HQ), Microsoft-centric stack, and enterprise customer profile as Big Hat Group.
• Long View Systems: Canadian-headquartered IT solutions and managed services provider with deep Microsoft partnership delivering Azure, M365, and endpoint solutions. Comparable as a Canadian Microsoft-focused services firm, though much larger and offering managed services rather than pure consulting.
• Compugen: Canadian IT solutions and services provider with strong Microsoft partnership delivering cloud, workplace, and infrastructure services across Canada. Comparable as a Canadian-headquartered Microsoft partner, though Compugen operates at greater scale with a broader managed-services portfolio.
• WBM Technologies: Western Canadian IT services and solutions provider with Microsoft partnership delivering cloud, modern workplace, and managed services to enterprise and government customers — directly competing for the same Alberta/Saskatchewan enterprise buyer profile as Big Hat Group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kkaminsk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-hat-group-inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigHatGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Hat Group