Global software powerhouse Salesforce has signed on as an anchor sponsor for a new meeting and events hub in Kanata North – an agreement local tech leaders hope will set the stage for more Silicon Valley giants to establish or expand their presence in the region. One of the world’s biggest software firms, San Francisco-based Salesforce makes tools that help companies manage their relationships with other customers. It employs more than 50,000 people worldwide and has offices in dozens of cities, including Toronto and Vancouver. But the software-as-a-service juggernaut has never had a footprint in the National Capital Region. While Salesforce isn’t establishing a physical office in the city just yet, Kanata North’s boosters believe the recently announced three-year sponsorship agreement sends a signal that the west-end tech district is the place to be for plucky startups and well-established industry leaders alike.