Canadian Tech Journal

Export mode: How to go global without going broke Three Vancouver leaders share lessons from the front lines of expansion, digging into what it really takes to scale internationally — and what founders often get wrong.

Sarah Goodman, founder of Chiwis; Felix Böck, CEO of ChopValue; and Stephanie Sang, founder and CEO of Granted Consulting share hard-earned lessons about global growth, from navigating regulations to finding funding.

Stemcell Technologies receives $50M investment from federal government The funding will help support the $222 million build of two new biomanufacturing facilities, to keep jobs in Metro Vancouver.

The Government of Canada is injecting $49.9 million into STEMCELL Technologies’ to help keep jobs in Metro Vancouver and produce essential inputs for vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics.

The move will create 460 new roles and 900 co-op positions for students.

Fix housing, grow tech: A big week for Vancouver's proptech sector Four new announcements tie the tech community to the city’s unaffordable real estate.

Vancouver remains the third-most unaffordable housing market in the world, despite the city’s booming proptech sector. In the last seven days, four key developments unfolded 👇

HireNorth's network matches Canadian jobseekers with opportunities The movement to buy Canadian should include hiring Canadian, says the platform's creator.

In response to economic challenges and rising layoffs in the tech sector, Vancouver-based career fair platform Withe has launched HireNorth — a site designed to bring together Canadian companies, community organizations, and job seekers.

Vanedge Capital receives InBC investment for undisclosed amount The Vancouver-based venture fund will support early-stage hard tech companies in the province.

🚀 InBC Investment Corp., B.C.’s $500 million fund, has invested in Vanedge Capital, a Vancouver-based VC outfit focused on early-stage hard tech.

Vanedge recently saw success with Raxium, which was acquired by Google12 months after Vanedge’s investment.

UniUni acquires Toronto-based Shippie to expand North American last-mile delivery The move strengthens the Richmond-based company's position in e-commerce logistics.

Richmond-based UniUni is making big moves in the e-commerce logistics space. Fresh off a $30M Series C2 round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, UniUni has acquired Toronto’s Shippie to boost its same- and next-day delivery capabilities.

Addy Pays $100K Settlement for Unregistered Trading Violations The fractional-real-estate-investing platform has paid a $100,000 settlement to the BC Securities Commission.

Vancouver-based Addy, a platform that allows Canadians to invest in real estate for as little as $1, has paid a $100,000 settlement to the BC Securities Commission after admitting to trading securities without being registered.

InBC Ramps Up IP Strategy for BC's Tech Investment Portfolio InBC partners with Innovation Asset Collective to boost IP strategy for B.C. companies, helping startups develop and secure their intellectual property effectively.

InBC is doubling down on intellectual property.

Why does it matter? IP helps create competitive advantage for Vancouver companies, yet over half of Canadian IP is foreign-owned. InBC is the latest crown agency to ramp up focus on intellectual property.

Meet the finalists for the BC Cleantech Awards Cleantech ventures, supporters, and funders are vying to win in one of the five categories.

The finalists for the 2025 BC Cleantech Awards are here!

Foresight Canada has announced the innovators, leaders, and changemakers shaping B.C.’s cleantech future. From groundbreaking startups to industry giants, these finalists are driving sustainability and Canada’s transition to net zero.

Clio acquires ShareDo and enters the enterprise legal market The move will allow Vancouver’s legaltech giant to serve law firms of all sizes, and expand its global footprint.

Clio has acquired ShareDo, and has entered the enterprise legal market.

The move will allow Vancouver’s legaltech giant to serve law firms of all sizes, and expand its global footprint.

Surviving uncertainty: Five key insights from Vancouver business leaders Founders, funders, and PR professionals discuss how to weather the current risk and opportunities for B.C. companies.

At a time of economic uncertainty, shifting government policies, and rapidly evolving technology, how should startups and investors navigate the future?

Founders, funders, and PR professionals discuss how to weather the current risk and opportunities for Vancouver companies.

Pocketed — a four-year-old company that helps North American businesses identify, apply for, and secure funding — has been acquired by Deloitte Canada. Pocketed is an alumnus of the entrepreneurship@UBC program.

Applications now open for the New Ventures BC Competition The contest, which hands out $250,000 in cash and prizes, has hit its quarter-century.

Now in its 25th year, New Ventures BC has helped launch some of British Columbia’s most successful tech companies and continues to be a springboard for early-stage startups across the province. Up to $250,000 is awarded to the winners in cash and prizes.

Vancouver business associations respond to B.C. Budget 2025 While some see opportunities in the budget’s low innovation investments, others are critical of B.C.'s growing debt.

A number of industry groups are content with the low investment in business and innovation in B.C.'s Budget 2025, given the anticipation of deep economic pullbacks thanks to the tariffs. But several critics highlighted B.C.’s growing debt as a major cause for concern.

Why governments funnelled $20 million into B.C. foodtech over past two weeks The funding, which includes a $5 million single investment into Konscious Foods, follows the push to “Buy B.C.” in response to tariff threats.

As anti-U.S. sentiment grows in the grocery store, the Canadian and B.C. governments have invested more than $20 million in the past two weeks to help local agritech and foodtech businesses innovate and scale.

B.C.’s tech founders share practical tips for success The most valuable startup lessons aren’t in funding announcements or product launches, but in the day-to-day reflections of the people building the future.

The most valuable startup lessons aren’t in funding announcements or product launches, but in the day-to-day reflections of the people building the future. B.C.'s tech founders share their timely and practical tips for success.

“ChatGPT for geology” set to debut at conference on Monday VRIFY has raised $12.5M for its AI-powered mining exploration platform.

Vancouver-based VRIFY, a mining tech company, has announced the close of its $12.5 million Series B funding round.

VRIFY said it would use the money to accelerate the adoption of Dora, its AI-assisted mineral discovery platform.

Vancouver execs sign open letter condemning DEI purge The near-800 word missive suggests mimicking policy changes in the U.S. is the wrong direction for Canada.

A number of Vancouver and B.C.-based tech executives have signed an open letter that protests against the erasure of DEI initiatives in Canadian companies.

What in the Tech, an organization that builds a community and hub for information for new founders, wrote the near-800 word missive.

Five things to watch for in Vancouver business this week Funding rounds for three early-stage companies spell hope for startups, what the imminent B.C. budget means for your business, and more.

Several big changes have been made at the helm of high-profile Vancouver organizations this week. Plus find out what to look out for in B.C.'s big meeting about interprovincial trade, and what early-stage funding deals to watch for in the coming days.

The state of VC in BC: Numbers and narratives With $2.4 billion in venture capital investment last year, the province came closer than ever to matching Ontario’s total.

With $2.4 billion in venture capital investment, B.C. came closer than ever to matching Ontario’s total, trailing by just $41 million last year.

Genome BC funds research after bird flu appears in local patient Scientists will investigate mutations, transmission, and detection of the virus.

As bird flu sweeps across North America and B.C. counts its first human patient, Genome BC announced the funding of two projects investigating the risk of the virus.

The research will provide resources and data to help officials monitor, manage, and control the H5N1 virus.

Web Summit could boost Vancouver’s “underperforming” economy Mayor Ken Sim, serial C-suiter Edoardo De Martin, and others shared how the conference’s success will be measured.

An insightful panel at Microsoft last week revealed how execs and industry leaders are defining success when it comes to Web Summit Vancouver.

New websites help identify made-in-Canada products As trade tensions escalate, two Vancouver entrepreneurs have each set up tools to help consumers support Canadian businesses.

As trade tensions with the U.S. escalate, two Vancouver entrepreneurs have each set up tools to help consumers support Canadian businesses.

Local tech companies stand out as B.C.’s top employers Boomi, Acuitas, and others offer progressive vacation, health, wellness, and education policies.

If you’ve been considering switching roles, now may be the time: the annual list of B.C.’s best employers was just released by MediaCorp Canada, organizers of the national Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

Creative Destruction Lab gets new Vancouver home with $3M Clio donation The legaltech giant wants to help cultivate local talent at UBC Sauder that can compete on the global stage.

Clio, a global leader in cloud-based legaltech, has given a $3 million donation to UBC Sauder’s Powerhouse Project.

The gift is one of the largest donations, and will fund a purpose-built space that will house the Vancouver branch of the Creative Destruction Lab.

Act now to avoid tariff impacts, say B.C. investors Leaders from InBC, Pender Ventures, Get Fresh Ventures, and more give concrete strategies for startups to navigate political uncertainty.

With President Trump's threatened 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods casting a shadow over cross-border trade, Vancouver leaders from InBC Investment Corp., Pender Ventures, GetFresh Ventures, and more give concrete strategies for startups to navigate political uncertainty.

Cheatsheet: 13 B.C.-based VC funds for you to contact We’ve listed all the province’s firms that made it onto the CVCA 50, so you can find your much-needed local backing.

If you're a Vancouver company trying to raise in the U.S. or Europe, investors often ask why you don't have local backing. We’ve compiled a list of the 13 B.C.-based VC funds that made it onto the CVCA 50 for you to contact. Even better, each one has details on who to impress to get your money.

Twelve projects launching with the BC Fast Pilot program $1.5 million from Innovate BC and NRC IRAP will help businesses prove impact and customer value

Innovate BC and NRC IRAP are distributing $1.5 million to help B.C. businesses prove impact and customer value.

Cheatsheet: the state of Canadian healthtech funding Pender Ventures, a Vancouver-based fund, released its annual report on the sector’s investment trends — and the landscape didn’t look great.

Pender Ventures, a Vancouver-based fund, released its annual report on the healthtech sector’s investment trends. Spoiler: early-stage Canadian startups are in trouble, AI funding has been up and down, and one type of product is ready to rocket.

vantechjournal.com/p/cheatsheet...

Frontier Collective to bring Vancouver delegation to SXSW conference The organization discusses what it's looking for in companies that apply, and how B.C.'s tech ecosystem needs to grow.

Frontier Collective has announced that it will once again run its Frontiers of Innovation day at South By Southwest (SXSW) conference. Applications are open for Vancouver startups.

Plus, CEO Dan Burgar shares his thoughts on Web Summit, and Vancouver's uncertain future as a tech leader