BC's longest-running startup competition is back. New Ventures BC has opened applications for its 2026 competition, offering early-stage startups six months of mentorship, education, and exposure alongside more than $250,000 in cash and prizes. The application deadline is March 12 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Now in its 26th year, the competition attracted 216 companies in 2025, with Binta Financial taking top honours. Since 2000, over 4,000 ventures have participated, collectively creating more than 15,000 jobs and raising more than $3.4 billion in financing. Alumni include companies like Aspect Biosystems, Moment Energy, and VoxCell BioInnovation—firms that have gone on to secure major funding rounds and expand internationally.

The six-month competition runs through multiple elimination rounds designed to help founders refine their business models and strengthen their pitches. Participants get access to expert-led sessions, mentorship, networking events, and visibility with investors and partners. The Top 40 startups will be announced ahead of Web Summit Vancouver, which runs May 11–14.

Angie Schick, executive director of New Ventures BC, says the competition is about more than winning. "It's about giving founders the tools, confidence, and connections they need to grow," she said. "Whether they're refining an idea or preparing to scale, we're here to help startups move forward."

The competition ties into Innovate BC's Road to Web Summit programming, including the Startup Readiness Engine, which helps BC companies prepare for the global stage. An info session is scheduled for February 25 at 4 p.m., with a kickoff networking event on March 3 at 5 p.m. Applications can be submitted at newventuresbc.com.