Welcome back to VTJ’s Midweek Memo: the Vancouver tech events and opportunities newsletter you can’t miss.
And now, in this week's issue:
Canada's defence landscape is shifting—here's what founders need to know
Moving AI from frontier innovation to real-world impact
How AI is changing analytics hiring and early-career talent
PLUS: If you’re hosting a Web Summit afterparty, don’t forget to add it to our Unofficial Master Afterparty List.
UPCOMING EVENTS
🗓 Tuesday, March 31 | Register
Canada's defence and security landscape is shifting — and for early-stage founders, the window to position early is now.
We're hosting hosting a small, high-signal conversation for founders, operators, and investors who want to understand what's actually changing — and what it means for building companies at the intersection of deep tech and defence.
You’ll hear from:
Glen Lougheed, CEO, Applied Post Inc.
Alexander Moens, Director of the NATO Field School and Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
Edoardo de Martin, Co-Founder & CEO, Industrio AI
SPONSORED BY PHS COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY
PHS seeking Business Partners for Real Community Impact
PHS Community Services Society is seeking business partners committed to making meaningful impacts on the homelessness, mental health, and addiction crisis.
Accessible, low‑barrier supportive housing remains the most effective response to street homelessness, helping bring people indoors while offering stability, dignity, and a sustainable path forward.
Since 1993, PHS has delivered supportive housing, daily meals, and essential community programs for thousands of individuals who are unhoused or at risk in Vancouver and Victoria.
In Vancouver, PHS operates over 1,800 units of supportive housing with 24/7 supports, shelters, harm‑reduction services, healthcare, dental care, recovery programs, Indigenous health services, banking services, and community programming.
To explore partnership opportunities, contact [email protected].
To help people regain independence, please donate today.
🗓 Monday, April 6 | Register
We get a lot of requests for coffee meetings, quick drinks, and “can I pick your brain?” chats about Vancouver tech. We love the curiosity—but we can’t meet one-on-one with everyone.
So we host open office hours.
Every couple of weeks, we post up at a bar or café for informal, no-agenda conversation. Grab a beer, coffee, or tea and come talk to us about whatever’s on your mind—fundraising, storytelling, media, community building, where the ecosystem is heading, or something totally different.
🗓 Wednesday, May 27 | Register
Four days. Thousands of attendees. A global spotlight on Vancouver. Again. Round two is officially over.
Now that the dust has settled, we’re bringing together local leaders from the worlds of tech, startups, and government to unpack year two of Web Summit Vancouver.
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH TECHNOLOGIES FACILITIES GROUP
Vancouver's Tech Office Experts
Connect with The High Technology Facilities Group at CBRE Ltd. – leaders in sourcing office space for BC’s startup and unicorn companies. The HTFG excels at helping clients find unique workspaces that drive productivity, reflect values, attract top talent, and fuel workplace culture.
🗓 Wednesday, April 1 | Register
AI Summit Vancouver is a high-integrity, content-driven event bringing researchers, builders, and decision-makers together — to move AI from frontier innovation to real-world, long-term impact.
RBCx Afternoon Brew (Victoria)
🗓 Wednesday, April 1 | Register
We're bringing together early stage founders and innovators from the tech ecosystem for relaxed afternoon of networking and insightful conversations. Drop by anytime between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM for coffee, snacks, and good company!
No presentation or formal agenda — just a relaxed space to connect, catch up, and hear what people are building in Victoria.*
*Sponsored listing
SPONSORED BY SEGEV LLP
Legal help that lets you focus on building
Our lawyers have extensive experience working with startups, and understand the unique needs and challenges they face. We treat our clients as partners, giving them straight answers and practical advice that allows them to focus on what really matters: building their business. Looking for legal support in building your startup? Get in touch.
🗓 Tuesday, April 14 | Register
What’s top of mind today for leaders in Vancouver’s tech community? Join TAP and UBC Sauder as local leaders in analytics and AI share their thoughts. They’ll provide insights on how AI is augmenting business analytics functions — and what this means for companies in the analytics space.
They'll be discussing the impact of AI on early-career talent, particularly in analytics. Find out how their approach to hiring early-career talent has changed (or not!), and their thoughts on how to prepare for careers in the tech sector.
SPONSORED BY WEWORK
Ready to find your ideal workspace? For businesses of all sizes—from startups to enterprises—discover coworking space that fits your needs. Read more →
🤝 NEW OPPORTUNITIES
🗓️ Ongoing | Apply
Apply for this cost-sharing grant program that funds small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforces, including prospective new hires.
👋 YOUR COMMUNITY
🗣 VTJ Community Slack | Can’t make it to any in-person events? Network and chat with your friendly neighbourhood tech professionals using our dedicated Slack.
🗓️ Vancouver Tech Events Calendar | All local events in one place.
💪 Become a VTJ Corporate Member | Get your brand in front of thousands of tech professionals, investors, decision makers, and leaders. Get in touch today.