Hi everyone,
This week, BC’s innovation economy took centre stage as Premier David Eby unveiled his third cabinet: Ravi Kahlon returns, and Rick Glumac is appointed Minister of State for AI and New Technologies. Vancouver startups are on the rise—Quandri raised US$12M to scale product development and build a 15,000 sq ft HQ, while fintech firm Hiive moved into a new three-floor, rooftop-equipped HQ.
Creative BC and PacifiCan announced millions in funding for local businesses, TikTok is becoming a marketing lifeline for small retailers, and the province drew international spotlight with a US acquisition, a major equity stake, and the big-name turnout at ICML 2025.
By the way, our next #VTJTalks is this week: The Year in Vancouver Tech — So Far on July 23. You’ll hear insights from Aaron Stuart (Angel Forum), David Weekes (Pangaea Ventures), and Anne Hunger (Glüxkind Technologies)—whose AI-powered stroller caught CNN and Axios’ attention—and Nicole Brassard (Global Public Affairs) as moderator. We have a few tickets left, so save your spot.
More below.
– William
From The Journal
BC cabinet shuffle: Kahlon back, Glumac tapped for AI, Gibson moved
Premier David Eby has unveiled his third cabinet, making a series of strategic moves designed to align government leadership with BC’s economic priorities—and bringing key players back to portfolios critical to the province’s innovation economy. The tech industry will take note of Rick Glumac’s appointment as Minister of State for AI and New Technologies.
And does it even matter where they’re “based” anymore?
New funding will support hiring, product development, and a new 15,000-square-foot HQ in Vancouver.
With a new three-floor HQ and rooftop views, the fintech company is signalling big ambitions for Vancouver tech.
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Funding, Deals & More
Creative BC announces $1.8M in grants for live music: Creative BC has 78 grants to support live music initiatives and businesses in the province, aimed at revitalizing the cultural sector post-pandemic.
Read more →PacifiCan announces investments to boost B.C. exports: PacifiCan is investing $4.2M in four projects to help B.C. businesses expand trade opportunities, including $1.5M for trade accelerator programs and $1M for small business export support.
Read more →Leadpages acquires Glorify: Vancouver-founded Glorify, a design tool for e-commerce brands, has been acquired by U.S.-based Leadpages. The move will expand Leadpages’ product offering for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Read more →Semcap takes minority stake in Fresh Prep: U.S. growth equity firm Semcap has taken a minority stake in Vancouver’s Fresh Prep. The investment will help scale the meal kit company’s operations and expand its market reach.
Read more →
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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.
Check out how The HTFG can help, or reach out to Alain, Blair, Kevin or Andre from The HTFG.
In Other News
ICML 2025 brings big tech and AI research to Vancouver: Meta and other tech giants were among those presenting cutting-edge AI research at the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), hosted this week in Vancouver.
Read more in Fortune →Bravo app offers dine-in discounts to help BC restaurants: Bravo is rolling out an app that gives diners discounts for eating in, aiming to help local restaurants improve cash flow and encourage more in-person dining.
Read more →BC small businesses lean into TikTok for growth: Local entrepreneurs are increasingly turning to TikTok to market their products, tapping into its massive audience and viral potential to drive sales.
Read more →
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