Hey everyone,
January always has a way of bringing the bigger questions into focus—and this week’s stories sit right at that intersection of ambition, constraint, and execution. From how B.C. plans to ration power for AI and data centres, to how legal tech is moving beyond experimentation and into enterprise-grade workflows, the signal is clear: the next phase of growth is going to be more deliberate, more competitive, and more consequential.
You’ll also see that theme echoed closer to home. skiKrumb’s expansion into Alberta is a reminder that quiet, founder-led companies can still land meaningful wins. Vancouver Startup Week is gearing up again, pulling the community back together. And across policy, talent, and capital, the conversation is shifting from what we should support to how we actually make it work.
As always, we’ve pulled together the stories worth your time—and a few upcoming events where those conversations will continue in person.
Upcoming Events
February 17: The DIGITAL Effect: Innovation Showcase: This event showcases how Canadian-made technologies are addressing national challenges today—and how deeper collaboration with DIGITAL can accelerate adoption, enable dual-use capabilities, and unlock economic opportunity across the country.
February 19-20: 7th Western Angel Investment Summit in Victoria
From The Journal
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Funding, Deals, and More
skiKrumb expands to Alberta resort: Vancouver-based skiKrumb has landed its first Alberta deployment, with Marmot Basin rolling out its radio-based GPS tracking system for the 2025/26 season. Founder Keith Macintyre calls it a “full-circle moment,” tied to his own early days skiing there.
Read more →Clio launches Vincent Studio for enterprise AI workflows: Clio introduced Vincent Studio, a new feature aimed at large firms and enterprise legal teams that lets organizations build and manage AI workflows based on how they actually operate. The pitch: more consistency, governance, and reusable institutional knowledge—without relying on ad hoc prompting.
Read more →B.C. makes AI and data centre projects compete for power: The province is launching a competitive selection process for AI and data centre projects seeking electricity—allocating a set amount of power over a defined period rather than approving projects on a first-come basis. The move is framed as a way to manage surging demand while prioritizing broader economic and community benefits.
Read more →TechExit.io Vancouver brings founders and dealmakers together to navigate today’s evolving deal landscape. With support from Title Partner Vancouver Tech Journal, the event delivers practical insight on adaptability, momentum and staying acquisition-ready. Use code VTJ20. Read more →*
*Sponsored
In Other News
Canadian Innovators outlines what Ottawa missed—and what B.C. can do next: In a new piece, Canadian Innovators argues the 2025 federal budget signaled the right priorities on innovation, but left key execution tools “on the table.” The author makes the case that Budget 2026 in B.C. is a chance to fill those gaps and strengthen the province’s competitiveness.
Read more →Innovate BC tees up 2026 priorities: focus, fit, execution: Innovate BC published a short note from its CEO highlighting a more disciplined approach to supporting B.C.’s innovation economy, with an emphasis on specialized support for market-ready companies and measurable outcomes like job creation and growth.
Read more →New Canadian defence tech market map makes the rounds: A new “Canadian Defence Tech Market Map,” shared by Josh Ogden, is circulating as a quick reference for who’s building what across the sector—sparked by community discussion in the comments.
Read more →Vancouver Startup Week shares a highlight reel as ticket sales near: The Vancouver Startup Week team posted a recap video from past events ahead of this year’s ticket launch, signalling the annual community-wide programming is gearing up again.
Read more →
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