Hi everyone,

This week in B.C. tech felt like a snapshot of the ecosystem’s growing complexity. On one hand, the headlines show capital flowing and companies scaling—Vistara Growth pushing toward a $265M fund close, Klue making another AI-driven acquisition, and TELUS pulling its digital arm back in-house for nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars. On the other, the local jobs picture looks less rosy: new data suggests B.C. is lagging behind Ontario and Alberta in tech employment growth, raising questions about competitiveness.

Amid the funding rounds and structural shifts, innovation stories continue to shine through: Metaspectral landed $1M+ for AI-powered recycling, Properate launched Stride to speed up heat pump adoption, and Victoria’s ASL Environmental Sciences is partnering with Open Ocean Robotics on autonomous ocean monitoring. Add in fresh ecosystem analysis from Chris Neumann, and you get a reminder that this province is brimming with talent, capital, and ideas—though not without friction as the market matures.

– William

From The Journal

The top 10 B.C. startups to watch right now

How many of these companies do you know?

The man who wants to put robots on every street

From Tehran to Vancouver to Silicon Valley, Ali Kashani’s Serve Robotics is rewriting the future of last-mile delivery.

Summer shuffle: Why it feels like everyone is moving on at once

From cabinet ministers to startup leaders, this summer sparked a wave of resignations, reboots, and reshuffles—some intentional, others imposed.

“Are you excited?” and other lessons on avoiding burnout

From delegation to defining success, local entrepreneurs opened up about how they stay sane while building companies.

Vancouver’s Kardium secures FDA approval for breakthrough heart device

The win caps off a big year for Kardium, which raised $340 million in February.

NorthX, Scotiabank join forces to back women-led climate tech

New agreement builds on $2.46M in recent funding for women founders tackling hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

B.C. climate tech startup tackles retrofit bottleneck with new mobile tool

As Canada pushes for electrification, Properate’s Stride app streamlines workflows for HVAC pros and supports the retrofit workforce.

Funding, Deals & More

  • Vistara Growth tracks toward Sept. 30 final close: Vistara Growth says its Fund V has topped US$265 million in commitments to date, with strong repeat LP support and a target final close on September 30.
    Read more →

  • Metaspectral secures $1M+ for AI-driven recycling: Vancouver-based Metaspectral raised over $1 million to advance its AI platform for improving sorting of hard-to-recycle materials and boosting recovery rates.
    Read more →
    Klue acquires Ignition to expand compete + win-loss with AI: Competitive intelligence platform Klue bought go-to-market planning startup Ignition, folding GTM workflows into its compete and win-loss suite and accelerating its agentic AI roadmap.
    Read more →

  • TELUS to reacquire TELUS Digital for $743M CAD: TELUS is bringing its digital spinout back in-house via a $743-million transaction, saying the move will speed its AI and SaaS transformation.
    Read more →

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In Other News

  • Every day, the world creates 328 terabytes of data. For mineral explorers, this can be overwhelming. AI turns vast amounts of data into faster, smarter discoveries.*

    Read more →

  • Anatomy of an Ecosystem: data from BC Founders Day: Chris Neumann’s new post analyzes Vancouver’s startup community through BC Founders Day data—showing a founder-heavy crowd, growing momentum, and a surprising share of stealth companies.
    Read more →

  • ASL Environmental Sciences partners with Open Ocean Robotics: The Victoria firm is integrating its AZFP echosounder with Open Ocean Robotics’ solar-powered USVs to enable safer, more efficient autonomous ocean monitoring.
    Read more →

  • B.C. tech job growth lags national gains: New reporting highlights that B.C. saw net tech job losses while provinces like Ontario and Alberta added roles—underscoring competitive pressures for talent and investment.
    Read more →

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