The Vancouver-based company will rebrand as “Pocketed, a Deloitte business,” and will be integrated into global firm’s Gi3 division.

Garmin is attracting skilled workers east, which follows the recent trend of B.C.’s brain drain to the province.

Founders, funders, and PR professionals discuss how to weather the current risk and opportunities for B.C. companies. (🔒 Members only)

Cleantech ventures, supporters, and funders are vying to win in one of the five categories.

The move will allow Vancouver’s legaltech giant to serve law firms of all sizes, and expand its global footprint.

The Prime Minister and the country’s premiers have agreed on several changes that will reduce barriers to internal trade and labour mobility across the country to combat Trump’s tariffs. (🔒 Members only)

Read more at vantechjournal.com

Novarc, a full-stack AI robotics company specializing in automated welding, raised a $50 million Series B funding round this week.

Welding — which can require working in awkward positions and tight positions for long periods, and carries with it the risk of burns, eye damage, and inhaling toxic fumes — has long been a profession ripe for innovation.

Norvarc has developed an AI-powered system that enables robots to see and adapt like an expert welder, using machine vision and deep neural nets to do the heavy lifting. The company says that its tech eliminates the need for pre-scanning or robotic reprogramming, and that its product will be commercially available by summer this year.

At a time of pro-Canada sentiment, a variety of national funders banded together to make the round happen, including Export Development Canada (the country’s export credit agency), Seaspan (one of Canada’s leading shipbuilders), and Vancouver-based $500-million strategic investment fund, InBC.

🚨 Want all of the latest funding and deals announcements? VTJ members got it in their newsletter. Not a member? Fix that now.

It’s been a big week for acquisitions in Vancouver.

First up, Pocketed — which helps North American businesses identify, apply for, and secure funding — was acquired by Deloitte Canada. The company will rebrand as “Pocketed, a Deloitte business,” and will be integrated into global firm’s Gi3 division. (Reminder: co-founder Brianna Blaney will be speaking on our #VTJTalks panel at the end of the month.)

Hubly, which builds a workflow management platform for financial advisors, was acquired by larger company Docupace. The move follows a funding round in 2022 that sparked the business’s quest for growth.

Clio acquired ShareDo in order to enter the enterprise legal market. The move will allow Vancouver’s legaltech giant to serve law firms of all sizes, and expand its global footprint.

And Apply Digital, a transformation partner for global brands, acquired Ragnarok, a personalization marketing tech agency, for an undisclosed sum. Doing so will enhance Apply Digital’s marketing offerings and help generate better results for its clients.

Keep your eyes on this trend. Acquisition has long been the exit of choice for Vancouver software businesses, and with economic uncertainty growing with the U.S. and Canada trade battle, more companies might take that option in the coming months rather than risk weathering the economic storm on their own. Meanwhile, large companies that are absorbing others are betting big on a return for their business.

🚨 VTJ members got 12 more stories like these in their Morning Report newsletter. If you’re not already a member, fix that now.

Want to improve your pitch? According to Chris Neumann, a former partner at Panache Ventures, the best thing you can do is to stop talking to other founders.

Most founders don’t actually know what matters to investors in a pitch — even if they’ve successfully raised money before, he says.

Many CEOs presume that product is the most important part of an early-stage pitch. But funders “don’t invest in products or product ideas,” he writes. “They invest in companies.”

Read on for advice on the best way to build your pitch, from a Vancouver investor’s perspective »

March 19 | 🎟️ Tech Industry Social By VTJ x CBRE’s HTFG: ​Join the Vancouver Tech Journal team and our partners at CBRE's The High Technology Facilities Group (HTFG) for our next Tech Industry Social. As usual, your first drink is free, compliments of The High Technology Facilities Group and Hudson Pacific Properties! This event will bring together a collection of Vancouver tech industry founders and leaders for networking, deal-making, and just plain old catching up.

March 26 | 🎟️ #VTJTalks: SaaS 101: Boosting Revenue at Seed, Scale and Beyond: ​​Scaling a SaaS business is a game of strategy — one that requires founders and investors to navigate pricing models, go-to-market motions, and sustainable growth tactics. Whether you're building your first software startup or scaling an established SaaS company, this session will provide practical insights to help you optimize revenue at every stage.

🚨 Remember: VTJ members get early access and 50% off all our events as well as exclusive gatherings. Don’t miss out — if you’re not already a member, fix that now.

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