It didn’t rain for at least four days this week, the cherry blossoms are in bloom, and my Instagram is full of people snapping after-work sunsets from Mount Seymour. Which, by my count, means that it’s finally spring — and with it, the start of the Vancouver tech awards season.
This week saw the galas for the Vancouver UX Awards — which celebrates the best in user-experience design — and the 2023 B.C. Cleantech Awards, an event that recognizes locals and their companies making a significant impact on the move towards a net-zero future. Taking home the top prize at the former was Anishinaabe interaction designer Nodin Cutfeet, while winners at the latter included Moment Energy, Svante, and the BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy.
Applications are still open for some of the staples on the B.C. calendar, including the New Ventures BC competition and the Technology Impact Awards. Here’s your opportunity, Vancouver Tech Journal community members, to throw your hat into the ring.
Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 1,245 words: a breezy four-minute read.
-Kate, @KateWilsonSays
pH7 Technologies raises $16M Series A co-led by Pangaea Ventures
The cleantech startup credits local organizations Innovate BC, IRAP, Simon Fraser University, and Creative Destruction Lab as contributing to its success. Start reading »
Vancouver Startup Week is back in a big way
We sat down with co-chairs Vivian Lago and Katty Wang as they share their backstory with the organization, bond over a mutual love of hugs, and look forward to the week’s events. Start reading »
Startups set to compete for $250,000 in cash and prizes in the New Ventures BC Competition
200+ competitors, six months, four rounds of competition, and one grand prize winner. Start reading »
Inflation is putting pressure on Metro Vancouver businesses
The Canadian Survey of Business Conditions suggests owners and founders are anticipating a sharp rise in costs. Start reading »
Cheatsheet: B.C.’s hydrogen production pathways
A new report quantifies the carbon intensity of hydrogen production pathways in B.C. Members only. Get started »
Are robots coming for your job?
Read our top members’ briefing from the past week. Members only. Get started »
Join us this month to learn and discuss how to navigate the challenges of growing your business while raising a family. We'll dig into practical strategies for time-management, delegation, self-care, and more. Speakers include leaders from Switchboard, GetFresh Ventures, Life Lapse, and Brood Care.
Members always get 50% off #vtjtalks tickets. Email [email protected] to get your code.
🤝 Funding and deals
Projects from Axine Water, Terramera, Ecoation Innovation, and Miro Smart Technologies are among those that received a total of $7 million from the Province’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund. Learn more »
TerraZero has partnered with Seed Group to accelerate the adoption of the metaverse in the Middle East and North Africa. Learn more »
Covalent continued its focus on scaling its Ethereum offerings through a partnership with ConsenSys’ Linea. Learn more »
Gandeeva Therapeutics, a precision medicine company, has initiated a research collaboration with Moderna to explore applications of Gandeeva’s cryogenic electron microscopy platform for an undisclosed Moderna target. Learn more »
NexOptic, an imaging AI company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with IntroMedic to improve capsule endoscopy technology and medical imaging analysis. Learn more »
For all the local funding and deals news, become a Vancouver Tech Journal member »
This week: Launch Academy
Launch Academy is a tech accelerator that provides the mentorship, resources, network and environment entrepreneurs need to launch, fund, and grow their startups.
Contact [email protected] to redeem your perks or learn more about Vancouver Tech Journal membership.
🗞️ In other news
Metro Vancouver-based startups ATD Manure Systems, Bioboost Synbio Consulting, Build Smartr, Ceco AI, Plantee Bioplastics, TreeCycle Canada, Vibracon Canada, and Viridis Research were announced as part of Foresight Canada’s Winter 2023 Deliver accelerator cohort. Learn more »
BC Tech Association is now accepting applications for its Indigenous-led tech company accelerator. Read more »
Ali Ardakani, chair of Life Sciences BC, has created a massive graphic of the province’s biotech companies. Check it out »
Vincenzo Pecunia, a professor at Simon Fraser University, is working with over 100 scientists to document ways to improve a product that can convert energy into clean power. Learn more »
Form’s swim goggles were featured as the best non-wrist-wearable fitness tracker for swimming. Learn more »
Rainstick, the Kelowna-based smart shower system, featured amongst four products that are helping to fight climate change. Learn more »
For all local news and our daily coverage, become a Vancouver Tech Journal member »
VanHack’s AI-Powered tech talent matching connects employers with their next great hire. Read in Vancouver Tech Journal »
💼 Take your career to the next level
Whether you're looking for a dream role or a dream employee, Vancouver Tech Jobs has you covered with a wide selection of local tech roles.
Visualping is hiring a Senior Product Manager
Stemcell Technologies is hiring an Equipment Technician
Goose is hiring a Senior React Native Engineer
Electronic Arts is hiring a Manager FP&A (Respawn)
Coinbase is hiring a Head of Cyber Security Operations
Check out who else is hiring on our Vancouver Tech Job Board »
Growing your team? Post a job with us »
Improve your DevOps: New course
Reduce service downtime and costs with automation and failure-resistant web services. Using Kubernetes can provide instant recovery for your SaaS application. Learn more about the new COMP 4016 Applied DevOps with Kubernetes.
BCIT Computing Flexible Learning has the largest offering of part time IT courses in BC.
💡 Ideas and insights
Chris Neumann, partner at Panache Ventures, writes about why American VCs ask Canadian founders where their startup is incorporated. Why Silicon Valley VCs want you to be a Delaware C-Corp »
Alex Conconi, co-founder and chairman of Wecasa, talks to Sanctuary AI co-founder Geordie Rose about the rapid growth of ChatGPT and Large Language Models: Is ChatGPT thinking? How do humans think?
Raghwa Gopal, president and CEO of Innovate BC, shares the local tech stories that got his attention this month. March 2023: Local Tech Stories That Caught My Eye »
Sam Gharegozlou, co-founder of Dapper Labs, joined the Afternoon T podcast to share his founder story, explore keys to community-building, and dive into Dapper’s raises. Listen now »
Mike Wood, CEO and co-founder at MintList, shares how the company continues to help consumers buy and sell cars despite the turbulence of the market. Why online used-car retailers are losing ground and laying off »
👋 Before you go…
One little ask from me to you: Vancouver Tech Journal relies on you to fund local journalism and to keep building your community. If you can spare $8.25 — or $7.23, using the “friends of” code for Kate, James, or Allison — please consider becoming a member. (And you’ll also get access to a whole load of exclusive perks!)