For me, the most important thing about Vancouver Tech Journal is how we can help our community. In the wake of layoffs, we’re doing our best to enable people to connect with their next job — more on that below. But beyond that, I want to make sure that we’re covering news and hosting events that truly add value to your day.
What can we do better? I’ve got a pair of tickets to Science World After Dark this Thursday (August 18), plus a $20 Triple O’s gift card, to give away to two of you. Tell me one thing we’re doing well, and one thing we can improve on. Send your response to [email protected] before midday on Tuesday, and I’ll enter you into the draw.
Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 889 words; a 3-minute read.
-Kate Wilson, @KateWilsonSays
Vancouver tech layoffs, talent, and hiring companies
Check out our regularly updated list of Vancouver tech ecosystem layoffs, talent ready to be scooped up, and companies that are looking to hire. Continue »
Why is this all happening? Our very own William Johnson explains on CBC News. Watch »
With Field of Dreams game, Mantis XR’s founder comes full circle
Kahlil Ashanti, former Iowan and now-Vancouverite, dishes on his company’s latest activation. Start reading »
Hootsuite lays off 30% of its workforce
The company follows Article and Unbounce as the latest Vancouver tech firm to announce workforce reductions. Start reading »
Water tech: the flourishing Vancouver industry you’ve never heard of
Invest Vancouver says the sector could be an economic driver for the region. Start reading »
Charles Kishi is building the travel site you’ll book your next trip through
His company, ZaNiheza, promises “the greatest journey of your life.” It’s a sentiment Kishi experienced firsthand. Start reading »
🤝 Funding and deals
Pop star The Weeknd loaded up on NFTs created by Vancouver artist Fvckrender. » Cryptosaurus.
Looking Glass Labs Ltd., a Web3 platform specializing in NFT architecture is acquiring Web 3.0 Holdings Corp., a tech firm focused on B2C and B2B infrastructure challenges within Web3 environments. » Continue.
The B.C. government is investing $10 million to grow made-in-B.C. solutions to reduce plastic pollution and create new products. » Continue.
Properly, a Toronto-HQ’d tech-enabled real estate brokerage with an office in Vancouver, raised CAD $36 million in funding. » Continue.
Switchboard Public Relations
As the country’s leading tech PR firm, Switchboard helps innovators create positive change by driving communication strategies that get results. Whether you need brand positioning, media relations, issues management, or content creation, see how they’ll get you real results.
🗞️ In other news
Dapper Labs signed its first long-term deal with an NFL franchise, the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams, which includes the ability for fans to buy an NFT Super Bowl ring, among other items. » Fortune.
Dr. Rickey Yada, a professor and the dean of the UBC faculty of land and food systems, on how artificial intelligence can make food safer. » UBC News.
Former vice president of content and community partnerships at Meta, Nick Grundin, announced that he’ll be joining Vancouver’s Dapper Labs as its new chief business officer. Learn more »
Nine Vancouver women were recognized in an in-depth list of female venture capitalists in the Pacific Northwest. Geekwire »
Dooly, a startup building sales enablement software, laid off 12 people from its team. “The fact that they are not continuing with Dooly is not an indication of anything that they did,” CEO Kris Hartvigsen said of the employees who were let go. » Continue.
Victoria-based MarineLabs and the T'Sou-ke First Nation are partnering to prepare for climate change's effects on harvesting waters. » CBC News.
Sarah Ennis was appointed the new president of the VRARA Vancouver Chapter. » Continue.
“Damon Motors Is Paving the Way for a New Era of Women In Motorcycling,” says its vice president of marketing Amber Spencer. » TechBullion.
B.C. quantum-computing company D-Wave shares jumped 16 percent in its NYSE debut. » Globe and Mail ($). Founder and former CTO Georgie Rose shared: An Amazing Journey: Pictures from D-Wave’s Early Days
Everyone’s talking about hiring. And while some local companies have laid off team members, there are hundreds of other Vancouver tech businesses searching for talent.
Take your career to the next level. Check out who’s hiring on our Vancouver Tech Journal Job Board »
Growing your team? Post a job with us »
💡 Ideas and insights
Roger Patterson, president of visual marketing platform Later, writing on Entrepreneurs’ Organization: How to Turn Former Employees Into Advocates
Chris Neumann, general partner at Panache Ventures, writing on his blog: Filling your fundraising funnel
Michael Gilbert, CEO of agtech darling Semios, writing on LinkedIn: Here’s how farmers can use data to fight rising costs
Shafin Diamond Tejani, CEO of venture builder Victory Square Technologies, writing on LinkedIn: Nurses are burned out. Here’s how technology can help.
Jeff Booth, founder of BuildDirect, writing on his blog Direct from Jeff: Finding Signal In A Noisy World.
Anna Sainsbury, CEO and co-founder at GeoComply, writing on LinkedIn: Not the End of an Era: On narratives, legacies, and women in tech
Igor Debatur, Launch Academy member and Uploadcare’s co-founder and CEO, joined the Founder Journey podcast to discuss his company’s reinvention, relocating to Vancouver, and the problem of juggling multiple businesses. » Listen now.
👋 Before you go…
Forward this newsletter to your colleagues, clients, or anyone else you think would find it valuable.
Send story ideas and tips to [email protected]