🏙️ Introducing your online VTJ community

We've launched a Vancouver tech Slack for you to make new connections and stay in touch. Plus, all the stories you've missed this week.

Today, we’re excited to launch the VTJ community Slack! 

You told us you wanted an online hub for the Vancouver tech industry, and we listened.

Get advice from your community at #ask-vtj-hivemind, talk about your future in #career-chat, learn about Vancouver-based #events, get notified about #must-read-stories in local innovation, and hang out at the #watercooler for all the tech-related GIFs you can't share anywhere else.

Oh, and to make it even more exciting, the first 100 people to join our new Slack community will be entered into a draw to win one of 10 tickets to our next #vtjtalks event, AI: where are we now? That’s worth $30!

Can’t wait to see you online!

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 1,214 words: a four-minute read.

P.S. We’re on tour with our Tuesday Morning Tech Coffee at Entuitive Compliance! Join us this week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at #420 - 1040 West Georgia Street. It’s free as always, but please register so our hosts know how many to expect.

VanHack CEO Ilya Brotzky reflects on Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship's announcements from centre stage at Collision conference.

The climatetech startup is figuring out how to both create a company and create a market for its product.

In the last of a three-part series on circular economy technologies, we find out how a startup produces tabletops, homewares, and art from disposable wood.

The company, an alumnus of the TiE Incubation Lab, is using AI to provide early detection of wildfires.

More than 50 percent of Canadians lack knowledge about the term "tech sector" — and that's a problem, says Kathleen Reid and Megan Shay.

Innovative Blue Tech Solutions Solve Ocean Challenges

The latest COAST Talks panel discussion features a non-profit organization disrupting traditional approaches to ecosystem restoration, a startup whose innovations provide transformative tools for marine conservation, and another whose bioplastic solution harnesses the ocean’s bounty to grow the circular economy and lessen ocean pollution. Watch on YouTube » 

To learn more about COAST’s work building Pacific Canada's hub for the sustainable blue economy, visit canadacoast.ca.

🤝 Funding and deals

Helping innovators and changemakers tell their stories

As the country’s leading tech PR firm, Switchboard – an Earnscliffe Strategies company 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

Attend Vancouver's digital marketing showdown at Internet Masterminds! Six speakers, six strategies. Launch foam balls to crown the winner. Free pizza and Coco vodka/rum. Act now: it's almost sold out!

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đź’ˇ Ideas and insights

👋 Before you go…

Today’s one little ask: 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!)

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