Onward: A message from William, VTJ founder

I love the Vancouver tech ecosystem. I moved here from Ottawa in 2015, and after eight years, this community is one of the biggest reasons I’ve stayed. In a city as notoriously anti-social as Vancouver, people in the tech sector took me in, shared their stories, and even became my friends. 

Vancouver Tech Journal (VTJ) has kind of been my life for the better part of five years, and it’s heartening to think about where it began and how far it’s come. 

VTJ started as a personal weekly email that 10 people read. Now it’s home to the biggest innovation community in the Lower Mainland. The newsletter alone has around 24,000 subscribers and our events platform brings together 500 to 1,000 (or more) tech professionals and leaders each month. Vancouver Tech Journal is now an essential part of every innovator’s week. 

And that’s just Vancouver. Last year, the team expanded its coverage to underserved tech markets, including Victoria and Calgary, and we have been welcomed so warmly. Those communities are equally engaged and excited about our style of hyperlocal tech and innovation coverage, and I can’t wait to see them continue to grow and develop.

Under the leadership of Kate Wilson, our managing editor, our content and storytelling has gone to new levels, and even become award-winning journalism. I know Kate will not only maintain this level of excellence but take it even higher.

• VTJ is hiring for a Community Manager and a Staff Writer

As for me, after spending five years on the Tech Journals, it’s time for me to step back and let the team grow, bring on new faces, and take it to the next level. I’m excited to take some time exploring the world and seeing what other opportunities align with my passion for connecting with and showcasing entrepreneurs and innovators.

To all our corporate partners and members, thank you for supporting the Tech Journals in its infancy. I’m excited for the future of the Tech Journal network as I transition from its publisher to simply a reader and its biggest fan.

Forever cheering you all on,

William

@notionport