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👋 Good morning, and welcome to (or welcome back to) VTJ’s Sunday Briefing: your weekly digest of the city’s innovation news, deals, insights, and more.
With all the pressure on businesses to jump into using gen AI, we met with Google to get their take on the basic steps we can act on today, as well as chatting with TELUS on their own journey to leverage the tech and become more than a traditional telco.
Read on for the full story. Today’s briefing is 1,059 words: a four-minute read.
-Lisa
P.S. We’re trying a new look and would love to know what you think! Take our poll at the bottom so we can make your experience even better.
🗞️ FROM VTJ
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🤝 FUNDING & DEALS
VC firm McRock Capital, launched its third fund to invest in AI-enabled industrial software companies — anywhere in Canada or the U.S. — with an initial close of CAD $111 million.
Spare, which provides mobility software for public transit, ride sharing, and other shared transportation, received $10 million from CIBC Innovation Banking, to accelerate its development of AI solutions.
Access, a new platform designed to assist startups in acquiring both dilutive and non-dilutive funding opportunities, is inviting anyone in the process of seeking funds to join its priority access waitlist.
Get the latest funding and deals announcements and stories curated in our Members-only Morning Report.
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🗞 IN OTHER NEWS
VC firm Tiny appointed its new CEO: Jordan Taub, who previously led portfolio e-commerce software company, WeCommerce.*
Randy Wu, founder and CEO of Fantuan, the food delivery-turned-life services platform, has been chosen as one of the EY’s “Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Pacific” finalists.
Proxima HQ, a platform for property developers and sales teams to launch pre-sales programs instantly and effectively, received REACH Canada’s “Acceleration Award” for achieving a number of significant milestones.
MyFo, a platform that simplifies and streamlines wealth management, was featured as the preferred software by Cole & Associates — “a big name in family office advisory services.”
Convergence, which creates award-winning digital products for public and private sector businesses, has been selected by the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction as its technical partner to develop a case management system.
Business in Vancouver reports local tech campuses and innovation hubs are continuing to attract investment and talent while supporting the area’s technology sector and the local economy.
* Tiny co-founder Andrew Wilkinson is also an owner of Overstory Media Group
💡 IDEAS & INSIGHTS
VC Chris Neumann shared five misleading metrics that have no place in your fundraising deck — or your business.
Pamela Saunders, communications director at Microsoft, highlighted takeaways from Microsoft’s new report on the gen AI opportunity in Canada.
VC Tim Yau, wrote about practical tips on how to navigate overtime in a startup — from communication to self-care to celebrating small wins and more.
Hai Nguyen, manager, valuations, at PwC, listed takeaways from Cold Tea Collective’s #AsianFails event in partnership with Vancouver Startup Week.
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👀 CAN’T MISS
June 11 | Vancouver Tech Morning Coffee (new location: WeWork on Main): Ease into the week with new connections and fresh ideas and inspiration by meeting the VTJ team and tech community through our weekly meetup series. And if you’re looking to collaborate or partner with the VTJ, be sure to find Nicole to talk ideas!
➡️ Register
June 19 | VTJ Members Only Social: Join us and MindMeld PR for happy hour at a swanky restaurant to connect with fellow founders and other VTJ members. MindMeld PR is the go-to agency for innovative tech companies in Canada, U.S., and beyond. The agency will be covering attendee’s first drink but spots are limited to 15 people, so be sure to register quickly!
Not a member? Sign up here and get access to this event and more.
➡️ Buy tickets
June 27 | #VTJTalks: The Year in Vancouver Tech — So Far: Hear from local leaders about what's going right and wrong for Vancouver's innovation ecosystem so far in 2024. Panelists include our very own, William Johnson, VC Chris Neumann, and Fasken partner Ally Bharmal.
➡️ Buy tickets
June 29 | Vancouver Business Networking Party: Internet Masterminds is teaming up with Bootleggers Cocktail and the Vancouver Club to bring the biggest Vancouver business networking party of the summer — featuring four floors of music, art, and entertainment across eight rooms within the exclusive Vancouver Club. Use ‘VTJcode’ for 15% off tickets.
➡️ Buy tickets
VTJ Members get early access and discounts to all our events. Don’t miss out.
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🗓 In real life
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