👋 Good morning, and welcome to VTJ’s Sunday Briefing: your weekly digest of the city’s innovation news, deals, insights, and more.
Why is North America’s food supply chain system so behind compared to other continents? Uni-one gave us the inside scoop on the industry, and how it’s been quietly working toward building the largest and most innovative food supply chain platform right from the Lower Mainland.
Plus, find out which Vancouver unicorn was acquired for $1 billion this week, and what trends a VC firm sees among its Western Canada portfolio companies.
Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 1,017 words: a three-minute read.
-Lisa
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🗞️ FROM VTJ
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🤝 FUNDING & DEALS
Borealis, a biotech company, raised a $150 million Series A to develop xRNA-based medicines for kidney diseases through a partnership with pharmaceutical company Novartis and Versant Ventures.
InBC, the strategic investment fund created by B.C.’s government, invested $4 million into ChopValue, which creates product and design solutions with material made entirely from recycled chopsticks.
The federal government revealed that non-profit Community Futures Development Association of British Columbia is among the 17 organizations selected to deliver its 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurship program, which consists of an $8 million fund.
COAST, Pacific Canada's hub for the sustainable blue economy, put a call out for innovators to apply for its ocean startup challenge, for a chance to win $25K for prototyping and business development.
Get the latest funding and deals announcements and stories curated in our Members-only Morning Report.
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🗞 IN OTHER NEWS
Leasy, a proptech startup, launched a new integration that allows property managers to post rental listings to Zillow and its network.
Minivillage, a platform transforming buildings into connected communities, shared its framework for achieving community impact, operational, and financial success.
Jelly Academy, the digital marketing bootcamp, is partnering with Best Buy to remove barriers and improve access to tech for its students.
The B.C. Securities Commission released a new report that revealed why some Canadians are choosing DIY investing over financial advisors.
💡 IDEAS & INSIGHTS
Jessica Bosman and Bryn Davis Williams, co-founders of DOUBL, a custom bra manufacturer that uses 3D measurement tech to create the perfect fit, were featured in Forbes on their startup journey.
Lynn Ferrari, a tech HR executive, was interviewed on the Survive2Thrive podcast on her career journey, and the insights and wisdom she’s gained including the importance of dealing with conflict.
Boris Mann, co-founder of Fission, a decentralized web tech startup, was interviewed on the High Agency podcast on the industry and community building.
👀 CAN’T MISS
September 3 | Startup TNT Investment Summit X – Company Info Session: Join the Startup TNT team for a virtual session to get an overview about its next summit to help raise capital for startups and make it easier for local investors, both seasoned and new. Attendees can expect to learn more about the eligibility requirements and application form.
➡️ Register
September 4 | An Evening with BC’s Most Prominent Investors and This Year’s Most Promising Startups: Get a first look at the top 26 companies emerging from this year’s New Venture BC competition and the top 10 that will be moving on to the final round of the competition. This event is also the perfect opportunity to meet with fellow ecosystem partners and angel investors.
➡️ Get tickets
September 12 | Tech Talk: Career Roundtable: Whether you’re launching your tech career, considering a change, or you're a seasoned pro eager to explore different roles, this roundtable event is the perfect place to engage with tech enthusiasts and experts to navigate the tech career landscape.
➡️ Register
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