🏙️ How the Vancouver tech community fills their cup

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How good was Thursday’s Tech Industry Social this week, eh? More than 150 of you came out to Yaletown Brewing for the first Vancouver Tech Journal after-work get-together. Drinks were flowing (thanks to the HTFG at CBRE!), and conversations were too. I know I met three new founders that I’m very much looking forward to introducing you to in our VTJ stories over the next few months.

So here’s a thank you to you, our community, for making our ecosystem so special. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 873 words: a four-minute read.

-Kate Wilson, managing editor (@KateWilsonSays)

🗞️ VTJ Stories

eBook: How to minimize third-party risk with vendor management

A robust vendor management program isn’t just required by compliance frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. It’s also a critical part of a holistic trust management strategy.

Implementing a vendor management program, however, has become more complex and challenging with the proliferation of SaaS tools and shadow IT. And many overstretched security teams are being asked to do more with less.

To stay compliant and secure — and deepen trust with customers and partners — security teams need a way to proactively manage vendor risk.

This guide from Vanta, the leading trust management platform, brings together perspectives from the frontlines of vendor security management. Get insights and best practices from security and compliance leaders. 

🤝 Funding and deals:

🗞️ In other news:

• Forbes released its list of Canada’s best startup employers for 2024. A number of Vancouver-based companies made the list, including two in the top 10.

• Maia Farms and Insporos Technologies won the Farmers’ Den pitch competition at the Pacific Agriculture Show, in conjunction with the Abbotsford Tech District.

• VoPay, a provider of embedded fintech solutions, has launched its artificial intelligence lab to help with predictive analytics, robotic process automation, and managed services.

• The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) hosted its 41st annual Roundup conference, with more than 6,200 attendees present to learn about locating and extracting materials needed for the clean energy transition.

• Variational AI, which uses AI and machine learning to develop new drug compounds, announced a generative AI project with drug giant Merck.

• For 10 more stories, become a member now »

💡 Ideas and insights:

• Ve Sharma, co-founder and CTO of Adauris and an alumnus of Google for Startups, wrote on LinkedIn to encourage women to apply to the accelerator program.

• Diraj Goel, founder of GetFresh Ventures, wrote on LinkedIn about his journey to becoming an entrepreneur.

• Pocket Sun, founder of SoGal Ventures, was featured in AsiaTechDaily discussing how she’s providing bigger cheques to diverse founders with her Fund II.

• The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade wrote about how we are entering an important juncture for B.C.’s critical minerals, needed to power the green energy transition.

💼 Take your career to the next level

• There are hundreds of Vancouver tech businesses searching for talent, including MyFO, BC Public Service, Brainstation, and the City of Vancouver.

• Check out who else is hiring on our Vancouver Tech Job Board »

• Growing your team? Post a job with us »

🙋 Join your online community

Did you know you can connect with your tech community using our dedicated VTJ Slack? We know not all of you can get to our events in person, so this is your chance to network and chat with your friendly neighbourhood tech professionals from the comfort of your home. Join your VTJ Community Slack now.

👋 Before you go…