Hey everyone,
If this week had a theme, it would be positioning. The province is signaling stability with a new $400 million fund. Universities are doubling down on quantum, AI, and biomining. Ottawa is stepping into the AI safety debate. And founders are recalibrating in the wake of regulatory pressure and global competition for talent.
We’re also leaning into one of the most consequential shifts in our ecosystem: defence tech. On March 18, we’re hosting #VTJTalks: The BC Defence Tech Moment—a conversation about how local companies scale in a world that suddenly cares a lot more about sovereignty.
Let’s get into it.
Upcoming Events
Just announced: March 18: #VTJTalks: The BC Defence Tech Moment: Strategy, Scale, and Sovereignty
From The Journal
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Supporting every stage of your Web Summit Vancouver journey
Are you a B.C. startup attending Web Summit Vancouver this May?
The Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV), Powered by Innovate BC with support from an exciting group of Delivery Partners, is here to help B.C. innovators capitalize on the wealth of opportunities available at the conference and beyond with tailored events and programming that will give you the skills you need to make impactful connections, share your story and drive growth.
Funding, Deals, and More
The province is rolling out a $400 million Strategic Investment Fund that can make loans or equity investments in private-sector projects, framing it as a tool to back B.C. businesses and share in upside when projects succeed.
SFU says new federal support will help create a regional quantum communications network and a secure computing network to train AI models and process sensitive data—positioned as defence and dual-use infrastructure for B.C.
Genome BC and UBC’s BRIMM announced a partnership to grow B.C.’s biomining expertise—using biological tools to tackle mining challenges and modernize practices.
Vancouver-based addy has entered restructuring about a year after being fined by regulators, marking a major reset for the “fractional real estate investing” platform.
In Other News
Canada’s AI minister says he will meet with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman next week to press for clearer, concrete safety measures following the mass killings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
Vancouver-based Moment Energy appointed battery scientist Dr. Kandler Smith as Technical Fellow and former Tesla engineering leader Dorian West as Strategic Advisor, as it scales its second-life EV battery storage platform.
A new look at B.C.’s game sector highlights how limited diversity in senior roles can influence which stories make it onto screens—pointing to an ongoing leadership pipeline problem.
Innovation UBC has brought 28 new ventures into its Venture Founder program, spanning areas like AI, biotech, healthcare, climate and sustainability, and advanced engineering.
A new BetaKit analysis (from a Vancouver Tech Journal event) argues the core issue isn’t that Canada lacks talent—it’s that too many people can’t access the pathways, opportunities, and mobility needed to participate in the tech economy.
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CFIN's Foodtech Frontier list helps investors identify and connect with vetted, high growth foodtech companies. Our 2025 cohort featured 8 BC companies now raising capital, securing national partnerships, and scaling across the globe. Discover what’s making BC's foodtech sector one of the most compelling innovation spaces in Canada right now.
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