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The last companies standing in B.C.'s hottest competition
$250,000 is up for grabs. This is your Sunday Briefing.
Kate Wilson
September 04, 2022
It’s the Labour Day long weekend: the annual holiday that’s not just about buying back-to-school tech deals at bargain prices, but which celebrates the achievements of Canadian workers. Join me in spending today reflecting on all the excellent things you’ve accomplished professionally this year. We deserve it.
The finalists of the New Ventures BC Competition will doubtless be doing the same thing, as they prep their pitches to win $250,000 in cash and prizes. Meet the last companies standing in our staff writer James Matthews’ article. Elsewhere in Vancouver, local business Airble has launched an app that allows not-super-rich people to charter a private aircraft. If you fancy a hop over to the Gulf Islands to make the most of this long weekend, check out my story.
Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 942 words, a four-minute read.
-Kate Wilson, @KateWilsonSays
P.S. See you at these upcoming events?
Sept 6, from 8-10 a.m.: Vancouver Tech Morning Coffee
Sept 14, from 5-8 p.m.: How To: Create a Successful NFT Project
New Ventures BC 2022: Meet the top 11 companies
For the first time in the contest’s 22-year history, there was a tie — and a top 11. Here’s why any of those companies could win. Start reading »
Airble offers a new way to book aircraft
The Vancouver-based startup lets passengers charter private airplanes on a middle-class salary. Start reading »
The fund looking to weave together Western Canada’s investment ecosystem
The aptly-named Weave is co-branded with Valhalla Private Capital and Red Thread Ventures. It’s already doling out cash to Canadian startups. Start reading »
#vtjtalks: Trillion-dollar-tech stories, with The New York Times’ Tripp Mickle
What does it take to create a trillion dollars in value? As a member of the Vancouver Tech Journal community, you’re invited to a special conversation with The New York Times tech reporter, Tripp Mickle. Learn more and sign up »
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🤝 Funding and deals
The Province is topping up its Innovator Skills Initiative program — which connects students to technical roles at companies — to the tune of $583,000, in order to allow waitlisted businesses to access it. Continue »
Crypto company WonderFi said it would acquire Blockchain Foundry, a Toronto-based blockchain solutions business, in an all-stock deal. BetaKit »
Launchpad Technologies is partnering with Avalara — a Seattle cloud-based tax-compliance automation software — in a move that will enable their customers to improve their accounting functions. Continue »
For more news like this, check out our weekly Money briefing: SaNOtize, AltFee, and Fineqia
🗞️ In other news
Tribe Property Technologies has appointed Drew Keddy to the new role of chief operating officer. Start reading »
Ilya Brotzky, CEO of VanHack, shared his Open Letter to the Canadian Minister of Immigration
UVX Inc. improves disinfection using human-safe UV light. Global News »
Victoria-based Certn has grown its revenues 33,109 percent to $18.5 million in 2021, from $55,856 in 2017. Business in Vancouver »
The 2022 New Ventures BC Competition is profiling its top 25 companies, posting stories regularly. Get to them »
💼 Take your career to the next level
Everyone’s talking about hiring. And while some local companies have laid off team members, there are hundreds of other Vancouver tech businesses searching for talent, including Safe Software, Tantalus Systems, AbCellera, Optix, Ari, Seaspan, LandSure, and Inetco Systems.
Check out who else is hiring on our Vancouver Tech Journal Job Board »
Growing your team? Post a job with us »
💡 Ideas and insights
Aaron Pete, host of the Bigger Than Me Podcast, reflects on his conversation with Vancouver Tech Journal’s William Johnson, and shares what entrepreneurs can learn from tech entrepreneurs
Michael Redding, chief technology officer of Quantropi Inc., writing in Vancouver Tech Journal: Five quantum cybersecurity facts every CTO needs to know
Michael Gilbert, CEO of Semios, writing in Entrepreneur: We have more farming data than ever, but this crucial piece is missing
Angel Pui, the founder of the Diamond Handbag Club, joined the Bits & Bytes podcast to discuss building a digital-first luxury fashion brand
Shafin Diamond Tejani, CEO of Victory Square Technologies, writing on LinkedIn about what he looks for in a pitch
Ryan Wong, CEO of Visier, writing in Fast Company: A recession may trigger these three conflicts at work
Dave McLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange, writing in Forbes: 'Stakeholder engagement' needs a rethink. Here’s what will replace it.
Calvin MacDonald, CEO of Lululemon, writing on LinkedIn: Innovating for unmet needs
👋 Before you go…
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