Hi everyone,
It feels like every week in B.C. tech brings another data point, another headline, another quiet milestone that—when you zoom out—adds up to something bigger than anyone expected.
This week, the pattern sharpened.
On one end of the spectrum, the province is making real bids to lead in frontier industries—from AI to quantum to wildfire intelligence—backed by fresh financing, new talent moves, and the kind of institutional support that used to only show up in Toronto or the Valley. On the other end, we’re seeing the frictions just as clearly: procurement barriers driving medtech founders away, lawsuits circling global platforms, and federal strategies still waiting to be matched by execution.
Somewhere in the middle of all that? The people building the next wave: the researchers stepping into broader leadership roles, the founders landing major debt facilities, the startups joining elite programs, and the local teams powering billion-dollar acquisitions from inside quiet Vancouver offices.
So this week’s Briefing looks at both sides of the map—the accelerating frontier and the stubborn gaps—and what they tell us about where B.C.’s tech economy is really heading.
Here’s what you need to know.
From The Journal
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Funding, Deals, and More
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Connect with a WeWork professional today.*Moment Energy secures $5M debt financing from TD Innovation Partners: Vancouver-based Moment Energy has raised $5 million in non-dilutive debt financing from TD Innovation Partners. The funding will support the company’s expansion of second-life EV battery energy storage solutions across North America.
Read more →Northeastern University Vancouver hosts a discussion panel on Nov 26: Building Trust in an AI-Driven World. Experts from Sense & Motion, Deloitte, and Northeastern University explore AI ethics, governance, transparency, and workforce integration. Register today.*
Innovate BC launches microgrant platform for startup acceleration: Innovate BC has launched a new microgrant platform aimed at helping early-stage founders access small but impactful amounts of funding to accelerate product development, hiring, and customer validation activities.
Read more →
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In Other News
SenseNet selected for C100’s 48Hrs founder program: Wildfire intelligence startup SenseNet has been chosen for the C100’s prestigious 48Hrs Fellows program, which brings together 20 high-potential Canadian founders for mentorship, network access, and exposure to Silicon Valley operators and investors.
TikTok may face class-action lawsuit in Canada: A potential class-action lawsuit has been filed in British Columbia accusing TikTok of improperly collecting and using personal data from Canadian users, including minors. The case claims the company harvested biometric and behavioral data without appropriate consent.
Procurement barriers push B.C.’s medtech innovators abroad: A new BIV report highlights how local procurement rules—described as “really sad”—are forcing B.C. medtech startups to seek customers outside the province. Founders say restrictive purchasing policies make it nearly impossible to pilot or deploy homegrown innovations in local hospitals.
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