Morning everyone,
We're halfway through 2026, and this week we took stock of the stories readers kept coming back to — William rounded up the 12 most-read Vancouver tech stories of the year so far, and there are a few spots left for our mid-year check-in event if you want to talk through what it all means in person. Register here.
On the people side, James Wells announced this week that he's stepping down as CEO of Sanctuary AI after nearly eight years, as the Vancouver humanoid robotics company moves into its next phase.
-Emily
Events
And…we’re soft launching Vancouver Tech Days for those of you who read closely.
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Help nourish Vancouver’s vulnerable seniors
PHS Community Services Society supports vulnerable seniors facing complex health challenges who rely on specialized meals every day.
In Vancouver, PHS prepares and delivers over 3,900 meals daily from a kitchen designed to produce just 200—creating urgent safety and capacity challenges.
Join the PHS Run Team in the Under Armour Eastside 10K or donate to the PHS Run Team help reach their $30,000 goal, and help unlock a $500,000 matching grant from the Al Roadburg Foundation towards PHS’s Vancouver Food Program expansion.
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From The Journal
SPONSORED BY STARBOARD RECRUITMENT
Carving out a niche in mining and technology
When quality and experience matter. Starboard Recruitment specializes in finding the best talent for Vancouver's top tech and mining companies. A trusted partner, they are highly recommended by many industry leaders. View testimonials here: Link to David's profile.
Funding, Deals, and More
Well Health is spinning out its clinical software subsidiary Wellstar and listing it on the TSXV later this year, with the business raising $50 million CAD to fund acquisitions and AI-related growth ahead of the listing. Read more →
Vancouver's RZOLV Technologies has closed an oversubscribed $1.9 million private placement to advance its hydrometallurgical technology platform for recovering precious and critical metals. Read more →
Many companies are exploring AI, but struggle to turn experiments into measurable progress. Join Riipen’s webinar, The AI Action Gap, to learn how to move from scattered testing to structured AI adoption. Read more →*
*Sponsored listing
SPONSORED BY HIGH TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES GROUP
Vancouver's tech office experts
Connect with The High Technology Facilities Group at CBRE Ltd. – leaders in sourcing office space for BC’s startup and unicorn companies. The HTFG excels at helping clients find unique workspaces that drive productivity, reflect values, attract top talent, and fuel workplace culture.
In Other News
James Wells has announced he is stepping down as CEO of Sanctuary AI after nearly eight years, as the Vancouver humanoid robotics company shifts from proving its technology to scaling it commercially. Read more →
InBC is shifting from a triple-bottom-line fund toward a more strategic, economically focused investor, BetaKit reports, with CIO Thomas Park outlining the organization's push to fill the university-commercialization gap and back B.C.'s next generation of tech champions. Read more →
AbCellera has appointed Dr. Lynn Seely, president and CEO of Lyell Immunopharma, to its board of directors as an independent director. Read more →
Open Door Group has taken over Entrepreneurs on the Rise, a free B.C. program supporting women and non-binary individuals with disabilities who want to start or grow a business. Read more →
BC Hydro has launched a free smart thermostat program for residential customers, partnering with Canadian companies Mysa and Sinopé to deliver devices to eligible households starting this fall as part of its $1 billion Power Smart 2.0 plan. Read more →
Vancouver-based Bono AI turns a 10-minute conversation into a blog, LinkedIn posts, and a newsletter, written in a person's own voice. No blank page, no ghostwriter, no agency. Read more →*
*Sponsored listing
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