The week you show you're serious

You asked for access—now it’s here. Time to show up.

Author

William Johnson
May 22, 2025

Hey Insiders – 

This past week, I’ve been thinking about a pattern I can’t shake — and I hope Web Summit Vancouver is when it finally breaks.

At Vancouver Tech Journal, we’ve hosted two of the most accomplished tech leaders this city has produced: Dennis Pilarinos, founder of Buddybuild (acquired by Apple), and, just last night, Jonathan Watson and Reagan Attle — the CTO and CMO of Clio, one of the most successful legaltech companies on the planet, proudly built right here in Burnaby.

Both events drew 30 to 40 people. Thirty to forty. For executives who built and scaled global companies from right here in our backyard. And when I say they showed up, I mean it — they stuck around long after their talks, answering one-on-one questions, offering insight, advice, and genuine encouragement to anyone curious enough to engage.

I was grateful for the conversations. I was shocked more people didn’t show up.

And now here we are — days away from Web Summit Vancouver, the most ambitious tech event this city has ever hosted. We’ve got international heavyweights flying in: Jack Selby, Managing Director at Thiel Capital; Ivan Zhang, Co-founder of Cohere; Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft; the CEO of Bluesky; and hundreds more. It’s a global who's who of tech — and they’re coming to share, not just be seen.

We’ve also got some of Vancouver’s brightest on stage: Sim Desai, CEO of Hiive; Yaofei Feng, Co-founder of Fantuan; Max Lytvyn, Co-founder of Grammarly; Sumreen Rattan, COO and Co-founder of Moment Energy; and Corinne Hua, CFO of Thinkific. These are the types of founders and executives who don’t just build great companies — they reshape industries. And they’ll be right here, on home turf.

I get it — not everyone can afford a ticket. And yes, big conferences can feel overwhelming or out of reach, especially for early-stage founders and builders heads-down in the trenches. But this isn’t just another tech event. It’s an entire week where the world comes to Vancouver — and the density of knowledge, connections, and potential serendipity is unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Even better: you don’t need a Web Summit pass to take part. Vancouver Tech Journal has compiled a list of nearly 100 side events and afterparties happening all around the city — panels, happy hours, meetups, and conversations you can join without breaking the bank. This is one of those rare moments when access isn’t the problem — initiative is.

Even if you’re not walking the main floor, don’t underestimate the power of showing up, asking a question, making one new connection, or hearing one insight that shifts your trajectory. You don’t need a VIP badge to make it worthwhile — but you do need to be there.

Of course, you won’t get to talk to every speaker one-on-one — but that’s not the point. Founders, operators, and anyone serious about building should take advantage of what might be the most concentrated gathering of experience and insight this city will see until… well, maybe next year’s Web Summit.

If you’re in this game, there’s no excuse not to lean in. The people speaking aren’t here to impress — they’re here to share. So show up, listen closely, and take what you learn back to your team. The opportunity won’t knock louder than this.

You made it this far…

…so here are your three Insider-exclusive tips of the week:

  • Wind down with us next Friday: Join Vancouver Tech Journal, CBRE’s High Technology Facilities Group, and Govan Brown & Associates for the Web Summit Wind Down on May 30 from 4–6pm. No Web Summit pass required. When you request to join, let me know so we can make sure you’re on the list. Sign up here.

  • Hiive’s giving away 30 Web Summit passes: Each includes access to a private rooftop event at their downtown HQ on May 28. Three selected winners will also receive round-trip flights and two nights’ accommodation in Vancouver — open to VCs, startup operators, and zero-to-one founders. Learn more.

  • Two June events, just for you: Be the first to hear about (and save 50% on) our upcoming events. Use the special links below to grab your Insider discount before we go public.

Until next week –

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