It’s not every day a Vancouver investor helps bring an endangered language to one of the world’s biggest gaming platforms — but that’s exactly what Josh Nilson just did. We’re leading off today’s briefing with the remarkable story of Métis Life, a Roblox game designed to teach Northern Michif and inspire a new generation of Indigenous developers.
Also this week: a BC software firm expands to the UK, a new incubator launches in Vancouver, and Canada’s Startup Genome rankings shake up. Plus, we're almost sold out for #VTJTalks: Web Summit Post-Mortem — grab your spot now.
Let’s dive in.
-William
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From The Journal
A Métis-built game is teaching an endangered language on Roblox — and that’s just the start. Vancouver-based investor and serial entrepreneur Josh Nilson personally funded the prototype for Métis Life, now the first Indigenous language game on one of the world’s largest platforms. Why? To help revitalize Northern Michif and train the next generation of Indigenous developers.
The move is part of the firm's goal to reach $250 million in annual revenue by 2028.
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Funding, Deals & More
BC scores $6.5M for brain research: Neuroscience researchers at UBC received over $6.5 million from Brain Canada to advance work on neurodegenerative diseases, cognition, and brain health.
Learn more →Former VC analyst launches incubator to back bold Canadian founders: Sanket Mittal, a former analyst at Graphite Ventures, is launching Althra—an incubator focused on early-stage startups—this fall in Vancouver. He’s secured a dedicated workspace and is building a national community around it.
Read more →Photonic expands quantum R&D to the UK: Vancouver’s Photonic is opening a quantum research facility in the UK, part of a growing international footprint for the deep tech company.
More on the expansion →
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In Other News
Startup Genome rankings drop Vancouver: Vancouver slipped in the Startup Genome 2025 global rankings, alongside Toronto-Waterloo and Ottawa. Montreal and Calgary held their positions.
See the data →UBC adds new innovation talent: The Innovation UBC team welcomed eight new faces this summer, including startup advisors, tech transfer leads, and comms strategists.
Meet them all →Ballard Power names new CEO: Ballard Power Systems, a major player in BC cleantech, appointed a new CEO this week as it eyes a new phase of growth.
Meet the new exec →Startup of the Year?: Skikrumb, a finalist for the BC Tech Association’s Startup of the Year award, continues to gain traction.
Read the profile →
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👀 Can't-Miss
Selling out: June 25: #VTJTalks: Web Summit Vancouver Post-Mortem
Join founders, investors, and ecosystem builders for a candid post-mortem on Web Summit Vancouver at #VTJTalks. Moderated by Nicole Brassard, VP of British Columbia, Global Public Affairs, here from
Alycia van der Gracht, Founder, QuantoTech Solutions Ltd.
Roya Aghighi, CEO, Lite-1
Sean Elbe, Partnerships, Creative Destruction Lab
Pieter Dorsman, Director, AngelForm
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