👋 Why was white space for innovation a hot topic this week? In our last event on lessons learned from multimillion dollar exits, local founders shared their perspectives on how it can open doors to innovation and expansion, and many other takeaways that were critical to their success.
If you’re itching for more insights like these while making new connections, we’ve got you covered with a lineup of events in the coming weeks — from a tech business book swap to our next morning coffee meetup in Burnaby. We also have #VTJTalks panels coming up that you don't want to miss. Learn about how to extend runway through grants, tax credits, and other financial incentives, and hear secrets to scaling world-class products and teams from leaders at Clio and Hootsuite — as well as TikTok’s first and former product manager.
Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 1,612 words: a four-minute read.
-Lisa Tanh, staff writer
P.S. Did someone send you this? Subscribe for free and stay connected to Vancouver’s innovation community.
🗞️ FROM VTJ
Read more at vantechjournal.com
SPONSORED BY AEROPRESS
Perfect coffee anywhere with AeroPress
AeroPress coffee makers give coffee lovers in 60+ countries the ability to brew their perfect cup anywhere. Using patented technology, AeroPress combines the best of three brew techniques into one easy-to-use, portable, giftable, and affordable coffee press. Get uniquely delicious coffee with the full body of a French press, the smoothness of a pour-over, the richness of espresso and a quality of finish that lingers well after the last sip. With an iconic design and an unbelievably fast brewing process, AeroPress coffee makers are a fan-favourite among baristas, world coffee champions, travellers, and everyday coffee drinkers — and the 55K+ 5-star online reviews speak for themselves.
Shop now and save 15% on your first purchase when you sign up for email and SMS notifications.
🤝 FUNDING & DEALS
Early-stage startups take note: Pender Ventures has closed its second fund with over $100 million in total commitments to invest in B2B software and healthtech companies. Returning investors include Export Development Canada (EDC) and Vancity. Among the reasons EDC returned were the VC firm’s strong portfolio and solid performance. Notably, Pender’s portfolio includes Jane App, the clinic management software and electronic medical records platform, and Copperleaf, the investment-decision analytics company acquired for $1 billion in August.
Oh, and if you’re a pre-seed or seed-stage company with at least one student co-founder, Front Row Ventures might be worth checking out. VC analyst Borna Shani mentioned that the firm is looking to make a few more investments before the end of this year and into early 2025. If you — or someone in your network — are working on something exciting, Shani suggests sending him a DM or dropping a comment on his LinkedIn.
🚨 Want all of the latest funding and deals announcements? VTJ members get it in their newsletter. Not a member? Fix that now.
SPONSORED BY UBER CANADA
Car-light living is possible
Can a Vancouverite give up their car for a month and use $1,300 on other transportation? Uber tested this with the One Less Car challenge - and the results may surprise you. Participants’ public transit use increased by 238%, and three in every four participants said they would drive less moving forward.
🗞 IN OTHER NEWS
QuantoTech Solutions — which designs, manufactures, and operates vertical farms to promote food security and sustainability — recently hosted a soft opening for its umbrella brand, Northern Greens. Operating out of Vancouver, Northern Greens uses QuantoTech’s grow systems to offer local, high-quality, fresh produce — grown indoors without pesticides or sprays — directly to farming communities in Northern B.C. and beyond. W Venture Studio’s program manager, Emily Poulin, was among the attendees who got to experience the impact of their products.
“One of the highlights for me was the salad bar, made with ingredients straight from their farm,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “You could seriously taste the difference — it was a great example of the quality of locally sourced food. Walking through their vertical farm, I saw firsthand the efficiency and freshness of their innovative growth system. It’s exciting to see sustainable practices in action.”
🚨 VTJ members got 12 more stories like these in their Morning Report newsletter. (Want to take a look what that looks like? Check your inbox from Thursday.) If you’re not already a member, fix that now.
SPONSORED BY STARBOARD RECRUITMENT
Vancouver's trusted recruitment partner
Starboard Recruitment focuses on delivering quality talent to tech startups in Vancouver while providing top of market candidate/client experience. Connect with Founder, David FitzGerald and read Testimonials here: Starboard Recruitment.
💡 IDEAS & INSIGHTS
“Last night, I had the privilege of attending "Lessons Learned from Multimillion Dollar Exits" put on by the Vancouver Tech Journal where I left inspired by powerhouse panelists like Kristine Steuart, who had one of the largest exits by a female-only founded company in Canada,” Anna Gradie, a performance coach at Toast, wrote on LinkedIn. “Some key takeaways that I want to share with fellow founders:
✅ Early conversations: Initiating discussions with potential acquirers well in advance can set the foundation for a smoother exit down the road.
✅ Aligned investors: Selecting investors who are genuinely committed to smart growth, with values that resonate, is essential.
✅ Mentorship matters: Surrounding yourself with wise mentors helps navigate the ups and downs, providing invaluable guidance and perspective.
✅ Burnout prevention: Many founders exit in a state of burnout. Taking care of yourself throughout the journey is non-negotiable.
✅ Whitespace for innovation: This is the gap between what a company offers and what it could offer. Recognizing whitespace can open doors to innovation and expansion by addressing unmet customer needs.”
SPONSORED BY CBRE
Are your office needs changing? Connect with The High Technology Facilities Group at CBRE – the Vancouver team representing BC’s startup and unicorn companies, to find unique workspaces that drive productivity, attract top talent and create amazing culture.
👀 CAN’T MISS
November 18 | 🎟️ Vancouver Tech Business Book Swap: This event offers the perfect setting to connect with fellow members while sharing business or tech-focused reads. Bring a book (or two) that has inspired you, and trade it for a new source of knowledge from someone else in the community. It's a chance to swap more than just books — gain fresh perspectives, build connections, and spark inspiration as we head into the holiday season and prepare for the new year. For Vancouver Tech Journal members.
➡️ Register
November 19 | 🎟️ #VTJTalks: Accessing Non-Dilutive Capital through Government Funding: Secure a Strong Balance Sheet in Uncertain Times: Join us for an insightful session on accessing non-dilutive capital through various government funding programs. This event is tailored for tech entrepreneurs and startups looking to fuel innovation, scale their businesses, and extend their runway through grants, tax credits, and other financial incentives.
➡️ Get tickets
November 27 | 🎟️ Last Tech Industry Social of 2024! By VTJ x CBRE’s HTFG: Our partners at CBRE's The High Technology Facilities Group are hosting their final tech industry social for the year. We’ll be bringing together a collection of Vancouver’s founders and leaders for networking, deal-making, and just plain old catching up. And as usual, your first drink is free, compliments of The High Technology Facilities Group and Hudson Pacific Properties!
➡️ Get tickets
December 3 | 🎟️ Vancouver Tech Morning Coffee in Burnaby: Meet the team, along with local founders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts, at WeWork Burnaby. At this meetup, you can expect to discover exciting developments in the city, learn something new, make meaningful connections, and potentially find your next co-founder, startup idea, or career!
➡️ Register
December 11 | 🎟️ #VTJTalks: Scaling World-class Products & Teams: Uncover the secrets behind scaling world-class products and building exceptional teams. Hear directly from leaders — with experience at Clio, Hootsuite, and TikTok — who have transformed innovative ideas into industry-leading products and managed teams that set global standards. This event offers an exclusive chance to learn actionable insights on scaling strategy, product development, and team dynamics.
➡️ Get tickets
🚨 Remember: VTJ members get early access and 50% off all our events as well as exclusive gatherings. Don’t miss out — if you’re not already a member, fix that now.
👋 YOUR COMMUNITY
🗣 VTJ Community Slack | Can’t make it to any in-person events? Network and chat with your friendly neighbourhood tech professionals using our dedicated Slack.
🤝 Vancouver Tech Jobs board | Looking for work? Looking for your next hire?
🗓️ Vancouver Tech Events Calendar | All local events in one place.
💪 Become a VTJ Corporate Member | Get your brand in front of thousands of tech professionals, investors, decision makers, and leaders. Get in touch today.