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Vancouver Startup Week and beyond
92% of you said you'll be at VSW next week 💪
Emily Edwards
May 14, 2025
Welcome back to VTJ’s Midweek Memo: the Vancouver tech events and opportunities newsletter you can’t miss. In this week’s edition:
Where we’ll be at Vancouver Startup Week (VSW)
Official VSW kick-off events
The New Ventures BC IP Summit
Year-long C100 growth programs
An opportunity for foodtech innovators
VTJ EVENTS
🗓️ Tuesday, May 20 | Get your VSW tickets
Your official launchpad for Startup Week—don’t miss the buzz (or the caffeine).
Join Vancouver Tech Journal and CBRE’s The High Technology Facilities Group for an energetic morning coffee meetup to warm up for VSW.
Drop by between 8:00-10:00 AM, and connect with founders, investors, and innovators over great coffee, great vibes, and to get the inside scoop on what’s coming up this week.
🗓️ Tuesday, May 20 | Register for free
What happens when men in tech get asked the questions usually reserved for women? Join Toast for their infamous Men in Tech panel, a sharp and satirical twist on the typical tech conversation. After debuting at Vancouver Startup Week 2024, this fan-favourite panel is back for round two. Speakers include:
Moderator: April Hicke, CEO, Toast
Panelists: William Johnson (VTJ), Cameron Burke (Fort Capital), Aaron Stuart (VANTEC), Bijan Vaez (Merchkit)
🚨 Not yet a member?
Remember: VTJ members get 50% off our #VTJTalks series. Don’t miss out — become a member now.
🗓️ Wednesday, May 21 | Get your VSW tickets
Join Clio’s CTO Jonathan Watson and CMO Reagan Attle for an inspiring fireside chat on scaling a global tech company from Vancouver while transforming an entire industry.
From building inclusive teams to leading product innovation, they’ll reflect on Clio’s journey—and explore how legal tech is reshaping client experiences and community connections. A must-attend for founders, tech leaders, and anyone interested in mission-driven growth.
SPONSORED BY INNOVATE BC
Helping B.C. startups capitalize on Web Summit Vancouver
Are you a B.C. startup looking to attend Web Summit Vancouver this May?
The Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV), Powered by Innovate BC with support from an exciting group of Delivery Partners, is here to help B.C. innovators capitalize on the wealth of opportunities available at the conference with tailored events and programming that will give you the skills you need to make impactful connections, share your story and drive growth.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
🗓️ Tuesday, May 20 | 🎟️ Register
Raising pre-seed or seed capital in the next year? Whether you’re coming off your 25th NVBC competition exposure, prepping for investor meetings at Web Summit, or getting ready for your next funding round, this session is for you.
Join David Steinley (founder, Future Standard and fractional CFO) for a focused, two-hour seminar where he'll shine a light on the black box of due diligence and show you how to prepare a data room that helps you get to a "yes."
🗓️ Tuesday, May 20 | 🎟️ Register
It's the official kick off of Vancouver Startup Week 2025!
Come mix and mingle with our amazing ecosystem, meet support organizations and featured startups, check out Startup TNT's Finale Night and celebrate what makes Vancouver so special: our community.
SPONSORED BY FORESIGHT CANADA
Are you one of Canada's most investible cleantech companies?
Foresight’s latest report explores how BC’s forest bioeconomy has the potential to lead the global shift to renewable, high-value bioproducts.
Discover how BC can seize this opportunity with insights on:
The province’s competitive edge
High-potential international markets
Actionable strategies for global growth
🗓️ Wednesday, May 21 | 🎟️ Register
Join a half day packed with sessions on artificial intelligence and intellectual property (IP), freedom-to-operate strategies, and real-world IP stories from startups and scaleups.
Whether you're building your first product or scaling fast, you'll leave with actionable IP strategies, fresh perspective, and connections that matter.
SPONSORED BY FLOAT FINANCIAL
Launch alert! Float FX is here
In the midst of a trade war, Canadian companies need smarter ways to manage USD—without added friction or fees.
✅ Instantly convert between CAD ⇄ USD at industry-leading FX rates of just 0.25%
✅ Issue USD cards, pay US vendors and reimburse US employees, all within Float
✅ No USD bank account needed
Convert, spend and send USD like a local—without ever leaving Canada. Try Float today.
🤝 NEW OPPORTUNITIES
🗓️ June 15 | Apply
Apply to the C100 Fellows and Growth programs, where high-potential founders and executives connect with a global network of seasoned entrepreneurs, operators, and investors. Over the course of a year, participants gain the insights, mentorship, and connections needed to scale faster and smarter.
🗓️ July 10 | Apply
Throw your hat in the ring for this first-of-its-kind celebration from the Canadian Food Innovation Network recognizing Canada's most ambitious and impactful foodtech innovators. Selected companies benefit from targeted media coverage, enhanced investment attraction, strategic partnership opportunities, and elevated visibility nationally and globally.
🗓️ Multiple | Apply
If you’re a founder developing a science- or technology-based venture with the potential for massive scale, this is your opportunity to work with world-class mentors, serial entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, and operators who’ve built and backed industry-defining companies.
SPONSORED BY FASKEN MARTINEAU
Fasken has supported founders, investors and acquirers in the emerging tech ecosystem for over 30 years. They offer a full suite of services that scale as your needs evolve. Learn more.
🗓️ Ongoing | Apply
Submit an expression of interest for Digital’s co-investment program, designed for projects focused on unlocking the opportunities in the mining and energy sectors.
🗓️ Ongoing | Apply
Apply for Innovate BC’s Venture Acceleration Program, developed to help tech entrepreneurs accelerate the process of defining a proven business model. Whether you’re just starting out or you have already established your business, this program is designed to help growing technology companies.
SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER VENTURE MANAGEMENT LTD.
300-person Global Climate event: Climate Global 2025
Join the largest climatetech event in Vancouver with speakers such as Greg Twinney, CEO, General Fusion, Kel Coulson, Director of Policy, Carbon Engineering, and many more!
👋 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 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.
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