What it takes to build in Canada

Good morning,

It was a week of candid conversations about what it actually takes to build in Canada. Clio CEO Jack Newton argued in Toronto that Canadian VCs should be offering Canadian companies more competitive valuations than their US counterparts — rather than seeking a hometown discount — and called for tax changes to give founders more reason to stay. Thinkific, meanwhile, cut 30% of its workforce to shift focus toward mid-market and enterprise customers. And Dream Photonics won the 2026 New Ventures BC Competition, taking home $110,000.

A few VTJ Talks still coming up this fall — food tech, fintech, physical AI, and women in leadership.

The rest of the week's news is below.

—Emily

Events

#VTJTalks: Is it a Problem or a Puzzle? Building Technology the Food Industry Actually Needs

For tech builders and investors, the opportunity is enormous. But there's an important distinction to understand: are we solving real industry problems, or simply working on entertaining puzzles?

#VTJTalks: FinTech In Flux: Navigating Innovation & Regulation

The financial technology landscape is evolving faster than ever, and staying ahead means understanding both the opportunities and the guardrails.

#VTJTalks: The Physical AI Era Is Here

AI is stepping out of the screen and into the physical world. From humanoid robots and autonomous machines to smart factories and intelligent sensors, AI is no longer confined to chatbots and dashboards - it's learning to sense, move, and act in real environments.

Tech Days Vol. 2

Vancouver Tech Days is back for round two. Vol. 1 sold out in five days and went over capacity — proof that this city's builders want more than another networking mixer.

#VTJTalks: Women Who Build - Leadership Lessons from Women Founders & Funders

Behind every great company is a story of vision, resilience, and bold decision-making. In this session, we bring together women who are shaping the entrepreneurial landscape as founders building companies from the ground up and as funders backing the next generation of ideas.

Tomorrow starts here. Own it with Fasken

Fasken has been supporting founders, investors and acquirers in the emerging tech ecosystem for over 30 years. We offer a full suite of services that scale as your needs evolve. Let's build the future together. Learn more.

From The Journal

NorthX and BC Hydro launch a $5 million call for companies working on electricity demand flexibility

The program will fund Canadian companies developing technologies that can shift, store, or manage electricity use.

TAP Network's 2026 report finds AI skills harder to find and turnover at a three-year low

Salary growth held at 3.5%, but workforce trends are shifting in more significant ways.

Dream Photonics wins the 2026 New Ventures BC Competition

The Vancouver startup took the $110,000 first place prize.

Debunking the U.S. flip: Why it makes sense to incorporate in Canada

Remaining a Canadian company offers companies and founders, including those building here in British Columbia, several advantages.

Vancouver Tech Journal • Partner Content

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Funding, Deals, and More

Thinkific has laid off 96 employees — 30% of its workforce — as the Vancouver edtech company shifts focus away from small business customers toward mid-market and enterprise accounts. Read more →
Coquitlam-based Photonic and Microsoft are collaborating on quantum resource estimation, helping developers understand what future large-scale quantum applications will actually require to run. Read more →
Vancouver's Lumicent, formerly CoGo, has launched a decision intelligence platform that helps industrial organizations move from detecting equipment risks to deciding how to respond. Read more →
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In Other News

Vancouver's Alebex AI has ranked eighth in an international speech-to-text benchmark, placing ahead of models from Google, Microsoft, Nvidia and Amazon — and becoming the first Canadian company to appear in the category. Read more →
Clio CEO Jack Newton argued at a Toronto event that Canadian VCs should pay a premium to invest in Canadian companies rather than seeking a "hometown discount," and called for tax policy changes to keep more founders building at home. Read more →
VoltSafe has completed safety certification testing for its magnetic, prong-free electrical connection system, clearing the way for the Vancouver company to commercialize in the marina market and beyond. Read more →
At Nrth Festival, Vancouver's Carbonyx CEO Doug Pimlott and Destiny Copper CEO Greg Hanna made the point that cleantech's strongest pitch is now economic rather than environmental, as critical mineral demand outpaces what virgin extraction can sustainably supply. Read more →

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