August 2019: 5 BC tech stories that caught my eye

B.C.’s tech sector is getting more news coverage than ever before. In fact, there can be so much news that it’s tough to stay on top of everything that’s going on.

That’s why each month, I’ll highlight my five favourite stories that showcase the incredible work of the companies, entrepreneurs, and researchers who are helping turn British Columbia into a thriving, globally competitive tech hub.

Here are five B.C. tech stories that caught my eye in the month of August.

Brainstation, Northeastern University, and SFU showcase the diversity of our post-secondary institutions

What happened: It was a busy month for B.C. academia. Brainstation introduced a new Income Sharing Agreement, Northeastern University announced a new satellite campus, and five SFU research projects received $840,000 in funding, which will be matched by B.C.’s Knowledge Development Fund.

Why I’m interested: These are three very different academic institutions, but each of them contributes to our tech ecosystem in their own way. Northeastern University specifically intrigues me, as their new campus will be located downtown in the same block as soon-to-be tenants Apple, Amazon, Deloitte, and Spaces.

Another successful Traction Conference; another Valley company on the way?

What happened: Ray Walia and the team at Launch Academy once again delivered one of the year’s best events. From the CxO Summit at Grouse Mountain, to the opening party at the Chinese Classical Gardens, to the jam-packed day of speakers at Parq Hotel, Traction showcased our province to Silicon Valley’s most prominent companies, entrepreneurs, and investors. 

Why we should care: Traction is one of the best tech events in Canada. It’s a laser-focused conference that’s dedicated to helping founders grow their business and make valuable connections. Also, with Kabbage CEO Kathryn Petralia intimating that her company is considering expanding to Vancouver, we may soon be welcoming another one of Silicon Valley’s top companies to British Columbia.

The federal government pours money into our tech sector

What happened: Two big funding announcements – one at each end of the month – grabbed headlines across the province this month. It started with ISED Minister, Navdeep Bains, announcing a $39M investment into B.C.’s cleantech sector. And just two days ago, our friends at BC Tech Association secured $2.25M to support their scaleup programs and hub operations.

Why I’m interested: B.C.’s tech sector continues to be an economic driver for the province and investments like this will help our companies start, scale, and stay in B.C. Congrats to Jill Tipping, BC Tech Association, and the 17 cleantech companies that are receiving funding to scale-up and expand their operations.

Agritech Innovation Challenge winners announced; $150K in funding awarded

What happened: Innovate BC and the provincial government announced the winners of its second Agritech Innovation Challenge earlier this month. Winners include a researcher from SFU, an entrepreneurship@UBC HATCH company, and an innovative startup from Salmon Arm. All three winners received $50K in funding to develop proof of concepts.

Why we should care: 70 applications were submitted from companies and researchers all across the province, which marked a significant increase from the first challenge in 2017. The B.C. government continues to invest time, resources, and money into supporting agritech innovations, with the formation of the Food Security Task Force and the aforementioned Agritech Innovation Challenge.

Finding funding opportunities has never been easier

What happened: Fundsquire put together a thorough and detailed guide about all things funding here in Canada. If you’re looking for information on VC firms, bootstrapping, accelerators, or even different crowdfunding strategies, this comprehensive post has you covered. 

Why we should care: Every entrepreneur needs access to funding, resources, and support and this helpful guide directs you to all three. Additionally, if you’re looking to access federal funding, I highly recommend checking out Innovation Canada’s funding portal, which provides companies with tailored and relevant funding opportunities. And lastly, our partners at New Ventures BC put together a great article about the different student hiring grants that B.C. companies can take advantage of, including a couple I know pretty well.