July 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 July.

International tech giants are coming to Vancouver

What happened: Kate Wilson wrote a great long-read article in the Georgia Straight about the wave of prominent Silicon Valley companies who are setting up shop in Vancouver. Additionally, we learned more about the arrivals of Apple, Fujitsu, and Mailchimp, with the latter looking to add 25-30 new people once they move into their new Mount Pleasant office this summer.

Why we should care: This is great validation for our tech sector. As companies like Tile, Asana, and Postmates commit to British Columbia, it will encourage more international companies, investors, and talent to follow suit. Also, the 400-block of West Georgia is emerging as a legitimate tech hub in the downtown core, with Amazon and Apple set to join existing residents like Lighthouse Labs, Unbounce, and VanHack amongst others.

Jetti Resources raises 642K from federal and provincial governments

What happened: The B.C. cleantech company secured the funding through Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Clean Growth Program and Innovate BC’s Ignite Program. Jetti previously secured more than 24M in funding through a Series A round in 2017.

Why we should care: B.C. is a cleantech leader in Canada. Nearly 1/3 of Canadian cleantech startups are from British Columbia and Jetti is another prime example of a local company that’s solving global challenges. Nelson Mora and Mike Outwin have built a team that’s continually pushing the boundaries of innovation and Innovate BC is proud to fund and support this company.

HeadCheck Health partners with the CFL to tackle concussion safety

What happened: The Vancouver-based company is partnering with the Canadian Football League (CFL) to improve the effectiveness of the league’s current concussion protocol. HeadCheck’s platform will be used to “complete baseline, sideline, and post-injury concussion evaluations for players”.

Why I’m interested: Improving concussion evaluations and protocols has become a major priority for sports teams all over the world. For HeadCheck Health, an opportunity to partner with the CFL could lead to enhanced player safety while positioning the BC company as a leader in this space.  Congratulations to Harrison Brown, Kerry Costello, and their entire team on this exciting BC-tech success story.   

Richmond high school students compete at robotics world championships

What happened: Against insurmountable odds, a group of high school students from J.N. Burnett Secondary School qualified for the robotics world championships in Houston, Texas. They competed against 300 teams, from more than 70 countries, and made it all the way to the quarter-finals, before narrowly losing to the top ranked team in the world.

Why we should care: Feel-good stories like this are what provide hope and excitement about the future of our tech sector. I’d also like to recognize CHIMP, who played a pivotal role in supporting the team from Burnett and giving them the opportunity to represent our province on a global stage.  

Accelerate Okanagan releases 5-year strategic plan; begins search for new CEO

What happened: Accelerate Okanagan has developed a new set of strategic priorities that will help shape the organization and local tech sector over the next five years. To quote Acting CEO, Brea Lake:

“We’ve set some big and audacious goals. In the next 5 years Okanagan Tech will have an economic impact of $5 Billion, be a level 5 Techstars Community Score, and a membership of 5X.”

Why I’m interested: Aside from the obvious, I’m interested because this is an incredibly exciting time for one of the country’s fastest growing tech hubs. Kelowna was my home for more than 40 years and I’m extremely proud of Brea Lake and the AO team who consistently go above and beyond to support Kelowna’s entrepreneurs. Best of luck on the new CEO search – I hope the new person is better than the last guy!