October 2019: 5 B.C. 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 October.
Riipen and RBC announce partnership to help young Canadians prepare for the future of work
What happened: Riipen and RBC are teaming up to deliver work-integrated experiential learning initiatives across the country. The partnership will “provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and gain the work experience they need for the jobs of tomorrow”. Riipen’s platform will be made available to students across 13 post-secondary institutions, including three from B.C. (BCIT, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Thompson Rivers University).
Why I’m interested: Riipen is a great B.C. tech success story. They’re growing year over year, securing international partnerships with industry and academia, and fundamentally changing work-integrated learning. And for good measure, they recently moved into a new office in Gastown, which is already equipped with a ping pong table.
Kootenay cleantech company announces $1.5M funding raise
What happened: Trail B.C.’s Fenix Advanced Materials secured funding from Community Futures of Greater Trail, NRC-IRAP, and Columbia Basin Trust. The money will support the company’s staffing, infrastructure, and applied research efforts.
Why we should care: This regional success story ties together several of the key economic, technology, and funding organizations in the Kootenay region. In addition to the three listed above, Fenix has worked directly with KAST and the MIDAS Lab to access additional funding, resources, and support. I’d like to give a special shout out to Fenix’s CEO, Don Freschi, who also serves as a mentor for several Kootenays-based startups through KAST’s Venture Acceleration Program.
B.C. Government names new Indigenous business adviser
What happened: Minister Bruce Ralston announced that Dahpane Nelson will be the new Indigenous business adviser for the B.C. Government’s Export Navigator Program. Nelson will be based out of Kamloops and help Indigenous companies across the province grow their businesses internationally.
Why we should care: The Export Navigator Program has helped hundreds of small businesses at all stages of exporting since its launch in 2016. With Dahpane Nelson on board, this marks a huge opportunity for B.C.’s Indigenous businesses to reach new markets and tap into additional resources that may have been previously inaccessible.
Manny Padda, Brenda Irwin, Dan Burgar featured on Daily Hive top 30 list
What happened: William Johnson (Innovate BC, Vancouver Tech Journal, Tech Vancouver) penned an article on Daily Hive highlighting the 30 B.C. tech thought leaders and influencers you need to follow.
Why I’m interested: What impressed me the most is the diversity featured across this list. There’s a a 50/50 split of men and women, entrepreneurs from more than a dozen industries, and a variety of cultural backgrounds represented. Also, given that William and Farhan’s LinkedIn posts about this article are still popping off, it looks like this list truly resonated with our local tech community.
OKGN Tech grabs all the headlines
What happened: We’ll end with one of the most noteworthy months in OKGN tech history. Brea Lake was named permanent CEO of Accelerate Okanagan; Silicon Valley North, a 30-minute documentary highlighting the rise of the Kelowna tech sector, was officially released; The Future of Health Forum attracted 150 regional attendees and 30 speakers from across the country; AO and Trellis are raising $1M for charity; and Pela secured a $5M investment from Kensington Capital and Beyonce’s husband.
Why we should care: It’s becoming impossible to ignore Kelowna’s rise as one of the country’s top tech hubs. The appointment of Brea Lake is a huge boost for the tech sector and the added exposure from Silicon Valley North will hopefully attract more talent and capital to the region. Also, congratulations to Pela for discovering The Blueprint for success.