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Canadian tech’s lost generation

What a week. I’ve just returned from a very busy seven days in Vancouver, which hosted the Technology Impact Awards (TIAs), Frontier Summit, and our BetaKit Town Hall, among other events. Locals Isabelle Kirkwood covered the Town Hall stage conversation for BetaKit, while James Matthews checked in with an audience eager to reconnect with each […]

Clio’s Jack Newton can build another Shopify without building like Shopify

For BetaKit’s second-ever Town Hall, Clio CEO and co-founder Jack Newton was the perfect guest to carry forward the national conversation on Canadian productivity, innovation, and optimism. With 16 years in the game at Clio, Newton’s perspective on building in Canada is earned. He’s also shown himself to care about the local and national tech […]

BC tech leaders look to reconnect at BetaKit Town Hall: Vancouver

Reconnecting West Coast tech was top of mind at BetaKit Town Hall: Vancouver.  The sold-out event gathered a broad collection of local technology leaders (plus visitors from Seattle and Ottawa) to share their perspectives on the state of BC tech and what the province’s innovation ecosystem needs to succeed. You can read a summary of […]

Montréal healthtech startup with transatlantic ties raises $43 million CAD for RNA-based cancer immunotherapies

Montréal and UK-based startup Epitopea has raised $31 million USD ($43 million CAD) in what it called pre-Series A funding for the research and rollout of their cancer immunotherapies for hard-to-treat tumours.  Epitopea plans to bring their flagship RNA immunotherapies into the clinic by 2026. New investors Investissement Québec (IQ), adMare BioInnovations, and Jonathan Milner […]

Panache Ventures partner Chris Neumann to depart VC firm, Sarah Willson promoted to principal

Vancouver-based Panache Ventures partner Chris Neumann plans to depart the early-stage Canadian venture capital (VC) firm at the end of 2024 to explore new opportunities. Neumann joined the Montréal-headquartered VC firm in Sept. 2021, and has spearheaded Panache’s investment efforts in British Columbia (BC). His departure will leave Panache with three remaining partners: Patrick Lor […]

CABHI and EnvisAGE unveil funding programs for Canadian AgeTech startups

Two Canadian AgeTech organizations announced new funding commitments and programs for startups this week.  Application windows for both programs close on Dec. 2, 2024.  Healthtech industry groups MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL unveiled the first 16 startups supported by EnvisAGE, a non-profit organization co-led by the two firms aimed at supporting Canada’s AgeTech sector. Meanwhile, the Centre for […]

Parachute closes $1.5 million to help struggling Canadians improve their financial health

At 23 years old, Bruce Hodges was given poor financial advice to declare personal bankruptcy. Hodges has since recovered and built a career serving in C-suite roles at major financial institutions like Foresters Financial, Generali, NN, Sun Life Financial, and Manulife, but that fateful decision has stayed with him.  “I have followed this space since […]

Planetary Technologies secures $15.8-million CAD Series A to alkalize the oceans and fight climate change

Halifax-based ocean tech startup Planetary Technologies has closed $11.4 million USD ($15.8 million CAD) in Series A funding to fuel its efforts to fight climate change by alkalizing the ocean.  The all-equity, all-primary round was led by cleantech-focused venture firm Evok Innovations, with participation from BDC Capital, Amplify Capital, DNX Ventures, and Iconiq Capital. This latest […]