The year quiet quitting got loud for tech execs

If you’re reading this, you probably work at a tech company that underwent an executive leadership change this year … or know someone who does.  BetaKit saw bucketloads of turnover in 2024, reporting on nearly 50 CEO changes alone throughout the year, with countless more tracked at the C-suite level. To give you a sense […]

Deep Sky secures $40-million USD grant from Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Catalyst

Montréal-based carbon-capture startup Deep Sky has secured a $40-million USD ($57.3 million CAD) grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, a climate solution-focused funding platform founded by Bill Gates.  Deep Sky revealed it had sold its first-ever carbon credits to RBC and Microsoft last month.  The funding will be allocated towards the construction of its first direct […]

Global AI gets a startup perspective: Insights from ventureLAB’s Garry Chan

Earlier this month, Garry Chan represented Ontario’s hardtech and AI incubator ventureLAB at the Global Partnership on AI Summit in Belgrade, Serbia, which convened from science, public policy, and industry to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.  While the conference drew leading voices from government, academia, and Big Tech, Chan was there representing the perspective […]

Fall Economic Statement brings more delays for open banking in Canada

Yesterday’s Fall Economic Statement (FES) unveiled new details of a proposed open banking framework, confirming the suspicions of many observers in the Canadian FinTech space that progress toward a consumer-driven financial system would be stalled yet again. The Consumer-Driven Banking Framework, first introduced in Budget 2024, now includes details on accreditation and tiering rules, increases […]

Four new Canadian tech announcements in the Fall Economic Statement that shouldn’t be overlooked

Many of the biggest Canadian technology-related items in the Government of Canada’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement (FES) were previously announced late last week. These announcements include a renewal of the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI), Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit reform, programs to encourage more private investment in mid-cap growth firms and […]

Realize Capital Partners reveals second round of support for impact-focused funds

Toronto-based fund-of-funds Realize Capital Partners has committed $32.5 million to seven fund managers through Realize Fund I as part of the federal government-backed Social Finance Fund (SFF).  The recipients include Amplify Capital, Area One Farms, Flowing River Capital Partners, Heartwood Trust, Misfit Ventures, Regenerative Capital Group, and Thrive Impact Fund. Realize has committed to 16 […]

Jolt Capital moves newly acquired French semiconductor carveout to Québec

European private equity firm Jolt Capital is making its first Canadian investment by bringing a French semiconductor company’s headquarters to Montréal.  Jolt Capital acquired some assets from French semiconductor firm Dolphin Design at the end of October and is relocating its head office to Montréal under a newly created entity, Dolphin Semiconductor. The firm is […]

Liberals’ Fall Economic Statement contains more promises to Canadian tech

The feds announced some Canadian tech sweeteners Friday, including a fourth VCCI indirect investment fund, changes to the SR&ED tax credit program, and a bunch of new incentives for pension funds to invest domestically. Madison McLauchlan has all the details on the announcement, including what those acronyms mean. The timing of the announcement stands out: […]

Fluid Biomed closes $27-million USD Series A to fund expanded human clinical studies

Calgary-based medical device startup Fluid Biomed has secured $27 million USD in Series A funding to fuel the development of its innovative stent for brain aneurysms. Fluid Biomed aims to build “the world’s first bioabsorbable stent for the brain.” Founded in 2012 by a pair of academic neurosurgeons who are also University of Calgary professors, […]