As the new year unfolds, startup founders face the dual challenge of daunting goals and invigorating opportunities. While the past year has been a lesson in cautious spending and navigating a risk-averse investment landscape, there’s a sense of renewed optimism in the air.
For many, a new year is a time to mentally reset and ambitiously work towards goals, finding success in each milestone. This journey, while intimidating, is also exhilarating for a startup founder.
Though the last year emphasized cautious spending, layoffs, and risk-averse early-stage investors, not all is doom and gloom. The Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA) reported a significant uptick in investments for British Columbia. In the first half of 2023, BC received the third-highest VC investments in Canada, following Ontario and Quebec. With a 19% share amounting to $741M invested over 58 deals, BC reclaimed its third-place position after a slow start in Q1.
As 2024 kicked off, T-Net highlighted an even more encouraging trend: BC tech companies raised over $2B in new financing rounds in 2023, marking an increase from $1.76B the previous year.
Highlighting this growth, several BC companies made notable strides. LayerZero Labs, a Vancouver-based blockchain company, raised $120M in a Series B financing round. Ph7 Technologies secured a $16M Series A financing, led by a consortium including Pangea Ventures. Abdera Therapeutics debuted with a staggering $142M in Series A and B financing, which included investment from founding partners such as AbCellera. Photonic, a quantum technology company, announced its $194M financing in early November. Lastly, fintech company KOHO closed the year with an $86M raise, reaching an impressive $800M valuation.
While most successful startup founders will attest that any overnight success is typically a decade in the making, the fact remains that even amidst volatile economic headwinds, great businesses prevail. Indeed, outstanding businesses led by resilient and adaptable founders not only survive but thrive.
This journey of resilience and innovation in BC’s startup scene serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring spirit of entrepreneurship. As we move forward into 2024, the landscape for startups in BC and beyond looks not just promising, but also vibrant with possibilities.
To further foster this spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum is hosting a must-attend event on January 16: “Ask Me Anything With Tara Bosch, Founder of SmartSweets, and Bold Beginnings.”
This event is a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders alike to gain insights from one of BC’s own successful startup founders. Tara Bosch’s journey with SmartSweets is a testament to the kind of resilience and innovation that defines BC’s entrepreneurial landscape. Attendees will have the chance to engage directly with Bosch, gaining valuable insights and inspiration for their own entrepreneurial endeavors.
As we embrace the challenges and opportunities of the new year, events like these are crucial for fostering a community of learning and growth. I encourage all who are part of or interested in the vibrant BC startup ecosystem to attend this event. Let’s continue to build and support the innovative spirit that drives our community forward.
Michelle Sklar is the Head of Venture Growth at entrepreneurship@UBC and a Board Member of VEF.
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