While attending the final Collision Conference in Toronto, Techcouver editor-in-chief Robert Lewis reported on Canadian entrepreneur Asees Kaur winning the 2024 edition of PITCH, the annual event’s iconic early-stage startup competition.
Kaur was pitching her startup VoxCell BioInnovation. Named one of Techcouver’s 10 homegrown startups to watch in 2023, Victoria’s VoxCell launched its first product at Collision.
The company’s flagship “Universal Bioink Kit” is designed to enhance 3D bio-printing by providing a superior bio-ink that accurately mimics the extracellular matrix of living tissues. The kit aims to stand out through a unique ability to replicate the chemical and mechanical properties of soft tissues, allowing researchers to work with a variety of cell lines and unlock new possibilities in tissue engineering.
VoxCell’s work is impressive, but it’s only a small sampling of Victoria’s technology sector, as illustrated by a recent report from the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council.
VIATEC this month revealed the findings of its 2023 Economic Impact Study, which found that the region’s tech industry had a total economic impact of $7.8 billion, marking a significant 50% increase since the last study in 2017.
“This Economic Impact Study shows the real power of collaboration in our tech community,” stated Dan Gunn, who serves as chief executive of VIATEC, a nonprofit established with a mission to cultivate and promote a vibrant local tech ecosystem.
In terms of other signs of growth, the report found that the total tech workforce expanded by 19% and is now 20,000 people strong. The number of tech firms operating in the region grew by 20% to nearly 1,200 in total.
“The growth we’ve seen is incredible, and it underscores the importance of continued support and investment in our sector,” Gunn said. “It’s concrete proof that what we’re doing here in Victoria is working.”
VIATEC’s strategic goal for Greater Victoria’s Tech Sector is to reach $10 billion in annual revenues by 2030, according to Gunn, who says the organization will continue to track the regional tech industry’s progress.
“VIATEC invested in conducting this research so we can provide the data and insights needed to attract crucial funding and support from investors, future employees, government and international partners,” the CEO says. “This study helps us tell the story of Victoria’s tech success and ensures we can keep driving forward.”
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