SFU VentureLabs Partners With Manterra To Keep Startup Manufacturing In B.C.

For many hardware, deeptech, and science-based startups, building the first prototype is only half the battle. The harder question often comes next: where do you actually make the thing?

SFU VentureLabs and Manterra Technologies are hoping to make that answer easier for B.C. founders.

The two organizations have announced a partnership that will give VentureLabs companies access to Manterra’s local manufacturing expertise, creating a pathway for startups to move from prototype to production without immediately looking offshore.

The partnership connects VentureLabs companies with Manterra’s nearly 40 years of experience in manufacturing, including precision plastic molding and advanced 3D-printing technology. Manterra operates a 52,000-square-foot facility in Metro Vancouver, giving local startups access to production support close to home.

“By bridging the gap between VentureLabs companies and local manufacturers like Manterra, we are keeping BC’s leading deeptech and science startups local, so they can move faster, scale smarter, and keep production closer to home,” said Lesley Esford, Executive Director at VentureLabs.

The announcement comes as more companies rethink supply chains after several years of disruption, delays, and rising costs. For early-stage companies, those pressures can be especially difficult. A production setback can slow commercialization, strain cash flow, or force founders to spend time managing overseas suppliers instead of growing the business.

By making local manufacturing support more accessible, VentureLabs and Manterra say the partnership will help startups shorten production timelines, strengthen domestic supply chains, and support high-value jobs in B.C.

“Working with VentureLabs allows us to support the next generation of BC companies with manufacturing expertise right here in British Columbia,” said Roy Trivett, CEO of Manterra Technology.

VentureLabs works with B.C.-based science, cleantech, and deeptech founders, while Manterra specializes in precision plastics manufacturing and production engineering, including the transition from complex 3D-printed prototypes to market-ready products.