Vancouver Island has generated billions of dollars in wealth and produced globally successful technology companies, but the investors holding much of that capital and the founders building the Island’s future rarely find themselves in the same room.
A new Victoria event aims to change that.
The inaugural Vancouver Island Business Experience (VIBE), taking place November 17, will bring together 200 investors, founders and business leaders from Vancouver Island, Vancouver and Seattle.
Greater Victoria has produced companies including AbeBooks, Redlen, Certn, Redbrick and Tiny, while a new generation of founders is building in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, health sciences and advanced manufacturing. Yet early-stage companies can still struggle to raise capital locally.
VIBE organizers contrast the $19 million in reported angel investment across British Columbia in 2025 with the more than $10 billion that moved through Vancouver Island homes during the same period.
“There is a disconnect between the people who have capital on the Island and the people building the companies that could create the next generation of wealth,” said VIBE founder Lautaro Cepeda.
“We want to put investors in the same room as innovators and help them understand where the opportunities are. Spoiler alert: it isn’t all real estate.”
The application-only event will organize its programming around four areas: energy, agriculture and ocean technology; manufacturing and dual-use technology; health sciences; and AI and software-as-a-service.
An AI-powered concierge will help attendees create personalized agendas and identify relevant people to meet.
VIBE will conclude with a live pitch competition awarding a $10,000 non-dilutive cash prize to a promising Vancouver Island startup. Judges include former Certn co-founder and Alacrity COO Owen Madrick, Althra founder Sanket Mittal and Tcomplete Canada CEO K Krasnow Waterman.
“If we can hold onto our talent, then technology will ultimately become the backbone of the local economy,” Madrick said.
Applications are open at vi.business, with attendance capped at 200 people.
Leave a Reply