Last year, we reported on rumblings of a new large-scale tech conference in Vancouver preparing to launch in 2024.
Not Collision, as some had called for, but rather INNOVATEwest.
The multi-day event, slated for mid-April, is due to take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre, and will focus on the intersection of technology and business innovation.
INNOVATEwest aims to fill the void left by the BC Tech Summit, an annual event hosted by the B.C. government and Innovate BC until the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID.
In 2024, as the event date closes in, exciting details about the conference have emerged.
Last month, for example, INNOVATEwest announced Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author Guy Kawasaki as a keynote speaker, as part of a broader event program featuring more than 100 speakers across six streams: AI & Applications, Data and Analytics, Cybersecurity, the Human Experience, Startup/Scale-up. and Digital Business Economy.
And among the conference’s features is Grizzly Pursuit, a live startup pitch event with a $20,000 cash award, as well as FIREHOOD Angel Camp, an opportunity for early-stage tech startups to take home capital and mentorship.
The latest update from event organizers is a partnership with longtime local innovator Launch Academy.
Since 2012, Launch has incubated more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 different countries, of which 300 have grown to Seed and Series A stages and raised a combined $2.5 billion in funding.
“Launch Academy has established itself as a Western Canadian staple for Canadian founders building tech businesses,” explains Dave Tyldesley, cofounder of Cube business Media, which is running the event. “In addition, they know the conference space, have hosted their own successful conference series (Traction) and thus understand the benefits that come from in-person conference-style engagement. ”
Functioning as the Lead Growth Partner for INNOVATEwest, technology hub Launch Academy will showcase a selection of their members via hosted towers at the exposition.
“I think we all agree that in-person events and networking can’t be replaced,” says Ray Walia, chief executive of the Academy. “The Launch team is excited to see everything INNOVATEwest has in store for us as we bring many layers of the BC tech ecosystem together for two packed days of connections and investments.”
INNOVATEwest will also host a Launch Builders event live on the expo floor. Launch Builders offers a platform to explore firsthand new product demos emerging from Vancouver’s tech landscape.
“Launch is excited to bring our popular Launch Builders Meetup to InnovateWest on April 16th,” Walia stated. “We’ve heard of the great tech being built here in our own backyard, but here’s the chance to see those products first-hand.”
No pitch decks or sales pitches here, Walia warns.
“The rule for the Launch Builder stage is live demos only,” he says. “Just pure tech demos with all the bells and whistles.”
Cube Business Media was founded in North Vancouver in 2015 and has run over 60 conferences cross Canada.
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