Three British Columbia startups will compete live for the Company of the Year – Startup Award at the 2026 Technology Impact Awards Gala.
BC Tech selected Lite-1 Bio, Tersa Critical Minerals and Viridis following its annual Dragons’ Den Pitch Night, where seven startups presented to a panel of industry experts at Global Relay’s Gastown office.
Vancouver-based Lite-1 Bio is developing bio-based pigments designed to replace toxic, petrochemical dyes used across textiles, coatings, plastics, cosmetics and food. The company is initially targeting black pigment, a complex and highly polluting segment of the global colour industry.
Tersa Critical Minerals is transforming contaminated mine water and tailings into recoverable resources. Its modular TersaClean system combines metal recovery with water remediation, helping mining companies meet environmental standards while recovering high-purity metals such as copper.
Also based in Vancouver, Viridis is tackling textile-industry water pollution with electrochemical oxidation technology. Its reactors destroy persistent dyes and surfactants while enabling mills to recover and reuse nearly all their water without treatment chemicals or sludge.
“This year’s startup finalists are a testament to the amazing tech sector we have here in B.C.,” said BC Tech CEO Jill Tipping. “By providing recognition and support early, we can help more companies scale up here in B.C.”
The three companies will pitch at the Technology Impact Awards Gala on October 29 at Parq Vancouver, where the winner will be announced live. The sold-out gala marks the culmination of BC Tech’s annual awards program celebrating the province’s technology companies, leaders and innovators.
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