The startup ecosystem within British Columbia is renowned for its work in sustainability across sectors. And since we all have to eat, one of the most important areas to manage and optimize resources is in food production and related industries. That is why the Canadian Food Innovation Network is awarding more than $650,000 to eight […]
Robot Coworker ‘Phoenix’ Stands Tall in TIME List of Best Inventions
In May, a Vancouver-based technology company unveiled its sixth-generation robot, Phoenix. Sanctuary, bent on developing human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots since 2018, powers Phoenix through Carbon, an AI control system that is designed to give the robot a human-like intelligence. “We designed Phoenix to be the most sensor-rich and physically capable humanoid ever built and […]
BC’s Integrated Marketplace Initiative Expands with Federal Funding
As part of the StrongerBC Economic Plan, the Integrated Marketplace Initiative kicked off last year with a pilot project linking Vancouver International Airport to B.C. clean-technology companies to help electrify operations and perhaps even become the world͛s greenest airport. This month, an additional $10 million of funding through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada […]
Victoria’s Peloton Acquires KIS to Grow Payments Platform in Canada
A financial technology firm based on Vancouver Island announced an acquisition this week. Victoria-born Peloton Technologies, whose mission is to simplify payments, says it has acquired KIS Payments, a Canadian payments processor. The acquisition evolved from KIS’ involvement in Peloton’s partner program, according to Craig Attiwill, who cofounded Peloton alongside Phil Leitch. Seeking company growth, […]
With Shares Down 98%, Battered Tech Firm Goes Private
Things were different a few years ago. In 2020, one of Vancouver tech’s most successful female entrepreneurs, Shahrzad Rafati, was preparing to take her darling BroadbandTV public on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Her aim then? To buy out German media giant Bertelsmann, which had acquired a controlling interest of BBTV from Rafati in 2013 for […]
Growth of Vancouver Fintech Shows Thirst for Real Estate Investment, Development in BC
Born in Vancouver in 2018, addy took some time to expand beyond the borders of beautiful BC as it figured out of the gears of its platform. In 2020, addy fully launched, and by the end of the year had tapped the Alberta market by releasing an opportunity to invest in an industrial park in the […]
Government Puts Squeeze on Airbnb in BC as Housing Crisis Continues
The launch of Airbnb in Canada several years ago empowered everyday homeowners to become part-time landlords. The Silicon Valley-made platform aims to convert anything from a single room to an entire mansion complex into a rentable, income-generating asset. Often, novel technology platforms circumvent traditional rules in place, spurring government to update their book of laws. […]
Procurify Secures Sizeable Series C Funding to Fuel Future Fintech
A spend management solution for mid-market organizations has raised a sizeable round of funding toward a global expansion and bolstering of new payment capabilities. Vancouver-based Procurify this week secured USD $50 million, the company announced. The Series C round was led by Ten Coves Capital, with participation from Export Development Canada and existing investors including […]
Hiive Raises Capital at $77M Valuation to Innovate Private Market
A financial technology startup with ambitions to “redesign the venture capital secondary market” has raised funds to do so. Vancouver-born Hiive has declared its aim to “preserve as many of the established best practices of brokers in the global pre-IPO secondary market, while eliminating the opacity and uncertainties traditionally associated with private market trading.” And […]
Levr.ai Hungry for Capital as Growing Fintech Seeks to Scale
In February, we reported on a Vancouver-based financial technology startup securing a million-dollar pre-seed round to reimagine how companies access and manage loans. Co-founded by Kaylan Pepin and Roman Hartmann, Levr.ai uses accounting and banking APIs to automate and accelerate the process of finding and applying for a loan as well as managing existing loans. “Over my career, I‘ve […]