Hockeystick has released their BC Tech Report for Q3 2020 that summarizes venture capital deal activity in Q3. COVID-19 has not slowed down deal activity in the region, but its impact can be seen in the types of companies raising funds, exemplified by Thinkific’s $22 million raise to address remote learning demand attributed to COVID-19 changes […]
Vancouver Startup Caption Creates Google For Podcasts
If any further proof was needed that podcasts are a big deal, the summer announcement of an exclusive deal between Joe Rogan and Spotify reportedly worth $100 million should do the trick. Under the licensing deal, the entire library of “The Joe Rogan Experience”, one of America’s most popular podcasts, will become exclusive to Spotify by the […]
Spring Activator’s Impact Investor Challenge Awards Indiegraf $100,000
Last night the finalists of Spring Activator’s 2020 Impact Investor Challenge pitched their businesses for the final time to the program’s investor cohort. The Impact Investor Challenge is a 2-month program that Spring Activator runs to grow the impact investor community, guide early-stage and impact-curious investors into impact investing, and fund impact entrepreneurs. This group […]
Amazon Canada Releases First SMB Impact Report
Amazon has launched its first Small and Medium Business (SMB) Impact Report for Canada, highlighting how the e-commerce giant works with small businesses across the country. 30,000 Canada-based third-party sellers grossed more than $1 billion on Amazon.ca in 2019, growing 40% year-over-year, and more than in $2 billion on Amazon’s stores around the world. The […]
Vancouver’s Piranha Games Acquired by Enad Global 7
November has been a big month for gaming companies in Vancouver. First A Thinking Ape and IUGO Mobile were acquired by Embracer Group’s DECA Games and now Vancouver’s Piranha Games has been acquired by Enad Global 7 (EG7). EG7 has agreed to acquire Piranha for $31.4 million paid two-thirds in cash and one-third in newly […]
Comedian Kevin Hart Invests In Vancouver’s Brüush
Award winning comedian and actor Kevin Hart has joined Vancouver’s Brüush as an investor and collaborator. Hart will play an active role within Brüush, bringing his talent to campaigns, content and social media – shaking up the all-too-often humorless, ignorable oral care category. On the heels of a Series A raise in September 2020, this […]
TELUS Launches $100 Million Social Impact Fund
TELUS has announced the launch of its new TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, a $100 million social impact investment fund created to power the biggest, boldest, bravest ideas in new responsible and sustainable startup businesses. The fund will invest in entrepreneurs building solutions aimed at improving healthcare, furthering social and economic inclusion, ensuring sustainable food […]
BC Tech Association Closes Tech Innovation Hub
The BC Tech Association announced yesterday that it is closing their BC Tech Innovation Hub at 887 Great Northern Way effective November 30, 2020. The 26,000 square foot Innovation Hub opened in 2014 with the help of $10.4 Million in Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) funding from the Government of Canada. Western Economic Diversification […]
UBC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem on Display at 2020 Venture Showcase
2020 has been an exceptional year. The world is facing challenges like never before and is experiencing unprecedented global issues spanning industries, countries and social landscapes. In these uncertain times, we’ve witnessed innovation and entrepreneurialism emerge to the forefront as a solution and new mode of thinking for our future. Through it all, the UBC […]
Damon Motorcycles & East Side Games Win 2020 Red Herring Top 100 Awards
Red Herring has announced the winners for its annual Top 100 North America Awards and included on their list is not one, but two, Vancouver companies. The Top 100 North America has become not only a springboard for some of tech’s biggest names, but a valued and trusted tool for venture capitalists, experts and analysts […]