Five British Columbia startups developing technologies for seafood safety, coastal resilience, maritime operations and ocean monitoring have been selected for the 2026 Ocean Startup Challenge. The B.C.-based members of the 15-company national cohort are A-Scent Innovations, FluxAtlas, InBridge AI, Retide Labs and Sailbotix. Organized by the Ocean Startup Project, the Challenge helps early-stage ocean technology […]
BryoSphere Secures Funding to Scale Moss-Grown Skincare Ingredients
Vancouver biotech startup BryoSphere Biotechnologies has secured new funding from OKGN WMAN to scale its production of plant-based ingredients for skincare products. The amount of the investment was not disclosed. The women-led company genetically engineers moss to produce bioactive ingredients inside photobioreactors. BryoSphere says its patented moss lines can be grown cost-effectively at commercial scale […]
B.C. Opens $2 Million Call to Help Early-Stage Tech Reach the Market
British Columbia is opening a second funding call designed to help early-stage technology companies prove their products in real-world environments and move closer to commercial adoption. Through Innovate BC’s Early-Stage Demonstration Call, the province will provide up to $2 million for pilot-scale demonstrations of technologies developed in B.C. Eligible projects can receive as much as […]
VIBE Wants to Bridge Vancouver Island’s Wealth and Tech Divide
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 […]
Cortico Launches Benchmark to Test Clinical AI Safety
Vancouver healthcare technology company Cortico has launched a free, open benchmark designed to measure whether artificial intelligence models can safely support clinical decisions—not merely pass medical exams. Called MedSafe-Dx, the benchmark evaluates how large language models respond when a patient may require urgent care, when reassurance could be dangerous, and when the available information warrants […]
Innovation UBC Opens Applications for Spring 2027 Venture Founder Program
Innovation UBC is accepting applications for the spring 2027 cohort of Venture Founder, its flagship entrepreneurship program for UBC researchers, innovators and students ready to turn discoveries and ideas into new ventures. The 16-week program provides participants with practical training, mentorship and access to a community of founders, investors and industry leaders. No previous business […]
UBC, Rogers and Mitacs Rethink the Path From Research to Market
A partnership between the University of British Columbia, Rogers Communications and Mitacs is developing a new model for moving promising university research beyond the laboratory and into practical use. At the centre of the collaboration is Operation EInsTein, a commercialization framework developed and operated by UBC’s Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems. Short for […]
Vancouver Startup Barry Puts AI to Work for Trades Businesses
For many trades contractors, the workday does not end when the crew leaves the job site. Quotes still need to be prepared, schedules updated, invoices checked and customer reports written—often using information scattered across emails, text messages, accounting platforms and field-service software. Vancouver startup Barry wants to take that administrative burden off the owner’s plate. […]
Nicholas Ning to Decode Canada’s AI Funding Landscape
Canadian organizations may be eager to adopt artificial intelligence, but finding the capital to turn AI plans into working systems remains a challenge. An upcoming virtual event from MacKay CEO Forums aims to help business leaders better understand the funding landscape and prepare for new opportunities emerging from Canada’s federal AI strategy. Taking place on […]
UBC Surpasses 300 Spin-Off Companies with Latest Cohort
The University of British Columbia has crossed a major commercialization milestone, officially launching its 302nd spin-off company following the addition of 15 new ventures in 2026. According to Innovation UBC, companies created around UBC research have collectively raised more than $11 billion in capital, generated an estimated $13 billion in revenue, and created over 2,800 […]