UBC spinoff Bioform Technologies has secured a $5 million seed round investment from Suzano Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Suzano, the world’s largest market pulp producer. The strategic investment will enable Bioform to accelerate the development of its novel bio-based plastic alternatives. Bioform’s proprietary technology rapidly produces wood pulp-reinforced hydrogels to create high-performance […]
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MaRS Purchases Carbon Removal Credits From Vancouver Cleantech
Canada’s largest urban innovation hub is taking a trailblazing step in the fight against climate change. Today, MaRS Discovery District announced the purchase of carbon removal credits from five Canadian ventures through its Mission from MaRS program. Among the five ventures is Vancouver-based cleantech Arca. Originally known as Carbin Minerals, Arca re-processes tailings from nickel […]
Amid Taxes Drama, Investor Tiny Rips Page from Warren Buffet’s Playbook
Investors on Vancouver Island are taking a page out of Warren Buffet’s old playbook. “If you own a Canadian business, there’s a vital reason why you should consider selling,” Andrew Wilkinson, cofounder of Tiny Foundation, posted recently on X. “By June 25, the capital gains tax on the sale of your business will soar.” Wilkinson […]
Veer Bhatia’s Journey from Vancouver to Silicon Valley: The Story of Julius
Silicon Valley, the hub of technological innovation and entrepreneurial dreams, has drawn countless talented individuals seeking to make their mark in the tech industry. Among them is Veer Bhatia, a machine learning and AI enthusiast who is dropping out of university to pursue his startup dream. A Leap of Faith: From School to Startup Bhatia, […]
Battery Tech Innovator Energy Plug Taps Rivian, Tesla Expertise with Latest Hire
In December, Energy Plug Technologies announced its intention to partner with the Malahat First Nation. The partnership, currently in the process of being established, would see Energy Plug build a gigafactory to localize battery pack assembly and the battery supply chain in Canada. Specifically, the intended partnership will allow Energy Plug and the Malahat to […]
Responsive AI Joins The Founders Arena’s WealthTech Accelerator
Vancouver’s Responsive has been selected to participate in The Founders Arena’s second annual WealthTech Accelerator. The accelerator announced their next cohort of companies today and it includes startups in AI, Data Analytics, Automation, Estate Planning, and Embedded Finance. Each company in the cohort brings a distinctive approach to wealth management challenges. Responsive is a hybrid […]
If We’re the Smartest People in the Room, Then Why Are We Surprised So Goddamn Always?
That line is shamelessly appropriated from Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom and it seems to always resonate when talking about the public policies around innovation and entrepreneurship in Canada. Whether it’s changes to provincial tax credits, plummeting productivity numbers or this week’s budget rollback on capital gains, we – as a community of investors, innovators and […]
Startups Shine on Stage at Inaugural INNOVATEwest Conference
The inaugural INNOVATEwest Conference took place this week in Vancouver. In addition to hosting keynotes and panel discussions, the conference featured two pitch competitions and awarded over $150,000 in investment and prize money. The conference’s Grizzly Pursuit pitch competition saw 25 startups from across the country pitch to a roster of judges that included Chris […]
Canada Has ‘Lost the Plot’: Investors, Entrepreneurs Not Happy with Budget
Canada’s largest fintech is not the only company pissed off at the federal government. Alongside the displeased Shopify in Ottawa is a coast-to-coast collection of complainers, including investors and entrepreneurs throughout British Columbia. What, exactly, are they up in arms for? Canada’s federal government recently dropped its new budget and there’s something in particular about […]
Meet UBC’s Investor Ready Companies at the 2024 Investor Showcase
As one of the top 40 universities in the world, the University of British Columbia is a catalyst for innovation. Across the UBC landscape, we are seeing research and ideas brought to bear through entrepreneurial pathways, being propelled from the university into the world creating positive economic, cultural and environmental impacts through venture creation. entrepreneurship@UBC in […]