Vancouver’s tech economy has reached a decisive moment. As Canada’s second-largest tech hub, the city is home to nearly 1,500 startups and attracted close to $2 billion in venture funding in 2024. Within a broader British Columbia technology sector of more than 11,000 companies employing over 220,000 people, Vancouver has established itself as a globally competitive tech ecosystem, […]
Thought Leaders
Our Thought Leadership series highlights the province's notable domain experts and is meant to offer guidance and insight to our readers. Interested in sharing your knowledge? Reach out to rob@techcouver.com with your pitch.
How BC Can Be a Leader in Drug Discovery Through Open Science and AI
British Columbia has the fastest-growing life sciences sector in Canada. It is a world leader in lipid nanoparticle and antibody technology, with strengths that span devices, novel drug testing platforms and computational approaches to diagnostics and treatment design. Enabled by the global AI revolution, BC has produced some real gems that are moving the needle […]
Canada Can Lead the World in Spinal Cord Injury Research—If We Keep Investing
Most Canadians don’t realize that our country is quietly leading the world in spinal cord injury (SCI) research. This isn’t a matter of national pride, it’s backed by hard data. Despite representing less than 0.5% of the global population, Canadian clinician-scientists dominate global rankings in acute SCI care, outpacing researchers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. SCI is one of biology’s most […]
How AI and Technology Will Transform the Construction Industry in 2026
Vancouver’s skyline is rising rapidly as the city races to meet housing demand and sustainability goals. In this construction boom, building better and faster is imperative, and technology is proving to be the game-changer. Across Canada, construction firms are embracing digital tools, automation, and AI to boost productivity, cut waste, and deliver a more client-centric […]
Budget 2025 and Canada’s AI ambition: Opportunity or missed chance?
Canada has set a clear and ambitious goal to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. With budget 2025 now tabled, the government has made important moves towards this goal, but the question remains whether these measures go far enough to ensure Canada not only participates in the AI revolution but leads it responsibly. AI […]
Google Used to Rank You. Now AI Judges You.
For years, I fought to make bars and restaurants visible online — not against competitors, but against machines that didn’t understand what made them special. Now, for the first time, the machines are finally learning to feel the difference. My years with Donnelly Group was a slog through the organic search sandbox. Sure, I came […]
Building the Hybrid Workforce: How Agentic AI Redefines Team Structure
In the debate over artificial intelligence, two extreme views are emerging. One manifesto claims, “AI is the new workforce. Replace humans with autonomous agents to survive.” The opposing view declares, “AI is the next metaverse, a costly distraction. Ignore the hype and focus on fundamentals.” Techno-optimists plan for full automation, while traditionalists dismiss AI as […]
Canada’s Startup Future Depends on Builders, Not Just Investors
I’ve spent three decades building companies — from selling my first software business to Corel while still in high school, to serving as the founding CTO of American Apparel, to launching startups later acquired by Amazon. I’ve raised money in frothy times and in lean ones. And right now, Canadian founders are facing one of […]
Why Startups Should Build for Emerging Industries — And How to Do It Well
In fast-growing industries, there’s a unique opportunity for startups to make their mark. And in the world of startups where timing is everything, few opportunities are as ripe as those in emerging industries. Due to their lack of mature infrastructure or standard processes, emerging markets are often fragmented and full of unmet needs, which is […]
Web Summit Is More Than a Tech Event—It’s BC’s Big Opportunity
Later this month, Vancouver will host one of the world’s most influential technology conferences – Web Summit – marking a powerful moment for BC’s tech sector. For local companies, this is more than just a global event arriving on our doorstep. It’s a once-in-a-decade opportunity to accelerate growth, scale partnerships, and showcase BC as a […]