British Columbia has long punched above its weight in innovation—but heading into 2026, a new wave of homegrown startups is beginning to show real momentum. The companies on this list reflect where B.C.’s ecosystem is gaining strength: climate and energy technologies built for deployment, AI platforms focused on practical outcomes, and science-led ventures translating research […]
FireSwarm Solutions
B.C. Tech Firms Selected to Join NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator in 2026
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has selected companies from more than 20 countries to participate in its global Defence Innovation Accelerator’s 2026 Challenge Programme. NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator, known as DIANA, connects companies with military end-users, mentors, and investors accelerating the development, validation, and adoption of innovations to help NATO tackle operational challenges and maintain […]
British Columbia Leads Again: 19 Local Ventures Named to 2025 Foresight 50
Foresight Canada has unveiled its 5th annual Foresight 50, celebrating the nation’s most investible cleantech companies. This year’s list, the 2025 edition, underscores the continued strength of British Columbia’s innovation economy—19 of the 50 honourees hail from the province. With global climate urgency rising, B.C.’s ventures continue to set the standard for scalable, sustainable solutions. […]
BC Tech Names Top 3 Startup Finalists
FireSwarm, Glüxkind, and Insporos have been named the top three finalists for BC Tech Association’s Company of the Year – Startup Award, following a live pitch showdown in Vancouver. Hosted at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s downtown offices on September 24, ten shortlisted startups pitched their ideas to a panel of industry judges. The three […]
Startup of the Year Finalist FireSwarm Takes Aim at Wildfires with Jet Drones
With wildfires growing more destructive across the globe, one B.C. startup is taking the fight to the skies—literally. FireSwarm Solutions, a finalist for the Company of the Year – Startup award at the 2025 BC Tech Technology Impact Awards (TIAs), is developing autonomous, ultra heavy-lift drone swarms that can suppress wildfires 24/7, including overnight when conventional […]
FireSwarm Advances in $11M XPRIZE Wildfire Challenge
Squamish startup FireSwarm Solutions has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious XPRIZE Wildfire competition, joining 14 other global teams advancing in the USD $11 million initiative to develop autonomous technologies that can detect and suppress wildfires in minutes. Founded in 2023 during Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, FireSwarm is developing heavy-lift drone swarms […]
FireSwarm Unveils Latest Partnership to Combat Wildfires in BC with AI Drones
In 2024, nearly 1,700 wildfires burned a combined one million hectares of land in British Columbia. Roughly 160 evacuation orders or alerts affected over 15,000 properties province-wide. One-third of wildfires are caused by human activity, the Province estimates, with the rest being attributed to natural factors such as lightning. Whether man-made or nature-triggered, controlling and […]
BC Tech Unveils 2025 Technology Impact Award Finalists
BC Tech has announced 43 finalists across 10 categories for this year’s Technology Impact Awards (TIAs), spotlighting standout achievements in British Columbia’s growing tech sector. This year marks the debut of the Gamechanger – Deal of the Year award, celebrating five transformative transactions that collectively brought $3 billion in investment to the province. “These deals […]
FireSwarm Reveals Collab to Launch Early Attacks on Remote Wildfires in B.C.
In 2024, nearly 1,700 wildfires burned a combined one million hectares of land in British Columbia. Roughly 160 evacuation orders or alerts affected over 15,000 properties province-wide. One-third of wildfires are caused by human activity, the Province estimates, with the rest being attributed to natural factors such as lightning. Whether man-made or nature-triggered, controlling and […]
In the War Against Wildfire, 2024 Was the Year That B.C. Turned to Tech
In 2024, nearly 1,700 wildfires burned a combined one million hectares of land in British Columbia. Roughly 160 evacuation orders or alerts affected over 15,000 properties province-wide. One-third of wildfires are caused by human activity, the Province estimates, with the rest being attributed to natural factors (most commonly lightning). Whether man-made or nature-triggered, controlling and […]