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The Concierge Service helps startups access funding, make strategic connections and find relevant advisory services. Launched in 2013, this Government of Canada resource offers access to a vast array of advisory services, mentor networks, acceleration programs, funding sources, credits and tax refund arrangements that startups can leverage for growth.
Startups and small technology companies in BC can now access quality talent at an affordable cost through the BC Tech Co-op Grants Program.
BC startup Neurio recently completed a four-month residency with the Canadian Technology Accelerator in the Silicon Valley. Their goal: accelerate the growth of their company, which manages connected devices in the home. Follow their journey in this new short documentary from the Trade Commissioner Service.
BC’s high tech industry is thriving, recording growth in economic activity, the number of businesses and jobs, and export levels, according to a new provincial report.
This year’s theme, ‘Victoria’s NEW Tea Party’, will celebrate the evolution of Victoria from a sleeping ‘tea and garden’ town to the thriving urban hub it is today. Over 750 people will attend the 'Tim Burton, Alice in Wonderland' themed tech festival full of music, creativity and art on June 26th. A handful of tickets may still be available.
Earlier this week, the 2015 BCIC New Ventures Competition Round 2.5 jury pitches took place. With 27 companies of the 2015 BCIC New Ventures Competition, ten have been invited to advance to Round 3 to join the Top 15.
Lisa Fraser started her career as a technology CEO in her early 20s, when an industrial design university assignment led her to develop a wearable technology garment that enhances the quality of life for families dealing with autism.
From June 11-12, 15 selected tech startups, which included Venture Acceleration Program (VAP) companies Control, Curatio, and Optigo Networks, pitched their companies to a panel of global tech figures at the 7th annual metabridge– a conference organized by VAP partner, Accelerate Okanagan.
After the launch of its digital health community and accelerator platform last month, Interface Health has now launched IHX – the Interface Health Excellence Challenge.
A leading challenge for today’s medical community is access to quality surgical equipment in operating rooms, especially in the developing world.
BC’s most promising startups are packing their bags for the Okanagan Valley for Canada’s iconic 2-day startup retreat, metabridge this week, June 11-12 in Kelowna, BC. This is its 6th year running, and BCIC is once again a proud sponsor.
Design for Startups introduces talented design students to the world of tech and business, while giving a boost to early stage companies in BC. An initiative by the Social + Interactive Media (SIM) Centre at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD) in partnership with BCIC and Highline, the program matches 5 top-tier design students with 5 promising early-stage startups. Student designers get real world experience, while tech startups get creative problem solvers who understand how to integrate design methods with Lean UX methodologies.
Congratulations to Vancouver startup Optigo Networks, winner of the Most Promising Startup Award at the 2015 Technology Impact Awards June 4th in Vancouver.
Canada ranks fifth in the newly-released 2014 Global Talent Competitiveness Index. The ranking of 93 countries measures the ability to attract and incubate professional talent.
Canada’s newest crowdfunding platform, Frontfundr, was launched recently in Vancouver. Promising an open market connecting investors with “stringently screened companies”, Frontfundr oversees the investment process from pitch to purchase. The company’s launch follows the recent announcement that startups in BC can now raise capital through online crowdfunding.
Female entrepreneurs are discovering a new source of financial support: women angels. As the number of female angel investors grows, there are also more angel-backed women-led companies, according to a Forbes Magazine article by Geri Stengel. This “virtuous cycle” is a sea change, she argues.
The Women’s Enterprise Centre (WEC) has toured the province this month, delivering ‘Catalyst for Growth: Women in the BC Economy’ (#econwomen) workshops in Kelowna, Victoria, Vancouver, Prince George and Prince Rupert.
From worms to micro-hydro, this year’s Northwest Innovation Challenge 2015 featured 12 finalists who took away top awards for their clever ideas and concepts. The event, presented by the Skeena-Nass Centre for Innovation in Resource Economics (SNCIRE) and sponsored in part by the Bulkley Valley Economic Development Association and BCIC-New Ventures, was held in Terrace, BC, and distributed more than $8,000 in total cash prizes to finalists.
The Victoria Advanced Technology Council (VIATeC) revealed its 2015 Awards finalists this month. The annual VIATeC Technology Awards celebrate the achievements of technology companies that have made Greater Victoria the fastest growing technology region in BC, as well as the educators, innovators and community champions who make it all possible.
The YWCA Metro Vancouver celebrated the nationally acclaimed 32nd annual Women of Distinction Awards last night, honouring extraordinary women leaders in their respective fields of expertise across BC and Canada.
The Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services announced the launch of BC’s brand new talent-building initiative, BCIC Tech Works, on May 23.
Last year, Kamloops startup, Sewllkwe Tracking Solutions, participated in one of the first pilots for the BCIC Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI) program. The co-op placement was so successful that Sewllkwe hired the student, Chad Fawcett from Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
Congratulations to the 42 companies chosen to move forward in the 2015 BCIC New Ventures Competition!
Wavefront invites BC mobile technology companies to apply for the Global Market Entry Program. If you’re looking to overcome the challenges of scaling your business outside of Canada, this is a remarkable opportunity to accelerate your export market expansion efforts.
25 top tech companies showcased their technologies at the NextBC Awards at the Telus World of Science, and BCIC was once again a proud leading sponsor.
BCIC has updated the For Entrepreneurs page to bring founders even more resources to start up a technology company in BC.
Millions of students worldwide compete each year in local and school-sponsored science fairs for an opportunity to showcase their independent research at Intel ISEF Competition.
With over 900,000 people in more than 630 governments and bands across Canada, how do leaders of First Nation communities maintain strong and engaged nations? The issue of losing solidity and unity within First Nation communities has been an underlying concern for decades. Although effective solutions aren’t easy to come by, a Victoria-based startup, OneFeather, believes they have a means to tackle the problem head-on and fuel higher levels of engagement for a nation’s citizens.
The metabridge 2015 Top 15 Canadian Startups have been announced. With some of the most promising tech startup companies from across Canada listed, we are excited to see 8 out of the 15 finalists located here in BC!
Skype and Facetime, beware! Perch’s always-on video messaging service has been adopted by hundreds of companies and individuals around the world. Why? Well, unlike services like Skype or Facetime, Perch doesn’t require a call — you can just walk up to it and start talking so it’s perfect for connecting with remote business partners or elderly parents and relatives. Read all about it in this week’s Vancouver Sun article.
Ladies Learning Code is hosting Mother-Daughter Intro to HTML & CSS this Saturday! It will be held at Mobify’s offices in Vancouver 10AM - 4PM and is absolutely free to attend!
DigiBC has just reveal the Top 25 finalists for NextBC 2015, taking place on May 21, 2015. These are the companies in British Columbia that are pushing the envelope with innovation, and being the leaders in their respective industries of technology, entertainment, startups, marketing, digital, business and culture.
We send a huge congratulation to the 22 terrific companies up for nomination, including Venture Acceleration Program company Optigo Networks and Fusion Pipes Software who are both up for the ‘Most Promising Startup’ award.
Check out the all-new, locally made and cutting-edge video "Break Something - Come to Vancouver to Transform Your Career."
Funding announced to support home-grown tech talent
metabridge is back for its 7th year! The 1.5-day retreat invites the top-15 technology startups in Canada to this VIP networking event that will connect emerging technology companies with investors, mentors, advisors and strategic partners from the Silicon Valley and beyond!
Currently working with organizations such as the BC Teacher’s Federation and Pacific Blue Cross, Starling Minds is an online platform that provides organizations with a comprehensive mental health toolkit to supply employees affected by depression or anxiety with the resources to properly understand, learn about, track and slowly overcome their illness.
Congratulations to the 134 companies that will be proceeding to the 2nd round of the 2015 BCIC-New Ventures Competition!
Last week, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification joined BC tech and innovation leaders in Surrey to announce $2 million to support the creation and operation of a clean technology development facility called the Advanced Resource Clean Technology Innovation Centre (ARCTIC).
This year's event will include companies from several sectors of BC's tech ecosystem with technology that will shape our future. The top 25 companies will showcase their technologies, and the companies with the most outstanding technology innovation will be presented with an award for top honours.
To help connect Vancouver companies with top talent, the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC), with the support of Microsoft Canada, has launched a Win a Trip to Vancouver contest to transform the career of an innovative and talented individual
As the frontline for public safety of the most disastrous crises, first-responders are tasked with a mentally demanding and physically strenuous responsibility – trying to keep their community safe while placing their own well-being at risk.
ConceptKicker transforms 2D character concept art into 3D printed figures, which are then sold to fans on a crowdfunding platform. The startup has developed a new and unique online marketplace for any user interested in 3D printing to get a taste of the cool concepts and ideas that this technology can create.
A common mistake made by startup companies in the early stages of development is overlooking the importance of marketing and branding to their company image. A startup’s brand plays an incredibly important role to their internal solidarity, customer outreach and overall success. It’s what separates you from your competitors and is your chance to create an impression.
“BC has a strong and vibrant tech sector - there are 9,010 tech companies in BC already! And we are taking this world-class industry to an even higher plateau,” said Honourable Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizen’s Services as he set the tone for the first ever BC Tech Forum delivered in partnership by the Vancouver Board of Trade and BCIC.
Latergramme, an Instagram scheduling system, has made major strides towards establishing their program as the option for Instagram management.
The message is getting out! For the world’s greatest innovators, artists, musicians, writers, actors, programmers, game designers and change makers of all kind - Vancouver is the place to be! And TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is leading the way in bringing the world’s best ideas worth sharing to this beautiful city for three years in a row!
South of the border, the Canadian startup community in the Silicon Valley is developing quickly. We’ve seen more and more entrepreneurs from provinces across Canada connect themselves with the major tech hub, making the link between the Canadian and American tech industries stronger.
Every year, British Columbia’s thriving startup ecosystem produces some of Canada’s leading and forefront technology. From well-established tech companies that strive to maintain leading edge innovation, to rising startups that could be the ‘next big thing’, our province’s tech sector continues to uphold the inventiveness and ingenuity that it has become known for.
What would happen if BC’s technology entrepreneurs could have a means to collaborate more closely with BC’s Public Sector? What kind of opportunities and benefits would spark for the BC technology industry? What services and resources would emerge for the public sector?
How can we improve on the efficiency of solar energy and solar cells? Dr. Alireza Nojeh, associate professor of Electrical Engineering at UBC, may have found a solution.
Rocket Builders has released its 13th annual “Ready to Rocket” trio. Drawn from detailed sector and company analysis, the three lists provide accurate predictions of British Columbia’s private technology companies that will likely experience significant growth, venture capital investment or acquisition by a major player in the coming year.
One of North America’s largest technology competitions, the BCIC-New Ventures Competition is seeking emerging BC entrepreneurs who are ready to take their technology startup to new heights.
Last week, over thirty local technology companies pitched for the attention of top tier investors from across North America. Three pitch streams showcased some of today’s fastest growing startup technologies. And the winners are:
Join us at the ‘BC Tech Forum: Leapfrogging Innovation to Business Revolution’
How secure are your company’s passwords? Consider that it may be safer not to have generic log-ins at all. Imagine the convenience of password-less authentication!
CommandWear is a local Vancouver start-up founded in July 2013 and currently on trajectory to becoming a global leader in mobile and wearable technology solutions for the public safety and security market.
How smart is your building? This BC startup can probably make it a lot smarter! Optigo provides secure connectivity to the Internet of things (IoT) in commercial buildings. This is a huge market that is screaming for answers and new technologies to address the ‘wild wild west’ of connected devices.
SST Wireless is not the only company revolutionising the heavy industries with wearables! Vandrico Inc.’s Canary TM is the glue that connects ‘blue-collar’ workers to industrial IT systems in real time and improves their situational awareness.
Have you heard of Vancouver’s WealthBar yet? It was created by a family of wealth managers who wanted to do things a little differently, not only for the young, but for whomever wanted to manage their assets cheaper, easier and online.
The Canadian Financing Forum 2015 is back in Vancouver on the 19th and 20th of February! Over the course of two days, the Pacific Rim Hotel will feature presentations from an impressive line-up of North America’s leading Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists.
Over the past few years, Internet of Things technology has come to the forefront, even in non-tech industries like mining, natural resources and transit.
The Oil and Gas industry is one of Canada’s most important sectors and has consistently ranked as a world leader in the exploration, production, and export of crude oil and natural gas. However, being placed amongst the best means that expectations are always high to continue to sustain the level of success our sector has been known for.
Like with most things in life, starting a business requires money – a lot of it. Fortunately, it’s 2015 and support for startups and small businesses in BC has never been better!
Hosted by the Conference Board of Canada, The Business Innovation Summit (BIS) will be bringing together hundreds of key players from Canada’s innovation eco-system—including startups, business leaders, accelerators, venture capitalists, academics, and government—to Toronto from April 28th to 29th, in order to harness the power of collaboration to further fuel the innovation and commercialization of new products and services.
BC’s thriving tech sector employs 84,000 people at more than 9,000 tech companies, yet there is still a considerable amount of room to expand and grow! In order to continue our quest of solidifying British Columbia as a landmark global technology centre, we must think bigger and better, and learn how to take that extra leap as industry leaders.
The Generator is 5,000 sqft of incubator office space available to high tech startup companies on a competitive basis. The initiative gives early-stage technology companies the opportunity to win 12 months of free work space at Discover Parks Vancouver - 887 Great Northern Way. In addition to the office space, companies will gain further support they need to thrive and grow by receiving access to mentors and programming provided by BCTIA and LifeSciences BC.
Steer your business to success by entering the 2015 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award for a chance to win $100,000
British Columbia has a thriving agriculture industry. Some 20,000 BC farms produce more than 200 agriculture and agri-food commodities, according to Natural Resource Industries statistics.
The language of ones and zeroes is seeping into more aspects of our everyday life - from mobiles and wearable devices to medicine, banking, and even food systems. Technology is now all around us and when everything is tech, mastering its tools allows you to do almost anything! As the demand for technology grows, it’s easy to see the endless opportunities available for those who have mastered the language of code.
The clean technology industry is Canada’s fastest growing sector, and has quickly developed into one of the most promising pieces of our country’s economy. In 2012, the industry grew by 9 percent, a growth rate which outstrips that of any other Canadian sector, and generated $11.3 billion in total revenue.
Going global presents vast opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs and their ventures, which is why the Canadian government is actively helping tech startups promote their products or services in new markets.
In March 2015, Politik will present INTERZONE - a three day conference that has been called "The most important technology event in the history of Canada” and which is bringing Steve Wozniak, the CEOs of Citrix & ServiceNow and C-level executives from Twitter, Intel, GoDaddy, Paypal and Warner Music to "write the future of enterprise technology”.
Last week, Accelerate Okanagan released their Economic Report for the Okanagan Technology Sector and announced that a total economic impact of over $1 Billion was recorded for the Okanagan Tech Industry for 2013.
Last week, it was announced that Honourable Andrew Wilkinson, who has served as the Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services since June 2013, has moved over to the Ministry of Advanced Education to enhance the public value of our provinces’ world-class post-secondary institutions and further access to training and education opportunities for British Columbians.
BCIC Alumni Stories: Kathryn Loewen, Founder & CEO of Control
BCIC Alumni Stories: Peter Luong, FusionPipe Founder & CTO
BCIC Alumni Stories: Pook-Ping Yao, Optigo Networks co-founder & CEO
Season’s Greetings from Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services
BCIC Alumni Stories: Mischa Steiner-Jovic of Awesense
Vancouver startup, Optigo Networks wins at the Cascadia Summit!
BCIC Alumni Stories: Ann Makosinski, Hollow Flashlight inventor
The Cascadia Summit, Vancouver’s new iconic technology event delivered on it’s promise – some of region’s most influential venture capitalists and stakeholders attended the sold-out Science World reception last Friday!
This morning at the brand new BCTIA Innovation Hub on Great Northern Way, Federal Minister of Industry, the Honourable James Moore announced where more than $35 million in CAIP funding will be allocated over the next five years.
The Downtown Eastside is becoming Vancouver’s ultimate innovation neighbourhood - a place where startups and entrepreneurs work crazy hours out of redesigned warehouses, host community events and frequent eclectic coffee shops -
Too often, you will still see news articles and conference panels on the future of tech or what does a tech company CEO look like, and the presentations only tell one side of the story - the usual one: that tech is a space for boys and men.
It doesn’t make much sense to bring up venture capitalists from San Francisco — arguably the world’s most active centre for tech investors — any given week to check out 30 startups in Vancouver, according to Ray Walia.
The New Ventures BC Venture Acceleration Program (VAP) is now recruiting start-ups!
What is the Most Important Character Trait for a Start-up Entrepreneur?
Who will be crowned the 2014 SFU Entrepreneur of the Year?
BCIC Alumni Stories: Stephen Robinson of DarkVision Technologies
BCTIA, in collaboration with KPMG have released the British Columbia Technology Report Card 2014, profiling the health of BC’s technology sector.
Vancouver’s fastest growing companies want to hire YOU at the Techvibes Tech Fest
“Coding is the new english”, someone recently said and we could not agree more. It has never been easier, more accessible or more crucial to learn basic coding skills.
'We live in a world where change isn’t just fast - it’s exponential', framed the context of this week’s ‘Will Innovation Save Us?’ symposium at SFU Public Square. Two of the greatest thinkers of our time - Ray Kurtzweil and Richard Florida, moderated by CBC's Amanda Lang, invited us to re-imagine how humanity will live in a new and increasingly complex world.
Canada's Energy Supply Chain Forum offers new solutions to productivity
It’s a pleasure for us to welcome Pilar Portela as the new CEO of Accelerate Okanagan! Before moving to Kelowna, Ms Portela managed a consortium of large global teams of software developers out of North and South America and, as a result, she brings with her invaluable insight on how to strengthen the technology ecosystem locally.
The increasing interest in flexible methodologies such as lean startup is one indication that organizations need to consider alternatives when the rate of change exceeds the ability to plan for it.
What is Value Anyway? (Why Creating Customer Value is at the Heart of Building a Business)
Webinar Series: Business Opportunities in the Energy & Advanced Manufacturing Sectors in Pennsylvania
Last night, we celebrated BCIC’s 10 Year Anniversary with a small and intimate gathering of BCIC’s 100 closest partners, friends and colleagues in Downtown Vancouver where we acknowledged a decade of support to the BC technology community and the people who made it possible!
This month marks BCIC’s 10 year Anniversary! Coincidentally, it is also an exciting time in history to be a technology entrepreneur - just look at the advantages and opportunities available to grow your business!
Three BC companies named to prestigious global cleantech list
Share your story & define your path at the Beyond Pink Leadership Conference
Sanotron, Canada’s 1st digital health accelerator, hosted the INTERFACE Digital Health Summit 2014 in Vancouver this week. BCIC was a proud sponsor. The 2-day event brought together local and international experts to share resources, connections and ideas on the booming trends in global digital health.
Realize the Power and the Future of the Internet at the Digital Economy Congress
BC Venture Acceleration Program participant, DarkVision Technologies, wins first prize at the 2014 BCIC-New Ventures BC Competition!
Technology is becoming a pillar of prosperity in British Columbia – it advances our local talent, wealth and innovation and is already an important driver of our economy. This is BC tech at a glance:
Startup hiring needs are drastically different from that of other companies and often require business generalists with the ability to adapt to rapid change and stay innovative. When outstanding business talent is essential to your success, if you have a burning project, why not let dedicated team of graduate students help you grow your company?
The BC Acceleration Network expands into Northwestern BC!
VEF presents: Pacific Northwest Angel Investors discuss BC and global Angels
The Top 10 Finalists in the BCIC- New Ventures BC Competition are announced!
BCIC Startup Stories with Vandrico founders, Gonzalo Tudela & Kenny MacKenzie
Meet the Finalists of the 2014 BCIC- New Ventures Competition! Part 6
Meet the Finalists of the 2014 BCIC- New Ventures Competition! Part 5
Meet the Finalists of the 2014 BCIC- New Ventures Competition! Part 4
‘How can we make Whistler the smartest, most connected resort destination in the world?’ was the theme of Wavefront’s GROW Hackaton last week.
ACETECH CEO Speaker Series comes to the Fraser Valley!
Have an innovative technology and need funding? Attend a session on Commercialization Funding to learn more about WINN!
Meet the Finalists of the 2014 BCIC- New Ventures Competition! Part 3
GROW is THE place to be for startups and developing entrepreneurs. BCIC is pleased to be a sponsor of GROW once again – this year in Whistler - where hundreds including Silicon Valley executives, angels and tech entrepreneurs will congregate for three days of building connections that really matter!
Meet the Finalists of the 2014 BCIC- New Ventures Competition! Part 1
BCIC Startup Stories with Change Heroes founder, Taylor Conroy
TELUS $10,000 Grand Prize for the Top Team at HACKATHON!
In the film 2012, the entire world was destroyed; thousands of buildings blew up, crumbled and shattered into astonishing detail. Fortunately, no real skyscrapers were harmed in the making…
SIGGRAPH 2014 is in Vancouver next week, bringing you the world’s best talent in computer graphics and interactive techniques! BCIC has secured free passes to the 3-day Exhibition so you can meet the industry’s greatest influencers and see their work!
I can't take my eyes off of you SIGGRAPH! Find us at BOOTH #633
B.C. centre of digital world during SIGGRAPH this week
BCIC Startup Stories with GreenStep CEO and co-founder, Angela Nagy
Tradeshows bring you face-to-face with world’s greatest talent and companies and reveal cutting-edge projects not yet even available on the market. They are the most potent of industry gatherings and companies that go have a huge advantage over the rest.
Okanagan tech community gearing to break ground on new innovation centre
GE’s GHG ecomagination Innovation Challenge invites YOU to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada’s oil sands
No need to visit England to see the latest animations by The Foundry, or California to learn more about Not Impossible Labs. Next month, Vancouver will host North America's largest, most comprehensive exhibition of products and services for computer graphics and interactive techniques at SIGGRAPH, August 10-14, 2014.
Canada’s Crème de la Crème of Tech at the CIX Top 20!
SquareOne Incubator Fosters the Growth of Startups in Nanaimo
BCIC Startup Stories with BitLit co-founder, Peter Hudson
BCIC is proud to be partnering with Creative BC and the Province to organize British Columbia’s presence at the SIGGRAPH Exhibition hall.
BCIC Startup Stories with Be Like Ada founder, Sandra Wear
NEW 5 Part Series: BCIC Startup Stories, Starts Next Week!
EiR Raghwa Gopal Recognized as Honorary Fellow by Okanagan College
Government of Canada Awards Funding to Five BC Accelerators
Andrew Wilkinson Discusses the BC VAP with Mentors at the EiR Summit
Creating Simply Better Teams Across All Your Networks with Nugg
Spotlight on Young Entrepreneurs beginning June 26 at Launch Academy
Tech Services Win Big at the 21st Annual Technology Impact Awards
Students Present on their Internship Experience at Emily@Grow Wrap-Up Party
The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs at the Sauder Entrepreneurship Luncheon
2014 GROW Conference to take over Whistler August 20-22
Venture Acceleration Program graduate, FusionPipe, takes home Audience Choice Award at NextBC
Thanks Startup Canada! Cast your vote for national winners by May 23rd
Less than 2 days left to apply to pitch at Plug and Play Startup Showdown
Over the past decade, Vancouver’s condo market has grown at twice the rate compared to all other property types. In 2013 the total number of condos in Vancouver reached 91,825, equaling a total value of over $50 billion. As rapid growth continues, it is becoming increasingly hard to maintain up-to-date property information. As assessment organizations struggle to keep up with data – enter 3D GIS mapping, a unique emerging technology in the real estate appraisal world.
The ballots are in and the word on the street is - 15 of Canada’s most promising startups are packing their bags for metabridge!
Have a startup idea? Submit your 60-second pitch video to www.tellusyouridea.ca by May 23rd and win three months of office space at Launch Academy, mentorship, and a chance to win up to $5,000 cash!
The BC winners of the Startup Canada Awards were announced yesterday! Moments after the list of winners hit the web, traffic to Startup Canada’s site was so heavy that for a few minutes, it almost crashed the servers!
That’s right, it’s that TIA time of year again. The annual 2014 Technology Impact Awards (TIA) company finalists have been announced!
Innovation Island, a delivery partner of the BC Venture Acceleration Program, and the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation are working on a hybrid 24-hour co-working space and technology incubator. Set to open its doors this year in July, SquareOne will help to bring together Nanaimo’s fragmented yet rapidly growing tech startup community.
Every year, Canadian Technology companies offer innovative solutions but face challenges when it comes to scaling their business internationally. One way to overcome this challenge effectively, is to apply for the Wavefront Global Market Entry Program, an extraordinary opportunity to connect with potential international partners and distributors.
Innovation Island, a delivery partner of the BC Venture Acceleration Program, and the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation are working on a hybrid 24-hour co-working space and technology incubator. Set to open its doors this year in July, SquareOne will help to bring together Nanaimo’s fragmented yet rapidly growing tech startup community.
Who says a university art project can’t become a sustainable business? For Lisa Fraser of Vancouver, this is exactly what happened. The 26 year old founder and creator of Snug Vest was named to BC’s Top 30 Under 30 by BC Business Magazine this month.
BIAP provides funding support to help companies’ access business and technical services needed to accelerate the commercialization of their innovative products and services.
Good news for BC! The new "Profile of the British Columbia High Technology Sector: 2013 Edition" out today indicates that B.C.’s high tech sector had an excellent 2012 and shows no signs of cooling off.
BCIC is looking forward to CKNW’s Putting BC To Work – a series beginning on CKNW AM980 March 31 through April 28.
If you need to kick-start your business by getting your product out of the lab and into the market, the Canadian government can be the first to use, test and evaluate your innovation!
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) makes strategic investments in initiatives that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada. Its main program, the Western Diversification Program (WDP) is accepting Call for Proposals for prospective projects across all sectors May 1-30, 2014. It targets not-for-profit organizations that are eligible for funding under the WDP.
Is your company currently working on a project in software development, proof-of-concept or R&D? Why not submit it to the BCIT’s Industry Sponsored Student Project (ISSP) program!
Which companies are leading BC tech into the future? Join us at NextBC to find out.
Just like when Moses came down the mountain with the tablets (stone, not ipad), Rocket Builders 12th annual "Ready to Rocket" lists is out!
It’s TED week. For many, it’s THE week high- power investment deals are being made and cutting edge ideas are shared live with millions of people worldwide.
Free space for life science startups. Apply today for CTA@Boston
Congratulations to DevOne Sports, winners of the 2014 Jump:Start:Challenge pitch competition!
The second annual Startup Week Okanagan offers a unique convergence of music, education, art, entertainment, business and technology. With over 30 events over 10 days, fostering creative growth, community connections and showcasing the tremendous professional talent in the valley, Startup Week Okanagan 2014 is ten energy-fueled days of action!
The 2014 BCIC- New Ventures Competition is now open for applications until midnight April 16th.
The Art of Marketing is back in Vancouver for the 4rd time on March 19th! The one-day conference brings together the some of the world’s most influential and well-known experts to help you navigate the fast changing landscape of business marketing. Save $50 on your ticket price when using ‘BCIC32’ as your promo code.
Congratulations to BCIC board member Roger Hardy for the sale of Coastal Contacts [L1] Inc. announced last Friday! The Vancouver based online retailer (popularly known as Clearly Contacts) has accepted a $430 million purchase offer from France’s Essilor International, the world’s largest maker of prescription eyewear.
Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre, a delivery partner of the Venture Acceleration Program, and Okanagan College have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to help grow the clean tech industry in BC.
The Technology Impact Awards recognize the people, products and companies that continue to make BC a leader in the global tech scene. There are 9 award categories ranging from pre-commercial technology to community engagement. Where does your company shine?
Accelerate Okanagan recently announced that it has joined forces with metabridge. The two brands will centralize resources and leverage each other’s influential networks, resulting in an unprecedented level of support to local tech startups.
Apply now for the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) for a chance to go to the global hub for technology and entrepreneurship. Canadian-based companies with a strategic plan to leverage the Silicon Valley region for business development and strategic partnerships, customer acquisition or fundraising are invited to apply by Feb 28th.
Nanaimo News recently published a list of the biggest influencers in the Harbour city and the surrounding region. Congratulations to Innovation Island’s Executive Director, Paris Gaudet who has been recognized for her distinctive contribution to the region’s tech culture!
The BC Innovation Council’s mission is to support startups and develop tech entrepreneurs. If you have a technology startup, our job is to help you succeed. It appears many startups across British Columbia are not aware of the broad BC support network currently available to help them commercialize their business idea. We help you not only through programs, but also through access to premium industry events.
New crowd-funding platform, Experiment, helps science and technology research projects get funding. Britain’s crowd funding industry is booming, these 14 companies are leading the way. Equity-based crowd-funding legislation is still taking shape in BC and Canada. Vancouver startup’s FundRazr CEO Daryl Hatton shares his take.
BCIC's Tarah Ferguson brings you the inside scoop from Saturday's #HTML500 event. Word on the street is - "Coding is Sexy!"
BCIC was a proud sponsor of this Saturday’s Lighthouse Labs HTML500, the largest learn-to-code event in North America.
Vancouver company is capturing video of the earth from the International Space Station
Who hasn’t had the feeling that something is slightly off in today’s business networking culture? Networking is essential to the growth of your startup. It helps to build crucial connections. You never know who you might meet and how they can help your business. Yet, something is left vapid.
The BC Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (IDMTC) is subject to review by the BC Government this year with plans to be phased out in 2015. DigiBC is leading an open dialogue with relevant stakeholders to ensure the program continues and is improved to meet the growing needs of BC’s Video Game and Interactive Media Industry.
Dragon’s Den 2014 auditions are underway! If 2014 is the year of your business, why not turn this into the perfect opportunity to pitch your hard work and vision to all of Canada?
Semios, a member of the Venture Acceleration Program through partner Venture Labs, won a Verizon Powerful Answers Award for the value of $285,000 at CES this month.
Start 2014 with the insights and connections that set the right tone for your company’s growth throughout the year. Here’s how the Canadian Financing Forum 2014 can help you build a better tech company:
Got startup? Most cities do. Is the dramatic growth in startups another dot-com bubble or a transformative movement? The Economist weighs in.
Looking for the latest research expertise to help build your business? BC's research universities may be able to help.
Join clean tech influencers and innovators at this one-day conference in Vancouver January 30th
If you're looking to research, pilot or commercialize products for the agricultural sector, you should know about these two funding sources.
Need a winter GROW fix? GROWtalks is a one-day conference in Vancouver focusing on web/mobile development and design.
Maybe you’ve heard of “The Internet of Things”. But do you really understand it? BCIC has created this primer to help.
Today is January 7th, otherwise known as International Programmers Day. If you are an aspiring tech entrepreneur, today is the perfect day to step into your programming career. We have compiled a list of online places where you can learn to code. For free!
Capture the media's attention and you've gained a huge competitive advantage. Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.
BC accelerators help the province create jobs, generate revenue and build successful tech entrepreneurs. Just look at the results for the Venture Acceleration Program or Launch Academy. No wonder the government is offering increasingly more support initiatives and funding opportunities for homegrown startups, as explained in this TechVibes article. If you are a founder, there are more resources available to you than you probably know.
Ever imagine what a school of heroes would look like?” Draper University, otherwise known as “The School of Heroes” is the creation of Tim Draper, a third generation venture capitalist whose grandfather managed portions of the Rockefeller fortune. It’s a one-of-a-kind training ground for incredible entrepreneurs, the Harvard for startups.
Most of Kirk’s startups support the resource and energy sectors in the north, offer B2B type incremental innovations and contribute a giant thriving industry.
Taylor Conroy, the founder of Change Heroes, shares his passion for philanthropy and entrepreneurship
Who can really wait another 8 months for the next GROW Conference? Good news, you don’t have to. Vancouver’s startup event of the year is back this January, in its charming Lite version GROWtalks, to inspire local entrepreneurs and keep enthusiasm going until August.
At BCIC, we're big fans of innovation. But sometimes "costovation" is the better route to take.
Kiind lets you send an e-gift card but you don't pay for it until it is used.
The City of Kelowna and Shaw Cable have entered a 5-year agreement to bring free wireless internet to more than a dozen parks as well as businesses, city centres and buildings across Kelowna.
Kirk Hamilton is the Venture Acceleration Program’s “Executive in Residence” in the Kootenays through KIC and in Prince George’s through ICS. The companies he works with are scattered far and wide across the region, and often have limited access to resources, advisers, events, customers and all other things city startups take for granted.
Media coverage can be a great way to raise your company's profile. Here are a few ways to get started.
Save 15% on your pass to the Canadian Financing Forum, February 20-21 in Vancouver. Early bird deadline is December 20.
TechVibes Magazine hosted their sold-out event where Vancouver's tech CEOs pitched their company to future employees. Tarah Ferguson interviewed some of the largest influences in the Vancouver technology scene - Mayor Gregor Robertson, TechVibes's Rob Lewis, Plenty of Fish's Markus Frind and others!
The Hard Way has opened applications for their new 2014 fall season show.
Samsung has opened a new R&D centre Vancouver, it's first in Canada, thereby creating 60 new jobs in the technology sector. The Korean tech company joins the global technology giants Facebook and Amazon who recently also opened new offices in Vancouver.
Mitch Carefoot shares how he made the transition from hockey players to entrepreneur with the BC Venture Acceleration Program
In the 21st century, the advent of the knowledge economy, essential value lies in thought leadership; the developement and exchange of powerful ideas that transcend borders. This writer believes, and many would agree, that we are witnessing how startup incubators are trasforming into the cultural and economic value centres of the future.
Vancouver Enterprise Forum: The Benefits, Challenges and Unique Aspects of Running a Technology Business in Vancouver
The Business Development Bank (DBC) has compiled an infographic that reveals how, perhaps contrary to general perception, small businesses make the backbone of Canada's economy.
Building a successful company from ground zero teaches you a thing or two about market validation, which John gladly shares with us here. So while family and faith come first in his active and busy life, if you want to sell your Ferrari, he can show you how – but not the way you might think.
An angel investor shares tips about how startups can catch his attention
MentorshipBC helps you connect with the right business mentors in your community.
The Canadian Innovation Exchange will showcase the Top 20 most innovative companies
As an Executive-in-Residence (EiR) with the BC Venture Acceleration Program at Wavefront, David Christie helps technology startups grow fast and thrive. So it may be surprising that one of his primary pieces of advice is “fail fast”.
Hiring an IT person? You may be eligible for this wage subsidy.
Some startup founders say the tech hyper-hub is valuable but can easily "kill your business".
Rocketbuilders recently published its “Ready-to-Rocket 2013”review; a company growth analysis report examining common characteristics of the most prevailing Technology companies from Cleantech and Life Sciences across BC.
Small- and medium-sized enterprises can apply for funding to help commercialize their products, processes and services.
GreenStep, Just Be Friends™ and Software Modelers recently joined the AO Traction Program.
179 of the Basin's manufacturing and technology businesses were surveyed on anumber of issues to better understand the economic impact of the sectors on the regional economy.
A brand new Vancouver accelerator, developed by Hootsuite founder Ryan Holmes, offers a whole 'suite' of services for young aspiring entrepreneurs aged 17 to 22 to pursue and realize their ideas.
Raghwa Gopal has enjoyed success on many fronts, but when it comes to retirement, he has failed abysmally – twice! That’s good news for startup companies in the Okanagan who are guided by Raghwa’s advice.
The initiative to support the growing technology community in the Okanagan region arose from a shared vision around the future of the startup ecosystem
Get in the Loop, a member of the Venture Acceleration Program in Kelowna, has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at local community groups
Looking for bid opportunities with the federal government? You need to know about this website.
"Technology companies have surpassed all resource-harvesting sectors - forestry, mining, and oil and gas combined - as the top employer of British Columbians, according to a new report done by KPMG for the B.C. Technology Industry Association."
Ready to launch the next great BC business success story? Lance Schafer would advise you to stop and ask these 4 questions before you take another step forward.
Solving problems for the eCommerce industry, one thousand product descriptions at a time
Several startups in BC’s cleantech sector have a highly successful serial entrepreneur guiding their venture’s growth. Beth Loughney is an Executive in Residence (EIR) with the BC Venture Acceleration Program through partner Foresight Cleantech Accelerator. Here, she shares her insights about success.
Last week, BCTIA celebrated ‘20 Years of Tech’ in style at TELUS Science World. Here, BCIC’s own Tarah Ferguson brings you some of the evening’s highlights.
Find out by finding #mentorscan on Twitter or following @Startup_Canada, @GEWCanada and @CYBFCanada
Participant in Venture Acceleration Program and BCIC Mentor Program recognized for her Snug Vest innovation.
Emergent Waste Solutions and Reforus are the latest companies to join Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre.
Shawn Adrian reflects on Minister Andrew Wilkinson's speech and the future of technology startups in the Nanaimo region
New BC Acceleration Network partner to foster clean energy, water, transportation and other technology growth in BC
The Digital Health International Summit Interface 2013 is taking place in Vancouver October 9-11th. Minister Andrew Wilkinson has a longstanding background in medicine and will be speaking at the Summit.
In recognition of Small Business Month, Small Business BC is offering a range of free seminars and webinars for entrepreneurs
The results of a new Shell survey, "Future of Energy" conducted by Ipsos identifies key issues and challenges in meeting global energy needs.
Something magical is happening in Nanaimo. Local tech startups like Agog, Hinterland and Input Logic are busting headlines everywhere and it seems others are not far behind. Innovation Island is the region’s leading startup incubator and Graham Truax is THE person you ask for business advice. As ‘Executive in Residence’ (EIR), he navigates multiple companies through their startup phase in the BC Venture Acceleration Program.
“This year’s finalists were the strongest and most promising set of companies we’ve seen over the 13-year history of the competition,” said Angie Schick, Program Manager, BCIC-New Ventures Competition.
Hinterland Studios, Agog Labs and other game companies chose to work out of North Vancouver Island for a 'family-first' kind of life
Nanaimo's tech startup Input Logic awarded 1st prize by MC Hammer
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 26th annual Business Excellence awards in celebration of the outstanding success of local enterprises.
Survey says...LifeSciences BC membership survey shows 69% of companies expect to grow in the next 2 years.
Join BCTIA at TELUS World of Science on October 17th for a celebration you won't forget
Winners will be featured in the April 2014 issue of BCBusiness
Business in Vancouver recently released industry data for 2013
Five Emily Carr students will form a design research team at GrowLab’s headquarters with a focus on developing a new methodology for connecting design to startup companies.
Welcome Hydra-Energy and Terrella Energy Systems
Interface 2013 international digital health summit takes places in Vancouver, October 9-11
KAST and KRIC have recently hired their first local Entrepreneur In Residence (EIR) to help guide, coach and mentor entrepreneurs and start-ups to successful wealth and job-generating futures.
Join Launch Academy for a presentation by cloud expert Jeff Kaplan in Vancouver October 3rd.
Lean Startup guru Steve Blank thinks startups should be focusing more on customer development...and less on demo days.
Canada's digital entrepreneurs welcome
Medical products focused on usability and cost-effectiveness.
The Medical Device Development Centre (MDDC) is offering an educational series for entrepreneurs in the medical device sector
A novel way for field workers and managers to capture and collaborate on issues in real time.
Wondering how to take advantage of Google Glass' hardware and sensors? Join this Google Glass event in Vancouver.
A one-stop healthcare communications platform.
A community engagement platform for schools, students and their parents.
Molescope smartphone app tracks potentially cancerous skin lesions.
Buy a pass to the Interface 2013 Digital Summit Oct 9-11 in Vancouver and get a free Shine physical activity monitor.
Software tools for integrated circuit repairs increase return on investments.
The BC Venture Acceleration Program is helping to generate jobs, revenue and investment in BC, according to a new report from BCIC.
Two Hat Security protects children on-line with PottyMouth Chat Tools
48 Hours in the Valley introduces tech startups to influential Silicon Valley investors and influencers. Apply by September 20th.
Microfluidic technology to find effective treatments for cancer, auto-immune disorders and infections.
The Government of Canada has issed a call for project proposals for its new Aerospace Technology Demonstration Program.
Smart meter data analytics that yield five times the conservation impact.
Best practices in Marketing are being turned on their head with rapid changes brought on by social media. Are you keeping up?
And then there were 10. Check out the Top 10 BC new ventures vying for $300,000 in prizes.
Some of the most exciting BC startups were on display at Launch Academy's annual Pitch Day.
Our profiles of the Top 25 in BC's top tech business-idea competition continues with a Vancouver startup's remote real-time mobile toddler alarm.
Looking to top up your marketing mojo? This one-day conference in Vancouver offers an illuminating line-up of speakers.
One of the Top 25 in the New Ventures BC competition is Codex, which offers software that helps engineers spend less time on documentation.
Cash flow is the most important financial management issue for more than one-third of Canadian small businesses.
A media panel at Grow conference shared their advice on how to pitch your story. Their advice might surprise you.
One of the Top 25 competitors in the BCIC New Ventures BC Competition, Vonigo helps on-site service companies manage their information.
The New England Venture Summit is looking for 50 Top Innovators. Deadline is Thursday, August 15th.
Edukaans, a Venture Acceleration Program participant through partner Accelerate Okanagan, is featured in the "Starting Out" section of today's Globe and Mail.
Read about competition finalist Illusense and their technology that prevents leaks in oil pipelines.
BCIC welcomes Sheelagh England as Executive Director of the Kootenay Rockies Innovation Council (KRIC), our partner that delivers the Venture Acceleration Program in the East Kootenays.
The 25 competitors in Round 3 of the BCIC-New Ventures Competition are working on their Round 3 business overviews for submission on August 8th.
Change Heroes took the top prize at the Startup World competition in Vancouver this week. Startup World is holding competitions in 20 cities; the winners of each regional competition will compete for the top prize at a showdown in the Silicon Valley.
The BC Venture Acceleration Program was officially launched in north central BC at an event in Prince George yesterday.
Did you know that our of every 4 apps downloaded, 1 is downloaded just once, and 3 out of 4 apps are dumped by users after 10 or less opens?
Connectzing Media Inc, a member of the BC Venture Acceleration Program through partner Accelerate Okanagan, has launched connectzing.com, a website that connects people to their community.
If you're a tech entrepreneur with a game-changing innovation that is gaining traction, you could be PwC's next Innovator of the Year.
Peter Cohan has a message for aspiring entrepreneurs: embrace failure.
In May 2013, Accelerate Okanagan, VIATeC and 6 Canadian tech startups (MediaCooler, Time.ly, Routezilla, Bananatag, Hustream & Sendwithus) headed down to Boulder, Colorado to take part in Boulder Startup Week.
BCIC is a proud partner of GROW Conference, August 14-16 in Vancouver. GROW is THE place to be for startups and developing entrepreneurs.
Planning to hire a recent grad? You may be eligible for funding through CareerConnect. The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is accepting applications for the 2013-2014 CareerConnect Program.
Victoria entrepreneur Clayton Stark, who has mentored many tech startups since returning home from San Francisco, was recognized as a Technology Champion at the annual awards hosted by the Victoria Advanced Technology Council (VIATeC) last week.
BCIC's Venture Acceleration Program is helping BC tech entrepreneurs succeed.