👋 Good morning, and welcome to (or welcome back to) VTJ’s Sunday Briefing: your weekly digest of the city’s innovation news, deals, insights, and more.

Thanks for the warm welcome since I first joined the VTJ team a few weeks ago, and I know Kate is very thankful for all the well wishes for her speedy recovery!

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 776 words: a 3-min read.

-Lisa

🗞️ FROM VTJ

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🤝 FUNDING & DEALS

• Levr.ai, the Vancouver-based loans software platform, raises $1 million in seed funding round.

• InBC, the strategic investment fund created by B.C.’s government, is investing in local companies raising CAD $5 million or more — as well as generating revenue and advancing positive social or environmental impacts in the province.

• Early-stage and later-stage funders at Vancouver Entrepreneur Forum’s ‘Meet Your Next Investor: Reverse Pitch’ collectively highlighted to local entrepreneurs: “We have money available, come talk to us.”

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COAST/ABCMI Innovation Forum

COAST & ABCMI team up for a 2-day event on April 23-24, spotlighting ocean/marine tech innovations. Panels, speakers, and showcases will highlight pioneering products/services. Connect with government and private sector reps, plus a condensed trade show. Tickets at ABCMI site, with discounts for members. Register now!

🗞️ IN OTHER NEWS

• Boris Wertz’s Version One is looking for a new partner.

• Vancouver-based Aquanow, a crypto infra company that facilitates payments, trading, and custody, has expanded to the UAE.

• NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator, a 12-week accelerator program, announced that two out of the 10 companies accepted include two local startups: Fobi AI, focused on AI and data intelligence, and Plantiga, which offers individual movement health monitoring.

• Clirio, a software developer for mobile, web, and VR/AR apps, is bringing 3D visualizations of engineering and geospatial data to Apple Vision Pro.

• Techstars Seattle is shutting down, and Techstars Toronto has “paused applications” with managing director Sunil Sharma departing after seven years.

• Warren Buffett released his annual letter to shareholders, writing a tribute to his late partner, the legendary Charlie Munger, “the architect of Berkshire Hathaway.”

💡 IDEAS & INSIGHTS

• Vivian Chan, CEO of Red Threads Strategy Consulting Group, joined the ‘Spotlight on Unicorns’ podcast to share her entrepreneurial journey, including the role of mindset, who's inspired her, and more.

• Melissa Kwan, CEO of eWebinar, is sharing stories, mistakes, and lessons learned on how she bootstrapped $1 million in 36 months without VC funding in season 2 of her ProfitLed podcast.

• Vancouver's tech space experts, The High Technology Facilities Group, break down why top office tenants are focusing more on the rise of AI, employee well-being, and environmental consciousness.*

*sponsored listing

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