"Every second can literally save a life"

Inside VodaSafe CEO Carlyn Loncaric's journey from lifeguard to lifesaver. Welcome to the Sunday Briefing.

Unfortunately, the fear part of my brain likes to fire when I go out on the water. I’m what you would call an indoorsman. So, I have immense appreciation for those who commit themselves to making the great outdoors safer for us all. Rocketing to the top of that list is Carlyn Loncaric. Her experiences as a lifeguard and an engineer combine in VodaSafe. As you’ll read this week, the company’s tech is literally a lifesaver. Back on land, Lynk is out of stealth and on a mission to reduce processing fees while Covalent seeks to train Web3’s next generation.

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 828 words, a 3-minute read.

- James, @jimmermatthews

PS: See you soon?

- Sept 27, from 8-10 a.m.: Vancouver Tech Morning Coffee

- Sept 28, from 6:15-9:00 p.m.: The Web3 Evolution - Hosted by YVR DAO x The Home Key

- Sept 29, from 5-8 p.m.: #vtjtalks: Trillion-dollar-tech stories, with New York Times’ Tripp Mickle

VodaSafe’s AquaEye offers a lifeline against drowning

The Vancouver company’s handheld sonar device can locate people submerged in water or trapped under ice. Start reading »

Dieter Shirley, NFT pioneer, talks about his creation’s past and future

Notes from the Dapper Labs-hosted International NFT Day event. Start reading »

Covalent launches program to train Web3 data analysts

The company seeks to recruit and teach 1,000 workers to help address the shortage of tech talent. Start reading »

With $4M in seed capital, Lynk launches a payment platform for marketplaces

The startup's product is meant to reduce the burden of high processing fees, for both merchants and consumers. Start reading »

🤝 Funding and deals

  • Monos, a fast-growing travel goods brand, closed a USD $30 million Series B investment led by Venn growth partners with participation from Strand Equity and Michele Romanow. Pitchbook »

  • GameOn Entertainment is partnering with the Crypto Jets Club, a metaverse for aviation enthusiasts that centres on future gaming and membership utility. Continue »

  • For more news like this, check out our weekly Money briefing: Lynk, Monos, GameOn Entertainment, and BDC

📖 Download now: 2022 Global Tech Hiring Report

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🗞️ In other news

  • Meet the 26 new companies joining entrepreneurship@UBC’s Venture Founder program this fall. Continue »

  • Here’s how UBC Sauder’s new dean, Darren Dahl, embraces curiosity and positivity in business. Continue »

  • The Canadian Securities Administrators announced a new exemption that will free some public companies from filing another prospectus (financial overview) if they’re looking to raise between $5 million and $10 million from investors. Business in Vancouver »

  • Trulioo appoints tech veteran Eric Morse as its new chief revenue officer. Continue »

  • InBC, the $500 million strategic… err, now they’re saying impact investment fund is holding online information sessions for anyone interested in learning more about their investment strategy next month. Continue »

  • Katie Lowen, a modern dance artist turned software developer, will be graduating from Northeastern University Vancouver with an ‘Align Master of Science in Computer Science degree in spring 2023’ Continue »

  • Hydra Energy broke ground on what it’s calling the world’s largest hydrogen refuelling station for heavy-duty trucks. Hydra Energy »

  • How Ilya Brotzy and VanHack are connecting global tech talent with remote jobs. SaaS Mag »

  • B.C.’s Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy has expanded its B.C. Hydrogen Changemakers Consortium (BCHCC) announced in June 2022 to include three new members: BC Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro), Air Products Canada, and Toyota Tsusho Canada. Continue »

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