For anyone watching Vancouver’s tech ecosystem closely, like this publication, you will have noticed the entry of a new innovation advocacy group in town—and probably on Twitter. They’re bold (“those who stand in our way, we ask to kindly step to the side”). They’re ambitious (“we’re going to break down the old Vancouver mentality and elevate the new”). They’re restless (“we won’t let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass us by”). And they’re uncompromisingly pro-technology.

Today, they officially revealed themselves as, in their words, “the first organization to formally represent and advance the interests of the region’s fastest-growing technologies, including Web3, the metaverse, VR/AR, AI, climate tech, and creative industries such as eSports, NFTs, VFX, and animation.” Its name? Frontier Collective.

Goal setting: This new coalition has members from organizations like the Vancouver Economic Commission, Collision Conference, Launch Academy, Invest Vancouver and the BDC Deep Tech Fund. They plan to focus their efforts on promoting the Vancouver region's tech industry globally, growing investment and infrastructure for early-stage companies and attracting diverse talent to the city. By building on the city’s established tech ecosystem, the Frontier Collective says it aims to position Vancouver as the tech capital of Canada and a top-five leader in frontier technology globally by 2030. 

Why this matters: Emerging tech sub-sectors are moving at an unprecedented pace, explains Dan Burgar, co-founder and head of Frontier Collective. But without support for Vancouver’s early-stage companies in these industries, they may look elsewhere for more welcoming environments. “The Frontier Collective is building a movement that will ensure early-stage companies have a stronger support system, helping Vancouver become the premier destination for bleeding-edge tech,” Burgar argues.

Context counts: Frontier Collective’s launch coincides with the city’s rise on the global stage, which includes recognition of the city’s VR/AR industry, Web3 community and collection of tech unicorns.

Walking the talk: Several projects are in development by the Frontier Collective to support the competitiveness of Vancouver’s innovation industry globally, the group said. They’re developing trade initiatives and conference events to showcase Vancouver, as well as partnering with the British Columbia Institute of Technology to advance its goals to link diverse talent with local companies and get students into jobs.

“We’re on the precipice of a new digital era,” says Erika Finlay, co-founder of the Frontier Collective and head of social impact at Unbounce, “and the Frontier Collective is proud to support these world-changing innovations and the Vancouver leaders behind them.”