The Morning Report: It’s still not too late to buy bitcoin

The Morning Report, a daily digest of the city’s most important news, is still in beta. If someone sent you this, contact [email protected] to be added to the list.

Good Morning,

Here’s what you need to know today.

Netcoins / Ayelen Osorio

It’s still not too late to buy bitcoin

Business Insider / Ryan Holmes

Hootsuite’s founder believes society must come to grips with a communications revolution

Daily Hive / Kenneth Chan

Los Angeles executive David Flaks tapped to lead Metro Vancouver's new economic investment agency, Regional Economic Prosperity Service (REPS)

Business in Vancouver / Karimah Es Sabar

To spur biotech-driven economic growth, local life sciences exec proposes “COVID-19 interest-free loans and other bridge financing to support pre-commercial Canadian firms with a high degree of commercial potential” 

Vancouver Sun / Kevin Griffin

Precision Nanosystems, which received $18.2 million from the Fed government last year, is using new technology to develop COVID-19 vaccine

BCBusiness / Nathan Caddell

Harbor Air CEO Greg McDougall hopes to offer electric-powered flights within two years

T-Net

Western Economic Diversification announced $1.9 million for UBCO to develop an innovation hub that will promote clean technologies that convert carbon-based additives and components into new, sustainable products

Cryptoslate / Shaurya Malwa

At the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, former PM Stephen Harper said bitcoin can be one of the world’s reserve currencies

World Economic Forum / Alex Thornton

ChopValue recycles old bamboo chopsticks into a stylish range of homewares and furniture, has saved more than 32 million chopsticks from landfills

HospiMedica

Study: PrecisionOS’ healthcare VR training platform leads to 50% fewer critical surgical errors

Zacks Equity Research

Electric car company ElectraMeccanica, makers of the $18,500 SOLO, set to launch additional direct-to-consumer locations, bringing the company’s total retail location count to 13 across 10 major markets

On the wire

With latest deal, Nextech AR Solutions is headed for $50-60million in revenue for 2021

Mogo set to acquire digital payments company Carta Worldwide

Tonight

3:45PM PST: M&A In Uncertain Times: Lessons From Successful Vancouver Exits

That’s it for today’s Morning Report.

Have a productive and fulfilling day. See you tomorrow.

- William