Tech trends to keep an eye on

What's up and what's down this week in Vancouver's tech ecosystem. This is your Sunday Briefing.

It may have been a short week, but the tech sector certainly hasn’t been short on stories. Not all of it is good news. The crypto winter thawed and ignited into a crypto dumpster fire these past few days, as FTX — the world’s third-largest exchange — revealed a shortfall of billions: a move that will likely send ripple effects into the Vancouver ecosystem, given its unofficial title of the Web3 capital of Canada. On the other hand, the local cleantech sector is flourishing, with the past week seeing money pouring into companies like infrastructure decarbonizer Audette and smart-shower creators Rainstick, plus the Vancouver Economic Commission is offering help for pre-seed funding for those in the climatetech business. Both are trends to keep an eye on — especially if you’ve got some $$$ in the game.

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 886 words, a three-minute read.

-Kate, @KateWilsonSays

- P.S. Our morning coffees are completely full, but there’s still space at our final event of the year: #vtjtalks: Grading Vancouver’s Innovation Economy in 2022. See you there?

Exclusive: Cleantech smart-shower builder Rainstick raises $3M

The round's closure is the most recent downpour in the company's flow of accolades and capital. Start reading »

Vancouver is building the next generation of climatetech leaders

The Vancouver Economic Commission has launched another year of its Angels for Climate Solutions program to support pre-seed climate ventures and aspiring angel investors. Start reading »

“It’s not just about work” – How (and why) to get a job at AbCellera

Chief commercial officer Neil Aubuchon talks about the company’s team-first culture, new Vancouver campus, and hefty benefits package. Start reading »

VTJ explores the City of Web Summit

Our staff writer James Matthews was one of the 71,033 who attended the massive Web Summit event in Portugal. Start reading »

Watchlist: Five B.C. women in biotech and life sciences, part two

Discover the leaders pushing the boundaries of health sciences and biotech innovation. Start reading »

🤝 Funding and deals

  • Audette raised CAD $12.8 million to decarbonize buildings and empower action towards net zero emissions. Read in Victoria Tech Journal »

  • BBTV has entered into an agreement to provide comprehensive content management solutions to the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Sports Franchise, Combate Global. Continue »

  • General Fusion and UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) announced a collaborative agreement to advance commercial fusion energy. Continue »

  • Finhaven Technology announced a strategic alliance with Blockchain@UBC to build Finhaven Chain, a public blockchain for central banks and regulated entities. Continue »

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🗞️ In other news

  • Data intelligence startup Intlabs revealed its founding team members. Victoria Tech Journal »

  • B.C. has become the first province in Canada to implement a permanent cap of 20 percent on fees charged by food-delivery companies. Continue »

  • The Greater Vancouver of Board of Trade announced its new board of directors, which features tech executives including Juggy Sihota-Chahil, vice president of consumer health at Telus; Natali Altshuler, senior vice president and head of operations at EA Sports; and Miranda Lam, chief legal officer and senior director of business development at Acuitas Therapeutics. See more »

  • UBC and the Wet’suwet’en First Nation are collaborating to create new packaging foam from wood waste that has the potential to help cut down on plastic pollution. Continue »

  • How construction tech company Faber is building its presence in the lucrative U.S. market. Globe and Mail »

  • Tribe Property Technologies launched its curated digital marketplace for community living — a product meant to leverage group-buying and lower household costs for its tenants. Continue »

  • Acuva Technologies and Acuva Therapeutics were among the winners of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s 2022 Business Distinction Awards. Continue »

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