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- The event-tech industry strikes back
The event-tech industry strikes back
Rumours of the event industry's death have been greatly exaggerated. This is your Sunday Briefing.
William Johnson
August 28, 2022
When the pandemic hit in 2020, it changed everything. Nowhere was this more evident than in the events industry, which — in many ways — was compelled to reinvent itself as lockdowns shuttered in-person gatherings and entertainment.
Vancouver’s Eventbase — which is known for its work with South by Southwest, Salesforce, and SAP — was forced to make tough decisions as it sought to insulate itself from a precarious economic environment. But like a storm that makes a tree’s roots grow deeper, according to this week’s top feature story from Kate Wilson, COVID ultimately drove Eventbase’s leaders to build a stronger foundation for their business.
Elsewhere in today’s email, James Matthews details how two other organizations mastered events throughout the pandemic, and I speak to Terramera vice president Kim Haakstad about culture and talent development.
Today’s briefing is 843 words, a 3-minute read. Let’s dive in.
-William, @notionport
P.S. See you at these upcoming events?
Aug 30, from 8-10 a.m.: Vancouver Tech Morning Coffee
Sep 14, from 5-8 p.m.: How To: Create a Successful NFT Project
How Eventbase’s big bet paid off
The company charted a course through the pandemic to insulate itself from volatile venture capital and lockdown setbacks. It’s built a better business as a result. Start reading »
Vancouver’s Quantum Gravity Society is one step closer to solving the biggest mystery of the universe
Unlocking quantum gravity will transform how societies communicate, grow food, transport people and goods, and produce clean energy. Start reading »
“Flex your skills, grow your skills, try something new.” – How (and why) to get a job at Terramera
Vice president of stakeholder relations Kim Haakstad talks hybrid work, professional growth, and leading in a values-driven company. Start reading »
How Invoke and 5X Festival mastered the hybrid event
The pair’s brainchild, the digital event platform Incrowd, offers a new way to experience a festival. Start reading »
Key takeaways from the Frontier Summit
The two-day, intimate event took attendees all over the Lower Mainland to showcase the best of B.C. Start reading »
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🤝 Funding and deals
Winetech startup BarrelWise raised a $3.1 million seed round led by Conexus Venture Capital. Start reading »
Three new electric vehicle charging stations in B.C. are opening exclusively for Uber drivers, due to a collaboration between Uber and Shell Recharge Solutions. Continue »
The provincial and federal governments announced $20 million in funding for eight social, transportation, and green infrastructure projects across British Columbia. Details »
For more news like this, check out our Money briefing: GameOn, Wishpond, Mitacs, and more.
Going green is a team sport
Uber Canada is partnering with Hertz, Shell Recharge, Plug’n Drive, and more to help drivers on the platform transition to EVs sooner.
Learn more about Uber’s road to zero emissions.
🗞️ In other news
Adam Jones, Thinkific’s vice president of sales, announced on LinkedIn that he has left the company after four years. LinkedIn »
Klue director of data operations David Washer is profiled by his alma mater. UBC Sauder »
Telus International appointed a new chief transformation officer, Beth Howen. Continue »
Data intelligence company Fobi hired Jon Haydock as its new chief technology officer. Continue »
💼 Take your career to the next level
Everyone’s talking about hiring. And while some local companies have laid off team members, there are hundreds of other Vancouver tech businesses searching for talent, including Safe Software, Tantalus Systems, AbCellera, Optix, and Ari.
Check out who else is hiring on our Vancouver Tech Journal Job Board »
Growing your team? Post a job with us »
💡 Ideas and insights
Ilya Brotzky, CEO of VanHack, joined the BetaKit podcast to discuss his company’s new petition urging the federal government to reconsider the Labour Market Benefits Plan element of its Global Talent Stream program. Listen now »
Dick Burke, CEO of Envoy; and Ray Walia, CEO of Launch Academy; writing in Forbes: America’s largest employers are sounding the alarm on immigration rules. Canada’s successful startup visa program shows us why.
Partner message from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB): Debt in a downturn: How to use non-dilutive funding to buy time and hit milestones.
Catherine Ducharme, co-founder at Fluency Leadership, writing on the firm’s blog: The value of bringing our whole selves to work.
Ingrid Polini, CEO of SafetyDocs, writing on LinkedIn: Funding Gender Gap: Is having more women on the cap table the solution?
Chris Neumann, general partner at Panache Ventures, writing about his framework for evaluating startups (“Can you beat my friends?”)
👋🏾 Before you go…
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