INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

“Touchless technology has become disruptive technology to convert high-touch surfaces to touchless ones across industries and sectors.” Contactless solutions are rapidly replacing buttons, keypads, and controls. Interfacing with machinery, equipment, and high-touch public surfaces has changed overnight: the COVID-19 pandemic most certainly accelerated this demand, while innovations in touchless technology...

How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...

Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop (RSAAW) is a Vancouver-based architectural practice that creates expressive, contemporary interventions that contribute to our communities in thoughtful and meaningful ways. The practice’s diverse team pursues projects where design can be developed, including residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and mixed use development programs. RSAAW seeks creative...

Floorspace originated from Matt Carlson’s experience in the industry, while working as Executive Vice President at a prominent commercial real estate brokerage. During his tenure, Matt observed the challenges faced by both seasoned brokers and young professionals aspiring to enter the commercial real estate industry. Certain hurdles like limited and...

Lumira Ventures is one of the most active and dynamic healthcare venture capital firms in North America. Our mission is to generate the greatest impact in the healthcare ecosystem through investments in transformative biopharmaceutical and medical device companies across North America. By investing in exceptional entrepreneurs and building transformative life...

Specialized cleantech solutions.pH7 Technologies Inc. delivers specialized cleantech solutions for the extraction of critical metals necessary for the transition to renewable energies. We have pioneered a proprietary process that provides a near-net-zero environmental impact in the extraction of key metals and minerals. This sustainable closed-loop process makes it an ideal...

By bringing together innovative software and best-in-class hardware solutions, Operto enables property owners/managers to efficiently run, scale and monetize their business, while eliminating common friction points associated with the guest journey. Operto has built a huge global footprint in the accommodation industry, with customers ranging from single Airbnb operators, up...

Renaissance is a social audio app for superfans. We’ve combined the best features from gaming with music to create a new fan experience. Leaderboards, achievements, daily adventures, and exclusive giveaways create an environment where music fans come together and share their love of music. For music labels and artists, Renaissance...

INFORMA FINANCIAL – THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-ROUNDED TOTAL BENEFITS EXPERIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. Informa’s founder, Cliff Pipke, began this business out of a desire to help service the insurance needs of families, as well as those of the small business owner. As Informa’s...

IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE AND UNCERTAIN ECONOMY, ENTREPRENEURS NEED A TRUSTED PARTNER WHO CAN HELP THEM SCALE THEIR BUSINESSES WITH MORE CASH AND LESS STRESS. This is where a Fractional CFO comes into play. A notable company in this field that has made a name for itself in this space is...

Chronic illness causes 71% of deaths worldwide and is responsible for the majority of the global burden of disease. Yet these conditions are preventable and can be managed proactively with medication and lifestyle modification. Pharmacies are looking at ways to meet this challenge and increase access to care by investing...

Filament Health was founded by experts in botanical extraction and commercialization. We honed our expertise at Mazza Innovation, a natural extraction startup, which our team scaled from pre-seed to an exit in 2018. At Mazza, we developed and commercialized patent-protected extraction technologies at a 35,000 ft2 commercial-scale, GMP facility. After...

In today’s fast-paced economy, employers are facing a major challenge: how to handle their changing day-to-day labour needs without over-hiring full-time staff. Finding, screening, and training new employees can be a costly and time-consuming process for companies. GigHound solves these problems by providing a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective solution that...

Within a span of five months in 1997, a local pulp and papermill experienced the collapse and death of two employees on-site. It was determined that both employees suffered from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The prospect of future deaths at the site was palpable, and preventative solutions were non-existent. This...

We are the industry’s only shop management software specifically dedicated to, and built for an aerospace contract manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest. We are fanatical about managing every detail of machine shops in a paperless and web-based environment, including the enterprise resource management (ERP) functions necessary to run offices, the...

Boast’s AI-powered platform maximizes R&D tax credits while accelerating access to funding The good news for companies of all sizes: Each year, the Canadian and U.S. federal governments provide businesses with more than $20 billion in research and development (R&D) credits. The bad news: application processes are cumbersome, time-consuming, and...

Frontier technologies are thriving in Vancouver. The region is a talent engine and hub for VR/AR, AI, Cleantech, Web3, Robotics, Biotech/Healthtech, and so many more industries. Vancouver has an immense opportunity to lead the world in frontier tech, ushering in a new wave of transformation, economic prosperity and high-paying jobs, but...

Throughout their careers as leaders in a variety of industries, Rhys and Jerry started to realize that the problems they were being asked to solve had less to do with operational work, and far more to do with people and culture. Witnessing as they became involved with these, the impact...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Farpoint has established itself as an influential entity. Led by founder and CEO, Nicholas Ning, Farpoint is an AI consulting firm that thrives at the crossroads of technological innovation and practical application. Farpoint’s unique selling proposition lies in its ability to...

The First Nations Technology Council (The Technology Council) is an Indigenous-led organization that serves all 204 First Nations communities across the Province of British Columbia. Established in 2002, they are mandated by BC First Nations Leadership to provide digital skills training to Indigenous learners, realize digital equity, and ensure Indigenous...

Benchmark Sixty is not your usual entrepreneurial story. It wasn’t an idea that was burning inside of a serial entrepreneur, or a strategically thought out plan. It was an “accidental startup” that sprouted from the pain points of an industry that was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. What started as...

CHARITABLE IMPACT-WORKING FOR DONORS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAUSES THEY SUPPORT: HOW CHARITABLE IMPACT IS TRANSFORMING THE EXPERIENCE OF GIVING TO CHARITY The charitable sector in Canada is facing significant challenges due to a decrease in the number of people donating to charity and the amount they give as a percentage...

The shared kitchen industry, also known as commissaries, is a rapidly growing sector that is changing how people think about food and culinary entrepreneurship. When starting or scaling a business, food and beverage based entrepreneurs face significant challenges and risks and require significant investment in space, equipment, and overhead costs....

Reliance Foundry has deep roots as a maker, designer, and supplier of architectural site furnishings, metal castings, and industrial wheels—but just because they are an old company doesn’t mean they’re laggards behind a changing world. Founded in 1925 in Vancouver, BC, Reliance grew to become the area’s largest working foundry,...