Most of the team members call York Region home. “This allowed us to centrally serve customers across GTA and beyond, enabling consumers to buy and sell cars with just a click,” Ng explains. “Carity introduced an industry-first profit-sharing car selling program, which allows consumers to share in the profits when Carity resells their vehicle, while also guaranteeing a selling price and offering upfront payments.”

Startups & Innovation
Markham company developing AI wearable device to help people who are blind, visually impaired
The most common way for people with visual impairments to navigate outside is through the use of guide canes and raised tactile indicators at intersections. Yu said these devices are more than 100 years old, and there hasn’t been much progress made with alternative solutions, while the Visiontif wearable device is a screen reader for the real world.
Revolutionizing healthcare: MedTech start-ups win $50,000 at ventureLAB’s third annual Hard Tech Summit
The summit featured an exclusive Pitch Gala where eight companies vie for a chance to win a collective $50,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes to further advance research and scale operations.
ventureLAB’s latest HardTech Summit explores barriers, opportunities facing Canadian deep tech startups
At ventureLAB’s third HardTech Summit, speakers discussed challenges and opportunities facing deep technology startups across the country and offered entrepreneurs advice on navigating them.
Richmond Hill-based PharmaGuide wins investment from Pfizer Canada for innovative AI patient portal
PharmaGuide patient portal, PharmaVisionAI, aims to ease the administrative burden faced by physicians in the Canadian health care system by using technology to facilitate drug coverage processes.
Markham headquartered restaurant software startup Snappy secures $7-million Series A round
Founded in 2016, Snappy offers restaurant management technology for customer touchpoints including point-of-sale, online orders, loyalty programs, reservations, waitlists, and custom-branded mobile apps and websites.
Sustainable semiconductor solutions with AI: ventureLAB recaps the deeptech-focused panel at Elevate Festival
ventureLAB’s VP of the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, Avinash Persaud, took on the role of moderator for a thought-provoking panel discussion “Sustainable Semiconductor Solutions with AI” at Elevate Festival 2023.
Small Business Week
Join us in celebrating Small Business Week 2023, which takes place from October 15 – 21 and is a national celebration of entrepreneurs and their contribution to Canada’s economy.
Breaking barriers: women tech founders change venture capital landscape
Across the country, organizations are pushing for greater gender diversity to support women’s participation in the tech sector. VentureLAB’s Tech Undivided program and the federal government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) are among the initiatives helping women entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses.
Hugh Chow, global leader in innovation and technology appointed CEO at ventureLAB
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is our pleasure to welcome Hugh to the dynamic ventureLAB team,” said Yalda Riahi, Chair of ventureLAB’s Board of Directors. “We believe that Hugh’s unique expertise in many of the technology-centric sectors will help move us to the next chapter of helping Canadian companies succeed globally. We also believe his leadership will contribute significantly to Canada’s goal of solidifying our position in key high-value industries, including semiconductors, AI and medtech.”
ventureLAB launches nation’s first Hardware Angel Network
The network, the organization said in a release issued at Collision 2023 in Toronto, “catalyzes investments in the Canadian hardware and deep-tech sectors,” through the raising of capital and development of third-party partnerships for startups.
Canada announces first-ever express entry invitations for skilled newcomers with STEM experience
This announcement signals a momentous milestone in Canada’s commitment to attracting top global talent and solidifying its position as a leader in research, development, and innovation.
ventureLAB Unveils Canada’s First Hardware Angel Network
ventureLAB announced the launch of the Hardware Angel Network (HAN), the only hardware and deep-tech focused investor network supporting pre-seed and seed stage startups in the country.
Ontario Supporting More Innovation in Growing Tech Sector
The province’s $107 million Critical Technology Initiatives funding supports programs led by not-for-profit organizations that will accelerate the use of critical technology by Ontario companies and enable the development of innovative made-in-Ontario solutions. Full news release: news.ontario.ca
Culture, recreation-based initiatives could get up to $10K from Aurora’s new community grant program
The grant program will offer up to $10,000 to eligible organizations and individuals through four submission deadlines each year.
ventureLAB initiative attracting tech firms to York Region
The semiconductor industry supports a variety of products since the semiconductors, or tiny chips, can be found in thousands of products such as computers, smartphones, appliances, gaming hardware and medical equipment like ventilators. This has been an important initiative through the pandemic given the global shortage of supplies, the region stated.
Aurora entrepreneur driven to propel economic growth in York Region
“I have lived in York Region for over 30 years, and have worked here for half that time. Contributing to the continual growth and success of our Region is truly important to me,” says Loo. “York Region has a phenomenal history of innovation and entrepreneurship – and it’s important that we continue to build on this…”
York University innovation hub receives $3 million to support women entrepreneurs
ELLA, run by York University’s innovation hub, YSpace, has received $3 million from a federal government program called Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) to expand support for woman entrepreneurs across the country.
Celebrating the future of women in tech at ventureLAB
On March 29, women entrepreneurs, founders from ventureLAB’s Tech Undivided initiative and senior leaders in the hardware and semiconductor industry came together from across the province to celebrate and recognize women in the tech sector.
ventureLAB’s 2022 Annual Review
2022 was an exceptional year for ventureLAB as they continued to build tech titans that are Born Global, Inclusive by Design and Built to Scale.
The one-of-a-kind startup making it easy for companies to use autonomous machinery
ventureLAB’s Accelerate AI company, Cyberworks Robotics, is a one-of-a-kind startup that’s making it easy for companies to use autonomous machinery. A real-time example can be seen in ventureLAB’s Innovation Space where Cyberworks Robotics’ sensor technology is actively used on the floor cleaning machines, keeping the space tidy using a fully autonomous vehicle.
Easly and ventureLAB announce new partnership to drive innovation in Canada
“Thanks to our partnership with ventureLAB, more Canadian entrepreneurs will learn how they can take advantage of government tax credits to secure a more predictable cash flow and access capital sooner,” said Alastair Nimmons, Executive Vice President at Easly.
ventureLAB celebrates the launch of its Hardware Catalyst MedTech Lab at Sterling Industries
The collaboration aims to bring together the knowledge and experience of individuals and organizations with a strong background in cutting edge hardware development and medical technology, in order to create an environment that will attract MedTech startups to York Region and Ontario, and ultimately benefit patients and healthcare providers alike.
APPLY NOW to ventureLAB’s Hardware Catalyst Initiative!
ventureLAB’s Hardware Catalyst Initiative is now accepting applications. Learn more and apply by March 6!
YSpace Launches Three Programs
Yspace, York University’s entrepreneurship hub, has launched 3 programs this month: Founder Fundamentals, Venture Catalyst and Tech Accelerator.
Two York Region-based companies advance to finals of the Ontario Made Awards
Fruit of the Land Culinary Market and International Safety both advance to to the finals of the Ontario Made Awards.
Melissa Chee, President and CEO of ventureLAB, featured on CTV News
ventureLAB’s President and CEO, Melissa Chee, was recently featured by CTV News to discuss the importance of boosting semiconductor output to remain competitive.
Markham-Based QEA Tech Makes Fourteen Canadian Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2023 List
Melati’s latest venture, QEA Tech, focuses on energy loss in buildings. As much as 51 per cent of heating and air conditioning escapes through poorly sealed or insulated areas on a building’s exterior.
York Region’s Top 10 Threats: What’s the plan for your business?
The Regional Municipality of York conducts an annual Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) to identify the top 10 threats facing our communities and York Region businesses. Use it to inform your business continuity plans so your business can be as effective as possible during a service disruption and quickly recover afterwards.
Newmarket Startup Accelerator Marks 250 Successful Participants
By the end of the next cohort in March 2023, the Treefrog Accelerator will have supported 300 founders and wants to expand this to help 400 more individuals in the next two years.