Small Business Enterprise Centre offering webinars, in-person events March 4 to 8 for women starting, running businesses to mark International Women’s Day.
Startups & Innovation (page 2)
Revolutionizing breast health screening with Canada Catalyst Company, Linda Lifetech
ventureLAB is proud to proud to shine the spotlight on a Canada Catalyst company, Linda Lifetech, a company that’s transforming breast health screening with cutting-edge technology.
Shaping Tomorrow: ventureLAB Unveils Innovative TechEdge Program
ventureLAB is thrilled to unveil the TechEdge program that propels startups by equipping them with the resources, insights and networks.
More than $1 million in funding approved to support women entrepreneurs and attract international businesses to York Region
“Economic vitality remains a strategic priority for York Regional Council and it is integral our local businesses have resources to help them succeed,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “Additional funding provided through York Region’s Innovation Fund will empower growing businesses, attract international entrepreneurs and support foreign direct investment, strengthening York Region as a thriving hub for talent and opportunity.”
Aurora-based Skinopathy makes CIX 2024 Top 20 Startup List
The CIX Top 20 Early and Top 10 Growth Awards recognize outstanding Canadian tech companies in early and growth stages.
York Region creates new plan to boost business, economy, workforce
York Region business and research leaders are welcoming a new strategy to help develop the regional economy and businesses.
Announcing the 7th Cohort of the Hardware Catalyst Initiative
The selection process for cohort 7 was highly competitive, including a rigorous bootcamp to ensure the selected companies were primed for success in the hardware industry, which is notoriously known for long lead times for product validation and securing investment.
Advisor series: building stronger ventures with diversified strengths
In the ever-evolving world of startups, building successful ventures goes beyond just innovative ideas and market analysis – it lies in the strength and diversity of your startup’s team.
Multi-faceted York Region-based digital transformation agency evolves to support other local and international startups
Treefrog assists a broad range of businesses, particularly focusing on those in their developmental stages or facing technological or marketing/growth challenges. Their team aims to provide solutions that enhance growth, improve technological capabilities and streamline operational processes.
Announcing the third cohort of ventureLAB’s Accelerate AI
ventureLAB is proud to announce the 3rd cohort of the Accelerate AI program. This transformative 6-month program is designed to champion the growth and scaling of AI startups, empowering them to deliver cutting-edge solutions and applications that tackle the challenges in the modern industry!
Government of Canada supports expansion of services at ventureLAB
$4.5 million for the next phase of the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, supporting 30 technology companies while creating and maintaining over 170 jobs in southern Ontario.
York Region giving $1.08M boost to international, women-led businesses
The funding proposed would be over three years and would come from the region’s Innovation Investment Fund, which the region includes in its budget to support innovative projects on an application basis.
York Region-based company, VCycene, turns food-waste to fertilizer in seven days
Yin says York Region is truly one of Canada’s key innovation engines and an economic powerhouse. “We gained direct access to a diverse network of government grants, angel investor platforms, venture capital investing, workshops for prototyping and production, testing agencies and support of big multinational corporations,” Yin comments.
Smart mobility innovators here’s your chance! OVIN Demonstration Zone challenges launch in Markham and Vaughan
It is no secret that the way people and goods move is changing. From the transition to hybrid or fully-electric cars to better the environment or drone delivery to support hospital capacity, there is no shortage of examples of ways innovation is propelling sustainability in our communities and moving us forward.
Innovative York Region-based AI company powers car shopping experiences
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.”
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.
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…”