NVBC Golf Tournament and Social
2024-07-22 13:30 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | BC
Join us and our community for a day out on the course at Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby.
​Sign up as a foursome, or as an individual.
​This is a casual, social tournament and is open to all levels, with Texas Scramble rules.
​Your golf tournament fee includes a round of golf, dinner, and prizes. Power carts are available at the course for an additional fee.

Early “Birdie” Registration by July 8 – $140/person
Regular Registration by July 15 – $155/person

​Tee-times start at 1:30pm. You will be notified of your tee-time in advance.
​Only 24 spots available, please register early to save your spot!
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​*NOTE: Payment will be arranged through NVBC. Please email admin@newventuresbc.com to arrange payment by credit card or send e-transfer payment to admin@newventuresbc.com (and please include your name so we can track the payment).

IP Speaker Series: Strategies on Patent Filing Timing
2024-07-24 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a deep dive on a key startup topic: when to file patent applications. In a casual conversation, we will explore key concepts and strategies that inventors and startups should consider when building a patent portfolio to conserve scarce IP dollars.
​Why This Chat?
​In the tech world, every dollar counts. Hear from some of the leading patent practitioners on strategies they use with their clients to build their portfolios wisely, while still obtaining broad protections. From ensuring utility and disclosure requirements are satisfied to strategic use of provisional, International PCT, divisional, and continuation applications to best practices on claiming priority in foreign jurisdictions, come listen to practical advice every IP-focused startup should know.
​What You’ll Gain:

​Insider Knowledge: Delve into some key concepts around how to best allocate filing dollars and key sector-specific considerations including life science and software applications.
​Real-World Wisdom: Engage with firsthand stories and experiences on how leading technology companies and scale-ups think about filing strategies.
​Practical Takeaways: Discover strategies on how to stretch your IP dollars to ensure you are getting the best return for every IP dollar.
​Community and Q&A: This fireside chat format encourages dialogue. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and learn from peers navigating the same challenges.

​Who Should Join?
​Whether you’re at the seed stage or scaling rapidly, if your startup is navigating the tech ecosystem, this conversation is for you. Founders, tech innovators, and anyone vested in the future of intellectual property in the startup space— gather ’round the fire.
​About the Session:
​This isn’t just another lecture on IP rights; it’s a chance to join a community of like-minded individuals ready to tackle the complexities of IP strategy together. We’re peeling back the layers of legal jargon to reveal the actionable steps you can take to protect your company’s most valuable assets.
​Presenters:
​Joanna Ma – Joanna Ma is an intellectual property (IP) strategist and patent lawyer at Bereskin & Parr LLP. She offers her clients strategic advice on developing and growing IP portfolios that are aligned with their business opportunities and goals. Joanna also assists her clients with commercializing and monetizing these IP rights, and with developing a balanced approach to the enforcement of their IP rights.
​Ainslie Parsons – Ainslie is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP and a member of the Life Sciences practice group. Ainslie’s practice focuses on drafting and prosecution of patent applications related to life sciences matters, including biologics, diagnostics, plants and plant technology, biotechnology, food and pharmaceuticals. She also advises on patent issues such as validity, infringement and freedom to operate and has expertise in IP licensing.
​Byron Thom (moderator) – Byron is a lifelong technology enthusiast who has worn many hats in his tech career. Trained as an engineer and a lawyer, he practiced at one of the leading IP boutiques in Canada helping startups and multinationals protect their technological assets. As a startup founder, he is a patented inventor who drafted and prosecuted his company’s own patent applications. And, as a venture capitalist and board member, he often works with his portfolio companies to develop IP strategies to focus their limited resources on key assets that matter to the business, to investors and to potential acquirers. Byron is a Partner at the BDC Industrial Innovation Venture Fund and sits on the Board of Governors at UBC.

Register Here!

An Evening with BC’s Most Prominent Investors and This Year’s Most Promising Startups
2024-09-04 17:00 - 20:00
Presented by National Bank of Canada, and co-hosted with Vantec Angel Network.
Join us for an exclusive evening dedicated to supporting and celebrating our vibrant BC tech ecosystem! The proceeds of your ticket will go to helping fuel the growth of the next stage of investor-ready startups in our community. This event will give you the chance to get a first look at the Top 26 companies emerging from this year’s NVBC competition, as well as the Top 10 that will be moving on to the final round of the competition. These groundbreaking companies have spent the last several months engaged in a rigorous NVBC Competition process, we are excited for you to meet them!
This unique and elevated event is the perfect setting to connect with a distinguished network of fellow angel investors and ecosystem partners. This is an unparalleled opportunity to give back, meet the Top 26 companies driving the future of technology, and forge valuable connections within the industry. Your participation is vital in shaping the next generation of tech leaders in BC!
Your $500 registration fee includes:

Access to meet and greet all Top 26 founders in person
A company highlights brochure detailing key investment information​
Exclusive first look at the Top 10 that will advance to the final round of the competition
Opportunity to network with other BC angel investors and tech ecosystem partners
Refreshments and yummy canapés throughout the night
Special recognition at the September 19th Awards Ceremony
Accredited investors will receive an investor package with exclusive profiles and information for 2024’s Top 26 companies, such as:

​8-page company overviews​
Detailed investor pitch decks​
60-second elevator pitch videos

All registration fee proceeds will directly support this year’s Competition winners via investment by New Ventures BC. This not only benefits the competitors, but also provides NVBC with equity and growth opportunities to continue to provide events and programming that bring together our local tech community.
Details:
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Time: 5:00-8:00pm
Location: Downtown Vancouver
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24th Annual New Ventures BC Competition Awards Ceremony
2024-09-19 16:30 - 20:00
Part of the 24th Annual New Ventures BC Competition
Presented by Innovate BC
We’ve narrowed the field from 200+ competitors to just 10 finalists. See who’s taking home over $250,000 in cash and prizes at this year’s New Ventures BC Competition Awards, presented by Innovate BC!
Details:
Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024
Event: 4:30 – 8:00pm (Awards start at 5:30pm)
Location: Stanley Park Pavilion – 610 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4
*Paid parking and public transit options are available for attendees.*
The 24th Annual Awards will be a hybrid event – join via online stream or in-person at the Stanley Park Pavilion
Register Here!
Save the date to your Calendar.
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Venture Readiness: Accessing Venture Capital
2024-10-09 13:00 - 14:30
Part of the Discovery Foundation Indigenous Tech Founders Program
​Join us as we explore the intersection of investment and Indigenous entrepreneurship, while delving into the unique challenges faced by Indigenous founders to identify their ecosystem support needs. We’ll discuss inclusive investment practices, such as diversity-focused funds and mentorship programs, and how investors can build genuine, long-term relationships with Indigenous entrepreneurs.
​Our conversation will also cover practical advice from Indigenous founders on accessing funding, building investor relationships, and integrating cultural values into their business models. Regardless of which stage you are at in your journey, this webinar offers valuable insights and actionable strategies you can incorporate into your entrepreneurship roadmap.
​Presenters
​Allison Gibson – Allison is a champion for impact with extensive entrepreneurial expertise. She leverages her fundraising experience to create innovative programs as Spring’s Chief Program Officer and is passionate about sharing her VC knowledge to demystify the world of venture capital and create pathways to funding for diverse founders. Allison’s favourite part of her job is mentoring startups and supporting investors to integrate gender-lens considerations into their investment thesis and process to increase the amount of capital deployed to under-represented founders.
​Andrea Butters – Andrea Butters, an Investment Project Manager based in Toronto, is a dynamic professional with a rich background in software engineering and digital marketing. Her work is deeply driven by a commitment to fostering equity across communities. Andrea’s unique blend of technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills enables her to effectively promote and advocate for inclusivity and social justice. With a profound passion for technology, she leverages its potential to drive meaningful change. Andrea’s dedication to creating a more equitable world is at the core of her professional endeavours, reflecting her belief in technology’s power to effect positive transformation.

Register Here!

What Every Startup Leader Needs To Know About Burnout For Themselves And Their Organization
2024-10-22 13:00 - 14:30
Part of the Discovery Foundation Indigenous Tech Founders Program
Join us for an engaging and practical discussion about burnout and how it can affect the productivity, culture, and growth of your company.
​The rates of workplace burnout have soared since COVID-19. Entrepreneurs’ personalities, passion for their work, high levels of business uncertainty and stress, and limited safety nets put them among the highest rates of burnout compared to other workers. Dr. Andrew Miki is a Registered Psychologist and founder of a mental health company for employees. He has extensive professional and personal experience helping individuals and organizations identify and address burnout. This presentation is tailored for leaders of start-ups and will provide insights, strategies, and practical advice to prevent and treat burnout.

​We are pleased to welcome our guest lecturer, Dr. Andrew Miki.
​Dr. Andrew Miki is a registered psychologist in British Columbia, Canada, with expertise in neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). His private practice focuses on helping employees improve their mental fitness so they can return to work following a disability leave due to stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression.
​Andrew’s vision is to democratize effective mental healthcare for people to live happier and healthier lives. In 2013, Andrew founded a digital mental health company that created one of the first fully digital internet-based CBT programs for employees. Today, over 4.5 million people have free access to the personalized mental health program with proven results that were published in leading scientific journals and featured in Forbes and Authority Magazine.
​Andrew now works with organizations and their leaders to improve their Emotional Intelligence (EQ) with frameworks based on the latest science of clinical psychology. He holds a BSc. in Psychology from Queen’s University, a MA in Animal Cognition & Neuroscience from Wilfrid Laurier, and a MA/Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from York University in Toronto.
Register Here!

B2B Sales Workshop
2024-10-28 13:00 - 17:00
Part of the Venture Acceleration Program
This 4-hour Sales workshop focuses on all the core elements of a professional sales process. Whether you have prior sales experience, are brand new to sales, or are a startup founder looking to drive sales for your venture, this program can help you increase your sales results.
Provided through in-person instruction, you will learn best practices for sales across various Go-to-Market models including high-touch business-to-business sales, low-touch (product led) sales, and partner and channel-led sales.
We provide proven frameworks and best practices for helping to identify potential customers, customer discovery & qualification, sales presentations, negotiation and closing sales.
You will gain an understanding of Go-to-market strategies and how to align your product or service with the appropriate sales approach. We also provide guidelines and tips on how to overcome common objections and move your sales efforts forward.

Why Sales?
No matter what the industry, product or service, sales is the critical revenue driver for virtually any organization. Whether you work in a large or small enterprise or intend to start your own business as an entrepreneur, understanding the sales process is a critical component of success. Having a strong sales foundation is also important for other roles, such as marketing, customer success and product management, to understand what it takes to successfully bring a product or service to market in a competitive environment. Sales is a learned process that anyone can master, and it is typically one of the highest paid roles in most organizations.
Details:
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 pm PST
Location: Fasken Vancouver (29th Floor)
Cost: $150 – General
$75 – NVBC program alumni
Free – Current NVBC accelerator clients

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Instructor:
Peter de Verteuil (MBA)
Peter has over 30 years of experience in Sales and Marketing management, Business Development, Corporate Strategy and Communications. Peter has held leadership positions in dynamic high-growth environments as well as large multinational organizations and has navigated change management through a number of corporate acquisitions. In roles of VP of Sales and VP of Strategy at SAP, Peter managed highly successful sales teams, and helped drive GTM Strategy & Planning for one of SAP’s leading growth divisions.While VP of Marketing for Future Shop, Marketing Magazine named Peter one of Canada’s most influential marketers. Today Peter provides professional Business Development, Strategy, Sales, Marketing and Media consulting and advisory services to a wide spectrum of organizations, from start-ups to large enterprises.Peter holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, and is an Executive in Residence with New Ventures BC.
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Office Hours with Chang Han
2024-11-22 11:00 - 15:30
Interested in AccelerateIP but not sure which stream suits you best?
Book a time with our IP Executive in Residence and former IP Lawyer, Chang Han, during his virtual Office Hours!
​Whether you have questions about the right program or need guidance on AccelerateIP, Chang is here to help you navigate your options.
​
Please note, this isn’t legal advice but a chance to explore your opportunities within our programs.
Times available for booking – between 11AM to 3:30PM.
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IP Speaker Series: Culture and Law
2024-11-27 13:00 - 14:00
​Join us for an in-depth discussion on the intersection of culture and IP law, and learn how founders can protect themselves in a Canadian IP landscape that is not always aligned with Traditional Knowledge. It’s important for any founder to ask themselves, who can play and what are the rules?
​​Why This Chat?
​What You’ll Gain:
​​● Insider Knowledge: Delve into some key concepts around Traditional Knowledge (TK), Traditional Cultural Expression (TCE) and Cultural Competence.
​​● Real-World Wisdom: Engage with firsthand stories and experiences on how founders can participate in cultural endeavors without committing cultural appropriation.
​​● Practical Takeaways: Discover strategies on how to ensure that your company’s IP is protected, when it may not be clear when Traditional Knowledge and Canadian IP may intersect.
​​● Community and Q&A: This fireside chat format encourages dialogue. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and learn from peers navigating the same challenges.
​​Who Should Join?
​​Whether you’re at the seed stage or scaling rapidly, if your startup is navigating the tech ecosystem, this conversation is for you. Founders, tech innovators, and anyone vested in the future of intellectual property in the startup space.
​​About the Session:
​​This isn’t just another lecture on IP rights; it’s a chance to join a community of like-minded individuals ready to tackle the complexities of IP strategy together. We’re peeling back the layers of legal jargon to reveal the actionable steps you can take to protect your company’s most valuable assets.
​​About the Speakers:
​Mitchel Fleming (Guest) – Part of Toronto’s newest cohort of entertainment lawyers, Mitchel Fleming brings to his practice a wealth of entertainment experience.
​Fleming has extensive experience acting as production legal counsel, including handling rights acquisitions, international co-pro agreements, broadcast and distribution deals, performer agreements, production financing, tax credit optimization and E&O insurance reviews for a growing list of feature films and TV series.
​Fleming not only works on behalf of legacy film and television organizations, but maintains a diverse roster of clients, including social media sensations, comedians, and live sport entertainment companies.
Ever passionate about economic and community development in Canada’s rural communities, particularly First Nations, Fleming has dedicated time and energy to establishing opportunities for First Nations youth to study music in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in the hopes that they might bring that knowledge back to their hometowns.
​Byron Thom (Moderator) – Byron is a lifelong technology enthusiast who has worn many hats in his tech career. Trained as an engineer and a lawyer, he practiced at one of the leading IP boutiques in Canada helping startups and multinationals protect their technological assets. As a startup founder, he is a patented inventor who drafted and prosecuted his company’s own patent applications. And, as a venture capitalist and board member, he often works with his portfolio companies to develop IP strategies to focus their limited resources on key assets that matter to the business, to investors and to potential acquirers. Byron is a Partner at the BDC Industrial Innovation Venture Fund and sits on the Board of Governors at UBC.
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IP Strategy for the Growth and Scalability of your Startup - Partnered Event
2024-12-04 12:30 - 13:30
Intangible assets are now the bulk of a valuation for a company (more than tangible assets). And everything intangible is some form of IP. A successful IP strategy is a function of both creating IP value and avoiding IP risk.
In this session, Emilie and Patrick will discuss the ways different IP rights create value, strategy considerations for securing IP rights, linking IP creation with your business’ commercialization plan, how to develop an effective monitoring and enforcement strategy, and how to mitigate IP risk. IP isn’t just patents and protection from competitors. Learn about how to leverage IP for licensing, justifying valuation and partnerships.

About Our Speakers from Seastone IP
Patrick Smith

Patrick is one of Canada’s top IP litigators, serving as counsel in more than 100 reported decisions over the course of his 25+ year career. He has extensive experience supporting clients in the oil and gas, agricultural, biotech, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The Supreme Court of Canada adopted his submissions in Teva v. Pfizer (2012) as the framework by which courts now judge “utility” in patent cases.
Patrick is a registered patent agent who advises and represents clients in matters concerning patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, and regulatory compliance. He is a former adjunct professor of law at the University of Ottawa and served as President of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) for 2018-2019. Currently, Patrick is the chair of IPIC’s Intervention Committee.
Emilie Feil-Fraser

Emilie is a lawyer and trademark agent with a combination practice of litigation and solicitor work. She helps clients solve contentious disputes in the areas of trademarks, patents, trade secrets/confidential information, copyright, industrial designs, privacy disputes, and domain name disputes. She represents a wide variety of clients, from small start-up businesses to multi-national corporations in large-scale patent infringement litigation. She provides strategic advice to clients on all aspects of their intellectual property portfolios, including IP development strategy and best practices for internal IP protection.
Emilie is also a registered Canadian trademark agent and handles all levels of trademark prosecution, from brand development to registration. She is also fluent in French and enjoys hiking, skiing, and live music.
This event is hosted by AccelerateIP in partnership with Tech Yukon.
Please note the event timing is in PDT.

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Generative AI: Copyright and Ownership - Partnered Event
2024-12-10 12:00 - 13:00
This event is hosted by Tech Yukon in partnership with AccelerateIP. Note the timing is in PDT.
Do you own the assets created using AI? Are there limitations to usage rights? Are they subject to any Creative Commons Licenses?

AI is changing how to approach content generation. From text for books or poems, to images, and even video. Not only for the creation, but also in editing and live streaming.
Can you copyright, trademark or pursue design patents for AI creations? Who owns the content? What’s the risk of someone else utilizing the same piece of generated content?
We’ll try our best to tackle some of these questions and more in the ever evolving legal landscape of AI.

Speaker
Chang Han, Lead EiR (Entrepreneur in Residence) at entrepreneurship@UBC
Chang Han has cofounded, invested in, and worked for startups in education, biotech, digital media software and hardware, the trades, franchising, manufacturing, import and export and retail distribution. His entrepreneur, investing and consulting experience is balanced with a former corporate career in business litigation as well as In-House corporate counsel managing intellectual property for an international bank. Chang is currently NVBC’s IP Executive in Residence, and supports the roll-out of the NVBC Accelerate IP grant program. He is also the Lead Entrepreneur in Residence at entrepreneurship@UBC, and an investment consultant with Genome BC. Additionally, Chang is a member of faculty for the Part-Time program at BCIT, the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
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Tech & Toast: A VentureLabs Breakfast Series
2024-12-11 09:30 - 10:30
Tech & Toast: A VentureLabs Breakfast Series returns on December 11! Join us as we welcome Danika Kotylak, a lawyer from Dentons’ Vancouver office, for an engaging discussion on Navigating IP in Merger and Acquisition Transactions. Enjoy breakfast while gaining expert insights on how to increase IP value, navigate transaction structures, ensure ownership clarity, manage licensing impacts, and avoid due diligence pitfalls in mergers and acquisitions. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions at the end of the short presentation.
Where: VentureLabs office, 12th floor kitchen (1200 – 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver)
When: December 11, 9:30 AM -10:30 AM
Who: Science and technology company founders/leaders, AccelerateIP clients
Registration required
The series is a partnership between SFU VentureLabs and AccelerateIP, and includes a light breakfast limited to the first 30 attendees.
About the speaker: Danika Kotylak
Danika (She/Her/Hers) is an associate in Dentons’ Vancouver office. She is a member of the Corporate and Intellectual Property and Technology practice groups at Dentons. In her general corporate practice, Danika advises clients in a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including corporate organization and governance, mergers and acquisitions, and other transactional matters such as drafting commercial agreements. Danika is passionate about assisting innovative start-ups overcome legal hurdles from incorporation, to team-building and raising funds. In her intellectual property practice, Danika advises clients from sophisticated corporate entities to independent artists on intellectual property protection and commercialization options. Danika is frequently engaged with intellectual property agreements, whether in the targeted mergers and acquisition due diligence space or drafting agreements to fit each client’s unique needs. Danika also assists with trademark and copyright registrations and renewals.
About Tech & Toast: A VentureLabs Breakfast Series
We bring the experts, pastries, and coffee to Tech & Toast so that founders can connect and learn from subject matter experts. This monthly in-person event will feature topics like IP, customer discovery, competitor analysis, etc. Join Tech & Toast to connect with other science and tech founders, meet with experts, and gain insights to grow your company.
Register Here!

AccelerateIP Info Session
2024-12-17 10:00 - 10:45
​Looking to apply for AccelerateIP this year?
Put your best application forward by joining our info session. You’ll learn about:
● ​Intake dates for all Streams
● ​Program updates and eligibility requirements
​● A better understanding of how the application process works
● Eligible activities and quotes
There will also be:
● Time for Q&A
● ​Application tips from the programs team
Hope to see you there! If there’s a topic you’d like to have covered, feel free to email us in advance— we’ll try our best to include it: accelerateip@newventuresbc.com
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IP Speaker Series: Open Source Software
2025-02-12 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a discussion on how to use Open-Source Software appropriately and compliantly. We will explore key concepts and strategies that startups should consider with their technology teams when planning their Open-Source Software usage policies.
Our guest for this webinar is Maya Medeiros, an intellectual property lawyer, patent agent (Canada, US) and trademark agent (Canada, US) and has a degree in mathematics and computer science. She has extensive experience in artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, cryptography, payments, graph theory, risk management, gaming, face recognition, communications, healthcare and medical devices, virtual and mixed reality, wearables, and other computer-related technologies. She is a key contributor to www.insidetechlaw.com on the ethical and legal implications of artificial intelligence.
Click here to register.
To learn more about how you can integrate IP into your business, be sure to explore our offerings at AccelerateIP.

IP Pathways Workshop
2025-03-06 12:00 - 18:00
Join the IP Pathways Workshop, an educational workshop designed to equip startups and scaleups with the fundamentals of intellectual property, IP strategy, and business growth, presented by Hubspace with New Ventures BC and Innovate BC. By the end of this course, startups and scaleups will gain knowledge and actionable insights to align IP strategy and business strategy.
Course Date: March 6, 2025
Time: 12pm – 6pm
Location: Hubspace’s Office, 101-1584 7th Avenue, Prince George, BC, V2L 3P4
Who should attend this course?

Founders or C-level executives at small to medium-sized organizations based in B.C.
Employees at a BC-based startup or scaleup companies where understanding IP strategy is important to their role
Learners looking for a flexible and remote option to learn about IP
Stream 2-2 and Stream 3 applicants in AccelerateIP looking to fulfill education requirements

Agenda:

12pm – 1pm: Networking (refreshments available)
1pm – 5pm: Workshop (there will be breaks in-between)
5pm – 6pm: Exam (optional, participants can choose to complete the exam within 48 hours at a different location if they wish)

To test understanding, this program will conclude with a written exam. Participants must attend all sessions in full and pass the exam to receive certification.
What you’ll learn

IP strategy and how it relates to your business
Identify the different forms of IP and how they relate to business strategy
Understand the basics of IP strategy
Assess the importance of a data strategy
Identify how different forms of IP intersect and can be layered or combined for strategic advantage
Understand the fundamentals of IP licensing
Identify the key provisions in non-disclosure agreements and licensing agreements
Understand IP enforcement strategies including alternatives to litigation
Note IP-related aspects of diversity and inclusion within your organization

Driven by the success of AccelerateIP’s IP Certification Program, New Ventures BC developed the IP Pathways program to address the demonstrated need for widespread access to IP education province-wide.
Meet your instructor & moderator
Susan Tees, IP Director, New Ventures BC
Susan is a veteran Class I patent agent with experience in Canadian and US patent law and practice. She has over 30 years of experience, including the preparation and filing of approximately 100 submissions to the US and Canadian patent offices, or through foreign associates. Her varied experience spans industries including drug manufacturing, mobile phone applications, DNA constructs, and personal health appliances. Susan works with her clients to create their IP strategy and advise them on strategies to protect their innovations as they build their business.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Innovate BC and the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.
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How BC Startup Competitions Can Accelerate Your Growth
2025-03-10 16:30 - 18:00
Raising capital and gaining traction as an early-stage venture is challenging, but the right startup competition can provide the exposure, feedback, and investor connections needed to move your business forward.
​Join Accelerate Okanagan and New Ventures BC for an info session on two of BC’s top startup competitions:

The New Ventures BC Competition, offering education sessions, tailored mentorship and over $250,000 in cash and prizes
The Okanagan Angel Summit provides capital-raising mentorship and exposure to investors, with an investment of around $200k made into one venture

​We’ll break down how each competition works, how they complement each other, and why participating in both can provide valuable insights, connections, and opportunities for growth.
​Event Details:
Date: March 10, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Accelerate Okanagan
201 – 460 Doyle Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C2 (In-person only)
​Agenda:
4:30pm – Registration & Networking
5:00pm – Info session begins
5:30pm – Q&A session
5:45pm – Wrap up
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A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
​By signing up for this event, you agree to be added to NVBC and Accelerate Okanagan marketing materials (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC or Accelerate Okanagan for marketing purposes.
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2025 New Ventures BC Competition Info Session
2025-03-11 16:30 - 17:30
Join us online as we review the 25th annual New Ventures BC Competition competition process.
​Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: Virtual
Applications for the Competition are open until March 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm PST.
​​Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business, and even perform better in the #NVBC2025 competition!
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A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
​By signing up for this event, you agree to be added to NVBC marketing materials (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.
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2025 New Ventures BC Competition Kick-Off
2025-03-27 16:00 - 18:00
Join us as we launch the 25th Annual New Ventures BC Competition, the startup competition that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs launch their ideas into thriving businesses.
​Access to funding and resources, networking with the local tech community, exclusive seminars with industry experts- that’s just the tip of the iceberg for how the New Ventures BC Competition can benefit your startup! Connect with past winners, competitors, and key members of BC’s startup ecosystem for an evening of networking, inspiration, and celebration.
​​Panelists:
​Adele Khavari and Kamyab Zandi from TIMEZYX (2024 First Place Winner)
Rayce Rossum and Todd Winship from yPilot (2024 Leap to the Cloud Prize Winner)
Amanda Ackroyd and Mallory Flynn from insporos (2024 Innovate BC Woman-Led Venture Award Winner)
​Moderator: Fernanda Whitaker (Director of Partnerships, Innovate BC)

​Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Fasken Vancouver
​Agenda:
4:00pm – Registration
4:30pm – Winners’ Panel Begins
5:15pm – Networking
5:45pm – Wrap-up
This event is free for all BC tech startups, students, and our NVBC Community.
Applications for the Competition are open until March 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm PST.
​​Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business, and even perform better in the #NVBC2025 competition!
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A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
​By signing up for this event, you agree to be added to NVBC marketing materials (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.
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Startup Sprint
2025-03-29 09:15 - 16:00
Join fellow New Ventures BC Competitors and the BC tech community for a day packed with startup essentials! These education sessions are open to anyone interested in learning about building a tech startup, even if you are not part of the Competition. The event is designed to help 2025 Competition entrants prepare for your Round 2 submissions, due on April 22nd, 2025.
​Come for the whole day or stay for select seminars. Space is limited, be sure to register in advance.
​For those that can’t make it in person, we will be offering a livestream of the event! More information for the livestream will be provided after registration.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, March 29
Time: 9:15 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: UBC Robson Square (Room C400/420)
800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC
Agenda
9:15 AM: Registration
9:45 AM: Product/Market Fit (Lesley Duncan & Dave Thomas, SFU VentureLabs)
11:00 AM: Break
11:15 AM: Introduction to Pricing for Innovation (Steven Forth, Ibbaka)
12:30 PM: Lunch Break
1:15 PM: Financial Models (Sean Hodgins, Tag Team IG)
2:15 PM: Break
2:30 PM: The Business Case: What an Angel Really Wants (Mike Volker, VANTEC Angel Network)
4:00 PM: End
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This event is free for all BC tech startups, students, and our NVBC Community.
Applications for the Competition are open until March 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm PST.
​​Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business, and even perform better in the #NVBC2025 competition!
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A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
​By signing up for this event, you agree to be added to NVBC marketing materials (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.
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Startup Seminar Series: Sales and Marketing 101
2025-04-02 16:30 - 18:30
A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
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Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
What you’ll learn:
Effective sales and marketing for start-up companies.
Speakers:
Rochelle Grayson
Peter de Verteuil
Event Details:
Date: April 2, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
A livestream will also be available for virtual attendees.
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Managing Your Intellectual Property
2025-04-09 16:30 - 18:30
A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
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Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
What You’ll Learn:
Trademarks and patents can be daunting for the first-time entrepreneur. Do you need to go through registration? In what jurisdictions and when? What are the rules around the elements of intellectual property in Canada and beyond? Roger Kuypers and Nina Rajic will guide you on this process, giving you the basics you need to better investigate your options.
Speakers:
Roger Kuypers, Partner, Fasken
Nina Rajic, Associate, Fasken
Details:
Date: April 9, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Fasken (Boardroom) – 550 Burrard St #2900, Vancouver, BC V6C 0A3
A livestream will also be available for virtual attendees.

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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Pitch & Storytelling
2025-04-16 16:30 - 18:30
A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
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Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
What you’ll learn:
Learn how to create a compelling pitch deck through the power of storytelling.
Speaker:
Michelle Sklar – Head of Marketing and Communications, Innovation UBC
Details:
Date: April 16, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
A livestream will also be available for virtual attendees.
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Funding Fundamentals
2025-04-23 16:30 - 18:30
A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2SWV).
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Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
What you’ll learn:
An overview on funding cycles, data room structure, and insights on starting your investment round.
Speaker:
Keith Ippel – Spring Impact Capital, Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 23rd
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
A livestream will also be available for virtual attendees.
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Corporate Structure
2025-04-28 16:30 - 18:30
A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV).
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Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.

What You’ll Learn:

Join New Ventures BC and Fasken for a workshop on Corporate Structure. This seminar will address the initial corporate matters you need to consider in building your technology company. During this seminar, you’ll get essential insights into corporate structure plus some Q&A time Geoff Pedlow from Fasken.
Speaker:
Geoff Pedlow – Partner, Fasken
Details:

Date: Monday, April 28, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
In-Person Location: Fasken – Vancouver Room B/C

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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: HR & Recruitment for Startups
2025-04-30 16:30 - 18:30
A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV).
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Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
What you’ll learn:
Unlock the secrets behind building a stellar team and attract top talent to your startup.
Speakers:
Matthew Heiydt – Backstretch Recruitment Group, Founder
Charlyne Fothergill – Sova Operations, Founder & Principal
Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
A livestream will also be available for virtual attendees.
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: The Mic is Always Live: Maximizing Your Conference Micro Moments
2025-05-07 16:30 - 18:30
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A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV).
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​Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
​What you’ll learn:
Get ready for a dynamic afternoon designed to help you show up with confidence at Web Summit Vancouver. This interactive workshop blends improv-inspired role playing with practical media training to prepare founders for the spontaneous connections and high-profile encounters that occur at global tech conferences.
Led by Rochelle Grayson (Co-Founder, Circles of AI) and Ada Slivinski (Vice President, Talk Shop Media), you’ll gain tools to sharpen your story, build authentic connections, and own the room—whether you’re chatting with investors, international press, or fellow founders.
Due to the interactive nature of this event, this workshop will be held in-person only.
​Event Details:
Date: May 7, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
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​By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: AI for Customer Discovery: A Hands-On Workflow for Product-Focused Founders
2025-05-14 16:30 - 18:30
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A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV).
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​Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
​What you’ll learn:
Curious how artificial intelligence can give your startup an edge—without needing a technical background?
Learn how artificial intelligence can help you uncover what your customers really need. This hands on session is designed for founders focused on product development and validation. You will discover how to use ChatGPT to define customer personas, create customized interview scripts, and analyze AI generated transcripts to identify patterns and opportunities. Whether you are working toward product market fit or refining your value proposition, this session will give you a practical repeatable workflow to strengthen your customer discovery process using AI.
Speaker:
James Rowe
President & Lead Strategist, Insightful Innovation
​Details:
Date: May 14, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
​A livestream will also be available for virtual attendees.

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​By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Frictionless Data Rooms
2025-05-20 15:00 - 17:00
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​A 2025 New Ventures BC Competition Event
Presented by Innovate BC, as a part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV).
​Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
​New Ventures BC is proud to be an official partner of Vancouver Startup Week 2025. This event is part of the VSW 2025 calendar and is offered for free to VSW All-Access Pass holders on a first come first served basis (limited number of seats.) If you would like to purchase a VSW All-Access Pass, you can do so online at www.vanstartupweek.ca using our 20% off promo code: VSWxNVBC20
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FRICTIONLESS DATA ROOMS
Join us in-person at FUNK Coffee Bar or online via Zoom
What you’ll learn:
Make it easy to invest in you.
Raising pre-seed or seed capital in the next year? Whether you’re coming off your 25th NVBC competition exposure, prepping for investor meetings at Web Summit, or getting ready for your next funding round, this session is for you.
Join David Steinley (Founder, Future Standard and Fractional CFO) for a focused, 2-hour seminar where he’ll shine a light on the black box of due diligence and show you how to prepare a data room that helps you get to a “yes.”
David will share the lessons he’s learned helping raise over $16M for early-stage startup companies in Western Canada.

You’ll leave with practical data room insights to make your due diligence process faster, less stressful, and more successful
You’ll learn what it means to be investable
You’ll learn how to build a data room and exactly what to include in it
You learn how a data room helps you move quickly through due diligence.
You’ll learn key principles to follow and red flags to avoid.

Details:
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Funk Coffee Bar (Coal Harbour Boardroom) – 1025 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver

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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

2025 IP Summit
2025-05-21 12:30 - 18:00
Join us for a half day packed with sessions on AI and IP, FTO strategies, and real-world IP stories from startups and scaleups. Our keynote features Peter Gross, Chief Intellectual Property Officer of Lucent Biosciences, and we will be closing off the event with a Fireside Chat featuring the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation, and the CEO of Innovate BC.
Whether you’re building your first product or scaling fast, you’ll leave with actionable IP strategies, fresh perspective, and connections that matter. Don’t miss this opportunity to protect what you’re building and fuel your growth with confidence.
Get the insights you need to protect, grow, and scale your innovation.
Who should attend:

Startup founders looking to protect their innovations and understand IP essentials.
​Early-stage teams navigating product development and potential IP risks.
​Ecosystem members that want to network with founders and experts around the topic of IP

​Agenda to be released.
​Can’t make it in person?
​​Make sure to register for “Livestream Only” to gain access to the livestream on the day of the event!
​Event Details:
​Date: May 21, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: EY (19th Floor)
The Stack, #1900 – 1133 Melville St Suite 1900, Vancouver, BC V6E 4E5
​​For any questions, please reach out: programs@newventuresbc.com.
​A Vancouver Startup Week event. For more information, visit https://www.vanstartupweek.ca/
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By signing up for New Ventures BC events, you agree to be added to the NVBC e-newsletter (you can opt out at anytime). You also agree that any photos taken at events may be used by NVBC for marketing purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: VCs Unpacked: How They Raise, Invest, and Evaluate
2025-05-26 14:00 - 16:00
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Throughout the spring, New Ventures BC will host our Startup Education Seminar Series, giving you the information you’ll need to build and grow your business.
​What you’ll learn:
Getting ready to speak with VCs at Web Summit? Join us for an insider’s look into the venture capital lifecycle. This seminar dives deep into how VCs raise funds from LPs, evaluate high-potential startups, structure investments, and navigate exits.
Join us online via Zoom or in-person at RBCx (Classroom 2 on the 36th Floor – 1055 W Georgia St, Vancouver).
​Speakers:
Vallen Li (VP, Early Stage Banking, RBCx) is VP at RBCx, supporting early-stage founders in Vancouver area. With a background in engineering and hands-on product design experience, he bridges technical innovation from idea to market. Vallen has a passion for entrepreneurship and enjoys working with founders to support their go to market and fundraising. Equipped with an MBA from UBC, Vallen merges analytical rigour with strategic acumen to aid early-stage founders in securing capital and sharpening investor pitches.
Jason Yen (AVP, Early Stage Banking, RBCx) is with the banking team at RBCx, supporting clients across Greater Vancouver with a focus of Vancouver Island and Interior BC. Previously, he spent two years as an Associate with the RBCx Life Sciences team, working with Series A+ life science companies. Prior to joining RBCx, Jason held roles at Hootsuite and TD where he focused on supporting both enterprise and small business clients. Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Systems from the University of British Columbia.

​Event Details:
Date: May 26, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Classroom 2, 36th fl. 1055 W. Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6E 3S5

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