25th Annual New Ventures BC Competition Awards Ceremony
2025-10-01 16:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Stanley Park Pavilion, 610 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver, BC, V6G 1Z4, Canada
​
We’ve narrowed the field from over 200 competitors to just 10 finalists!
​Join us in celebrating BC’s best startups and see who’s taking home over $250,000 in cash and prizes at the 25th Annual New Ventures BC Competition Awards, presented by Innovate BC!
​—
​The 25th Annual Awards will be a hybrid event – join via online stream or in-person at the Stanley Park Pavilion
Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
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.*
Register Now

IP Masterclass: IP Agreement Essentials - NDAs, MTAs & Licensing
2025-10-30 13:30 - 15:30 | Virtual
​Ready to navigate the complexities of IP agreements with greater confidence? Whether you’re sharing prototypes, exchanging confidential information, or preparing to license your technology, knowing how to protect your startups’ innovation is critical.
​This session will guide you through the key learnings and help you avoid costly mistakes- in:

​Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

​Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)

​Licensing Agreements

​Learn from case studies, sharpen your skills to spot risks, and strengthen your approach to protecting your IP and confidentiality.
​Eligibility:
​This workshop is intended for participants who have, at minimum a basic knowledge of IP. Some examples of meeting this include, but are not limited to, completion of:

​Stream 1: IP Certification Program

​IP Pathways Program

​Introduction to Intellectual Property Online Program

​Please note that this workshop is open to participants located in British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

​If you are outside of these provinces and territories, we invite you to participate in programming based in your location: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/elevateip/en

​About our presenters:
Erika Murray
​Dr. Erika J. Murray is a commercial technology and intellectual property lawyer with a PhD in engineering. She has practiced at top-ranked international IP firms and, for the past five years, has served as fractional in-house counsel, providing strategic commercial contracting and IP legal advice to early-stage startups, VC-backed high-growth companies, and multinationals. Erika specializes in navigating IP risks, drafting and negotiating complex contracts, and driving commercialization strategies that position businesses across technology, energy, retail, and advanced engineering sectors for success.
​Houston Brown
​Dr. Houston Brown is a registered patent agent (CA and US), a patented inventor, and a published researcher. He’s won numerous intellectual property awards and is an active contributor to the profession through his work with Canada’s College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents.
​Houston practiced at a top-ranked international law firm and then went “in house” with a leading global technology provider to deepen his knowledge of the business side of intellectual property.
Please note this event is designed to help you with your IP strategy, but it is not legal advice.
Register here

IP Masterclass: Advanced IP Agreements - Partnership and Manufacturing
2025-11-27 13:30 - 15:30 | Virtual
​
Continue your journey into IP agreements in practice through Part 2 of our “Agreements” series.
​This session dives into the strategies, risks, and negotiation tips for:

​Partnership Agreements

​Manufacturing Agreements

​Explore practical examples, uncover common pitfalls, and learn how to safeguard your business relationships for long-term success.
​Eligibility:
​This workshop is intended for participants who have, at minimum a basic knowledge of IP. Some examples of meeting this include, but are not limited to, completion of:

​Stream 1: IP Certification Program

​IP Pathways Program

​Introduction to Intellectual Property Online Program

​Please note that this workshop is open to participants located in British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

​If you are outside of these provinces and territories, we invite you to participate in programming based in your location: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/elevateip/en

​About our presenters:
Erika Murray
​Dr. Erika J. Murray is a commercial technology and intellectual property lawyer with a PhD in engineering. She has practiced at top-ranked international IP firms and, for the past five years, has served as fractional in-house counsel, providing strategic commercial contracting and IP legal advice to early-stage startups, VC-backed high-growth companies, and multinationals. Erika specializes in navigating IP risks, drafting and negotiating complex contracts, and driving commercialization strategies that position businesses across technology, energy, retail, and advanced engineering sectors for success.
​Houston Brown
​Dr. Houston Brown is a registered patent agent (CA and US), a patented inventor, and a published researcher. He’s won numerous intellectual property awards and is an active contributor to the profession through his work with Canada’s College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents.
​Houston practiced at a top-ranked international law firm and then went “in house” with a leading global technology provider to deepen his knowledge of the business side of intellectual property.
Please note this event is designed to help you with your IP strategy, but it is not legal advice.
Register Here

IP Strategy Workshop for Startups
2025-12-11 13:30 - 17:30 | BC
Is Intellectual Property critical for your startup? Are your potential investors asking about your IP Strategy? If so, this workshop is for you.
​Apply for this half-day workshop, receive support from IP professionals, and build several key pieces of your IP portfolio. In this workshop, you will:

​Capture your IP Start Point
​Build an IP Strategy that aligns with your Business Strategy
Outline an IP Action Plan
​Receive exclusive access to a bespoke set of IP tools

​Eligibility:
​Registration is limited to 25 startups to ensure an individualized experience with direct access to our IP Professionals.
​This workshop is intended for participants who have, at minimum a basic knowledge of IP. Some examples of meeting this include, but are not limited to, completion of:
​Stream 1: IP Certification Program
Stream 2-1 IP Mentorship
IP Pathways Program
Introduction to Intellectual Property Online Program
​Please note that this workshop is open to participants located in British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

​If you are outside of these provinces and territories, we invite you to participate in programming based in your location: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/elevateip/en

​Additional Information:

​This workshop uses a Miro Board. If you’re not familiar, here’s a 3-minute explainer video to review in advance. (You are not required to sign up for a Miro account to attend this workshop).

​About our presenter, Houston Brown
​Dr. Houston Brown is a registered patent agent (CA and US), a patented inventor, and a published researcher. He’s won numerous intellectual property awards and is an active contributor to the profession through his work with Canada’s College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents.
​Houston practiced at a top-ranked international law firm and then went “in house” with a leading global technology provider to deepen his knowledge of the business side of intellectual property.
Please note this event is designed to help you with your IP strategy, but it is not legal advice.
Register here

Build In Public Night
2026-02-10 16:30 - 19:00 | BC
Register Now
Building a startup is isolating. You are constantly facing problems you’ve never seen before, but you figure it out… sometimes taking days trying to hack together a solution.
​Build in Public Night is your shortcut. Hosted by New Ventures BC and Althra.
​We are bringing together venture-backed founders and veterans who have lived through the pain. They aren’t here to give generic advice; they are here to save you weeks of headaches by tackling your specific roadblocks:

​Landing First Customers: How to land those elusive first champions.
GTM Strategy: Crafting a roadmap that moves the needle.
​Inbound Marketing: creating content engines that bring users to you.
​10x Tech Stacks: The tools that let a small team output like a giant.
​IP Strategy: Expert advice on protecting what you build.

Speakers include:

Adam McKilligan, Head of Sales at Multiple Venture Backed Startups
Liam Ross, Co-Founder of Withe
Susan Tees, IP Director @ New Ventures BC
​Jenny Yue, Co-Founder & CEO @ OHME!
​Jayesh Parmar, 4x Founder & EIR

Agenda:
​4:30pm – Doors open
5:00pm – Fireside chat with Venture-backed Founders & Industry Experts
5:20pm – Roundtables (15 minutes x 3)
6:15pm – Networking
Register Now

IP Speaker Series: IP Budgeting for Startups
2026-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
​Intellectual Property (IP) is often a startup’s most valuable asset—and its most unpredictable expense. Without a strategic roadmap, legal fees and filing costs can spiral, draining your runway before you’ve even scaled.
​Join us for a workshop designed to strip away the complexity of IP budgeting. We’ll show you how to transform IP from an expense into a predictable, strategic investment that fuels your startup’s growth.
Register

We will go over:
– ​The Importance of Planning for IP Costs
– Clarity on Legal and Business Goals
– Creating a Good Budget
– How to Sustain your Peace of Mind
​Why You Should Join
– Protect Your Runway: Stop overspending on unnecessary filings and learn to prioritize high-value assets.
– ​Impress Investors: Show a sophisticated understanding of your asset management during due diligence.
– Gain Predictability: Shift from “emergency legal bills” to a structured, quarterly budget you can actually count on.

Speaker:
​Susan Tees (IP Director at New Ventures BC) 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. Susan works with her clients to create their IP strategy and advise them on strategies to protect their innovations as they build their business.

​
To learn more about how you can integrate IP into your business:
– ​Register for one of our final 3 cohorts of IP Pathways
– Explore our offerings at AccelerateIP

Startup Seminar Series: Product/Market Fit
2026-02-23 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
Join us for Product/Market Fit with Dave Thomas and Lesley Duncan as they take you through an interactive seminar focused on getting your business ready for market.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, February 23
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

2026 New Ventures BC Competition Info Session
2026-02-25 16:00 - 16:30 | Virtual
Register Now

Join us on Zoom for an overview of the 2026 New Ventures BC Competition.
We’ll walk through the application process, key timelines, and what to expect, so you can feel confident heading into the competition.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 – 4:30 PM (PT)
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
📝 Competition applications close at 11:59 PM on March 12, 2026.
👉 Learn more about the 2026 New Ventures BC Competition here

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: The Business Case - What an Angel Really Wants
2026-03-02 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
Learn how to build a compelling business case — and what angels are really looking for — from high-technology entrepreneur and angel investor Mike Volker.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, March 2
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

2026 New Ventures BC Competition Kick-off
2026-03-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Fasken, 550 Burrard St Suite 2900, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 0B3, Canada
Register Now

The road to $250,000 in prizes begins here.
We’re opening the doors to the 2026 New Ventures BC Competition with an inside look at what it takes to win.
Hear firsthand from last year’s Competition winners and finalists and network with ecosystem leaders—mentors, investors, and judges—who can help accelerate your growth. If you are looking to put your startup on the map, this is your invitation to learn more about BC’s longest and largest running tech competition.
Event Schedule:

5:00 PM: Registration & Networking
5:30 PM: 2025 Competition Winners & Finalists Panel
6:15 PM: Networking
7:00 PM: Event ends

Can’t make it in person?
Tune into the Panel virtually. The Zoom link will be provided in your registration confirmation email.
Panelists:

Chirag Jadwhani, PeerSupport.io (2nd Place Winner, 2025 NVBC Competition)
Samuel Berryman, ImageCyte Technologies (Innovate BC Health & Life Sciences Prize and Top Science Award Winner, 2025 NVBC Competition)
Alisa Gagina, Sigen AI (2025 NVBC Competition Top 10 Finalist)
Moderator: Fernanda Whitaker, Innovate BC (Director of Partnerships)

This event is free for BC tech startups, students, and the NVBC community.
Ready to Compete?
Apply by 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 12.
​👉 Learn more about the 2026 New Ventures BC Competition here

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: Introduction to Pricing for Innovation
2026-03-09 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
How do you choose the right pricing model for your venture? Steven Forth—serial entrepreneur, marketing strategy and pricing consultant, and angel investor, shares practical insights to help you get it right.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, March 9
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Government Funding Programs & Financial Models for Startups
2026-03-16 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
This practical seminar is designed to help early-stage founders navigate funding opportunities and strengthen their financial foundations.
Dr. Cynthia Shippam will provide an overview of government funding programs available to startups, along with key intellectual property considerations to keep in mind as your company grows.
Sean Hodgins will cover the fundamentals of building a sound financial model, outlining the core components every founder should understand to make informed business decisions.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, March 16
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

IP Pathways Certification Level 1 - Victoria, BC
2026-03-19 13:00 - 16:00 | VIATEC, 777 Fort St, Victoria, BC, V8W 1H2, Canada
Register Now
Join us in Victoria for the final Island in-person session of IP Pathways!
IP Pathways is an education series designed to equip startups and scale-ups with the fundamentals of intellectual property, strategy, and business growth. Whether you’re new to IP or looking to deepen your expertise, this program will help you protect and leverage your innovations through expert-led sessions, practical case studies, and certification upon completion.
This session will be led by our Intellectual Property Director, Susan Tees, who will walk you through how to assess your IP, avoid costly mistakes, and turn your ideas into strategic business assets.
Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your IP strategy and connect with fellow founders on the Island!
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: Managing Your IP
2026-03-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Fasken, 550 Burrard St Suite 2900, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 0B3, Canada
Register Now
​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 Dane Smith will guide you on this process, giving you the basics you need to better investigate your options.
​​Speakers:
Roger Kuypers, Partner, Trademark Agent – Fasken
Dane Smith, Counsel, Patent Agent – Fasken
​EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, March 23
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Registration opens at 2:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: Fasken (550 Burrard St Suite 2900, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B3)
​​JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Sales & AI Marketing Tools for Startups
2026-03-30 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
In this session, Peter de Verteuil (Executive-in-Residence, New Ventures BC) will walk founders through a practical, step-by-step framework for building a structured sales program—designed specifically for emerging technology companies ready to move beyond early adopters and into scalable growth.
Rochelle Grayson (Founder, Mosaic Accelerator) will explore how startups can leverage today’s AI-powered marketing tools to work smarter, streamline execution, and accelerate customer acquisition.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, March 30
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

Startup Seminar Series: Corporate Structure
2026-04-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Fasken, 550 Burrard St Suite 2900, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 0B3, Canada
Register Now
​Setting up your company the right way matters. Join us for a practical seminar on corporate structure, where Geoff Pedlow (Partner at Fasken) will walk founders through the key legal and structural decisions involved in building and scaling a technology company. The session includes time for live Q&A, giving you the opportunity to gain clarity on the legal questions most relevant to your startup.
​EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, April 13
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Registration opens at 2:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: Fasken (550 Burrard St Suite 2900, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B3)
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

Summit Strategy Masterclass: AI Advantage for Conference Prep
2026-04-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Bentall Four, 1055 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, BC, V7X 1P3, Canada
Register Now

​Leverage cutting-edge AI tools to automate lead generation and outreach, freeing up energy for high-stakes networking at Web Summit. This session is led by Rochelle Grayson, Program Leader & Executive-in-Residence at New Ventures BC—an Afro-Latin, trilingual serial entrepreneur and digital strategist with 30+ years of experience across business, marketing, finance, tech, and education.

​A Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) initiative, the Summit Strategy Masterclass series is engineered for women tech founders to transform their conference experience from “simply attending” to executing a high-impact lead generation strategy.
​BONUS: Attend all 3 Summit Strategy Masterclass sessions for $40, and be entered into a giveaway for a FREE Women-in-Tech Web Summit ticket!

​April 22 – Maximizing Conference Micro Moments
April 29 – Gender-Smart Investing (A VSW Event)

​WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

​Woman or non-binary tech founder

Based in British Columbia

​EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: Four Bentall Centre, 1055 Dunsmuir St Suite #800
Cost: $20 for one session, $40 for all 3 sessions
​Registered for all 3 Sessions? We will manually register for you for the subsequent Luma events, so no need to register again!
​JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: Building Your Startup Team - HR & Recruitment Essentials
2026-04-20 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now

Discover proven strategies to recruit, hire, and retain the talent your startup needs to succeed—featuring Matthew Heiydt (Founder BackStretch Recruitment Group) and Charlyne Fothergill (Founder & Principal, Sova Operations).
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, April 20
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

Summit Strategy Masterclass: Maximizing Conference Micro Moments
2026-04-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Bentall Four, 1055 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, BC, V7X 1P3, Canada
Register Now

Prepare for high-stakes investor encounters between sessions. Learn to navigate the “hard questions” through live drills with investors, ensuring you’re ready for every conference micro-moment. This session is led by Michelle Sklar, Head of Marketing and Communications at Innovation UBC—a strategic communications leader with expertise in performance-driven growth marketing, storytelling, community building, and entrepreneurship.

​​A Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) initiative, the Summit Strategy Masterclass series is engineered for women tech founders to transform their conference experience from “simply attending” to executing a high-impact lead generation strategy.
​​BONUS: Attend all 3 Summit Strategy Masterclass sessions for $40, and be entered into a giveaway for a FREE Women-in-Tech Web Summit ticket!

April 15 – AI Advantage for Conference Prep
April 29 – Gender-Smart Investing

​​WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Woman or non-binary tech founder
Based in British Columbia

​​EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: Four Bentall Centre, 1055 Dunsmuir St Suite #800
Cost: $20 for one session, $40 for all 3 sessions
​Registered for all 3 Sessions? We will manually register for you for the subsequent Luma events, so no need to register again!
​​JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.​
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: Funding Fundamentals & Frictionless Data Rooms (A VSW Event)
2026-04-27 13:00 - 17:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
New Ventures BC is proud to be an official partner of Vancouver Startup Week 2026. This event is part of the VSW 2026 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.
Ready to fundraise? This four-hour intensive will prepare you to raise capital with confidence. Keith Ippel (Co-founder & Co-CEO, Spring Activator) covers the fundamentals of fundraising strategy, while David Steinley (Founder, Frictionless Fundraising and Fractional CFO) dives into building an investor-ready data room that speeds up deals and strengthens your valuation.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, April 27
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Registration opens at 12:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
AGENDA:
1:00 – 1:10 PM : Opening Remarks
1:10 – 3:10 PM: Funding Fundamentals with Keith Ippel
3:10 – 3:30 PM: Break
3:30 – 5:00 PM: Frictionless Data Rooms with David Steinley
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

Summit Strategy Masterclass: Gender-Smart Investing (A VSW Event)
2026-04-29 15:30 - 17:30 | Bentall One, 505 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC, V7X 1M5, Canada
Register Now
Get the inside scoop on “gender-smart” investing. Move beyond the theory with this female funder/founder panel on the realities of raising and investing in female founders, and what happens after…
​MEET YOUR PANELISTS
​Monique Morden
Monique is a founder, investor, and supporter of the BC and Canadian startup ecosystem. Monique has experience in both venture debt (TIMIA Capital) and venture capital (Spring Impact Capital, Women’s Equity Lab, etc). As a past founder with a successful exit (JUDI.AI), she understands the challenges of founders and the decision making process for investors.
​Dr. Julie Durnan
Dr. Julie Durnan is the Founder of Ginger Desk, a virtual assistant platform for health practitioners that was recently acquired. After raising a seed round in 2023, she scaled Ginger Desk with a clear vision to build a category-leading company positioned for acquisition. The business hires, trains, and manages skilled medical office assistants who support practitioners and clinics across North America, helping clinic owners reclaim time and focus on growth.
​Chelsea Naylor
Chelsea Naylor is a seasoned board director, angel investor, and business owner with more than 20 years of cross-industry experience spanning technology, CPG, beauty, and solution-sales. She is a Managing Partner with Women’s Equity Lab (WEL) Vancouver where she leads the due diligence process and an active member of Angel Forum, she invests in early-stage companies while providing founders with hands-on mentorship, strategic guidance, and operational support.
​Moderated by: Irene Dorsman
​Irene loves working with founders and investors but loves connecting the two even more. Which is why she jumped at the opportunity to take over and run Angel Forum in 2018.
​When she isn’t working on Angel Forum, Irene is either busy as an investor and partner in Women’s Equity Lab or her communication and advisory work with mining clients. Prior to coming to Vancouver, Irene was the Executive Director of the Dutch Business Association in Hong Kong. Before that she held a senior marketing position with Dutch pharmaceutical group Gist-Brocades (now DSM) in Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia.

​​​A Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) initiative, the Summit Strategy Masterclass series is engineered for women tech founders to transform their conference experience from “simply attending” to executing a high-impact lead generation strategy.
​​​BONUS: Attend all 3 Summit Strategy Masterclass sessions for $40, and be entered into a giveaway for a FREE Women-in-Tech Web Summit ticket!

April 15 – AI Advantage for Conference Prep
April 22 – Maximizing Conference Micro Moments

​​​WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Woman or non-binary tech founder
Based in British Columbia

​​​EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, April 29
Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM (Registration opens at 3:15 PM)
Venue: Bentall One, 505 Burrard St, 9th Floor (In-person only)
Cost: $20 for one session, $40 for all 3 sessions
​Registered for all 3 Sessions? We will manually register for you for the subsequent Luma events, so no need to register again!
Register Now

2026 IP Summit
2026-04-30 13:00 - 18:30 | BC
Register Now
We’re gathering BC’s most forward-thinking founders and innovation leaders for a high-impact half-day conference. Join us as we explore practical IP strategies designed to drive growth for scaling companies.
Back for its third year, the IP Summit Conference brings practical, systems-oriented sessions for founders and operators building IP-intensive companies. Learn how to move faster with fewer missteps by using Canada’s IP supports effectively, tracking progress without adding overhead, and building the right capabilities at the right stage.
*Due to limited seating, companies looking to optimize and leverage their existing IP strategy will be prioritized.
​Joining us in person?
Venue details will be shared upon registration (located in Downtown Vancouver). Note: Please ensure the name you register with matches your government-issued photo ID, as IDs will be checked at the door for security.
​Joining us online?
The livestream link will be provided in your registration confirmation email.
​​​​​New Ventures BC is proud to be an official partner of Vancouver Startup Week 2026. This event is part of the VSW 2026 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: NVBC20
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: Pitch & Storytelling
2026-05-04 16:00 - 18:00 | 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Register Now
​Craft a compelling pitch deck that captures investor attention and clearly communicates your company’s value.
Learn how to use storytelling, structure, and design to deliver a persuasive pitch—whether you’re presenting to judges in the NVBC Competition or making high-impact connections with investors and partners at Web Summit.
Speaker:
Michelle Sklar
Head of Marketing & Communications, Innovation UBC
​EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Monday, May 4
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration opens at 3:40 PM for those attending in-person.
Venue: 11th Floor Concourse – SFU VentureLabs (555 W Hastings Street, Vancouver).
JOINING US ONLINE?
The Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.
Register Now

Throughout the Spring, New Ventures BC will host a series of events designed to give you the insights, tools, and resources you need to build and grow your business and set yourself up for success in the 2026 NVBC Competition.

​By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from New Ventures BC, including our e-newsletter and updates about programs and events. You may unsubscribe at any time. By attending, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken and used by New Ventures BC for marketing and promotional purposes.

AccelerateIP Info Session
2026-05-07 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
Applying for funding streams in AccelerateIP? Join us for an info session. The programs team will explain the application process and leave time for Q&A.
Register Now

Ask an Angel: Giving A Compelling Pitch
2026-05-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join us for Ask an Angel, our monthly virtual investor office hours series presented in collaboration with VANTEC. From April through September, founders will have the opportunity to connect directly with an experienced angel investor, gain practical fundraising insights, and ask candid questions in an interactive online setting.
Our second session takes place on Thursday, May 28 at 11 AM PDT and will focus on Giving a Compelling Pitch.
Led by VANTEC’s CEO, Aaron Stuart, this session will explore what makes a pitch resonate with investors, how to clearly communicate your value proposition, and common mistakes founders should avoid when presenting their startup to investors.
Aaron will begin with a short 10–15 minute presentation, followed by an open AMA-style discussion where participants can ask questions related to pitching, fundraising, and working with angels.
Thursday, May 28 | 11 AM PDT | Online via Zoom
Register Now

About Our Angel: Aaron Stuart
Aaron is the CEO of VANTEC Angel Network, where he connects angel investors with high-potential startups across the province. Additionally, he serves as COO of WUTIF Capital and previously held leadership roles at FrontFundr. With extensive experience in angel investing, fundraising, and capital formation, Aaron brings valuable insight into what investors look for and how founders can position themselves for successful funding conversations.

Top 25 Reception
2026-06-09 17:30 - 20:00 | RBCx (36th Floor), 1055 W Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3S5, Canada
​
Register Now
Round 3 is here! Join us for our Top 25 Networking Reception, where this year’s Top 25 ventures will be introduced to their dedicated mentoring teams. It’s also an opportunity for the NVBC community to reconnect over drinks, canapés, and conversation.
We’re excited to welcome 2025 NVBC Competition winner Paschal Okwundu from Binta Financial, who will join Floyd Sijmons for a conversation on how founders can make the most of mentorship throughout the competition and beyond.
​Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with BC’s next generation of tech innovators.
​A big thank you to our 2026 Competition Silver Sponsor, RBCx, for hosting this event.
Register Now

Startup Seminar Series: SR&ED
2026-06-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
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Join us virtually as EY Canada’s SR&ED team provides an overview of the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) program and explores how businesses of all sizes and corporate structures can recover eligible R&D costs through federal and provincial tax incentives.
​Learn how to assess your eligibility for the SR&ED program, identify qualifying activities and expenses, and better understand the process for claiming R&D expenditures. The EY team will also discuss how SR&ED can create value for your business—not only as a source of operating capital, but also as a tool to strengthen your company, product, or process positioning with investors.
Monday, June 15 | 1 – 2 PM PDT | Online via Zoom
Register Now

Ask an Angel: What Investors Are Looking For
2026-06-26 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join us for Ask an Angel, our monthly virtual investor office hours series presented in collaboration with VANTEC. From April through September, founders will have the opportunity to connect directly with an experienced angel investor, gain practical fundraising insights, and ask candid questions in an interactive online setting.
Our third session takes place on Friday, June 26 at 11 AM PDT and will focus on What Investors Are Looking For.
Led by VANTEC’s CEO, Aaron Stuart, this session will break down the key qualities investors look for in early-stage startups.
Aaron will begin with a short 10–15 minute presentation, followed by an open AMA-style discussion where participants can ask burning questions related to working with angel investors.
Friday, June 26 | 11 AM PDT | Online via Zoom
Register Now
About Our Angel: Aaron Stuart
Aaron is the CEO of VANTEC Angel Network, where he connects angel investors with high-potential startups across the province. Additionally, he serves as COO of WUTIF Capital and previously held leadership roles at FrontFundr. With extensive experience in angel investing, fundraising, and capital formation, Aaron brings valuable insight into what investors look for and how founders can position themselves for successful funding conversations.

Startup Seminar Series: Financials Workshop
2026-07-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual
Register Now
Join Pieter Dorsman, Director at Angel Forum, as he walks you through the financial questions startups are often asked by investors and advisors. This session will help Round 3 companies to build a stronger submission in the New Ventures BC Competition, and is also open to all startups.
Monday, July 6 | 1 – 2:30 PM PT | Online via Zoom
Register Now

2026 NVBC Golf Tournament and Social
2026-07-06 13:30 - 20:30 | Riverway Golf Course & Driving Range, 9001 Bill Fox Way, Burnaby, BC, V5J 3H6
Join us and our community for a fun day on the course at Riverway Golf Course!
​Register as a foursome or sign up individually — all skill levels are welcome. This casual, social tournament will follow Texas Scramble rules, making it a great opportunity to connect, play, and enjoy the day together.
Your tournament registration includes:

​18 holes of golf
Dinner
Prizes
​1/2 shared power cart

Early Bird pricing is available until June 19. Be sure to register early! ​Space is limited to just 28 spots, so registration will be first come, first served.
*Tee times begin at 1:30 PM. Golfers will be notified of their assigned tee time in advance.
*Early-Bird Ticket (purchased before June 19, 5 pm PT): $175
*Regular Ticket (purchased after June 19, 5 pm PT): $190
Register Now
