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Hey there I’m Pranav and this guide is for anyone who is new to Vancouver and is a builder, operator, investor. Think of this as your all-in-one resource to help you understand where to look for with respect to events, programs, people to follow and fundraising!
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If there’s anything I have missed or a recommendation you would like to add or information that you would want to contribute, please DM me on Linkedin or X. Feel free to also DM me on any ideas on how to improve this resource :)
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I’m also kicking off a newsletter soon where I’ll share the coolest events, news, and drops in the Vancouver venture scene, straight to your inbox every 1–2 weeks.
Sign up here if you're into that kind of thing → [form]
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You’ve probably seen Vancouver before, just not as itself. From Deadpool to The X-Files to The Last of Us, we’ve been everyone but Vancouver. It’s a fitting metaphor! While the world looks elsewhere, something real is quietly taking shape here. Sure, the mountains are nice and the coffee’s great, but there’s also a growing seriousness in the city’s ambition, driven by people who are building, investing, and shaping the future of startups, frontier tech, and community here.
So plug in, show up, and if you see someone pitching a startup in line at Revolver, don’t be surprised. You’re in the right place :)
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| Event Name | Description | Why Attend? | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angel Forum - Mountain Summit, Squamish | Full-day summit with speakers, panels, and pitches at the Sea to Sky Gondola, Squamish, BC. | Unique networking, regional investor exposure, high visibility. | October |
| CDL-Vancouver Annual Alumni Venture Showcase(*****) | Annual showcase of top CDL alumni companies actively raising capital in the Seed to Series A/B stage, with exclusive pitching sessions in minerals, climate, health, and computing. | Gain exposure to some of the companies in CDL's cohort and possibly invest in them. | May |
| Frontier Summit | Multi-day innovation summit hosted by Frontier Collective, focused on transformative tech and global networking. | Access global thought leaders, investors, and innovators in emerging tech sectors. | August/October |
| Immersion Week - Innovation UBC(*****) | Week-long event highlighting UBC innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization. | Explore UBC's innovation ecosystem, discover new technologies, and connect with researchers and founders. | September |
| Innovation UBC Venture/Investor Showcase(*****) | Annual showcase of UBC's top ventures and research spinouts, connecting founders with investors and partners. | Meet high-potential university spinouts, discover collaboration opportunities, and connect with the UBC innovation network. | November/May |
| New Ventures BC Competition | BC's largest and longest-running annual startup competition, awarding over $250,000 in cash and prizes. Culminates in a Top 10 live pitch finale. | Compete for funding, receive expert feedback, and gain exposure to investors and mentors. | March–September |
| Product Camp Vancouver | An event for product managers, product marketers, product designers from Vancouver to connect, share ideas and learn together. | Connect with the product community in Vancouver and the chance to lead a session. | April |
| R2WSV (Road to Web Summit Vancouver) | Series of events, training sessions, and programs to help BC startups maximize their Web Summit experience. | Prepare for Web Summit, connect with ecosystem leaders, and access exclusive programming. | February–May |
| TechExit.io | M&A-focused event for tech entrepreneurs and investors, covering exits and acquisition strategies. | Learn from M&A experts, prepare for your company's exit, and meet potential acquirers and advisors. | February |
| Techstars Startup Weekend Vancouver(*****) | 54-hour hackathon where aspiring founders pitch, build, and launch startups with mentorship and team formation. | Validate ideas, build a team, and get hands-on experience launching a startup in a supportive environment. | Varies |
| Vancouver Startup Week | Week-long festival uniting founders, investors, and the tech community with 80+ events: panels, workshops, pitch competitions, and socials. | Meet the entire Vancouver ecosystem, find co-founders, investors, and partners, and immerse yourself in the city's startup culture. | May–June |
| Vancouver Tech Week | Community-driven week of events for builders and hackers: panels, workshops, hackathons, and networking. | Connect with grassroots innovators, learn from peers, and find collaborators in the local tech scene. | September |
| Web Summit Vancouver | One of the world's largest tech conferences, bringing together global founders, investors, and media for keynotes, startup showcases, and networking. Includes the global PITCH competition. | Access global investors, exposure to international trends, and unparalleled networking with top tech leaders. | May |
****** Some of these annual events don’t have a separate page/haven’t updated for the year/have already passed by. In such cases I have just added a link to the organization. However keep an eye out for these annual events when you’re in Vancouver!*
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Request to add an annual event here.
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