BetaKit
@betakit.com
Award-winning coverage of Canadian startups and tech innovation since 2012.
Portage is expanding its investment strategy with an agreement to oversee the #FinTech assets of American #VC firm Point72 Ventures, which is backed by Goldman Sachs and Steve Cohen.
Portage strikes deal to manage Point72 Ventures FinTech assets in Steve Cohen and Goldman Sachs-backed fund | BetaKit
Power Corp.'s FinTech investment arm makes first formal foray into secondary investments.
betakit.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Kurtis McBride was once a kid with a clipboard, manually tracking traffic data for a summer job. It inspired him to create Miovision, which just announced a partnership with TomTom that will bring its traffic tracking technology to more than 300,000 global intersections.
Miovision partners with TomTom to tackle the world’s traffic congestion | BetaKit
Kitchener firm claims deal with Dutch data collector will put its tech at more than 300,000 global intersections.
betakit.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Kurtis McBride was once a kid with a clipboard, manually tracking traffic data for a summer job. It inspired him to create Miovision, which just announced a partnership with TomTom that will bring its traffic tracking technology to more than 300,000 global intersections.
Cohere has partnered with German submarine maker ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in a bid to get its #AI into Canada's next generation of submarines.
Cohere partners with German submarine maker in bid to get its AI into Canada’s fleet | BetaKit
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is courting a Canadian procurement order to build the next generation of Canadian submarines.
betakit.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Cohere has partnered with German submarine maker ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in a bid to get its #AI into Canada's next generation of submarines.
Slate's $1.3 million in pre-seed funding comes from N49P and North Exit Ventures. The Vancouver startup's “enterprise-grade lending platform" is now live.
Slate raises $1.3 million to deliver embedded lending infrastructure to Canadian platforms | BetaKit
Vancouver FinTech startup Slate has closed $1.3 million CAD in pre-seed funding from N49P and North Exit Ventures to build embedded lending infrastructure.
betakit.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Slate's $1.3 million in pre-seed funding comes from N49P and North Exit Ventures. The Vancouver startup's “enterprise-grade lending platform" is now live.
What does #AI sovereignty really mean? Joshua van Es argues Canada’s AI strategy focuses too much on where tech sits, and not enough on who controls the data.
Opinion: What Canada’s AI strategy gets wrong about sovereignty | BetaKit
Sovereign tech policies must consider who’s in charge, not where tech is located.
betakit.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM
What does #AI sovereignty really mean? Joshua van Es argues Canada’s AI strategy focuses too much on where tech sits, and not enough on who controls the data.
UPDATE: OpenText announced yesterday that its transaction to sell off its eDOCS unit to Utah-based NetDocuments for $163 million had officially closed.
OpenText to sell off eDOCS unit for $163 million USD to continue AI focus | BetaKit
The company began exploring the sale of its “non-core assets” in August to focus on its core Information Management for AI business.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:05 PM
UPDATE: OpenText announced yesterday that its transaction to sell off its eDOCS unit to Utah-based NetDocuments for $163 million had officially closed.
Polygon Labs has acquired two blockchain startups, Sequence and Coinme, as part of a broader push into regulated stablecoin payments. The firm says it spent a combined $250M+ USD on the acquisitions.
Polygon buys blockchain startup Sequence to power its stablecoin push | BetaKit
Sequence’s modular crypto infrastructure will support payments platform powering Stripe and Polymarket.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Polygon Labs has acquired two blockchain startups, Sequence and Coinme, as part of a broader push into regulated stablecoin payments. The firm says it spent a combined $250M+ USD on the acquisitions.
Innovation Saskatchewan announced more than $2 million in investments in nine industry-led research and development projects in the province.
Saskatchewan accelerators invest nearly $2.2M in Prairies tech
Innovation Saskatchewan’s investment will go toward industry-led research and development.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Innovation Saskatchewan announced more than $2 million in investments in nine industry-led research and development projects in the province.
Medventions has launched a pilot program in #Newfoundland to immerse budding entrepreneurs in the inner workings of a hospital. #AtlCan
Medventions pilot pairs young innovators with Newfoundland doctors to inspire next-gen medtech
Medventions has launched a pilot program in Newfoundland and Labrador to immerse budding entrepreneurs in the inner workings of a hospital.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Medventions has launched a pilot program in #Newfoundland to immerse budding entrepreneurs in the inner workings of a hospital. #AtlCan
A coding “dojo” in Ottawa’s west end has launched an #AI curriculum to teach kids about #AI safety and how it works under the hood, while also helping them learn to code without using AI.
Hacks on, hacks off: How one coding dojo is preparing kids for the AI world | BetaKit
Code Ninjas Kanata is training kids from five to 14 on how to trust and code around AI.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Many Canadian companies are hesitant to adopt AI at scale thanks to cost and compliance worries. LōD’s new platform, CLōD, helps manage those concerns, and many others.
A smarter, safer way to run AI? Vancouver’s LōD Technologies is betting on it | BetaKit
The startup’s new platform, CLōD, tackles governance and energy efficiency – two of the biggest barriers to enterprise AI adoption
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Many Canadian companies are hesitant to adopt AI at scale thanks to cost and compliance worries. LōD’s new platform, CLōD, helps manage those concerns, and many others.
How a Métis game developer is using Roblox to keep his language alive.
Josh Nilson's Michif RP lets players experience some of the food, culture, and language of the Métis people in an engaging, community-driven way, all while supporting Indigenous charities.
Josh Nilson's Michif RP lets players experience some of the food, culture, and language of the Métis people in an engaging, community-driven way, all while supporting Indigenous charities.
How a Métis game dev is using Roblox to keep his language alive | BetaKit
Josh Nilson built a virtual world where gamers learn Michif through play and community.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
How a Métis game developer is using Roblox to keep his language alive.
Josh Nilson's Michif RP lets players experience some of the food, culture, and language of the Métis people in an engaging, community-driven way, all while supporting Indigenous charities.
Josh Nilson's Michif RP lets players experience some of the food, culture, and language of the Métis people in an engaging, community-driven way, all while supporting Indigenous charities.
“I like to think that we’re building the pickaxes for this gold rush of creativity.”
With agentic commerce set to play a significant role in the future of online shopping, Shopify's Vanessa Lee says the company wants to equip the builders of the new shopping experience.
With agentic commerce set to play a significant role in the future of online shopping, Shopify's Vanessa Lee says the company wants to equip the builders of the new shopping experience.
Shopify leans into agentic commerce with Google and Microsoft deals | BetaKit
As peers and chatbot makers target AI shopping, Shopify aims to provide “the pickaxes” and product data.
betakit.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:03 PM
“I like to think that we’re building the pickaxes for this gold rush of creativity.”
With agentic commerce set to play a significant role in the future of online shopping, Shopify's Vanessa Lee says the company wants to equip the builders of the new shopping experience.
With agentic commerce set to play a significant role in the future of online shopping, Shopify's Vanessa Lee says the company wants to equip the builders of the new shopping experience.
💡 This week's BetaKit Quiz features @anthropic.com's looming raise and an electrifying new gadget from CES. PLUS:
🤖 Satya Nadella says #AI isn't slop
🐄 A roaming robo-barn
📱A not-so-dumb dumbphone
Take the Quiz now 🤓
🤖 Satya Nadella says #AI isn't slop
🐄 A roaming robo-barn
📱A not-so-dumb dumbphone
Take the Quiz now 🤓
Canadian VC’s perfect storm, BC’s roaming robo-barns, and a CES tech check
Test your knowledge of Canadian tech news with The BetaKit Quiz for January 9, 2026.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:00 PM
💡 This week's BetaKit Quiz features @anthropic.com's looming raise and an electrifying new gadget from CES. PLUS:
🤖 Satya Nadella says #AI isn't slop
🐄 A roaming robo-barn
📱A not-so-dumb dumbphone
Take the Quiz now 🤓
🤖 Satya Nadella says #AI isn't slop
🐄 A roaming robo-barn
📱A not-so-dumb dumbphone
Take the Quiz now 🤓
With the successful launch, Kepler Communications is now the first company in the world to deploy a low-earth orbit satellite system based on an optical relay network, beating out similar projects from big names like Amazon and Starlink.
Kepler makes history with world-first launch of optical relay satellite network | BetaKit
With the successful launch, the Canadian company beat out similar projects from Amazon and Starlink.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM
With the successful launch, Kepler Communications is now the first company in the world to deploy a low-earth orbit satellite system based on an optical relay network, beating out similar projects from big names like Amazon and Starlink.
UPDATE: The CFIA has reinstated GoodFood's safe food licence after it was suspended for nine days. The suspension was in effect for nine days.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency reinstates Goodfood’s safe food licence | BetaKit
The meal kit service’s Montréal facility is back in operation following a nine-day suspension.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM
UPDATE: The CFIA has reinstated GoodFood's safe food licence after it was suspended for nine days. The suspension was in effect for nine days.
The Atallah brothers, co-founders of Montréal-based Ssense, are close to regaining control of their luxury retail platform after it went into bankruptcy protection this fall.
Ssense founders’ bid to buy back company successful, pending approvals | BetaKit
The deal for control of the embattled luxury retail platform is expected to close before Feb. 13.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The Atallah brothers, co-founders of Montréal-based Ssense, are close to regaining control of their luxury retail platform after it went into bankruptcy protection this fall.
That old saying about girls and diamonds? Painfully outdated. In 2026, thanks to researchers at the @ucalgary.bsky.social, diamonds are a quantum scientist's best friend.
Learn more about the groundbreaking new research here:
Learn more about the groundbreaking new research here:
Calgary quantum researchers discover rule-breaking new uses for diamonds | BetaKit
The breakthrough discovery could see diamonds used in data centres and laser manufacturing.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM
That old saying about girls and diamonds? Painfully outdated. In 2026, thanks to researchers at the @ucalgary.bsky.social, diamonds are a quantum scientist's best friend.
Learn more about the groundbreaking new research here:
Learn more about the groundbreaking new research here:
⛈️ This week's BetaKit Newsletter features "a perfect storm" in Canadian #VC and roaming robo-barns. Plus:
💰 McRock's monumental close
⚖️ The Canadian legality of Grok's deepfakes
🤖 30 predictions for #AI in 2026
Catch up on the latest #CDNTech news now 📰
💰 McRock's monumental close
⚖️ The Canadian legality of Grok's deepfakes
🤖 30 predictions for #AI in 2026
Catch up on the latest #CDNTech news now 📰
BetaKit’s secret plan for 2026
Plus: 2025 was the worst year for Canadian VC fundraising in a decade.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:15 PM
The Indigenous Tech Circle is hosting its first Indigenous Tech Conference in Vancouver (Jan. 20–21), bringing together founders, investors, tech pros, partners, and policymakers to break down silos across the Canadian tech ecosystem.
ITC says Canada’s largest Indigenous tech conference aims to break down silos | BetaKit
Indigenous Tech Circle brings founders, investors, and policymakers together in Vancouver.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:30 PM
The Indigenous Tech Circle is hosting its first Indigenous Tech Conference in Vancouver (Jan. 20–21), bringing together founders, investors, tech pros, partners, and policymakers to break down silos across the Canadian tech ecosystem.
[email protected] has promoted San Francisco-based Nancy Wang to CTO. She was most recently senior VP and head of engineering and #AI. She takes over for Pedro Canahuati, who left in September.
1Password promotes Nancy Wang to CTO | BetaKit
Wang replaces Pedro Canahuati as Toronto cybersecurity firm continues to reshape C-suite.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:45 PM
[email protected] has promoted San Francisco-based Nancy Wang to CTO. She was most recently senior VP and head of engineering and #AI. She takes over for Pedro Canahuati, who left in September.
Former @ubisoft.com employees claim the company's months of union challenges suddenly stopped in December, and the union was certified. Weeks later, Ubisoft closed the Halifax office, leaving the future of a major game project unknown.
@uwch.bsky.social @cwacanada1.bsky.social
@uwch.bsky.social @cwacanada1.bsky.social
Ubisoft Halifax employees “blindsided” by surprise closure one month after unionizing | BetaKit
A former employee says the game developer unexpectedly dropped union challenges weeks before it shuttered the office.
betakit.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Former @ubisoft.com employees claim the company's months of union challenges suddenly stopped in December, and the union was certified. Weeks later, Ubisoft closed the Halifax office, leaving the future of a major game project unknown.
@uwch.bsky.social @cwacanada1.bsky.social
@uwch.bsky.social @cwacanada1.bsky.social
In about 20 minutes, A SpaceX rocket carrying Kepler's historic satellite payload will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
We'll have an update on BetaKit once the launch is complete. Or, you can watch the whole thing unfold live here: www.spacex.com/launches/twi...
We'll have an update on BetaKit once the launch is complete. Or, you can watch the whole thing unfold live here: www.spacex.com/launches/twi...
SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.
www.spacex.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM
In about 20 minutes, A SpaceX rocket carrying Kepler's historic satellite payload will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
We'll have an update on BetaKit once the launch is complete. Or, you can watch the whole thing unfold live here: www.spacex.com/launches/twi...
We'll have an update on BetaKit once the launch is complete. Or, you can watch the whole thing unfold live here: www.spacex.com/launches/twi...
Ten 300-kilogram-class satellites, built in Toronto, will be on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Base in the early morning hours of Jan. 11.
Read more about Kepler Communications' historic launch, including how to watch it live, here 👇🏼
Read more about Kepler Communications' historic launch, including how to watch it live, here 👇🏼
Kepler to launch historic satellite network on SpaceX rocket this Sunday | BetaKit
Successful launch would be world-first, beating out similar projects from Amazon and Starlink.
betakit.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Ten 300-kilogram-class satellites, built in Toronto, will be on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Base in the early morning hours of Jan. 11.
Read more about Kepler Communications' historic launch, including how to watch it live, here 👇🏼
Read more about Kepler Communications' historic launch, including how to watch it live, here 👇🏼
Razat Gaurav takes over as CEO of Kinaxis as it aims to become a $1-billion revenue company. Its Q3 2025 earnings report showed ARR at $407 million USD, a 17% year-over-year rise.
Kinaxis appoints former Plainview head Razat Gaurav as CEO | BetaKit
The company's former leader, John Sicard, retired in 2024 after a 30-year tenure, including eight as president and CEO.
betakit.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Razat Gaurav takes over as CEO of Kinaxis as it aims to become a $1-billion revenue company. Its Q3 2025 earnings report showed ARR at $407 million USD, a 17% year-over-year rise.