BIV Today

About a dozen unicorns have emerged from B.C. in less than a year. The surge of startups reaching these US$1-billion valuations is unprecedented for the local tech ecosystem. While IPOs and exits have been responsible for many of these valuations, startups have also been going south of the border to seek investors willing to put up big-time capital. Natasha Allen, partner at Foley & Lardner LLP and a member of the law firm’s venture capital, M&A and transactions practices, joins BIV Today to delve into what Canadian startups need to know when connecting with potential American investors. Tyler Orton hosts.

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Retail-Insider.com’s Craig Patterson join BIV Today to check in on the retail landscape in Canada. He and host Tyler Orton touch on everything from rapidly rising food costs to Lululemon’s forays into the home fitness market. 

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Vancouver-based Netcoins Inc. is officially the first crypto-trading platform registered in B.C. following a recent nod from regulators. Company president Mitchell Demeter joins BIV Today to break down what it means to be regulated within a space often considered to be a Wild West of sorts. Tyler Orton hosts.

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Covering everything from animation to visual effects; from video games to virtual reality, B.C.’s creative technologies is one of the most dynamic components of the provincial economy. A new report from the Information and Communications Technology Council and industry association DigiBC sets about benchmarking where the sector stands at the moment and the challenges ahead. DigiBC executive director Loc Dao joins BIV’s Tyler Orton to discuss.

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Emmie Fukuchi, the executive vice-president and digital and marking officer of Co-operators financial foundation firm, discusses a new survey that reveals how Canadians have developed their financial planning habits and how the pandemic has affected them.

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The life sciences sector is booming, but how do firms protect their ideas and innovations? Our expert panel provides advice for businesses aiming to shield intellectual property. Brian Kingwell of the Gowling WLG  law firm’s life science and intellectual property group and Wendy Hurlburt, president and CEO of LifeSciencesBC, discuss the challenges with BIV publisher and editor in chief Kirk LaPointe

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The Metro Vancouver Regional District unveiled the new face of its economic development organization this week. Invest Vancouver is seeking to draw global investors to the region, fine-tune local economic policies and ensure competitiveness in the era of an innovation-first economy. Jacquie Griffiths, executive vice-president of Invest Vancouver, joins BIV Today to discuss the mandate and genesis of this organization, as well as a new partnership with a global giant to boost tech-sector job training. Tyler Orton hosts. 

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The Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) has in four years built up the export markets for British Columbia businesses. Austin Nairn, the executive director of the World Trade Centre Vancouver, oversees the program and discusses its growth and plans with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe.

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Pierre Cléroux, chief economist at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), discusses a BDC report today that chronicles the labour shortage in Canada, the challenges for the economy, and the strategies for businesses to adapt. He is in discussion with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe.

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Demand for take-out has reached new heights during the pandemic. The trend has heightened pressure on the waste produced through packaging. Gone are the days of dining in, and relying on plates and cutlery that could be washed and reused. So how are businesses coping? Jason Hawkins is the co-founder of Vancouver-based startup Reusables.com. He joins BIV Today to discuss the innovative way his company is addressing this issue. Tyler Orton hosts. 

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