Returning to my hometown of Vancouver for the inaugural Web Summit Vancouver was nothing short of a full-circle moment. As someone deeply embedded in Canada’s tech ecosystem, with a mission at ventureLAB to empower hardtech founders, I arrived with a mix of excitement and professional curiosity. The first day was intense and exhilarating, from a packed masterclass on crafting investor-ready pitch decks to jumping right into judging and MC’ing the Web Summit Pitch Competition. The energy among the founders was palpable; their passion infectious.
Hosting over 1,100 exhibiting startups, a record for any first-year Web Summit, the event showcased the depth and diversity of Vancouver’s tech talent. The festival was a vibrant testament to the city’s standing as Canada’s second-largest tech hub, home to more than 3,000 startups employing over 75,000 people. In the first half of 2025, Vancouver’s resilient ecosystem raised approximately $780 million across 72 deals despite global funding headwinds, reinforcing its position as a powerhouse strategically connected to both Asian and American markets.
Partnering with Plug & Play, our team at ventureLAB ran a curated investor “scavenger hunt,” distributing top startup packages and inviting key investors to a private event where we unveiled our top five finalists. These Canadian startups will advance to “Shark Island” in Dubai, an elite competition held during GITEX where 24 global finalists will compete for $250,000 in funding. This partnership exemplifies how Vancouver is not just a hub but a launchpad for Canadian innovation onto the global stage.
Yet, the event also exposed some ecosystem challenges. I expected a stronger presence of core American investors from Silicon Valley. The investor lounge felt quieter than other flagship Canadian tech events, partly due to the clash with the CVCA Invest Canada event in Calgary, where top VCs gathered privately. This scheduling conflict created a stark disconnect, limiting founders’ access to seminal capital conversations. As Joanna Buczkowska-McCumber aptly said, “Conferences don’t just mirror the sector, they shape it.” When key players are absent, it sends a costly message to founders investing precious resources to attend.
.png)
Despite this, Web Summit Vancouver laid essential groundwork. Mayor Ken Sim’s assertion that “Vancouver is more than just the views” resonated deeply, reflecting the city’s strengths in AI, cleantech, and digital media. Throughout the sprawling convention center, I witnessed raw talent and ambition bubbling up from across the country. The province’s showcase as a technology leader includes pragmatic problem-solving innovations, such as those fighting wildfires with digital tools, themes featured in “The BetaKit Guide: Wildfire, Fighting Fire with Technology.”
Looking ahead, I’m optimistic. The connections formed, lessons learned, and momentum gathered here will fuel future iterations of Web Summit Vancouver. With nearly 15,000 attendees expected and a growing number of investors and startups participating, the potential for Vancouver to become a major Pacific Rim tech hub attracting global capital and talent remains immense.
In Vancouver, “pitch perfect” is more than a phrase, it embodies a dynamic ecosystem harmonizing diversity, innovation, and sustainability beyond its spectacular coastline. The city’s tech future is bright, global, and ready to make waves beyond what the eye can see.
