Applications open for the 21st annual New Ventures BC Competition
Over $250,000 in cash and prizes available for competing companies
The 2021 New Ventures Competition, presented by Innovate BC, is now accepting applications. Innovative tech startups from across British Columbia are encouraged to apply for the province’s largest and longest running technology competition.
Since its launch in 2000, thousands of local tech companies have participated in the competition to earn non-dilutive cash prizes, connect with mentors, network with fellow founders, and increase their company’s profile. Each year, the competition continues to attract a growing number of startups, with a record 240 applications submitted last year, despite it moving entirely online due to COVID-19.
“Even though the 2020 competition brought a unique set of challenges, it was encouraging to BC’s top startups come together, virtually, to access the education, connections, and funding that this competition is known for,” says Angie Schick, Executive Director at New Ventures BC. “Over the next six months, this year’s entrants will have an opportunity to showcase themselves in front of an audience of investors, customers, partners, and media. We’re extremely excited to see their innovations.”
The competition has produced several notable success stories, including 2017 finalist Certn, who recently raised $43M to hire more talent and support global expansion. This year’s companies will have the chance to compete for over $250,000 in cash and prizes, which includes $180,000 from the competition’s title sponsor, Innovate BC.
The Crown Agency’s President and CEO, Raghwa Gopal, believes “this competition provides the Canadian tech community with a sneak peak at the future of BC’s tech sector, while providing the province’s top startups with the hands-on support they need to build great companies in the communities they’re from. Innovate BC is extremely proud to once again be the title sponsor of this competition.”
Applications close on April 12th at 10pm PST and can be submitted here. For more information about competition rules, eligibility requirements and application fees, click here.
Learn More
- Competition Explainer Video
- 2020 Competition: Top 10 Video
- Past Competition Winners
- NVBC 20th Anniversary Video
Media Contact
Jamil A. Karim
Switchboard Public Relations
6043175786
New Ventures BC (NVBC) was initiated 21 years ago to help early stage tech startups grow. As a non-profit, they run the annual New Ventures BC Competition, a Distance Venture Acceleration Program, and the ISI grant program. To date, the New Ventures BC Competition, presented by Innovate BC, has supported over 2000 companies which have created 8635 jobs and have raised over 850M in financing in BC.
Innovate BC is a Crown agency with a mandate to help strengthen entrepreneurship development, increase company growth, and support job creation, ensuring the benefits of technology and innovation are felt around the province, including rural, northern, and indigenous communities. The Crown agency funds and delivers programs that support the growth of the B.C. economy by helping companies start and scale up into anchor companies, train talent that meets labour market needs, and encourage technology development, commercialization, and adoption.
