Calling All Startups: Apply Now for the 2024 New Ventures BC Competition, presented by Innovate BC
British Columbia’s premier tech competition invites innovative startups to compete for over $250,000 in cash and prizes.
The 2024 New Ventures BC Competition, presented by Innovate BC, has officially kicked off. Now in its 24th consecutive year, the competition invites startups from across British Columbia to apply for the province’s largest and longest-running tech competition.
Every year, hundreds of early-stage ventures from across BC vie for the title of the province’s top tech startup. Last year, 212 startups entered the competition, with North Van’s RetreatsAndVenues emerging victorious. Since its inception in 2000, more than 3,500 startups have participated, and over $4M in cash and prizes have been awarded.
Competition alumni continue to make significant strides in the tech industry, both locally and abroad. Moment Energy, a 2021 alumni, recently announced a partnership with the Vancouver International Airport to offer reliable, high-speed charging capacity for the public and fleet vehicles. Reforestation startup, Flash Forest, has secured multiple funding rounds since competing in the 2020 Competition, including an $11.4M Series A last year to support expansion across North America. And biotech giant AbCellera — who competed in the competition more than a decade ago — broke ground on their new 380,000-square-foot global headquarters in Mount Pleasant.
Over the next six months, startups will go through several rounds of the competition to get their hands on $250,000 in cash and prizes. Competitors will also gain access to a wide range of support, including in-person events, mentorship, workshops, and a community of like-minded founders.
For more information about this year’s competition, click here. Applications close on April 11 at 11:59pm PST and can be submitted here.
QUOTES
“As we kick off this year’s competition, we’re thrilled to provide a platform for startups to gain visibility, forge partnerships, and secure the resources they need to thrive. The next six months promise to be an exciting journey as we discover a new crop of talented startups.”
Angie Schick
Executive Director, New Ventures BC
“The New Ventures BC Competition presented by Innovate BC connects the most innovative, early-stage companies in the province with the knowledge and financial backing they need to advance and succeed on the global stage. These are the types of companies keeping our province at the forefront of the tech world while helping to solve some of today’s most pressing challenges. I can’t wait to see what new innovations and solutions they come up with next.”
Honourable Brenda Bailey
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
“The New Ventures BC Competition continues to serve as one of our province’s most exciting avenues for developing and celebrating high potential B.C. startups. We are thrilled to once again partner with New Ventures BC this year and look forward to seeing another group of exciting local companies take advantage of the competition’s resources, mentorship, and support that will help them thrive and grow, and set them on the path to contribute to our vibrant innovation ecosystem and economic prosperity for British Columbia.”
Peter Cowan
President + CEO, Innovate BC
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Key Dates:
- April 3: Competition Info Session
- April 4: Kickoff Event
- April 11: Application Deadline
- April 13: Startup Sprint
Videos:
New Ventures BC (NVBC) was initiated 23 years ago to help early stage tech startups grow. As a non-profit, they run the annual New Ventures BC Competition, a Venture Acceleration Program, and the newly launched AccelerateIP. To date the New Ventures BC Competition, presented by Innovate BC, has supported over 3,500 companies that have created 9,000 jobs, and raised over $1.5 billion in financing in BC.
Innovate BC helps foster innovation in B.C. so that British Columbians in all regions of the province can benefit from a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive innovation economy. A Crown Agency of British Columbia, Innovate BC funds and delivers programs that support the growth of the B.C. economy by helping companies start and scale, train talent that meets labour market needs, and encourage technology development, commercialization, and adoption.
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