Plus: Meet Alberta’s New Innovation Minister
Welcome to BetaKit Startup Stories of the Week! Here, you’ll find the week’s most important news, features and editorials published on Beta Kit. If you prefer this update to have it hit your inbox every week, be sure to sign up for the BetaKit newsletter using the form at the bottom of this page.
The main news of the week
Simple first fintech startup approved for direct settlement by Bank of Canada
In a LinkedIn post published Tuesday morning, Wealthsimple CEO Michael Katchen said: “The approval is a milestone for our business, but beyond that it will change the landscape of financial services in Canada. This decision will help level the playing field with authorities.
The co-founder of Element AI is launching Waverly to reshape the internet by changing the way people consume content
Waverly’s goals are more ambitious than just producing content for professionals. CEO Philippe Beaudon hopes the company can change the way people consume content on the Internet.
Nate Glubish, Alberta’s new innovation minister, named as Premier Smith’s cabinet
“This is my world, this is my wheel,” Glubish said. “Their language is my language, and I look forward to spending more time focusing solely on technology innovation.”
Volta dropped the interim label, officially appointing Matt Cooper as CEO
As Volta’s new CEO, Cooper brings more than two decades of experience as a corporate executive and entrepreneur in the Halifax technology industry. In the year In 2014, he co-founded Swift, a SaaS provider for commercial cleaning and janitorial businesses.
The BetaKit keynote platform will return to SAAS North 2022
Similar to last year, the SAAS North main stage will feature content moderated and moderated by Beta Kit, and the entire two-day conference will be named the Beta Kit Keynote Forum.
With HQ half a world away, how do Zero Canada’s hubs stay connected?
Speaking to BetaKit, VP of Engineering Patrick Smith explained how Xero’s centers are interconnected, how employees align with global business decisions, and what it means to ‘be Xero’ around the world.
Recent funding, acquisitions and layoffs
-
Van – Datajoy by Databricks (read more)
-
SSK – Vendasta Acquires Yesware (Read More)
-
Win – Manitoba Appoints Board for $50M Provincial Fund (read more)
-
HAM – VoxNeuro – $4M (read more)
-
TOR – Ten Thousand Coffees – $75 Million (read more)
-
TOR – ChainSafe Systems – $25.7M (read more)
-
TOR – Perch – $4M (read more)
-
TOR – Super Advisor – $2M (read more)
-
TOR – Buy SingleKey Naborly (read more)
It’s to watch Alexis Gay, who can have fun while quietly leaving your tech job
“One of the funniest things about technology is its complete and utter ignorance.”
Comedian and podcaster Alexis Gay joins us to share her transition from working in tech to creating content that accurately describes the ins and outs of working in tech.
Cycles to the boom and why there is no Canadian Techlash
“I think it’s hard to win optimism outside of VC.”
The Globe and Mail’s Shawn Silkoff joins to discuss whether or not Canada’s tech boom is coming to an end. Public policy expert Vas Bednar joins to discuss which Canadian companies are quietly using big tech strategies to their advantage.
Sign up for B|K: The BetaKit Newsletter
Sign up for B|K using the form below to ensure it arrives in your inbox every week from BetaKit.
