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VANCOUVER ISLAND – A group of technology companies from Coombs, Courtenay, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay and Port Alberni recently attracted major attention from media, investors, and attendees during the first ever BC TECH Summit held at Vancouver Conference Centre, January 18 – 19.
Innovation Island, the Nanaimo-based tech startup resource, hosted a booth in the BCAN Pavilion, where six member companies in the Innovation Island venture acceleration program showcased their software, projects and code during the two-day event.
“It was great to see founders and companies from our region featured alongside thirty-plus other BC companies displaying their innovations in the Technology Showcase and venture capital presentations,” said Paris Gaudet, Executive Director with Innovation Island. “The innovative work happening inside these local island startups—whether in the area of virtual reality, social networks, password-management tools, or coding languages—was well received.”
“Seeing some of our island startups onstage, going head-to-head for votes from the audience with established Vancouver-based technology companies was definitely a highlight,” said Graham Truax, Executive in Residence for Innovation Island.
The event—the first ever Tech Summit organized by the provincial government—attracted over 3,000 people from across BC and beyond. There was a strong showing by innovative startups, informative panels and keynotes, and a mix of founders, funders, government representatives and media in attendance. Premier Christy Clark opened the event by unveiling the BC Tech Strategy and Minister Amrik Virk was active during the two-day event.
For island companies and staff who attended, the show offered a chance to meet with media and potential investors, expand their business, discuss collaborative tech ideas and partnerships, and expand their networks in the province.
Companies participating at the Tech Summit from the Innovation Island venture acceleration program included:
- Honest Renter, Nanaimo: https://www.honestrenter.com/
- Kube, Nanaimo: https://www.kube.is/
- Kitestrings, Courtenay: https://kitestrings.herokuapp.com/
- Hypersurge, Nanoose Bay: http://hypersurge.com/
- Skookum Script, Port Alberni: http://skookumscript.com/
- Cloudhead Games, Coombs: http://cloudheadgames.com/cloudhead/
Additional highlights and show panels from the BC Tech Summit can be found online at the BC Tech Strategy website.
