There has never been a better time to start a technology business in Vancouver. Mentorship, networking, and education are what Cascadia Summit is all about. With over 500 attendees including entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations, this finale to Vancouver Start-up Week at the Telus World of Science is really a hub of innovation, and a snapshot of where new technology is headed for the upcoming year.
New technology in this hyper-connected world was evident by the type of start-ups showcasing their products; from FarmLead, an online marketplace for farmers to sell grain directly to buyers without the need of brokers, to Wiivv Wearables, who create personalized 3D printed insoles.
During the evening, Lighthouse Labs introduced their initiative to promote digital literacy, specifically coding with HTML 500, Canada’s largest learn to code event. As the start-up community continues to grow, the need for employees that can speak coding languages grows exponentially; even in business related roles.
Pook-Ping Yao, CEO of Optigo Networks was one of the 16 companies that pitched their product to a panel of venture capitalists seeking the spotlight to help grow his business.
In the end, Control and Optigo were announced in the top three, while Magicflix, a safe, curated video service for kids was declared the winner. However, all three felt like winners, securing funding from Plug and Play Ventures.
Over 15 Beedie students were in attendance, including Instructor Terry Beech. Let’s hope to see some Beedie alumni pitching their products at next year’s Cascadia Summit!
Brandon is in his final year studying Management & Technology and is pursuing a career combining his passions in project management and technology either by starting his own company or working in a fast paced corporation. Along with completing 4 co-ops, Brandon been a community leader at SFU, organizing programs in residence, representing his faculty as a board member on the Simon Fraser Student Society, on the SFU Senate as well as leading a humanitarian service-learning trip to Zambia. Currently, Brandon is a case competitor for JDC West and is participating in the tech entrepreneurship@SFU program. He is a young professional who loves his school, his community, and is excited for the future.