Newcomer’s Guide to Vancouver Startup Community

Photo Credit: Éole

As soon as I read A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Toronto Startup Ecosystem, which draws it’s inspiration from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Boston Tech Community, I knew that Vancouver needed one of it’s own. Thanks to both authors for inspiring this resource. 

I hope that this guide helps anyone new to Vancouver, new to a career in startups, or with a newfound vigor for life. to get out there and make some friends, learn from some of the best and brightest, and blur the work/life divide. In the spirit of inclusivity…

Guide to Vancouver Startup Community

Regular Events/Meetups

• Vancouver Pixel Crafters – A community for the web, software and design craftspeople of Vancouver
• Lean Startup Vancouver – “For startups and agile businesses that wants to transform how their products are built and launched”
• VanDev: Vancouver’s Software Developers Network – “Come to meet people from the local software development industry”
• Vancouver Scala Meetup – “Vancouver Scala is an opportunity to discover Scala, learn about new techniques and frameworks, and meet other Scala developers in the Lower Mainland”
• Vancouver iDevelopers – “Technical topics for iOS developers in the Vancouver area”
• Full Indie – This wouldn’t be a very good list of Vancouver’s meetups with one for game developers
• VanCX: Vancouver Community Experience Group – “Vancouver-based online community developers, managers, designers and participants”
• Internet Masterminds – “The purpose of this group is to develop our businesses, marketing, share ideas, discuss strategies, and talk to people who get exited when we talk about internet marketing”
• Pecha Kucha Vancouver – Talks consisting of 20 slides for 20 seconds for the city’s creatives to network and showcase their work
• Ladies Learning Code Vancouver - Monthly workshops for women looking to learn programming skills

Annual Events/Conferences

• GROWConf – A conference about entrepreneurship that brings investors and thought leaders from around the world to Vancouver
• Launch @ Grow – A networking party that takes place during Grow Week showcasing some of the city’s top startups
• MeshWest – A day of speakers and networking to discuss how the web is changing our work and personal lives
• TEDxVancouver – The once a year local edition of TED Talks – bringing ideas worth spreading into our own backyard
• Beyond Pink – A 2-day conference hosted by Young Women in Business to showcase local women entrepreneurs
• Startup Weekend Vancouver- An event that facilitates the creation of a startup company in a weekend
• BCIC New Ventures Competition – “Recognizing and encouraging entrepreneurship in B.C.’s technology sector”

Co-working Spaces/Incubators/Accelerators

• GrowLab – A startup accelerator that focuses on Internet and software technology companies
• Launch Academy – A pre-accelerator space that provides early-stage startups with office space and mentorship
• The HiVE – “A sustainability and creative co-working space” located in Gastown, Vancouver
• The Network Hub – A startup launchpag in Gastown, Vancouver
• Wavefront Accelerator – For the growth and success of wireless companies in Canada
• Institute B – An incubator that appears to focus on unreasonable and “new skool” businesses
• Time Ventures Small & Medium Enterprises Hub – An incubator partnership between Simon Fraser University and BC’s technology ventures industry
• BCTIA Centre4Growth- An incubator for technology companies to grow their business or take their idea to the next level

University/Government Resources

• Entrepreneurship@UBC – A campus-wide initiative that connects student entrepreneurs with mentorship and networking opportunities
• Startup Weekend UBC – 54 hours to create a company at the University of British Columbia campus
• Entrepreneurship@SFU – A program that teaches entrepreneurial skills and facilitates the making of technology companies
• Emily Carr Social & Interactive Media Centre – Connects BC companies with the design and expertise of Emily Carr faculty and students
• The Next 36 – A program consisting of an entrepreneurship curriculum with a new venture challenge
• Small Business BC- Offers services and resources for entrepreneurs starting a new venture or growing their business
• British Columbia Technology Industry Association – Provides membership resources and advocates for it’s members

Traditional & New Media

A list of traditional & new media outlets in Vancouver that feature technology & startup news

• TechVibes Vancouver
• Vancity Buzz 
• Vancouver Sun: Digital Life
• Vancouver Is Awesome
• BC Business
• Business in Vancouver

Startups to Watch

This is by no means an exhaustive list

• HootSuite
• Invoke
• Mobify
• Spokal
• Weeve
• KarmaHire
• Foodee
• Loupe
• BlueBatGames
• A Thinking Ape
• Strutta
• Perch
• Wantering
• Indochino
• Placeling
• Thinkific
• Cargoh
• Skyscrpr
• Battlefy
• Fundrazr
• Xomo Digital
• ethicalDeal
• clio
• myBestHelper

In & Around the Region

• Startup Kelowna – Great resources for the startup events happening in Kelowna, BC
• Startup Weekend Victoria – Facilitating the creation of startups in Victoria, BC (First one is happening this weekend)
• Startup Weekend Okanagan – Facilitating the creations of startups in the Okanagan
• Accelerate Okanagan – “Offering programs that support entrepreneurs and technology companies
• TechStars Seattle- Startup accelerator in Seattle

Job Boards & Hiring Resources

• GrowLab Job Board
• JobSprout Vancouver
• TechVibes Vancouver Jobs
• Quora – Which Vancouver startups are hiring?

Online Resources/Newsletters

• Startup Digest Vancouver – Weekly emails about startup news and Vancouver startup events
• Startup North – Canadian startup community blog
• Version One Ventures – Website of Vancouver-based investment firm
• Made in Vancouver – The beginnings of a Vancouver startup directory

Let me know in the comments if I have missed any great Vancouver resources – and I would love to add them to this post.