We’re thrilled to present to you the winners of the Manitoba Tech Awards. 👇

Deal Of The Year: Awarded to the best tech transaction of the year.

Winner: Jared Kozak, Move Right

Investor Of The Year: For an individual (Angel) or investment firm (VC or family office) showing exceptional investment acumen and community leadership.

Winner: Iain Crozier, Trillick Ventures

Revenue Growth Of The Year: For the company that’s quietly grown their revenue.

Winner: David Peters, ConstructionClock

Anchor Of The Year: Honours a flagship company that supports the foundation others build on in Manitoba: creating jobs, attracting capital, nurturing talent, and showing what’s possible when vision meets execution.

Winner: Amanda Macdonald, Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism

The You Love To See It Award: For the win, moment, or person that made the whole community smile and say, “yes, exactly more of this.”

Winner: Noah Wilson, Futurpreneur

The Quietly Crushing It Award: For someone doing consistently excellent work without needing a spotlight, a drumroll, or a LinkedIn essay about it.

Winner: Emily Franz-Lien, Chekkit

The Momentum Award: For the founder, team, or builder who’s clearly on a roll and making things happen in a big way.

Winner: Daniel Yorsh, Aryval

The Winter Warrior Award: For the person who kept showing up, building, networking, and making moves even when it was dark at 4:30pm and their eyelashes froze once.

Winner: Cal Harrison, Beyond Referrals

The Everybody Wants To Collaborate With You Award: For the person everyone wants in the room, on the project, or in the group chat because they make good things better.

Winner: Zach Fleisher, Government of Manitoba

The Local Legend Award: For someone whose impact on the Manitoba tech community is undeniable, unforgettable, and probably comes with at least three good stories.

Winner: Emile Morrissette

The Vibe Setter Award: For the person bringing the energy, the warmth, and the “happy to be here” spirit that makes the community feel like a community.

Winner: Tamara Kroeker

The Always Up To Something Award: For the founder or innovator who is somehow building, launching, advising, hosting, helping, and starting another thing all at once.

Winner: John Sparrow, Go Oil & Aperio Mobility

The Somehow Pulled It Off Award: For the miraculous last-minute launch, save, pivot, event, build, or bold move that really had no business working as well as it did.

Winner: Praise Odutayo, TruckBud

The Most Likely To Know A Guy Award: For the ultimate connector. The person who always seems to know exactly who to call, email, text, or bump into at the right time.

Winner: Genico Aiello

Community Impact Award: For someone whose work has made Manitoba’s tech community stronger, kinder, more connected, and better for everyone in it.

Winner: Zach Flett, Indigihub

S.E.E. Social Impact Award: For someone who embodies support, encouragement, and empowerment in our community, and helps others feel seen while they grow.

Winner: Sean Rayland, Red Rebel Armour Inc

WeMB Women Entrepreneur Award: Recognizing a woman entrepreneur who is turning ambition into action and shaping the future of business in Manitoba.

Winner: Raez Argulla

What’s Growing In Your Backyard Award Winner: Cellar Insights

Write-In Awards:

The MI Marty Supreme Award Winner: Hasanpreet Singh & Miguel Castro

Food Systems Innovator Award Winner: Alexander Kohut

Emerging Tech Talent Award Winner: Yadveer Kaur Brar

The Too Successful to Be This Helpful Award Winner: Joshua Simair

Always Happy to See You Award Winner: Harold (the Dog), Bobo

Tech Community Award Winner: Richard Bennett

The Heart of Tech MB Award Winner: Kelly Fournel

Moved Across the World to Scale their Company Award Winner: GeneNeer

Another incredible evening celebrating Manitoba tech! A sincere congratulations to all of our award winners, a massive thank you to all of our attendees, and a hat tip to everyone who has come together to create a thriving ecosystem. We’ll see you next year!

All photos by Reanna Khan

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these event possible including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Informanix, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, Amiron Ventures, and Manitoba Innovates.

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Thanks for reading Winnipeg Tech Newsletter! If you haven’t yet, subscribe 👇

Subscribe now

Two ways to get involved:

1. We'd love to see you in the room. RSVP for May 14th here.

2. Nominate someone you think deserves the spotlight here.

We're accepting nominations for 18 awards this year. Submit as many as you'd like.

1. Deal of the Year 🤝: Awarded to the best tech transaction of the year.

2. Investor of the Year 💰: For an individual (Angel) or investment firm (VC or family office) showing exceptional investment acumen and community leadership.

3. Revenue Growth of the Year 📈: For the company that’s quietly grown their revenue.

4. Anchor of the Year ⚓: Honours a flagship company that supports the foundation others build on in Manitoba: creating jobs, attracting capital, nurturing talent, and showing what’s possible when vision meets execution.

5. The You Love to See It Award 🙌: For the win, moment, or person that made the whole community smile and say, “yes, exactly more of this.”

6. The Quietly Crushing It Award 🤫: For someone doing consistently excellent work without needing a spotlight, a drumroll, or a LinkedIn essay about it.

7. The Momentum Award 🚀: For the founder, team, or builder who’s clearly on a roll and making things happen in a big way.

8. The Winter Warrior Award 🥶: For the person who kept showing up, building, networking, and making moves even when it was dark at 4:30pm and their eyelashes froze once.

9. The Everybody Wants to Collaborate with You Award 🌟: For the person everyone wants in the room, on the project, or in the group chat because they make good things better.

10. The Local Legend Award 🦸: For someone whose impact on the Manitoba tech community is undeniable, unforgettable, and probably comes with at least three good stories.

11. The Vibe Setter Award ✨: For the person bringing the energy, the warmth, and the “happy to be here” spirit that makes the community feel like a community.

12. The Always Up to Something Award 💡: For the founder or innovator who is somehow building, launching, advising, hosting, helping, and starting another thing all at once.

13. The Somehow Pulled It Off Award 🎯: For the miraculous last-minute launch, save, pivot, event, build, or bold move that really had no business working as well as it did.

14. The Most Likely to Know a Guy Award 📞: For the ultimate connector. The person who always seems to know exactly who to call, email, text, or bump into at the right time.

15. Community Impact Award 👏: For someone whose work has made Manitoba’s tech community stronger, kinder, more connected, and better for everyone in it.

16. S.E.E. Social Impact Award 💚: For someone who embodies support, encouragement, and empowerment in our community, and helps others feel seen while they grow.

17. WeMB Women Entrepreneur Award 👩‍💼: Recognizing a woman entrepreneur who is turning ambition into action and shaping the future of business in Manitoba.

18. Create Your Own Award ✏️: Got someone in mind who deserves recognition and doesn’t quite fit a category? Make one up. Honestly, that feels very on-brand for this event.

Every nominee will be featured at the event, because being celebrated by your community is the whole point. We can’t wait to see all of the amazing people you put forward!

Submit your nominations

RSVP to The Manitoba Tech Awards

📣 Want your company at the centre of Manitoba’s tech ecosystem? We’re looking for presenting sponsors for individual awards. Reach out: philippe.burns@techthursday.ca

Upcoming Events 👇

May 7th

Topic - Tech Together: The Allyship Advantage

Co-Host - Manitoba Women in Tech

We'll explore the role of allyship in advancing women in tech. This panel brings together diverse perspectives to discuss how inclusive leadership, advocacy, and real-world support can help women rise and strengthen teams and organizations along the way.

Speakers:

• Mohammed Anjum - Founder of Echo-Ai

• Jonathan Roffel - Director of Production, AVentPro

• Paul Memka - Director, Digital Experiences, Wawanesa

• Michael Anderson - President & CEO, 365 Technologies

• Moderated by: Whitney Morgan - Executive Committee Member of MBWiTech and Director of Operations, North Forge

RSVP

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these event possible including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, Amiron Ventures, and Manitoba Innovates.

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• Insurance company Wawanesa acquired the Canadian retail insurance business of Everest Group, increasing their commercial book by 30% (approx. $305 million in value).

• Winnipeg-based Move Right, a moving software built by operators, for operators, was acquired by Mobio Technologies Inc.

Tech Thursday in Winnipeg is now Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates.

In the News 📰

• The CVCA officially announced its 2025 numbers, with extremely promising figures coming out of Manitoba:

  • $127 million Venture Capital dollars were invested into Manitoba, up from $4 million in 2024.

  • 7 companies that received investments are headquartered in Manitoba.

• The Manitoba Government increased Venture Capital tax credits to $30 million

  • In addition to the tax credit increase, Manitoba will also be aligning with modern investment practices by recognizing simple agreements for future equity (SAFEs) as eligible investment instruments.

  • The Government also reduced the minimum eligible investment to $5,000 from $10,000, and expanded eligibility to include limited partnerships (LPs), the standard structure for venture capital funds.

• Through a randomized controlled trial led by Stanford University, Winnipeg’s Hoot Reading evidenced that their high-impact, virtual tutoring can substantially improve literacy outcomes for struggling readers at scale.

• Ran (former Skip) and Toni Shulman launched Koala Insulation of Winnipeg, building a high-performance insulation company serving residential and commercial properties across Winnipeg and surrounding areas.

• ConstructionClock App launched SuperClock, a feature which will revolutionize the way trades people track time and get paid.

Upcoming Events 👇

💼 April 23rd

Topic - The Talent Equation: Connecting Skills, Hiring, and Opportunity

Co-Hosts - Lotlinx

Through a moderated panel discussion, we’ll unpack real hiring challenges, expectations, and insights from the field, offering a clear, grounded perspective on the current talent landscape.

Speakers:

• Zech Noiseux, VP, Strategic Partnerships & Integrations at TAIV

• Eric Kulchycki, Chief Operating Officer at Floodline Consulting Inc.

• Mark Biebrich, Senior Director, Data Analytics & Data Engineering at Lotlinx

RSVP HERE

📣 April 30th

Topic - Trade Show Playbook: Turning Traffic into Traction

Join us for an interactive Tech Thursday session where you’ll gain actionable insights, real-world examples, and tactics you can apply at your next event.

Speakers:

• David Owasi, Chief Executive Officer at Outreach Genius

• Anders Boulanger, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Engagify

• Moderated by: Cal Harrison, Chief Executive Officer at Beyond Referrals

RSVP HERE

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these event possible including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, Amiron Ventures, and Manitoba Innovates.

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April is here, Winnipeg!

Tech Thursday, Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates, is kicking off the month with 3 great events. Find your Thursday below! 👇

🚀 April 2nd

Topic - The CIO Perspective: Leading Digital Transformation in Government

Co-Hosted by: PMI Manitoba

Join us for a fireside chat with Alessandro Alves, CIO and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Government of Manitoba, as he shares real-world perspectives on modernizing public services, managing large-scale change, and navigating innovation in complex environments.

Speakers:

• Alessandro Alves, Chief Information Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Government of Manitoba

• Abilash Janakiraman, Director of Professional Development at PMI Manitoba (Interviewer)

RSVP

👩‍💻 April 9th

Topic - Securing Agentic AI

As AI systems become more autonomous and deeply embedded in business operations, securing Agentic AI is becoming a critical priority for organizations of all sizes.

Join industry leaders for a fireside chat on risks, governance, and real-world implementation strategies.

Speakers:

• Mark Maciver, Chief Executive Officer, Integrationworx

• Warren Lyne, Cloud Business Development Manager, Fortinet

RSVP

Brought to you by:

Boast - Generic accounting firms miss qualifying activities. Automated tools lack strategic optimization. Boast delivers both—cutting-edge technology plus decades of specialized expertise. The result? 3x higher average returns, 100% audit defense, and $675M+ secured for North American innovators. Your R&D investments deserve maximum returns. Start at boast.ai

📈 April 16th

Topic - Little Greenhouse That Could

A founder-to-founder fireside chat on building purpose-driven ventures, scaling impact, and growing community through innovation.

We'll explore the journey of building a mission-driven venture, navigating early decisions, and scaling sustainably while staying rooted in values. Expect real insights, founder lessons, and meaningful conversations with Winnipeg’s innovation ecosystem.

Speakers:

• Trina Semenchuk – Founder, Little Greenhouse That Could

• Jordan Labelle – Owner, Evergreen Growth Collective

RSVP

Tech Thursday in Winnipeg is now Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates.

🫶 News from our Friends

Uniting the Prairies (UP) is back April 29-30 in Saskatoon. It brings together high-growth prairie founders and 75+ investors from across North America in a 2:1 founder-to-investor room - a format that’s helped drive $40M+ raised since 2022.

More info and tickets here.

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events possible including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, Amiron Ventures, and Manitoba Innovates.

LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Thursday Live Podcast

We can’t wait to see you there! 👇

🪽 March 12th

Topic - Red Bull Basement Activation

Red Bull Basement empowers student innovators to build real-world solutions through creativity, tech, and global collaboration.

Whether you are a student with an idea, a founder building community, or an ecosystem leader looking for a model that works, this event will offer invaluable insights and inspiration.

Speakers:

• ​​Emma Romans, Student Marketeer, Red Bull Canada

• Matthew Salyn, Student Marketeer, Red Bull Canada

• Victoria Robertson, Field Marketing Specialist, Red Bull Canada

RSVP

🗣️ March 19th

Topic - Simple. Specific. Acquired: A Manitoba Founder’s Journey

What does it really take to build a company in Manitoba and successfully exit?

Join us for an honest and insightful fireside chat featuring the Founders at StorySpan and Move Right.

Whether you’re an early-stage founder, scaling operator, or simply curious about the acquisition process, this session offers real-world insights grounded in the Manitoba ecosystem.

Speakers:

• Christopher Johnson, Founder, StorySpan (Interviewer)

• Jared Kozak, Founder, Move Right

RSVP

Maximize Your R&D Tax Credits with Boast

Are you leaving innovation capital on the table? Boast combines AI-powered automation with specialized tax expertise to help tech companies maximize R&D credit returns. Join 2,000+ businesses who’ve secured $675M+ in funding. Get your free assessment at boast.ai

💻 March 26th

Topic - AI, Cloud & Cyber Risk

AI is dominating every conversation in tech, but what does it actually mean for security? This session dives into how AI is influencing cyber threats, cloud governance, and the future of cybersecurity leadership.

If you’re a founder, technologist, executive, or operator working at the intersection of AI, cloud, and security, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Speakers:

• Paul Card, CEO, Manitoba Innovates (Interviewer)

• Kevin Vadnais, Managing Consultant, Mandiant

RSVP

🎙️ Check Out The Latest Episodes of ‘Your Business Is On The Line’

A Thursday Media Podcast: “Your Business Is On The Line” is a business-comedy podcast hosted by Shubh Sidhu with super special guest co-host Philippe Burns.

Catch the latest episodes on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Episode 12: InnerVoice & TefLawn w/Joe Fairleigh

Episode 11: Jesus+ or Pay4Me or Vibes+ w/Courtney Kos

Episode 10: Corporate Espionage as a Service w/ Dallas Price

Tech Thursday in Winnipeg is now Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates.

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events possible including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, Amiron Ventures, and Manitoba Innovates.

Want to catch up on other Tech Thursday’s? Check out our videos on YouTube, listen to Tech Thursday Live on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and be sure to follow us on Instagram for updates on everything Tech Thursday.

• Taiv, a Winnipeg-based company that detects ads playing on TV and replaces them with more relevant ones, has just raised US$13M Growth Round. This brings their total capital raised to more than US$30M, and brings their valuation to just under US$100M.

  • Taiv’s co-founders Noah Palansky and Jordan Davis were both named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. Making them the first Winnipegger’s, who’re still building a company in Winnipeg, to be named to the list.

  • Check out our 60-Second Founder with Noah Palansky here.

• SimpleHedge, a Prairie startup focused on helping farmers lock-in high profits, has just raised $4M pre-seed with participating from Trillick Ventures.

• ConstructionClock, a Winnipeg-based contractor labour tracking app, has raised a $2M seed round led by Trillick Ventures and M25.

• The Emend Fund has raised $5M from the Manitoba First Fund to invest in Manitoban startups. Emend Ventures will prioritize companies in agriculture technology alongside innovation for oil & gas, mining, clean water, industrial AI, transportation and logistics, and critical infrastructure.

• Agi3, a Manitoba agritech company, received a $4.7M investment from ScaleAI. The project aims to accelerate the adoption of AI to strengthen competitiveness in Manitoba’s agricultural sector.

• Appraiva, a leading visual property intelligence platform for investors, has been acquired. Zach Simmons will join its Board of Directors, and the investment will support Appraiva’s continued platform development and expansion efforts.

Awards 🥇

• Darion Ducharme, Founder of Teqare, is the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business’s 2025 Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Award recipient.

• New Media Manitoba is celebrating 25 years of operation.

Tech Thursday in Winnipeg is now Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates.

Product Launches 📈

• GeneNeer, a Gene-Editing Technology for Enhanced-Crop Breeding, is opening a new lab in Winnipeg. They’ll be working with industry leaders and growers to create innovative potato varieties.

• Neralake, a Strategic planner for non-profits, has launched a first look at their product.

• IndigiHub, a centralized hub for Indigenous Funding opportunities, has launched an improved version of their platform.

• Tech Thursday has launched Tech Thursday Live! A weekly podcast that will highlight full-length Tech Thursday events from across the country. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music.

• Clicks, a mobile hardware company with a Winnipeg-based CEO, has launched two new products: Communicator and Power Keyboard. Clicks won several Best of CES accolades including from the NYTimes.

• The Government of Manitoba has launched Digital Health Cards. Manitobans can now apply for and access a digital health card on their mobile devices.

In the News 📰

• Brad Joudrie is the new CEO of Conquest Planning, a Winnipeg based wealth advisor software. Founder Mark Evans is becoming the Executive Chair.

• Bobo, an app that helps families take charge of pediatric health, has been selected to partner with Stanford’s Impact1 program.

  • Bobo was also selected to join the Consumer AI Accelerator.

  • Bobo was also featured in the Winnipeg Free Press, speaking on operating in Canada in the digital health space.

• 3Common, a Winnipeg-based ticketing platform, was featured in the Winnipeg Free Press.

New Opportunities 🚀

• Gryd is hiring across Tech, Operations, Sales, and Marketing roles.

• Taiv is hiring Software Developers (all levels), Embedded System Developers, and Media Account Managers.

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these event recaps possible including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, Amiron Ventures, and Manitoba Innovates.

Upcoming Events 👇

🚀 February 12th

Topic - Cost of Getting Things Wrong: Early Decisions That Make or Break Projects

Co-Hosts - Project Management Institute Manitoba

In this session, experienced practitioners explore how choices made at the very beginning of a project can quietly shape outcomes for better or worse. From missed assumptions and unclear problem definitions to rushed trade-offs around scope, timelines, and stakeholders, these early moments often determine whether a project succeeds or struggles.

Speakers:

• Dean Zarillo, Senior Consultant at Online Business Systems

• Vincent Turski, President at IIBA Winnipeg

• Moderated by: Abilash Janakiraman, Director of Professional Development at PMI Manitoba Chapter

RSVP HERE

🚪 February 26th

Topic - From First Exit to Next Chapter: Lessons from Repeat Founders

Co-Hosts - Social Entrepreneurship Enclave and the Black Business Venture Association in conjunction with Manitoba Tech Week.

Speakers:

• David Owasi, CEO, OutreachGenius

• Eniola Osabiya, Co-Founder, Stealth Startup

• Emmanuel Ifenyin, Founder, SoleCapsule

RSVP HERE

We are also proud to announce that Tech Thursday is now Superpowered by Manitoba Innovates.

We’ll see you there! 👇

👨‍⚕️ February 5th

Topic - ScaleUP Fireside Chat with QDoc

Co-Hosts - ScaleUP Week and MNP

We are thrilled to be co-hosting this event with ScaleUP Week and MNP, where you’ll hear the candid scaleup story behind QDoc.

As the 2025 People’s Choice ScaleUP Award winner, you’ll learn straight from founder and CEO Dr. Norm Silver about what it really takes to move beyond early traction and build a company that’s ready to scale.

Speakers:

• Dr. Norm Silver, Co-founder & CEO of QDoc

• Dr. Simon Raby, Founder and Executive Director, ScaleUP Week

RSVP HERE

⚠️ February 12th

Topic - Cost of Getting Things Wrong: Early Decisions That Make or Break Projects

Co-Hosts - Project Management Institute Manitoba

In this session, experienced practitioners explore how choices made at the very beginning of a project can quietly shape outcomes for better or worse. From missed assumptions and unclear problem definitions to rushed trade-offs around scope, timelines, and stakeholders, these early moments often determine whether a project succeeds or struggles.

Speakers:

• Dean Zarillo, Senior Consultant at Online Business Systems

• Vincent Turski, President at IIBA Winnipeg

• Moderated by: Abilash Janakiraman, Director of Professional Development at PMI Manitoba Chapter

RSVP HERE

🚪 February 26th

Topic - From First Exit to Next Chapter: Lessons from Repeat Founders

Co-Hosts - Social Entrepreneurship Enclave and the Black Business Venture Association in conjunction with Manitoba Tech Week.

Speakers:

• David Owasi, CEO, OutreachGenius

• Eniola Osabiya, Co-Founder, Stealth Startup

• Emmanuel Ifenyin, Founder, SoleCapsule

RSVP HERE

🎙️ Tech Thursday LIVE has Officially Launched!

Tech Thursday is bringing some of our favourite panels to Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you can listen to all of our incredible speakers at home, at work, or on the go!

Check it out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Miss a Tech Thursday? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv, and be sure to follow us on Instagram!

We are so excited to kick off 2026 with a couple great events, and we hope you’ll join us to start the new year strong.

We’ll see you there! 👇

💰 January 15th

Topic - Raising Capital: Do’s & Don’ts

Co-Host - Manitoba Innovates

Join us for our first Tech Thursday panel of 2026, Raising Capital: Do’s and Don’ts, a panel featuring three founders at different points in their fundraising journey to share what they’ve learned, what surprised them and what they’d do differently.

Speakers:

• David Peters, Founder & CEO at ConstructionClock

• Jonathan Sparrow, Founder & CEO at Aperio Mobility

• Hasanpreet Singh, Co-Founder & COO at Orbis Assist

RSVP HERE

👥 January 22nd

Topic - Scale Ready: How Working Capital & Mentorship Build Strong Startups

Co-Host - Futurpreneur

We’re thrilled to have partnered with Futurpreneur to bring you an exciting conversation. Join us for a practical conversation on building resilient, scale-ready startups through smart funding and strong mentorship.

Speakers:

• Grant McDonald, Co-Founder and CEO at Bobo

• Darion Ducharme, Founder at Teqare

• Matthew Dirks, Co-Founder at Neralake

• Nicholas Kuncewicz, Founder at ARCH Airworks

• Moderated by: Dr. Wendy Yan, Senior Business Development Manager of Futurpreneur

RSVP HERE

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv, and make sure to follow Tech Thursday on Instagram!

• OutreachGenius named one of the top startups in the country.

  • David Owasi and Winnipeg’s OutreachGenius was recognized as one of the top startups in the country at the Black Innovation Summit in Toronto, earning a $200,000 investment.

• QDoc closed a $1.5M investment round.

  • The virtual healthcare platform was also named the Globe and Mail’s #6 fastest growing company in Canada, and #1 in healthcare, saving 2,500 emergency room visits per month.

• New Media Manitoba received over $2.3M in funding.

  • This includes $2.3M from PrairiesCan for AI Innovation and $30,000 from Ubisoft Winnipeg to help video game studios with early-stage business costs.

Provincial Building 🔨

• The Government of Manitoba launched its new Economic Development Strategy, focusing on affordability, retention of young people, and increasing wages.

  • The strategy outlined several initiatives, including a new $50-million business loan program, strengthening career development in schools, and modernizing Manitoba’s investment tax credits.

• The Temporary Resident Retention Pilot launched, allowing employers to retain current employees who are temporary foreign workers.

  • This program provides employers with a permanent residency pathway for qualified employees, providing an opportunity for a strong future in Manitoba.

• Montreal-based Deep Sky announced their newest facility will be built in Southwestern Manitoba.

  • This facility will remove 500,000 tonnes of carbon at full scale, becoming one of the world’s largest carbon removal facilities, and will bring a $500 million investment into the area.

Partnerships 🤝

• Taiv and IRIS.TV

  • Winnipeg’s Taiv, which is now live in over 21 major markets, has partnered with IRIS.TV, allowing advertisers to target ads at the exact moments that matter during live professional and collegiate sporting events, in bars, restaurants, and venues nationwide.

• Teqare and Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet

  • Winnipeg’s Teqare partnered with Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet to deliver a Cyber Safety and AI Deepfake Workshop.

• Aivida-Medical and CAMS - Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation

  • Aivida-Medical’s AI tool Scribble, designed to reduce the paperwork burden on physicians, completed encounters 23% faster on average, through the NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation.

Manitoba on the Map 🌎

• Taiv’s Noah Palansky gave a keynote on Web Summit Lisbon’s main stage. You can watch the keynote here.

• Winnipeg’s AI-Parenting platform, Bobo was featured in Forbes. You can read the article here.

• Deloitte’s ‘Technology Fast 50’ featured two Manitoba-based companies: Taiv and Conquest Planning, featuring a three-year growth rate of 7,432% and 542%, respectively. You can see the full list here.

Celebrating Manitoba 🎉

• Taiv co-founders Jordan Davis and Noah Palansky were name to the Forbes

  ‘30 Under 30’ list. Congratulations to Jordan and Noah!

• The 2025 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year were announced, hosted in Winnipeg and supported by Manitoba Innovates. Congratulations to the winners:

  • Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year: Annika Ng, Blossom Social

  • Young Black Entrepreneur of the Year: Nanette Sene, Juno Technologies

  • Young Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year: James Quinn, Larry’s Catch

  • Emerging Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Georgiy Sekretaryuk, Overdrive

  • Emerging Tech Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Ankur Boyed, Boardy.AI

  • Clean Tech Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Jennifer Cote, Opalia

  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Francesca Albo, Puppy Sphere

• The inaugural DARE Innovation Awards, presented by Bell MTS and hosted by North Forge, will celebrate Manitoba’s entrepreneurial excellence and innovation on February 26th, 2026.

  • Visit: https://www.dareinnovationawards.com/awards to get your nomination in before it’s too late!

Product Launches 🚀

• Go Oil - Powered by Aperio Mobility announced their unlimited maintenance offer for $200 a year with no mileage limit… that your car can book on its own.

• Teenage Astronauts launched the game Little Rocket Lab on Steam and recouped their building and development costs in 6 days.

Keep up to date with Manitoba Tech. Subscribe to the Winnipeg Tech Newsletter below!

Subscribe now

Open Positions 👯‍♀️

• VidDay is hiring for multiple positions.

• Tactica is hiring for multiple positions.

• PolicyMe is hiring for a Remote Senior Software Engineer.

• GlitchSecure is hiring for a Sales and Account Manager.

The Last 2 Tech Thursdays of the Year in Winnipeg!

December 4th: ‘Big Room Collaboration: Engineers, Product Managers & PMs Working Together Effectively’

Featuring:

• Sandra Rydz, PMP, Prince2, MSP, ITIL v3, MoP, Director, Consulting Services, Paradigm Consulting Group

• Dr. Sameh Kodsi, PEng, PE, PMP, SMIEEE -SAS Canada I – Department Manager, POWER Engineers Canada/ Member of WSP

• Abilash Janakiraman PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM – Director of Professional Development, PMI Manitoba / Sr. Product Owner at Grain and Protein Technologies

• Moderated by: Darwin Hudson – VP, PMI Manitoba

RSVP Here!

December 11th: ‘Founders Forecast: 2026 Resolutions’

Featuring:

• YOU! This event will be an open mic for founders to share their 2026 goals, aspirations, predictions, and resolutions for the year ahead.

  RSVP Here!

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  Major Tech Thursday Announcement 📈

  • We Are HIRING!

    • Want to come work at one of the fastest growing Tech communities in Canada? Tech Thursday is hiring an Operations Lead!

      • This role allows you to flex so many muscles at once. You’ll handle our national operations & multi-city programming, sponsorship & ecosystem relationships, internal operations and systems building, and coordinate with our internal team to ensure smooth delivery of events and content.

  • Apply here ➡️ Operations Lead
    

We are so excited about this November schedule, and couldn’t be more thrilled to solve the winter blues with a fantastic lineup!

We’ll see you there! 👇

💪 November 6th

Topic - Building Bulletproof Businesses

Co-Hosts - CIBC + Pitblado

This panel will focus on how business owners can safeguard their companies against unforeseen challenges such as the incapacity or loss of a shareholder.

Speakers:

• Mike Gershman, CIM. Associate Investment Advisor with the Madams Advisory Group

• Doug Dornan, Estate Planning Specialist, CIBC

• Adam Herstein, Business, Information Technology and Intellectual Property Lawyer, Partner, Pitblado Law

• Moderated by: Scott Madams, CIM, DMS. Portfolio Manager and Senior Investment Advisor with the Madams Advisory Group

RSVP Here!

📖 November 13th

Topic - Techapalooza’s Million Dollar Story & the Power of Purpose-Driven Events

Co-Hosts - Techapalooza + New Media Manitoba

You will hear from a dynamic panel who will share the Techapalooza origin story, and the power of purpose-driven events. Once the panel is wrapped up, you are warmly invited to stay for live music and Happy Hour networking!

Speakers:

• Hal Ryckman, Co-Founder at Techapalooza

• Sherelle Kwan, Manager, Community Events and Evelopment at CancerCare Manitoba Foundation

• Brett Kapilik, Vice President of Consulting Services at CGI

• Michael Aldor, Director of Sponsorship at Techapalooza

• Moderated by: Laura Curtis, Director of Marketing & Communications at CancerCare Manitoba Foundation

RSVP Here!

🖥️ November 15th

Topic - Hackathon - Solving the Canadian Productivity Crisis - Winnipeg

Co-Hosts - Neo, Helcim, ZayZoon, Microsoft, Motiv, and Robin

The goal of this event is to bring back the spirit of early-2010s hackathons. By leveraging Vibe Coding, we believe that in 8-hours, we can create something incredible.

​This full-day, cross-city hackathon will bring together developers, product managers, and innovators to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the country: Canada’s productivity crisis.

First Place team will receive $1,000.

Second Place will receive $500.

People’s Choice winner will receive $500.

Get Your Tickets Here!

⚖️ November 20th

Topic - Innovating in Government: Modernizing Public Services via Digital Solutions

Co-Host - Interac

We’re thrilled to be co-hosting this event with Interac that brings members of the Government of Manitoba together to discuss innovation in government. This panel will discuss how the government is leveraging digital solutions to modernize public services.

Speakers:

Opening Address from the Honourable Mike Moroz, Minister of Innovation and New Technology at Government of Manitoba

• Jonathan Drover, AVP of Public Sector Business Development at Interac Corp

• Tyler Gooch, Deputy Minister of Innovation and New Technology at the Government of Manitoba

• Moderated by: Paul Card, CEO at Manitoba Innovates

RSVP Here!

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv, and make sure to follow Tech Thursday on Instagram!

We’ll see you there!

Take a peek! 👇

💼 October 2nd

Topic - Built to Withstand: Managing Risk as You Scale

Co-Host - Coughlin Insurance Brokers

Scaling a business is exciting - but it also comes with new risks that can threaten your momentum if you’re not prepared. This Tech Thursday panel brings together experts in insurance, benefits, and entrepreneurship to unpack how founders and leaders can safeguard their companies while continuing to grow.

Speakers:

• John Coughlin, Commercial Insurance Broker at Coughlin Insurance Brokers

• Adam Porte, Commercial Account Executive at Coughlin Insurance Brokers

• Terry Wang, Founder & CEO, ReLease

• Moderator: Steven Hnatishin, Managing Partner & Benefits Specialist at Cascade Group Benefits

RSVP Here

👨‍⚕️ October 9th

Topic - Fireside Chat with QDoc

Co-Host - QDoc

Over the last year, QDoc has been named People’s Choice ScaleUP of the Year for the Prairies at the ScaleUP Awards Gala in Calgary and a finalist in the Spirit of Winnipeg Awards, Technology Division.

Speakers:

• David Berkowits, Co-Founder & CTO at QDoc

• Dr. Norman Silver, Co-Founder at QDoc

• Moderator: Paul Card, CEO at Manitoba Innovates

RSVP Here

👩‍💻 October 16th

Topic - Manitoba Women in Tech

Co-Host - Manitoba Women in Tech Meet-Up Group

Our panelists: Joelle Foster (North Forge), Louie Ghiz (New Media Manitoba), and Kelly Fournel (Tech Manitoba), will share their perspectives on where meaningful progress is happening and where there’s still room to grow. With a focus on advancing equity and creating opportunities for more diverse voices in tech, this session is all about sparking ideas, challenging the status quo, and empowering women and allies to help shape a more inclusive future of innovation.

Speakers:

• Joelle Foster, President & CEO at North Forge

• Kelly Fournel, CEO at Tech Manitoba

• Louie Ghiz, Executive Director at New Media Manitoba

• Moderator: Teena Lee, Senior Manager, Community Development at New Media Manitoba

RSVP Here

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv, and make sure to follow Tech Thursday on Instagram!

• Payworks, a Winnipeg-based payroll company, was partially acquired by Hg, UK Private Equity firm, for $32M CAD.

  • With revenue over $100M USD, this marks the first instance of outside funding for Payworks, whose Canadian operations will remain unchanged, with 600+ employees continuing to support the company’s strategy.

Fundraising 🚀

• Hyper, a Manitoba emergency response startup, announced in late July a $6.3M USD seed round, led by Eniac Ventures, as well as an official emergence from stealth.

  • Hyper helps emergency responders by answering questions, texting links, forwarding calls, and even taking non-emergency police reports.

Congratulations to the Hyper team!

Subscribe now

Partnerships 🤝

• Winnipeg-based Conquest Planning and BMO

  • BMO is utilizing Conquest’s proprietary planning technology to help users set financial goals, monitor their progress and build a comprehensive snapshot of their financial health.

Manitoba on the Map 🌎

• The Manitoba startup community has stood out nationwide, having the fifth most dollars invested across all provinces, and nearly doubling the national average in terms of deal size according to the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) H1 2025 Market Report.

• Ben Myers, Co-Founder of Robin had his founder story shared in the Winnipeg Sun; be sure to read that article here.

• Are you a founder in Manitoba? Applications for the Manitoba Invests 2025 Winter Cohort opened in August!

  • Founders of early‑stage or scale‑up ventures with a clear path to revenue are encouraged to request the quick‑start package by emailing ventures@mbinnovates.ca.

Product Launches 🚀

• Taiv officially launched in Winnipeg, going live in 30 local venues. Welcome home to the Taiv team!

• Bain Capital is seeking to sell their 32% stake in luxury parka maker Canada Goose. Bain took Canada Goose public in 2017, and holds a majority of voting shares.

• Winnipeg-based Teqare announced the launch of the Teqare Learning Hub, giving individuals, schools, and organizations the opportunity to learn and build essential digital and financial literacy skills asynchronously. Congratulations to the Teqare team!

Open Positions 👯‍♀️

• FarmerTitan is hiring a Senior Software Engineer. You can also apply by sending your resume to katie@farmertitan.com

Upcoming Tech Thursday’s in Winnipeg 👩‍💻

September 25th: ‘From Startup to Scale-Up: Project Management at Different Growth Stages’

Featuring:

• Kurt Penner, Manager, Major Initiatives & Standards at MB Transportation & Infrastructure

• Rajkumar Sukumaran, Director of Software QA at Pollard Banknote

• Michael Hanna, Senior Manager, Network and Technology Services at Bell MTS

• Moderated by: Abilash Janakiraman, Director of Professional Development at PMI Manitoba

RSVP Here!

Take a peek! 👇

👩‍💻 September 4th

Topic - Beyond the Brackets: Women in Code

Co-Host - New Media Manitoba (NMM)

This panel highlights the experiences, skills, and vision of women shaping the future of software development. From career-defining projects to the evolving role of AI, panelists will share how their expertise drives impact today and what they envision for the next generation of developers.

Speakers:

• Corinne Gusnoski, Senior Manager, Business Development at New Media Manitoba

• Teena Lee, Senior Manager, Community Development at New Media Manitoba

• Avalyn Jasenn, Full-Stack Software Developer at Varian

• Danielle Araneta, Full-Stack and AI Developer at CoPilot

• Serena Vandersteen, Team Lead Programmer at Ubisoft Winnipeg

• Katharina Ditler, CTO at Go Oil

RSVP Here!

🏛️ September 11th

Topic - The Story behind the Royal Aviation Museum

Join us for “The Story behind the Royal Aviation Museum,” a fireside chat with Peter George, CEO of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, moderated by Alexandra Gomez, Director of Technology & Communications at Northern Lights Petroleum.

Together, they’ll explore the vision, challenges, and partnerships that brought this landmark museum to life and its mission to inspire future generations through aviation history.

Speakers:

• Peter George, CEO at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

• Alexandra Gomez, Director of Technology & Communications at Northern Lights Petroleum

RSVP Here!

📊 September 18th

Topic - Marketing, Metrics, and Measurable Growth: Stories That Drive Success in 2025's Data, Media, and AI Landscape

Co-Host - TRIBBUTE

This fireside session will be a deep dive on terms like 'ROI', 'CTR', 'Engagement', 'ROAS'. What do they mean? Which ones should you care about? Which ones are overrated? Everything you wish you could ask about marketing metrics in 2025.

Speakers:

• Kelly Kenochny, Founding Partner at TRIBBUTE

• Paul Card, CEO at Manitoba Innovates

RSVP Here!

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv, and make sure to follow Tech Thursday on Instagram!

Tech Thursday is back with the 60 Second Founder series, highlighting founders and the companies they’re building. In Episode 3, we sat down with Noah Palansky, co-founder of Taiv, a YCombinator alumni who just raised a $14M Series A.

“It’s absolutely possible to attract U.S. investment while benefiting from Canada’s innovation ecosystem”. - Noah Palansky, CEO and Co-Founder at Taiv

Taiv’s Opportunity - Tailored Ads for Restaurant-Goers

Many bars, restaurants, and even small-retailers are meticulous about what is presented to each incoming customer: from the menus, to the decor, to the seating arrangements. Owners of these establishments have control down to the finest detail. Yet they don’t have control over what ads play on the TVs… until now.

During commercial breaks in live broadcasts, the TVs are a lost opportunity. They show irrelevant ads, or worse, advertise competing restaurants. This became incredibly clear to Noah when watching a Jets game in downtown Winnipeg.

“When it cut to a commercial break, we saw them running an ad for Boston Pizza's beer special. It just felt wrong. The TVs are the only place within a venue's four walls where felt like a huge missed opportunity.”

Solution - Turn TVs into Revenue Engines

That moment and realization was what sparked Taiv, a Winnipeg-based company that aims to tackle the missed revenue opportunities in bars and restaurants across North America.

Taiv installs technology that integrates directly into a venue’s existing entertainment system, automatically replacing traditional TV commercials with content that’s relevant to the audience in the room.

Instead of forcing owners to run a separate digital signage loop in the corner, Taiv works with the live TV already playing on the venue’s main screens, swapping out ads during commercial breaks for promotions, events, or partner campaigns tailored to that specific audience.

“We give venue owners all the benefits of internal digital signage without dedicating… TVs just [for internal promotions], while also giving a new level of control over the ads they would otherwise be forced to show during commercial breaks.”

Next Steps - Rapid Expansion while keeping Winnipeg Roots

While expanding across North America, Taiv’s roots remain in Winnipeg, a decision that has greatly benefitted the company’s growth. Being able to tap into the city’s talent pool of loyal and skilled people reduces friction to building a world-class team, unlike the hyper-competition that is so often present in U.S. cities.

Additionally, Noah credits Canada’s innovation ecosystem for giving companies like Taiv a boost, from grants and loans to subsidy programs. While Canada’s investment pool may be smaller, Taiv has managed to tap into U.S. funding while still benefiting from the support available at home.

Taiv’s ability to grow from Winnipeg and attract U.S. investment has allowed for major funding milestones, recently securing significant funding (approx. $14 million CAD), and using that to scale up quickly across both the U.S. and Canada. With a focus on bars, restaurants, small-retailers, and even gas stations, they are not only advancing their technology but also pushing their go-to-market strategy aggressively. Next, they plan on launching many new markets, bringing in new talent, and continuing to be one of Canada’s fastest growing companies.

“The next year is going to be all about rapid growth and expansion”.

Subscribe now

Noah’s Advice to Future Founders

“Be prepared for the difficulty, but also to embrace the incredible, transformative journey it will be.”

Thank you for reading Tech Thursday’s ‘60 Second Founder’. If you know of a founder in Winnipeg that’s building in tech, make sure to reach out to Tech Thursday on our Instagram!

Take a peek! 👇

⏳ August 7th

Topic - Time Crunch Tactics: Leading When the Heat's On

Co-Host - Project Management Institute of Manitoba

Join us for a tactical panel on delivering when the pressure’s on.

Learn how top project leaders and startup execs manage shifting priorities, tight timelines, and high-stakes decisions, without burning out their teams.

Speakers:

• Ken Howell, Chief Operating Officer at Paradigm Consulting Group

• Rafael Vitorelli, Assistant Deputy Minister, Innovation & New Technology at the Government of Manitoba

• Tharim Sanchez, Practice Lead, Project & Business Transformation at Informanix Technology Group

• Suvojit De, Vice President, Organization Planning & Development at Paradigm Consulting Group

RSVP Here!

🚜 August 14th

Topic - Part 2: Manitoba AgTech Companies

In this Part 2 session on AgTech in Manitoba, the panel will address funding the early AgTech ideas and making a true saleable MVP and what support has to come with it.

Speakers:

• Cal Harrison, President at Beyond Referrals

• Steve Dziver, Co-Founder at True Ag Developments Inc.

RSVP Here!

🗣️ August 21st

Topic - Details Coming Soon!

💬 August 28th

Topic - A Fireside Chat with Mark Evans from Conquest Planning

Co-Host - Conquest Planning

Join us for a Fireside Chat with two leaders who are driving innovation and growth in Manitoba's tech ecosystem. Paul and Mark will discuss the current landscape of technology development and business planning in our province, sharing insights on funding opportunities, strategic planning for tech companies, and the support systems available to entrepreneurs and innovators.

Speakers:

• Mark Evans, President and CEO at Conquest Planning

• Paul Card, CEO at Manitoba Innovates

RSVP Here!

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv, and make sure to follow Tech Thursday on Instagram!

In just Q2 of 2025, Manitoba startups raised ~$125M - 60 times more than the total $2M raised in all of 2024. Here’s what folks from the ecosystem have to say about this:

“Manitoba is having a moment, with a healthy and thriving tech ecosystem, which continues to position our province for success. Our government and my ministry are proud to work with these innovative thinkers and will continue to support the growth of this exciting sector in our economy.”

- Mike Moroz, Minister of Innovation and New Technology

"Great ideas attract funding, and Manitoba is the place to grow your ideas."

- Paul Card, CEO at MB Innovates

"Super exciting to see this generation of Winnipeg startups show us what's possible in building right here at home. Not only does it help put us on the map as an investable ecosystem, it also does a lot to create and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. I know I'm not alone in rooting for the trend to continue!"

- Yacine Bara, VP Operations at Neo Financial

“Absolutely incredible to see our tech community focus and hard work in supporting our AMAZING founders as they get traction in the funding environment. I can’t wait to see more companies continue to get recognized and flourish from our MB Tech community.”

- Jackie Romans, Senior Relationships Manager at RBC

Conquest Planning has raised $110 million CAD in Series B funding! Led by Goldman Sachs, the Winnipeg-based financial planning platform also added investments from Canapi Ventures, BDC Capital, Citi Ventures, and USAA.

Taiv raised $14.4 million CAD in Series A funding to help accelerate its expansion into larger US markets, while also bringing their adtech solution to Canada.

Outreachgenius wrapped their pre-seed round, raising $300,000 for their AI sales solution software.

Partnerships 🤝

Bobo co-founder Klaudia McDonald joined the founder cohort at Parenthood Ventures, adding Bobo to a vibrant ecosystem of ParentTech Startups.

In Other News 📰

Typha Co. has received limited-time approval to issue preferred shares under Manitoba’s Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit (SBVCTC) program. This incentive allows eligible Manitoban investors and companies to claim a 45% non-refundable tax credit on the amount invested in Typha Co.’s common shares. Find more information on investment opportunities here.

Polysense recorded the biggest month in their company history in May, implementing their real-time IT monitoring software across North America

QDoc Inc. was named the People’s Choice ScaleUP of the Year for the Prairies at the ScaleUP Awards Gala in Calgary. Congratulations to the QDoc team!

Speaking of awards, the YEY Award nominations close on August 1st, so be sure to get those in - tickets will go on sale in August for the event hosted by LOI on October 22nd in Winnipeg.

Open Positions 👯‍♀️

• Bobo is hiring a Social Media & Influencer Marketing Associate

• Norima Consulting is looking for Junior/Intermediate Project Managers and Business Analysts

• Hilltop Partner Network is hiring two Developers for Fall Internships

• QDoc Inc. is hiring for various positions here. If interested, be sure to email careers@qdoc.ca

Upcoming Tech Thursday’s in Winnipeg 👩‍💻

July 24th: ‘Manitoba AgTech Companies’

Featuring:

• Terry Cholka, Investor

• Jacqueline Keena, Managing Director at EMILI

• Moderated by: Cal Harrison, President at Beyond Referrals

RSVP Here

July 31st: ‘Interactive Vibe Coding Session’

Featuring:

• Ben Myers, Co-Founder at Robin.Guide

• Yvette Hawkes, Business Advisor at Manitoba Women’s Enterprise Centre

RSVP Here

Take a peek! We’ll see you there 👇

🚀 July 3rd

Topic - "Is Venture for You?" FoundHers Roadshow

Co-Host - PitchBetter Canada & Foundhers by Pitch Better

Speakers:

• Carine Bado, Founder at My Little Tribe Community

• Charmaine Jennings, Founder & Digital Marketing Executive at Strategic Charm

• Erica Urías, Instructor at The University of Winnipeg

• Keisha Paul, Founder at Keisha Paul Consulting

• Shana Goodridge, Founder & Principal Consultant at Goldsphere Technologies

• Moderated by: Layla Frieg, Financial, Strategic Creative Consultant at LF Consulting Canada

RSVP Here

💬 July 10th

Topic - Write Your Own Provisional Patent Application with David Johnson

Speakers:

• David Johnson, Patent Agent and Shareholder at PCKIP

• Paul Card, CEO at Manitoba Innovates

RSVP Here

🧪 July 17th

Topic - Lab To Market

Co-host - RRC Polytech

Speakers:

• Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director, Research Partnerships and Innovation and Labs at Red River College Polytechnic

• Whitney Morgan, Director of Operations at NorthForge

• Devon Bath, Co-Founder at GradFinder

• Mohamed Naim Ben Younes, Co-Founder at GradFinder

• Loren Oschipok, Director - Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization & Innovation at the University of Manitoba

• Moderated by: Shane Grusko, Industry Liason at Red River College Polytechnic

Description:

Come learn about the Lab to Market network being led by RRC Polytech.

The federal government has announced $95.3 million in funding over five years through the Lab to Market grants. One of the networks is being led by Red River College Polytech.

“Red River College Polytech is leading the College-University Lab to Market Network for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization, which brings together 30 colleges and universities, along with other collaborators, and spans eight regional hubs and three Indigenous hubs,” said The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

This network will harness the infrastructure and expertise in industry-facing applied research found at Canada’s colleges and polytechnic institutions.

RSVP Here

🌾 July 24th

Topic - Manitoba AgTech Companies

Speakers:

• Katie Friesen, Venture Capital Associate at Tall Grass Ventures

• Steve Manning, Co-Founder at True Ag Developments Inc.

RSVP Here

🛑 July 31st

Topic - Interactive Vibe Coding Session

Speakers:

• Ben Myers, Co-Founder at Robin.Guide

• Yvette Hawkes, Business Advisor at Manitoba Women’s Enterprise Centre

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv.

Take a peak! We’ll see you there 👇

📈🚀 June 5th

Topic - ScaleUp Stories: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Co-Host - ScaleUp Week & Boast

Speakers:

• David Peters, Founder & CEO at ConstructionClock

• John Sparrow, Founder & CEO at Go Oil

• Marta Terffa, Director of Credit Risk Operations at Neo Financial

RSVP here ←

🤖 June 12th

Topic - Meet MAAIP: Manitoba Association of AI Professionals

Co-Host - MAAIP

Speakers:

• Harry Roy McLaughlin, Senior Vice President - AI Strategy at IntouchCX

• Loretta Kulchycki, Senoir Vice President, Business Modernization at Canada Life

• Gaetan Ruest, Management Consultant

• Josefina Bilotta, Founding Board Member at MAAIP

• Casey Wahl, Senior AI Product Manager at Proscia

• Nick Hurrie, Senior Director of Machine Learning and AI at LotLinx

RSVP here ←

☁️ June 19th,

Topic - Agile World Café

Co-host - Agile Winnipeg

Speakers:

• Moderator: Dr. Katharina Kettner, Founder, Managing Director & Principal Consultant at wave-concepts

In a relaxed, inspiring setting, the Agile World Café will foster knowledge exchange, collective intelligence, and making connections through three interactive discussion rounds.

RSVP here ←

🤝 June 26th

Topic - International LGBTQ+ Pride Day

Co-Host - Social Entrepreneurship Enclave

Speakers:

• Amos Bridgman of QueerTech

• Jade Null, Founder at GlitchSecure

• Alex Kohut, CEO at Cal’s Crops

• Kathryn Leblanc, Owner at Leblanc & Co. Communications

RSVP here ←

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events a possibility including Boast, Skip, Neo Financial, Go Oil, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, The Exchange District BIZ, Norima Consulting, MAD Social Agency, FeedFlo, Crestview Strategy, Motiv, and Amiron Ventures.

Feedback

Tech Thursday is eager to hear your feedback on our events, how you find out about who’s speaking, and how we can create experiences that most interest you. We’d love your input. Fill out this 6-8 minute survey and enter to win a $50 gift card.

Other Events

Will you be at Toronto Tech Week? Tech Thursday is hosting ‘Canada's Fintech Opportunity: Collaborating for a Productive Edge’ on June 26th. Our speakers are:

• Hanna Zaidi, VP, Payments Strategy & CCO at Wealthsimple

• Abraham Tachjian, Director, Head of Open Banking at PwC Canada

• Michael Cascone, VP of Government Relations at Xero

We’d love to have you!

Want to tune into Tech Thursday in other cities? Subscribe to our YouTube to see full videos of our past events thanks to Motiv.

Taiv has raised their Series A! The secret is out we’re celebrating this Thursday with a Fireside chat with Taiv’s CEO Noah Palansky. Join us in congratulating one of Winnipeg’s tech darlings this Thursday. RSVP here.

Taiv acquihires fellow Canadian adtech startup Local Reach. The deal was a cash-and-stock transaction, and Taiv will bring on co-founders Evan Ferreira and Joseph Liao to their team.

PolicyMe, Canada’s leading digital insurance provider, announced $30 million CAD in additional funding from strategic investors at Blue Cross Life and Securian Canada, bringing their total amount raised to $51 million CAD since 2022. This funding has supported them in their mission to introduce new digital insurance solutions, partner with major insurance providers, expand their team and invest in AI.

Trillick Ventures has been established Manitoba’s first early stage venture capital fund. The initial fund closing was Feb. 19, followed by a second close March 7. Trillick has raised nearly one third of a planned $15 million. Eighteen people have invested in the fund, which has invested in three companies so far. Check out this article in the Winnipeg Free Press on Trillick.

🤝 Partnerships

Bobo, Canada's first baby super app, has partnered with Koho: This premium plan includes fantastic benefits such as:

• 2% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation

• 0.5% cash back on all other purchases

• 4% interest on your entire balance

• No foreign transaction fees

• Credit Building for just $5/month

🚀 Launches

Manitoba Government is set to deliver $200,000 for a Pilot Program to Support Black Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. The Manitoba government will provide up to $110,000, in addition to $90,000 through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, to develop the pilot program, with direction from a steering committee made up of representatives from the Black and business communities.

📰 In other news

The Manitoba Government has established an Innovation and Productivity task force. The mandate of the IP Task Force includes the creation of a strategic plan that will guide Manitoba’s innovation and productivity initiatives as the global marketplace continues to evolve. The task force includes:

• Adam Herstein, partner at Pitblado Law;

• Clara Buelow, director of marketing and communications, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, previous lead on the Digital Manitoba Policy Initiative;

• Jacqueline Keena, managing director, Enterprise Machine Intelligence Learning Initiative

• Gerry Price, president, Price Industries;

• Prof. Gautam Srivastava, professor of computer science, Brandon University;

• Debra Jonasson-Young, executive director of entrepreneurship, Asper School of Business; and

• Dr. Ernest Cholakis, founder, Cholakis Dental Group.

VidDay turns 10 this June! VidDay has bootstrapped here in Manitoba and has recently reached millions of users across 180+ countries (including a VidDay sent to the International Space Station!).

👩‍💻 Upcoming Tech Thursday’s in Winnipeg

Tech Thursday would love your feedback! If you have any feedback about how we can improve our events, fill out this survey and get a chance to win a $50 Prepaid Visa.

May 29th: ‘You’ve Joined the ‘A’ Team’, a Fireside Chat with Noah Palansky and Paul Card. RSVP here.

June 5th: ‘ScaleUp Stories: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.’ RSVP here. Featuring:

• Catherine Matrycki, Founder & CEO at Callia

• David Peters, Founder & CEO at ConstructionClock

• John Sparrow, Founder & CEO at Go Oil

• Marta Terffa, Director of Credit Risk Operations at Neo Financial

June 12th: Co-hosted by Manitoba Association of AI Professionals. More details to come.

June 19th: ‘Agile World Café’ moderated by Dr. Katharina Kettner, Founder, Managing Director & Principal Consultant at wave-concepts. RSVP here.

June 26th: ‘International LGBTQ+ Pride Day.’ RSVP here. Featuring:

• Moderator: Amos Bridgman – QueerTech

• Jade Null – Founder, GlitchSecure

• Alex Kohut – CEO, Cal’s Crops

• Kathryn LeBlanc – Owner, LeBlanc & Co. Communications

Can’t wait to see you out! 👇

👯‍♀️ May 1st, ‘Women in Communications and Tech MB: Mentorship in Tech,’ co-hosted by WCT MB, featuring:

• Karen Allardice, WCT Board Member

• Natalie Bell, People & Culture Consultant

• Jane Helbrecht, Owner at Uplift Engagement

From formal mentorship programs to organic, peer-to-peer guidance, our panelists will share personal stories, practical insights, and strategies for both mentors and mentees looking to grow in their careers and give back to the ecosystem.

RSVP here ←

🎮 May 8th, ‘Start of Summer: Tech Ecosystem Party’

This week, we’re switching things up. Instead of our usual panel, we’re heading to Select Start to celebrate the start of summer with the entire tech community!

Plus: We’ve got admission covered for the first 80 people who RSVP!

Location: Select Start

RSVP here ←

🤫 May 15th, Secret Tech Thursday. Details to come.

🤝 Friday May 23rd ‘Strengthening the Overlap between the Tech and Creative Sectors’, co-hosted by Exchange District BIZ:

• Speakers To Be Confirmed

RSVP here ←

🗳️ May 29th, ‘Manitoba Harvest's $400M Exit: A Fireside Chat with Mike Fata’, featuring:

• Mike Fata, the visionary entrepreneur behind Manitoba Harvest – the company he co-founded, scaled, and sold for a staggering $400 million.

RSVP here ←

🤝 Exciting Partnership

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🚀 In the News

In Tech Thursday news, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re officially launching 2 new markets this May! Starting May 1st, we’ll be hosting weekly events in Ottawa, and on May 8th, we’ll be hosting weekly events in Edmonton. Check out the hyperlinks to see the calendars. We’ll also be in Toronto for Toronto Tech Week on June 26th.

🎉 We want to thank our incredible sponsors for making these events possible: Neo Financial, Boast, SkipTheDishes, Manitoba Tech Accelerator, Norima Consulting, Go Oil, Amiron Ventures, FeedFlo, Lotlinx, Conquest Planning, Exchange District BIZ, Motiv, Crestview Strategy, and MAD Social Agency.

→ You can RSVP all events here. ←