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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

BlackBerry Cofounders Back B.C. AI Firm

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Railtown AI has added Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin to its advisory board as part of a $3.4-million private placement they are leading. The BlackBerry cofounders are backing the Burnaby-based firm’s effort to build foundational artificial intelligence technology in Canada. Railtown develops tools including Railengine, Railtracks ADK and Conductr to help organizations deploy AI agents at scale.

CEO Cory Brandolini said the involvement reflects a culture of reinvestment common in Silicon Valley. Lazaridis said Canada must build platforms domestically so talent can innovate and compete globally without leaving the country.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

Citadel, Ark Back Vancouver Blockchain Launch

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LayerZero Labs has secured backing from major financial players including Citadel, Ark Invest and Tether as it launches a new blockchain called Zero. Ark also took an equity stake in the Vancouver-founded firm. LayerZero said Zero will process transactions 500 times faster than Solana and 100,000 times faster than Ethereum.

The company previously raised US$120 million at a US$3-billion valuation in 2023. Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, Google Cloud and Intercontinental Exchange are collaborating on the project.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Block.

Shopify Revenue Soars, Earnings Miss Expectations

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Shopify reported record fourth-quarter revenue of US$3.67 billion for 2025, surpassing analyst expectations, but missed earnings estimates, posting adjusted earnings of US$0.48 per share versus the US$0.51 consensus. Revenue rose 31 percent year over year, exceeding internal forecasts, while annual gross merchandise volume reached US$378 billion.

The Ottawa-based firm announced a US$2-billion share repurchase program and projected low-thirties revenue growth for Q1 2026. Despite strong holiday sales and accelerating AI initiatives, including agentic storefronts, shares fell more than 10 percent after the earnings call amid broader software-sector volatility and investor caution.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on BetaKit.

Canada’s Largest Bank Debuts Commission-Free App

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Royal Bank of Canada has launched GoSmart, a mobile investing platform aimed at new and aspiring self-directed investors. Developed by RBC Direct Investing, the app offers commission-free trading, automated portfolio options, and the ability to buy Canadian and U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs. Users receive 50 commission-free trades annually, alongside select ETFs that remain permanently free.

GoSmart supports Tax-Free Savings Accounts, Registered Retirement Savings Plans, and First Home Savings Accounts. CEO Dimitri Busevs said the product is designed to simplify investing while empowering a new generation of Canadians to build wealth independently through accessible digital tools.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Fintech.ca.

Flash Forest Bets on Calgary for Scale

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B.C.-based reforestation startup Flash Forest has relocated its primary manufacturing facilities and field-operations hub to Calgary, positioning the city as a base for scaling automated reforestation across Western North America.

Supported by Emissions Reduction Alberta, the move consolidates manufacturing, equipment staging, and deployment to accelerate commercial-scale restoration of fire-impacted and degraded landscapes. Flash Forest combines drone-based and land-based automated planting with expanded tree-species diversity and AI-powered forest intelligence. The company previously raised $11.4 million in Series A financing co-led by the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

Attabotics Relaunches Following Bankruptcy

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Calgary robotics startup Attabotics is restarting operations under U.S.-based LaFayette Systems following last year’s bankruptcy. Founded in 2015, Attabotics developed automated warehouse systems inspired by ant colonies, using dense vertical storage and autonomous robots to simplify fulfillment operations. Despite raising nearly $200 million, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2025 after widespread layoffs.

LaFayette acquired Attabotics in September 2025, and today’s announcement marks the formal relaunch under new leadership. The Calgary facility will remain active, housing engineering, manufacturing, and business functions, with several legacy leaders and engineers staying on staff as the company focuses on reliability, customer needs, and scaled deployment.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

Deloitte Warns Canada Risks Losing AI Control

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A new report from Deloitte warns that Canada risks losing control over its artificial intelligence future without a clear strategy for AI sovereignty. The analysis argues that while Canada produces world-class AI research and talent, much of the economic value is captured abroad due to reliance on foreign cloud infrastructure, capital, and platforms.

Deloitte says safeguarding data residency, compute capacity, and intellectual property is becoming critical as AI adoption accelerates across regulated and strategic sectors. The report calls for coordinated action between government and industry to strengthen domestic infrastructure, policy alignment, and investment. Without intervention, Canada may remain an AI supplier rather than an AI owner.

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Google Updates Tools to Remove Explicit Images

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Google announced new updates to its Search tools that allow users to more easily request the removal of explicit images from search results. The changes streamline existing processes for requesting takedowns of non-consensual, sensitive, or outdated imagery and expand user control over personal digital content.

Google said the update simplifies how individuals submit removal requests and track progress, reducing friction for those seeking to protect their privacy. The move reflects growing pressure on platforms to respond faster to harmful online content while balancing free expression. Google said the tools are designed to support safer search experiences without altering core ranking systems.

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Thomson Reuters Acquires AI Deal-Analysis Firm Noetica

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Thomson Reuters has acquired Noetica, an artificial intelligence company it previously backed in a US$22-million Series A round in 2024. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Toronto-based firm said Noetica’s technology will be integrated into its CoCounsel AI product, with Noetica’s team joining Thomson Reuters.

The deal follows heightened competition in legal AI after Anthropic launched a legal assistant last week, triggering a sell-off in Thomson Reuters’ stock. Noetica’s platform analyzes corporate deal terms against historical market data. Separately, Thomson Reuters Ventures invested in Bretton AI’s US$75-million Series B.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on LegalTech.ca.

Shopify Cuts Partnerships Staff, Leaving Strategy Unclear

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Shopify has laid off at least 53 employees from its partnerships division, according to reporting by The Logic, raising questions about the e-commerce company’s future relationship with third-party agencies and app developers. Sources estimate total job cuts could reach nearly 100, roughly one-third of the team. Shopify has not disclosed figures or outlined a new strategy.

The division historically supported partners through education, deal support, and direct relationship management, distributing US$1 billion in commissions in 2024. Remaining staff face heavier workloads, while partners report reduced communication and uncertainty. Executives have signaled a growing reliance on AI tools, potentially reducing human support in partner engagement.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.