Decoder.ca

Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Amazon Invests in Ontario’s Cyclic Materials

by

Amazon is backing Cyclic Materials, a Canadian rare-earths recycler, through its Series B round, bolstering efforts to strengthen the critical minerals supply chain. Though terms were undisclosed, the investment will help the Toronto- and Kingston-based startup expand into the U.S. and Europe.

Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund sees value in reclaiming rare earth elements from devices like hard drives, said fund principal Nick Ellis. Cyclic recovers metals from motors, MRI machines, and wind turbines—key components in a growing clean economy. The move aligns with Amazon Web Services’ $100B AI data centre expansion and U.S. priorities under President Trump.

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

Toronto’s Ribbon Raises $8.2M to Advance AI Hiring

by

Toronto-based Ribbon has raised US$8.2 million in seed funding to advance its AI-driven hiring tools, the company announced. The all-equity round was led by Radical Ventures, with follow-on investments from Social Leverage, Cadenza Ventures, and GD1. CEO Arsham Ghahramani says the funds will support new product development and grow the six-person team to 14.

Ribbon’s AI conducts interviews, transcribes conversations, and ranks candidates. Ghahramani claims its proprietary dataset of real interviews makes it superior to tools like OpenAI. Ribbon is also piloting AI agents for scheduling and messaging, aiming to help clients hire within a day.

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

Tiny Acquires Majority Stake in DJ Software Leader Serato

by

Victoria-based Tiny, known for acquiring profitable niche tech companies, is entering the music tech sector with a 66% stake in Serato, a globally recognized DJ software firm. The USD $66 million deal, a mix of cash and stock, is set to close in Q2 2025.

Founded over 25 years ago, Auckland-based Serato has $42.4M in annualized revenue—62% of it recurring—and a 34% EBITDA margin. Tiny expects the acquisition to lift recurring revenue by 45% and EBITDA by 30%. Serato’s co-founders and leadership, including CEO Young Ly, will remain in place to steer continued growth.

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

Legal LLMs Could Redefine the Practice of Law

by

AI won’t replace lawyers—but legal-specific AI might. That’s the message from Alistair Vigier, CEO of Caseway, who argues the real disruption is coming not from tools like ChatGPT, but from legal LLMs—models trained solely on law.

Caseway is developing what it claims will be the industry’s first legal LLM, capable of understanding binding precedent, drafting enforceable contracts, and transforming legal research. Vigier says traditional AI lacks the depth for serious legal work. With specialized data, a legal LLM could reshape firms’ workflows, reduce costs, and democratize access to law—changing legal practice forever.

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

Alberta Women Founders Raise $116M in 2024

by

Alberta’s female founders raised $116 million across 14 funding rounds in 2024, according to new Start Alberta Deal Flow data. These rounds, spotlighted during International Women’s Day, include Calgary-led ventures such as Orpyx Medical Technologies ($20M, Breanne Everett), CruxOCM ($17M, Vicki Knott), and Artificial.Agency ($16M, Alex Kearney).

Startups span health tech, energy, real estate, AI, and pet tech. The funding showcases Alberta’s growing innovation ecosystem, increasingly shaped by women entrepreneurs. Calgary.tech has chronicled many of these founders’ stories—each helping push Alberta to the forefront of Canada’s startup landscape.

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

Canadian Firms Plan Hiring Surge Amid Salary Stagnation

by

Morgan McKinley’s 2025 Salary Guide reveals that every Canadian hiring manager surveyed plans to recruit in the next six months, signalling a surge in job activity. Yet, 50% of professionals are actively job-hunting, and salary stagnation remains a key challenge. Half of employers lost candidates over uncompetitive compensation, and 63% of workers feel insecure in their roles.

Although 67% plan to raise pay for hard-to-fill roles, dissatisfaction with benefits persists. Managing Director Ian Kinsella warns employers: adapt to workforce expectations—or risk talent loss in an increasingly competitive hiring environment.

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

Siemens Invests $150M in Canada for Global Battery R&D Hub

by

Siemens will invest $150 million over five years to launch a Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center in Canada, focused on EV and battery production innovation. Headquartered in Oakville with extensions in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, the initiative is expected to create up to 90 high-paying jobs.

The center will develop AI-powered manufacturing tools to improve battery quality, reduce waste, and boost recycling. Federal and provincial leaders hailed the move as proof of confidence in Canada’s EV strategy. The investment includes support from both Ottawa and Queen’s Park, and aligns with Canada’s broader clean energy transition goals.

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

Hut 8 Trades Bitcoin Assets for Stake in Trump-Linked Firm

by

Hut 8, formerly a Toronto-based bitcoin miner with operations in Ontario and B.C., has exchanged most of its mining operations for an 80% stake in American Data Centers, a company tied to Eric and Donald Trump Jr. The company will rebrand as American Bitcoin, marking the Trump family’s third venture into digital assets.

The move follows criticism over potential conflicts of interest, given the Trump administration’s pro-crypto policies. Matt Prusak, ex-Hut 8, will be CEO, while Eric Trump assumes the role of chief strategy officer. Hut 8 merged with US Bitcoin and moved its HQ to Miami in 2023.

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

CoolIT Expansion Fuels Alberta’s Data Centre Surge

by

Calgary-based CoolIT Systems, a global leader in liquid cooling technology, is driving Alberta’s emergence as a data centre and tech hub. Chief Operating Officer Patrick McGinn credits Alberta’s abundant resources, skilled workforce, and favourable business climate for attracting firms like AWS and Microsoft.

With Colliers’ support, CoolIT is expanding its headquarters and Liquid Lab™, boosting manufacturing by 25X and creating hundreds of jobs. Their energy-saving technology cuts cooling energy by over 90% and enables heat recycling. McGinn sees Alberta’s future shaped by data centre growth, sustainability, and talent development, positioning the province for long-term global leadership.

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

AI-Powered Platform Tackles Real Estate Document Confusion

by

StrataReports, a Vancouver-based startup founded by brothers Ashkan and Arash Tavassoli in 2023, is simplifying strata document reviews using AI technology. Designed for homebuyers and realtors, the platform customizes GPT-style models to analyze and summarize condo documents, addressing a major challenge in B.C. and Alberta’s real estate markets.

Since its public debut in March 2024, StrataReports has experienced record monthly growth and strong early feedback, with a 2.73/3 average report rating. Focused initially on realtors, the company plans to expand across the transaction process, targeting buyers, sellers, and brokerages with AI-powered due diligence tools.

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