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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Svante, Chrysalix Founder Honored at Cleantech Forum

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Cleantech Forum North America celebrated eight visionaries driving sustainable innovation at its awards dinner, including seven companies from the 2025 Global Cleantech 100 list.

Svante, a Burnaby-based carbon capture leader, earned the Hall of Fame honor for sustained excellence and investor confidence. The Cleantech Pioneer Award went to Wal van Lierop, founder of Vancouver’s Chrysalix Venture Capital, for his role in securing $3.5 billion in cleantech funding over two decades.

“These innovators inspire optimism in the fight against climate change,” said Cleantech Group CEO Richard Youngman. The awards highlight cleantech’s critical role in achieving net-zero goals.

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

Tech Leaders Pivot to Conservatives Amid Frustration with Liberals

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A WhatsApp group named Build Canada, featuring prominent tech figures like Shopify executives Tobi Lütke and Daniel Debow, reflects growing disillusionment in the Canadian tech sector with the Liberal government. Once enthusiastic supporters, tech leaders now criticize unmet promises and stalled innovation policies.

Notable frustrations include the slow rollout of open banking and the capital gains tax hike. With an election looming, the sector is aligning with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, citing his willingness to engage with entrepreneurs and propose tax reforms to support innovation.

Tech leaders acknowledge risks but see Poilievre’s leadership as a necessary change.

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

Cyclic Materials Extends Series B with $2M Investment

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Toronto-based Cyclic Materials, specializing in recycling rare earth elements, has secured an additional $2M from InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s investment arm, bringing its Series B funding to $55M.

Cyclic’s proprietary technologies, MagCycle and REEPure, create a circular supply chain for critical minerals, reducing CO₂ emissions and dependency on new mining. Rare earth elements are vital for EVs, wind turbines, and electronics, yet less than 1% are recycled.

CEO Ahmad Ghahreman emphasized expanding operations across North America and Europe, backed by partners like Microsoft, Hitachi, and BMWi. Total funding now exceeds US$80M.

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

Shopify’s Finkelstein Champions Canadian Entrepreneurship

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Montréal’s tech ecosystem gathered at HEC Montréal for the first edition of North Star, an event series organized by Amiral Ventures, Brightspark Ventures, and student groups. The event featured panels of student founders, seasoned CEOs, and a fireside chat with Shopify President Harley Finkelstein.

Speakers emphasized themes of passion, resilience, and balancing obsession with mental health. Student founders highlighted challenges in pivoting from research to business, while Finkelstein championed building global companies in Canada despite structural barriers.

The evening also unveiled the Montréal Startup Guide, a resource for the city’s startup community, aiming to foster collaboration and growth.

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

Human in Motion Shines at CES with XoMotion Exoskeleton

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Vancouver-based robotics firm Human in Motion (HMR) showcased its XoMotion exoskeleton at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), earning a CES Innovations Award. XoMotion, the world’s most advanced medical exoskeleton, offers hands-free, self-balancing support to mimic natural human movement, aiding individuals with mobility impairments caused by spinal cord injuries, strokes, and other neurological conditions.

HMR co-founder and CEO Siamak Arzanpour highlighted the device’s dual benefits for patients and therapists. Backed by $10M raised in 2023 and Health Canada approval, XoMotion is already in use at Queen’s Park Care Centre in New Westminster.

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

Canadian Startups Drive Clean Energy Innovation in 2025

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Canada’s clean energy startups are advancing global climate solutions with groundbreaking technologies in carbon capture, renewable energy, and sustainable materials.

Vancouver’s Daanaa revolutionizes solar efficiency, while Deep Sky leads in carbon removal with direct air capture projects. Calgary-based Carbonova and CarboMat focus on reducing emissions through innovative material use. Meanwhile, pH7 Technologies pioneers eco-friendly metal extraction, and VulcanX Energy advances low-emission hydrogen production.

Additional leaders include VoltSafe, enhancing energy safety, and Anodyne Chemistries, converting CO₂ into specialty chemicals. With strong support from investors and government grants, these startups are shaping a sustainable future.

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

AstraZeneca Invests $820M to Expand Canadian Operations

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British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is investing $820 million to expand its operations in the Greater Toronto Area, creating over 700 high-value jobs. The Ontario government is supporting the move with a $16.1-million grant through Invest Ontario, aiming to strengthen the province’s life sciences sector.

The new facility will enhance AstraZeneca’s capabilities in oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases using AI and digital health technologies. CEO Pascal Soriot highlighted Canada’s potential as a global life sciences hub, citing its talent pool and world-class research network.

AstraZeneca has created 1,200 jobs and invested $1.3 billion in Canada since 2023.

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

NEO Battery Materials to Build Silicon Anode Plant in Windsor

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NEO Battery Materials has signed a lease for 8 acres at Windsor Airport, marking a key step in establishing Canada’s first advanced silicon anode manufacturing facility. The $120M investment will create 100 skilled jobs and produce 5,000 tons of silicon anodes annually, supporting Canada’s battery supply chain.

The agreement includes a 49-year lease with tax incentives, highlighting Windsor’s commitment to fostering innovation. Backed by a Community Improvement Plan grant, NEO’s facility aims to reduce reliance on imports while advancing clean technology.

CEO Spencer Huh called the deal a transformative milestone for Ontario’s growing battery ecosystem.

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

Stripe Lays Off 300 Employees, Emails Include Cartoon Duck

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Stripe, the payment processing giant, laid off 300 employees—about 3.5% of its global workforce—during its annual review process. The layoffs, reducing Stripe’s staff to roughly 8,200, were marred by email errors, including incorrect termination dates and an image of a yellow cartoon duck.

Chief People Officer Rob McIntosh apologized for the mishap, confirming corrected notifications were sent. The layoffs follow Stripe’s 14% workforce reduction in 2022 but come as the company plans to grow to 10,000 employees by year’s end. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in tech workforce management.

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

Xanadu Advances Quantum Networking with Aurora System

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Toronto-based Xanadu has unveiled Aurora, a breakthrough quantum computing system that networks 35 photonic chips and 13 km of fiber optics across four server racks. CEO Christian Weedbrook calls it a “baby data centre,” marking the first scalable quantum network that retains critical data.

Published in Nature, the advance uses photonics to minimize data loss and maintain quantum entanglement, solving a key barrier to scaling quantum systems. Backed by US$241M from investors and $40M from Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, Xanadu aims to build a full-scale quantum data center by 2029.

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