Decoder.ca

Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Open Letter Calls for Bold Clean Economy Action

by

With a federal election approaching, Vancouver-based Foresight Canada is urging political leaders to make cleantech central to Canada’s economic strategy. In an open letter released this week, the innovation accelerator outlines three key priorities: fast-tracking domestic adoption of Canadian cleantech, boosting productivity through innovation, and positioning Canada as a global clean economy leader.

The organization cites strong sectoral impact—$2.24 billion raised, 9,000 jobs created, and high returns on investment. “Canada has the talent and technology,” the letter states. “What we need now is the political will.” Foresight is encouraging Canadians to sign the letter ahead of campaign season.

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

Alberta Tech Sector Hits $13B Milestone

by

Alberta’s tech sector is powering a new era of economic growth, according to a new report by ATB Financial and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab. Titled An Innovation Revolution, the report reveals tech contributed $13 billion to Alberta’s GDP in 2023, with jobs growing nearly four times faster than other sectors.

Venture capital investment rose from $227M in 2019 to $698M in 2023. Calgary and Edmonton ranked in North America’s top 50 talent hubs. With strengths in EnergyTech, AgriTech, and HealthTech, Alberta is evolving into a diversified tech powerhouse.

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

pHathom and CarbonRun Top Cleantech Award Winners

by

Atlantic Canada’s clean technology sector was spotlighted at the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards in Halifax, hosted by Foresight Canada. Halifax-based pHathom Technologies won Startup Venture of the Year for its CO₂ capture innovation using limestone and seawater, while CarbonRun earned Scaleup Venture of the Year for its salmon-friendly carbon removal solution.

Other honourees included the City of Summerside, Dalhousie University, and Carbon to Sea. The region’s cleantech momentum continues, supported by $72 million in 2024 ACOA funding. “Your innovative spirit is propelling the region’s cleantech growth,” said Foresight CEO Jeanette Jackson.

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

PolicyMe Raises $30M to Expand Digital Insurance

by

Toronto-based digital insurance platform PolicyMe has raised $30 million in equity and debt financing to fuel national expansion and new product launches. Backed by Blue Cross Life and Securian Canada, the funding brings PolicyMe’s total capital raised to $51 million.

The firm has introduced health and dental insurance to support underinsured gig workers and powers white-labeled digital products for major partners. Since its 2022 Series A, PolicyMe has tripled its workforce, issued over $10 billion in coverage, and grown premium sales 5.5x. The company plans to invest in AI and infrastructure to streamline underwriting and digital access.

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

FireSwarm Partners to Tackle B.C. Wildfires with Drones

by

In 2024, wildfires scorched one million hectares across British Columbia, prompting evacuations for over 15,000 properties. To combat this growing crisis, Squamish-based FireSwarm Solutions is developing AI-powered drone swarms for wildfire mitigation. This month, FireSwarm partnered with Strategic Natural Resource Group, the largest Indigenous-owned resource consultancy in Western Canada.

The collaboration aims to strengthen early attack capabilities, especially during remote and nighttime operations. “This is a generational leap in safety,” said Strategic CEO Domenico Iannidinardo. FireSwarm’s autonomous, heavy-lift drones could soon become a standard firefighting tool in hard-to-access zones.

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

Cohere Launches Multimodal AI for Enterprise Search

by

Toronto-based AI company Cohere has launched Embed 4, a new multimodal search model capable of interpreting text, PDFs, graphs, and other visual formats across more than 100 languages. Designed for enterprise use, Embed 4 outperforms OpenAI’s top embedding model in multilingual tasks and excels in sectors like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Cohere’s business-facing focus contrasts with consumer models, emphasizing real-world decision support over image generation. “Most businesses don’t need more pictures of cats,” said co-founder Nick Frosst. The model has been optimized for performance in languages such as Japanese, Arabic, and French.

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

Deepfake Scam Targets Mark Carney on Facebook

by

Facebook is facing a surge of deepfake videos and fake news reports targeting Canadian political figures, including former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. A network of over 25 accounts, many with Canadian-themed identities, has circulated ads linking to fraudulent articles featuring Carney, Elon Musk, and local news anchors.

The campaign emerges as Facebook continues to block legitimate news in Canada, creating a vacuum exploited by scammers. A digital literacy coalition reports that 25% of Canadians recently encountered misleading content imitating real news outlets. The incident raises growing concerns ahead of the federal election.

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

Toronto Tech Week Unveils Star-Packed Speaker Lineup

by

Toronto Tech Week has unveiled its inaugural program and headline speakers, with over 100 events planned from June 23–27. The marquee event, Homecoming, will feature Chamath Palihapitiya (Social Capital), Sanja Fidler (NVIDIA), and Shopify’s Tobi Lütke and Harley Finkelstein, alongside Waabi’s Raquel Urtasun and Cohere’s Aidan Gomez.

Held at Evergreen Brickworks on June 24, Homecoming celebrates Canada’s rising global tech profile. Nearly 50% of events will be publicly accessible across 19 neighbourhoods. With support from Shopify, Google Cloud, and the City of Toronto, the week aims to spotlight innovation and community building in Canada’s tech capital.

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

Made-in-Canada ALTA Platform Targets Hospital Workflow Pain

by

Toronto-based Able Innovations is piloting its automated patient transfer device, the ALTA Platform®, at five major Canadian hospitals from Halifax to Vancouver. Designed to reduce strain on frontline healthcare workers, the ALTA replaces manual transfers, which often require up to eight staff and contribute to $20B in healthcare costs.

CEO Jayiesh Singh said the technology, developed with support from FedDev Ontario, NRC-IRAP, and others, aims to restore dignity to patients and reduce caregiver injury. Evaluations at Bruyère Health and St. Joseph’s Health Care London are supported by organizations including CABHI, CAN Health Network, AGE-WELL, and OBIO.

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

Xaba Raises $6M to Advance AI for Industrial Robots

by

Toronto-based Xaba has secured $8 million in seed extension financing to advance its AI-driven control systems for industrial robots. The round was led by Hitachi Ventures, with participation from Hazelview Ventures, BDC Capital, Exposition Ventures, and Impact Venture Capital.

Xaba’s software, xCognition and PLCfy, enables natural language commands and self-awareness in robots, enhancing efficiency in tasks like welding, casting, and 3D printing. CEO Massimiliano Moruzzi says the system gives robots “synthetic brains.” With clients in North America and Europe, Xaba aims to boost Canadian manufacturing by reshoring production and bridging the skilled labour gap in industrial automation.

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