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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Wealthsimple Refines Platform, Prepares Credit Card Launch

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Toronto-based Wealthsimple, long positioned as a challenger to traditional banks, is addressing criticism of its minimalist interface with new “Enhanced Performance Insights.” The update, now available on mobile, introduces real-time metrics such as unrealized returns, time-weighted returns, and historical dividends.

Designed to offer a clearer financial picture, these insights aim to help users make informed decisions. Meanwhile, Wealthsimple is quietly developing a Visa Infinite card boasting 2% unlimited cash back. With a growing waitlist, the card signals the firm’s continued expansion into mainstream financial products.

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

Canada’s Largest EV Plant Promises Job Boom in Ontario

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PowerCo Canada is advancing plans for the country’s largest electric vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. The $7 billion project, expected to be complete by 2027, will produce up to 90 GWh of batteries—enough for one million EVs annually.

Founded in 2022 by Volkswagen Group, PowerCo has launched a recruitment campaign to hire chemists, engineers, IT professionals, and sustainability experts. Thousands of jobs are projected. “This is a fundamental transformation for our community,” said Mayor Joe Preston. The campaign includes province-wide ads and local billboards.

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

Orpyx’s Smart Insoles Aim to Cut Hospitalizations and Costs

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Calgary’s Orpyx Medical Technologies has launched next-generation sensory insoles to proactively monitor and prevent diabetic foot complications. The wireless insoles track plantar pressure, temperature, and activity, syncing automatically to a secure cloud. Backed by clinical studies, the technology has reduced ulcer recurrence by 86% and healthcare costs by 70%.

Patients are supported by dedicated nurses for coaching and adherence. With foot issues accounting for over $80 billion in U.S. diabetes care, Orpyx offers a scalable solution aligned with value-based care. CEO Dr. Breanne Everett says the goal is to keep people healthy and out of hospitals through early intervention.

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

Shopify Beats Revenue Forecasts With $906M Net Income

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Shopify posted $2.68B USD in quarterly revenue, up 31% year-over-year, surpassing analyst expectations. Net income hit $906M USD, rebounding from a $682M loss in Q1, while gross profit rose to $1.3B. Gross merchandise volume reached $87.8B, up 16% with strength in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Operating income grew 19% to $291M, and free cash flow margin remained double-digit for the eighth consecutive quarter. Shares closed at $127 USD on Nasdaq. Shopify also introduced AI-driven developer tools to enable shopping directly within conversational agents, reflecting the company’s continued push toward AI-powered e-commerce.

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

Cohere Expands North AI Agent System to Wider Market

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Toronto-based Cohere is making its North AI agent-builder widely available, moving beyond early deployments with major clients including RBC, Bell, STC Group, and Ensemble Health Partners.

North combines Cohere’s large language models with search and workflow tools to help employees automate tasks like drafting reports, summarizing requests, or generating job postings. Clients can run North on internal servers or in their own cloud setups, ensuring data privacy. Cohere plans to charge per user rather than per token to boost adoption, positioning North as a single enterprise solution for generative AI-powered productivity.

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

Canada’s Tech Workforce Hits 1.45M, Study Finds

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Canada’s technology workforce reached 1.45 million in 2024, according to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce Canada 2025 report. The industry now generates $130 billion, or 6% of Canada’s economy. Tech hubs remain concentrated in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, with Alberta and Atlantic Canada emerging as smaller players.

Employment is projected to grow 1.4% in 2025, adding 27,000 jobs, with long-term sector growth nearly double the national average. Median tech wages sit at $97,000—48% above the national median—reflecting high demand for roles in AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, and software development.

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

RBC Unveils ATOM, Its Proprietary AI Model

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The Royal Bank of Canada has announced ATOM—its “Asynchronous Temporal Model”—a proprietary foundation model designed for financial services. Developed by RBC’s Borealis research institute and part of the Lumina platform, ATOM processes billions of transactions to deliver personalized products and services.

Early applications include responsible lending, risk assessment, and tailored recommendations for 1.3 million Avion Rewards users. Chief Science Officer Foteini Agrafioti says ATOM “represents the future of banking at RBC,” enabling the institution to improve client experiences while maintaining security and privacy. Broader deployment across RBC products is under review.

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

Blue J Raises $168M to Scale AI Tax Research

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Toronto-based Blue J has raised $168 million in Series D financing, just seven months after closing its Series C round. Led by Oak HC/FT and Sapphire Ventures, with participation from Intrepid Growth Partners, Ten Coves Capital, and CPA.com, the round cements Blue J’s status as a leader in AI-powered tax research.

CEO Benjamin Alarie said the investment will accelerate product development and market expansion. Blue J’s generative AI platform delivers instant, source-cited tax answers across U.S., Canadian, U.K., and SALT domains, with strong adoption and revenue growth in 2025.

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

ABB Invests $130M in Canadian Electrification Facility

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Swiss electrification leader ABB is investing $130 million to expand research, development, and manufacturing in Canada, marking its largest commitment to the country to date. The company will open a 340,000-square-foot facility on Montreal’s South Shore by late 2025, consolidating operations from Iberville and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

The plant will boost production capacity by over 30% and reduce carbon emissions 95% through energy-efficient systems. Backed by $16 million from Investissement Québec, the site will use locally sourced steel and aluminum to meet growing demand for grid resilience, renewable energy, and smart infrastructure solutions.

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

Most STEM Graduates Stay in Canada, StatCan Finds

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A new Statistics Canada study shows most Canadian STEM graduates remain in the country, even as top talent continues to leave for higher-paying opportunities abroad. Among domestic STEM graduates from 2015–2020, 91.2% filed Canadian taxes in their first year after graduation and 88.9% after three years.

International graduates are more mobile, but retention has improved to 63.6% after three years. Retention is lowest among PhD holders and students from top-ranked universities, highlighting an ongoing “brain drain” of high-achieving talent to the U.S. Economists urge policies that connect graduates with domestic careers to strengthen Canada’s innovation economy.

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