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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Cohere Transitions as Valuation Hits USD $6.8B

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Cohere president Martin Kon is stepping down from his role weeks after the Toronto-based AI company raised US$500 million at a US$6.8-billion valuation. Kon, who joined from YouTube in 2023, will remain on the board and serve as senior advisor, according to Cohere. He helped lead three major funding rounds, securing more than US$1.5 billion.

Cohere recently announced leadership changes, including the appointment of former Meta research head Joelle Pineau as chief AI officer, Francois Chadwick as CFO, and Phil Blunsom as CTO. The company sells large language models and agent systems to major global enterprises.

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

Canada’s Tech Freeze Hits Entry-Level Roles Hardest

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Canada’s technology sector continues to face a hiring freeze, with entry-level workers most affected, according to new data from Indeed Hiring Lab. Postings for junior and standard tech roles are down 25% from early 2020, while senior and managerial positions are five percent above pre-pandemic levels.

The downturn follows a surge in 2022 that collapsed as interest rates rose. Economist Brendon Bernard says employers are prioritizing experienced hires in uncertain markets. Still, demand persists for roles in artificial intelligence and data infrastructure. Experts urge early-career candidates to focus on upskilling, internships, and contract work to navigate shifting opportunities.

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

Wealthsimple Acquires Fey to Enhance Trading Platform

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Wealthsimple has acquired Fey, a Montreal-based investing platform known for AI-driven tools and user-focused design. Founded in 2021, Fey offers earnings analysis, natural language stock screening, and personalized news feeds. These capabilities will be integrated into Wealthsimple’s platform, enhancing trading for millions of clients.

Company executives say the acquisition will balance accessibility with advanced functionality, meeting the needs of both novice and experienced investors. Fey co-founder Thiago Costa emphasized the shared vision of simplifying finance while retaining sophistication. The first Fey-powered features are expected to appear on Wealthsimple by year-end, strengthening Canada’s leading financial services platform.

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

Planetary Secures $31M Deal for Ocean Carbon Removal

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Halifax-based Planetary Technologies has secured more than $31 million in offtake agreements with Frontier Climate to remove 115,000 tons of CO₂ between 2026 and 2030. The deal follows Planetary’s $1M XPRIZE Carbon Removal XFACTOR Award in April and builds on its Series A financing in 2024.

Founded in 2019, Planetary enhances seawater’s natural chemistry by introducing purified alkaline minerals, boosting carbon absorption while reducing ocean acidity. CEO Mike Kelland said the agreement will prove ocean alkalinity enhancement can operate safely at scale. Frontier was launched by firms including Stripe, Alphabet, and Shopify to fund permanent carbon removal solutions.

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

Molecular You Raises $5M to Advance Preventive Health

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Vancouver-based Molecular You has raised USD $5 million in Series A financing, led by Voloridge Health with participation from Dynamic Leap and others. The preventive health startup analyzes more than 250 biomarkers from a single blood sample, using AI to assess risks across 25 health areas and provide lifestyle recommendations.

Chief executive Jim Kean said funds will expand customer reach and enhance platform capabilities. The raise follows a Canada-wide consumer launch, a partnership with HealthQuest Esoterics, and progress toward next-generation technology measuring up to 800 biomarkers, which the firm says could improve predictive healthcare for complex diseases.

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

Moment Expands EV Battery Repurposing With Support

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The Government of Canada is investing nearly $5 million in Coquitlam’s Moment Energy to expand production of modular battery energy storage systems. Funded through Pacific Economic Development Canada’s Business Scale-up and Productivity program, the repayable support will help scale second-life systems made from retired electric vehicle batteries, which often retain up to 80% capacity.

CEO Edward Chiang said the funding accelerates national expansion and positions Canada as a clean energy leader. Founded in 2020 by Simon Fraser University graduates, Moment recently secured $21.6 million in Series A funding to establish the world’s first EV battery repurposing gigafactory.

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

Solaires Ships First Perovskite Solar Modules

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Victoria-based Solaires Entreprises has shipped its first paid order of perovskite photovoltaic modules, moving from R&D into full-scale commercialization. Produced at a mass manufacturing facility with SEI Energy, the modules will power sensor applications for a global electronics customer.

Co-founder Fabian de la Fuente called the milestone proof of Solaires’ ability to meet growing clean-energy demand for IoT and low-power devices. Backed by $1.55 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the company is also targeting transportation and building-integrated solutions. Independent tests have validated conversion efficiencies above 35%, positioning Solaires among global leaders in perovskite solar innovation.

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

Flair Adds Apple AirTag Tracking for Lost Luggage

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Flair Airlines has introduced Apple’s Share Item Location feature to assist customers in locating delayed or misplaced baggage. Travellers can now securely share the location of an AirTag or other Find My network accessory with Flair’s customer service via the airline’s baggage services portal.

The feature, available on devices running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS 15.2, automatically ends once baggage is returned, can be stopped by the customer, and expires after seven days. Built on Apple’s encrypted Find My network, the tool enhances tracking while safeguarding privacy. Flair says the integration reflects its commitment to reliability.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Google Rolls Out AI Mode in Canada Search

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Google has begun rolling out AI Mode in Search for Canadian users, introducing its most advanced AI-powered experience to date. Accessible through a new tab on Search results and the Google app, AI Mode supports text, voice, and image queries. Using the Gemini 2.5 model, it enables nuanced, multi-part questions such as comparing products or planning trips.

Early users submit queries two to three times longer than traditional searches. Google says AI Mode diversifies web content discovery while maintaining links to publishers. The tool prioritizes factuality and will default to standard results when confidence in AI responses is low.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Calgary Startup Wins $4M Defence Contract

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Calgary startup North Vector Dynamics has secured a $4 million contract from Canada’s Department of National Defence to advance hypersonic aeropropulsion technologies and explore small satellite launcher concepts. Research will be conducted in Quebec, co-founders Craig Johansen and Paul Ziadé confirmed.

NVD, which emerged from stealth in May, develops defence solutions against aerial threats, including the SPEAR missile, SPIKE, and SHIELD systems. The firm’s scalable, AI-powered technologies target hostile drones and high-speed weapons. Backed by Canadian venture fund ONE9, NVD emphasizes the importance of strengthening domestic defence capabilities while contributing to allied security partnerships worldwide.

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