Decoder.ca

Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Banks Turn to New AI Models for Prediction

by

Generative AI has proved powerful at language but weak at prediction, prompting banks and technology firms to pursue new approaches. Companies increasingly rely on structured data to forecast churn, demand, and credit risk—tasks where large language models fall short.

TD Bank has developed a tabular foundation model called Prism through its AI unit, Layer 6, to address the challenge. Trained on a year of transaction, account, and credit bureau data, Prism allows staff to forecast customer behaviour without building separate models for each task. Executives say the approach scales predictive analytics more efficiently across the organization.

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

Vancouver’s StandardFusion Acquired in $50M Deal

by

StandardFusion has been acquired by Wolters Kluwer in a cash transaction valued at approximately $50 million, delivering a notable exit for Canada’s enterprise software sector. The deal folds StandardFusion’s cloud-based governance, risk, and compliance platform into Wolters Kluwer’s Corporate Performance & ESG unit, integrating it with TeamMate audit software.

Founded in Vancouver, StandardFusion serves mid-to-large enterprises with configurable workflows and more than 150 compliance frameworks. In 2024, the company generated roughly $6 million in revenue, largely recurring. Wolters Kluwer expects the acquisition to exceed its cost of capital within five years.

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

Shopify Pushes Standards for AI Shopping

by

Shopify is rolling out new infrastructure aimed at enabling AI-driven online shopping, launching its Universal Commerce Protocol and expanding access to its Catalog service. Developed with Google, UCP sets common standards allowing AI agents to complete retail transactions, from checkout to loyalty logins.

Shopify will also open Catalog listings to non-Shopify merchants, increasing visibility across generative AI shopping tools. Vice-president Vanessa Lee said the system lowers barriers for new entrants while preserving consumer expectations. The initiative reflects Shopify’s effort to lay groundwork for agentic commerce, a market Morgan Stanley estimates could reach US$385 billion by 2030.

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

Kepler Launches Optical Relay Satellites

by

Kepler Communications has launched the first tranche of its optical relay satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, moving its network toward operational service. The deployment includes 10 satellites, each roughly 300 kilograms, equipped with optical terminals and on-orbit computing for low-latency data transfer and secure routing.

Once commissioned, the system will deliver real-time connectivity, edge processing, and hosted payload services. Chief executive Mina Mitry said the launch enables a cloud-like environment in orbit. Customers include Earth-observation operators and Axiom Space, which plans on-orbit data centres.

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

Canada’s Clean Energy Startups Shift to Execution

by

Canada’s clean energy sector is entering a pivotal phase as startups move from pilots to commercial deployment ahead of 2026. Across hydrogen, cement, carbon removal, energy storage, and methane abatement, execution is replacing experimentation.

Companies including Ayrton Energy, CarbonRun, CO280, CURA, Kathairos, Moment Energy, Planetary, pHathom, Green Manganese, and Skyrenu integrate with existing industrial and natural systems to deliver measurable climate impact. Spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, these firms reflect Canada’s growing role as a builder of export-ready decarbonization solutions. Demand for proven technologies is accelerating globally.

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

Rogers Pledges $50M to Tackle Youth Screen Time

by

Rogers has launched a $50 million national effort to reduce children’s screen time, responding to growing parental concern. The five-year program, Screen Break, offers online tools to help families set data limits and device downtime around meals and bedtime.

Developed with Toronto Metropolitan University’s The Dias think tank, the campaign also funds youth physical activity programs, beginning with the YMCA. The initiative follows a Rogers survey showing Canadians aged 11 to 17 spend over five hours daily on phones, exceeding pediatric guidelines. Most parents surveyed agree. The issue is widespread.

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

MDA Positioned for Golden Dome Defence Bids

by

MDA Space has secured an entry point into a major U.S. defence program after signing an IDIQ contract with the Missile Defense Agency under its SHIELD initiative. The Brampton-based space manufacturer can now bid on future tasks tied to the proposed $175-billion Golden Dome missile defence project, which carries a broader $151-billion task envelope.

MDA said the work could span land, sea, air, cyber, and space defence. Investors reacted positively, sending shares up five percent on Thursday. The contract follows recent Canadian defence wins and continued revenue growth despite prior setbacks.

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

TELUS Moves to Monetize Global Health Unit

by

TELUS has engaged TD Securities and Jefferies to advise on monetizing TELUS Health, a fast-growing digital health business reaching 160 million lives across more than 200 countries. The move may include strategic partnerships as TELUS seeks value creation and balance-sheet deleveraging.

As of Q3 2025, TELUS Health generated $1.5 billion in revenue, $258 million EBITDA, and $99 million cash flow. CEO Darren Entwistle called the unit a world-class Canadian asset with expanding AI capabilities. Monetization supports debt reduction targets toward three-times leverage by 2027, reinforcing TELUS’ disciplined capital allocation strategy.

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

Ten Calgary Companies to Watch Entering 2026

by

Calgary’s startup ecosystem is entering 2026 with renewed momentum as companies across AI, fintech, health, food, defence, and regulation reach scale-ready inflection points. Once energy-centric, the city now produces export-ready technology rooted in local insight and global demand.

The featured startups tackle infrastructure approvals, regulatory compliance, food waste, crop protection, healthcare access, and defence readiness. Several secured major funding, national awards, or enterprise customers in 2025. Collectively, they reflect a shift from promise to performance, with founders focused on execution and commercialization. Calgary’s innovation economy is increasingly defined by practical solutions built for real-world complexity.

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

AI Dominates Canada’s Fastest-Growing Jobs

by

In 2026, Canada’s job market is shifting at speed, LinkedIn reports, driven largely by artificial intelligence. More than half of professionals plan to job-hunt this year as workers adapt to change. LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise list highlights AI as the dominant opportunity.

In Canada, AI Engineer ranks first among fastest-growing roles, followed by AI strategist, while machine learning researcher places fourth behind power systems engineer. Technology accounts for three of the top four roles. Other risers include chief product officer, founders, IT support specialists, and database analysts, reflecting digital demand and interest in self-employment nationwide trends.

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