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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Canada’s Start-up Visa Faces 53-Month Backlog

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Canada’s Start-up Visa program, once touted as a direct path to permanent residency for foreign entrepreneurs, now faces wait times of 53 months—more than four years. Launched in 2013 and made permanent in 2018, the SUV was designed to attract innovative founders with backing from VCs, angels, or incubators.

But backlogs now exceed 42,000 applications, worsened by caps on new submissions and reduced federal targets. Critics, including former NACO CEO Yuri Navarro, argue misuse by some incubators and weak applications have undermined the program. Observers warn delays risk discouraging global talent Canada hopes to lure.

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

Calgary’s PrePad Wins Hart Energy Innovation Award

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Calgary-based PrePad has won Hart Energy’s 2025 Meritorious Award for Engineering Innovation in the Digital Oilfield category. The honor recognizes PrePad’s Completions Module, the first completions process simulator enabling operators to compare well decisions in seconds. Judges praised its integration of cost, time, and production trade-offs in one platform.

Founded in 2021 by former Shell engineers, PrePad has quickly become a leader in drilling optimization, securing clients such as Chevron, Shell Canada, and Devon Energy. The firm recently raised C$3.9 million and joined Chevron Technology Ventures’ Catalyst Program. PrePad says the award validates its impact on energy efficiency.

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

Venn Simplifies Startup Process With Seamless Incorporation

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Venn, a Toronto-based financial platform for Canadian businesses, has launched an online incorporation product allowing Ontario entrepreneurs to incorporate federally or provincially for free. Traditionally costing up to $300 and requiring multiple steps, incorporation can now be completed in minutes while simultaneously opening a Venn business account.

Customers who fund their account within 30 days receive up to $350, effectively eliminating costs and providing startup capital. Co-founder Ahmed Shafik said Venn aims to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. The launch marks the first time Ontario business owners can incorporate online without fees.

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

Toronto Startup Partners With Global Firm on Legal AI Program

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Toronto-based legal AI startup Spellbook has partnered with international law firm Kennedys to launch a training program aimed at preparing junior lawyers for an AI-driven profession. The initiative embeds Spellbook’s drafting and review technology into modules simulating real-world tasks, including drafting exercises, issue spotting, and structured feedback.

Senior Partner John Bruce said the goal is to create “AI-fluent lawyers” who can combine legal reasoning with technology. Kennedys, with 2,900 staff across 45 offices worldwide, is addressing the decline in junior-level work caused by automation by safeguarding skill development. Pilots begin later this year in the US and UK.

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

Beem Debuts Digital-First Brand After B.C. Merger

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Vancouver-based consultancy Engine Digital has launched the flagship brand website for Beem Credit Union, formed from the merger of Gulf & Fraser and Interior Savings. With $17 billion in assets, 193,000 members, and 66 branches across British Columbia, Beem is now one of the province’s largest credit unions.

Engine Digital led a five-month project covering technical architecture, user experience, design, and engineering. Built on Sanity’s headless CMS, the platform enables scalable, personalized content and seamless digital banking integration. Beem CEO Brian Harris said the partnership positions the credit union as both “member-first and digital-first.”

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

Bill Gates-Backed Electra Proposes $910M Clean Iron Plant in Canada

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Colorado-based Electra, backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Amazon, and Bill Gates, has proposed building a $910 million “clean iron” plant in Canada. In a pre-budget submission to Ottawa, the company said the factory would create hundreds of jobs and strengthen the domestic steel supply chain. Electra is urging the federal government to extend tax incentives to its projects.

Lobbying records show Ontario and Quebec are under consideration. With investors including Rio Tinto, BHP Ventures, and Toyota Tsusho, Electra claims its process cuts emissions in ironmaking while supplying steelmakers, automakers, and renewable projects. Location details remain undisclosed.

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

Toronto Startup Expands Into Lab Science With Thermo Fisher

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Toronto-based BenchSci has partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to apply artificial intelligence in drug development. The collaboration will allow clients to design experiments using Thermo Fisher’s equipment, analyze results with BenchSci’s software, and recycle the data to guide further discoveries.

CEO Liran Belenzon declined to disclose financial terms but called the deal a step into the “physical world of science.” Founded in 2015, BenchSci’s platform aggregates data from academic research, patents, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical experiments. The company is also developing AI agents capable of generating hypotheses and test designs. Thermo Fisher is a global leader in lab equipment.

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

ChatGPT Adds Commerce With Etsy, Shopify Integration

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OpenAI has introduced Instant Checkout, a new feature enabling U.S. ChatGPT users to purchase products directly through the chatbot. The service initially supports single-item transactions with Etsy sellers and will soon extend to over one million Shopify merchants, including brands such as Skims and Glossier.

Shares of Etsy and Shopify rose about five percent following Monday’s announcement. OpenAI will collect fees from transactions but said user prices will remain unaffected. Product lead Michelle Fradin described the feature as part of ChatGPT’s mission to help people “get things done.” Multi-item carts and broader availability are planned.

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

Ottawa Invests $40M in Quebec Transformer Expansion

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The federal government is investing $40 million through its Strategic Response Fund to expand Hitachi Energy Canada’s transformer manufacturing facility in Quebec. The project includes a state-of-the-art test lab and a simulation centre at the company’s Montréal headquarters.

Ministers Mélanie Joly and Tim Hodgson said the investment will create over 500 jobs, secure critical grid technologies, and position Canada as a leader in clean and conventional energy. Hitachi, the only North American producer of transformers of this scale, has invested $270 million itself. Officials emphasized the project’s role in energy security, sovereignty, and grid resiliency.

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

Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in $55B Deal

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Electronic Arts has agreed to be acquired by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in a record-breaking all-cash deal worth $55 billion. EA shareholders will receive $210 per share, a 25% premium on its unaffected closing price.

PIF will roll over its 9.9% stake, joining partners with global reach in gaming, sports, and entertainment. The transaction, the largest sponsor-led take-private in history, positions EA to accelerate innovation and expand worldwide. CEO Andrew Wilson said the deal recognizes EA’s iconic IP and sets the stage for new growth.

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