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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

RBC Bets on Data Advantage in AI Race

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Royal Bank of Canada’s new artificial intelligence chief Bruce Ross says proprietary data will determine competitive advantage as banks scale AI investments. Appointed in February, Ross noted RBC’s size provides a larger dataset to train models than domestic rivals.

The bank expects AI to generate between $700 million and $1 billion in enterprise value by 2027, with performance gains measured against existing systems and audited before reporting. RBC is deploying AI across commercial banking and capital markets but remains cautious about client-facing use in wealth management. Ross also warned AI may disrupt jobs and said valuations remain elevated.

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IBM Canada CTO Urges Nuanced Data Sovereignty Approach

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IBM Canada’s chief technology officer Manav Gupta says data sovereignty should not exclude U.S. technology providers, arguing that strict domestic-only requirements are impractical. While storing Canadian data locally offers some protection, Gupta noted it does not fully shield information from foreign access. He cautioned against policies requiring entirely Canadian-built infrastructure, describing such approaches as unrealistic.

Instead, Gupta said global cloud providers can design systems that allow Canadian authorities to maintain control while benefiting from international scale and integration. His comments come as policymakers push for stronger data sovereignty amid renewed geopolitical tensions involving the United States.

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Ecolab Acquires Calgary’s CoolIT in USD $4.75B Exit

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Ecolab has agreed to acquire Calgary-based liquid cooling firm CoolIT Systems for approximately USD $4.75 billion, marking one of the city’s largest recent tech exits. Founded in Calgary, CoolIT has become a key enabler of AI infrastructure, supplying liquid cooling systems for high-density data centres powered by chips from Nvidia and AMD.

The company was previously acquired by private equity firm KKR in 2023 for roughly USD $270 million. The deal underscores the rapid rise of liquid cooling as AI workloads strain traditional infrastructure, while highlighting Calgary’s growing role in the global data centre supply chain.

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

AI Boom Drives Data Centre Growth in Calgary

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Rising demand for artificial intelligence is accelerating investment in Calgary’s data centre sector, as governments and private firms race to expand compute capacity. Industry leaders warn that access to infrastructure is becoming critical for innovation, with billions already committed and more projects planned.

Alberta’s strategy to attract up to $100 billion in data centre investment reflects growing global competition for AI workloads and digital sovereignty. However, the surge is placing pressure on electricity systems, with demand requests already exceeding current peak capacity. The expansion signals both economic opportunity and infrastructure strain for the province’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.

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

Canadian Startup Joins a16z Speedrun Accelerator

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A Surrey-born entrepreneur is advancing social media commerce with a new AI platform tailored for Instagram-based sales. Harpriya Bagri, a UBC-trained engineer and former LinkedIn machine learning specialist, founded Hotbox to identify and convert high-intent leads from online engagement.

Recently accepted into Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun accelerator, which admits fewer than one percent of applicants, the startup reflects shifting business norms. Hotbox analyzes likes, comments, and messages to surface prospects and automate outreach. Bagri previously worked at TRIUMF and MILA, and led growth at Respell. The company is preparing for its upcoming Demo Day.

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

BorderPass Blends AI and Lawyers for Immigration

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Canadian legaltech firm BorderPass is developing a hybrid model combining artificial intelligence with licensed legal professionals to streamline immigration services. Led by founder Josh Green, the company aims to reduce cost, complexity, and delays in cross-border mobility. Its platform automates document processing and error detection while maintaining lawyer oversight at critical stages.

BorderPass says the approach improves accuracy and compliance in a highly regulated environment. The company is profitable and self-funded, emphasizing scalable systems and strong unit economics. Green argues legaltech will mirror fintech’s economic impact as demand for global mobility infrastructure grows.

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

Tailscale Acquires Vancouver’s Border0 to Expand Security Stack

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Vancouver-based Border0 has joined Toronto’s Tailscale, marking a strategic alignment in secure infrastructure access technology. Tailscale CEO Avery Pennarun said the acquisition expands beyond connectivity into identity-based access control, where Border0’s capabilities in authorization, session visibility, and workflow management fit naturally.

Founded by Andree Toonk, Border0 focuses on simplifying secure infrastructure access without adding complexity. The companies first connected at the RSA Conference and later deepened integration at AWS re:Invent. With Border0 already integrated into Tailscale’s platform, the combined offering aims to deliver a more unified, user-friendly approach to secure system access.

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

Shopify Capital Nears $1.8B in Outstanding Loans

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Shopify’s AI-powered lending arm is expanding rapidly, with Shopify Capital growing roughly 50 percent annually over the past three years. The company now deploys algorithms to identify merchants likely to need and repay funding, replacing traditional human underwriting with automated, pre-emptive offers. Outstanding balances reached nearly US$1.8 billion last quarter, reflecting strong demand.

Revenue from lending remains modest but rising, totaling US$258 million last year, up from US$205 million. The program also drives merchant growth on Shopify’s platform. The company declined further comment, though it emphasizes access over credit scores.

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HIVE Expands AI Data Centre Capacity in Canada

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Canadian digital infrastructure firm HIVE Digital Technologies is expanding its AI compute capacity from 4 megawatts to 16.6 megawatts across Manitoba and British Columbia through its BUZZ HPC division.

The buildout includes a new 5 MW colocation facility in British Columbia, with potential expansion to 7.6 MW. The deployment will support more than 4,000 GPUs, with further growth tied to a partnership with Bell Canada’s AI Fabric. Chief executive Aydin Kilic said the expansion strengthens sovereign AI infrastructure as demand accelerates.

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

Toronto Tech Week Returns With Major Speakers

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Toronto Tech Week will return in 2026 with its flagship Homecoming event on May 27 at History. Organizers expect more than 15,000 attendees across 300 citywide events.

Speakers include Tobi Lütke of Shopify, Andrew Macdonald of Uber, Nick Frosst of Cohere, and Andrew Chau of Neo Financial. Additional speakers include Jim Balsillie and Raquel Urtasun. More than 150 partner events are planned.

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