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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Calgary’s FREDsense Raises $7M to Expand Water Testing

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Calgary-based FREDsense has closed a USD $7 million Series A funding round led by HG Ventures, with Emerald Technology Ventures participating. The cleantech firm has launched the first commercially available field-based detector for PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” already in use across environmental consulting, wastewater, energy, and industrial sectors.

By replacing lengthy lab testing with same-day onsite results, FREDsense allows faster identification of contamination hotspots and verification of cleanups. CEO David Lloyd said funding will expand production and customer support. PFAS contamination represents a multibillion-dollar challenge globally, and FREDsense is positioning Calgary as a hub for water-testing innovation.

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

Canadian Legaltech Startup Selected for Austin Showcase

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Vancouver-based LexSelect has been named the only Canadian startup chosen to present at this year’s TLTF Summit Startup Showcase in Austin. Selected from more than 200 applicants, LexSelect joins 16 other early-stage legaltech innovators at the invitation-only conference, often dubbed the “Davos of legaltech.”

The company’s platform transforms unstructured legal documents into structured, machine-readable data to ensure AI outputs remain accurate and verifiable. Founded by Morgan Maguire, Clio CEO Jack Newton, and Scott Foster, LexSelect said it was honoured to participate. The Summit gathers global leaders in law, business, and academia.

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

Ottawa Names 26-Member Task Force to Renew AI Strategy

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AI Minister Evan Solomon has unveiled a 26-member task force to help renew Canada’s artificial intelligence strategy. The roster, revealed at Toronto’s Empire Club, includes Inovia’s Patrick Pichette, Cohere’s Joelle Pineau, and Build Canada’s Dan Debow.

The group will deliver recommendations within 30 days on research, talent, commercialization, safety, and infrastructure. Their input will shape a refreshed AI strategy Solomon pledged to table this year, a year earlier than planned. Canada first launched its AI strategy in 2017 with $125 million and committed $2.4 billion more in 2024. The task force reports back in November.

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

Study Finds AI Surpasses Lawyers in Contract Drafting

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A new study by LegalBenchmarks.ai finds artificial intelligence is now outperforming human lawyers in contract drafting tasks. The Phase 2 report showed the best AI system achieved a 73.3% reliability score compared with 70% for lawyers. AI also worked faster, producing drafts almost instantly versus an average of 12 minutes for humans.

While AI flagged risks that some lawyers overlooked, the report noted human strengths in contextual judgment and tailoring advice. For Canada’s legal sector, the findings raise questions about billing models, junior training, and regulation. The future appears hybrid: machines for speed, humans for nuance.

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

Calgary Automation Firm Expands With Major Homebuilder Deal

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Calgary-based Promise Robotics, an automation innovator in home construction, has entered a multi-year strategic partnership with Mattamy Homes’ Alberta Division. The deal follows Promise’s expansion into a 60,000-square-foot Calgary warehouse, supported by millions from Prairies Economic Development Canada.

Its Factory-as-a-Service platform offers builders AI-driven robotic production lines for faster, more efficient, and affordable housing. Promise’s technology will help Mattamy deliver single-family, semi-detached, and multi-family homes in two Alberta communities. Company leaders emphasized efficiency, sustainability, and scalability in addressing housing and labour shortages. The partnership marks a milestone toward expanding Promise’s platform across North America.

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

CLōD Launch Tackles Compliance in AI Workflows

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Vancouver-based LōD Technologies has launched CLōD, an API inference platform embedding governance, compliance, and monitoring into AI workflows. Unveiled at Montreal’s All In 2025, where LōD represented BC as part of the AI Network of BC delegation, CLōD combines privacy safeguards with developer-grade infrastructure including routing, fallback, and load balancing.

CEO Medi Naseri said companies need governance built-in as AI adoption accelerates. Accepted into Google’s AI for Energy program, LōD underscores British Columbia’s emerging role in responsible AI. CLōD is now in early access for teams integrating AI into applications and software pipelines.

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

Tipalti Expands Canadian Operations Amid Rising Demand

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Tipalti, a global leader in finance automation, is expanding its Canadian presence with offices in Vancouver and Toronto and registration as a money services business under FINTRAC. Chief Revenue Officer Sam Barakat explained that Canadian firms increasingly require tools to modernize operations, reduce risk, and manage global growth.

Tipalti’s platform automates accounts payable, compliance, and global payouts across 200+ countries in 120 currencies. The company recently surpassed $200 million in annual recurring revenue and secured $200 million financing. Investments in AI-powered finance operations remain central to its future growth strategy.

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

Cohere Hits $7B Valuation With $100M Raise

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Toronto-based artificial intelligence scaleup Cohere has secured $100 million USD in new financing, lifting its valuation to $7 billion. The funds, a second close of last month’s $500 million round, add BDC and Nexxus Capital Management to an investor list that includes AMD, NVIDIA, Salesforce, Inovia, and Radical Ventures.

Cohere is scaling operations across North America, APAC, and EMEA, opening offices in Paris, South Korea, and Montréal. Founded in 2019, the firm develops large language models powering enterprise AI. Cohere has raised $1.6 billion to date, employs 450, and reported $100 million in annualized revenue.

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

StackDX, WCD Join Forces to Digitize Energy Sector

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Calgary-based StackDX, specializing in intelligent content and data management for energy companies, has partnered with WCD to deliver high-volume digitization services. The collaboration integrates WCD’s scanning capacity—up to three million images monthly at 99.9% accuracy—into StackDX’s AI-enabled platform.

This alliance enables faster digitization of legacy land files and exploration records, addressing rising regulatory demands and the need for real-time data access. StackDX, serving more than 40% of Canadian oil and gas producers, continues expanding after its recent rebrand and 50th enterprise client milestone. WCD advances its digital-first mission after exiting print operations.

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

BC Tech Names Top Three Startup Finalists

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The BC Tech Association has named FireSwarm, Glüxkind, and Insporos as finalists for the Company of the Year – Startup Award. The announcement followed a live pitch event at Osler’s Vancouver offices on September 24, where ten startups competed before industry judges.

FireSwarm develops drone-based wildfire detection, Glüxkind designs AI-powered strollers, and Insporos advances crop-diagnostic biotech. Winners will be revealed at the Technology Impact Awards gala on October 23 at Parq Vancouver. BC Tech CEO Jill Tipping praised the finalists for their ambition and potential to scale into tomorrow’s anchor firms.

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