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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

DropGenie Raises US$5 Million to Shrink Lab Experiments

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Montréal- and Boston-based DropGenie has added BDC Capital’s Thrive Fund to its seed-plus financing, bringing the round to US$5 million.

Led by Skeleton Key, the financing also includes Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, CQDM, Real Ventures, and Anges Québec.

DropGenie’s technology miniaturizes gene-editing experiments onto a chip, using up to 100 times fewer cells than conventional methods, according to the company. That could help researchers work with scarce patient samples while reducing material costs.

The funding will support commercialization and data partnerships, with the company targeting demand for high-quality biological datasets that can support drug discovery and AI model development.

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

North Vector Raises $29 Million-Plus for Counter-Drone Technology

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Calgary’s North Vector Dynamics has raised more than $29 million in Series A funding to scale production of its air-defence technology and expand internationally.

European investor Tech Horizons led the round, joined by ONE9, Garage Capital, CSG, Ripple Ventures, and others. The company’s CM-70 precision-guided interceptor is designed to counter fast-moving drones and integrate with existing defence systems.

Funding will support manufacturing, supply-chain development, hiring, and new offices in the United States and Europe.

The financing follows a strategic investment from NordSpace Ventures and marks a shift from validating Canadian-developed defence technology toward manufacturing it at volume for allied markets.

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

Sudbury’s Symx.ai Raises US$6 Million for Industrial AI

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Sudbury’s Symx.ai has announced US$6 million in Series A funding and a partnership with Yokohama Off-Highway Tires to expand its industrial AI business.

The financing came from Ascent Capital Partners and closed in May. Formerly Symboticware, the company develops technology that helps equipment operators identify maintenance issues, improve efficiency, and reduce unexpected downtime.

Yokohama will resell its technology, potentially bringing Symx.ai to approximately 45 additional sites within a year, according to CEO Ash Agarwal.

Already deployed at 24 sites across 14 countries, the platform reflects growing opportunities to apply Canadian AI expertise to mining, construction, and other equipment-intensive industries globally.

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

Cymax and CommerceBear Reportedly Close Up Shop

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Canadian e-commerce companies Cymax Group Technologies and CommerceBear have reportedly shut down, adding to pressures facing the country’s retail technology sector.

Burnaby-based Cymax employees have discussed the company’s closure publicly, including a senior leader involved in its wind-down. BetaKit also reported that a source familiar with Toronto’s CommerceBear confirmed its shutdown.

Both companies built technology serving furniture sellers, a market challenged by slower spending after the pandemic boom.

Cymax operated e-commerce and shipping platforms, while CommerceBear helped manufacturers sell through major online marketplaces.

Neither company responded to BetaKit’s requests for confirmation. The number of employees affected remains unclear for now.

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

Credit Unions Back Neo’s $185-Million Facility

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Calgary’s Neo Financial has secured a $185-million syndicated credit facility led by ATB Financial, bringing four Canadian credit unions into its funding strategy.

Vancity, Beem, Alterna, and Innovation Federal Credit Union participated. The facility finances Neo’s credit card receivables and includes a provision allowing it to potentially grow to $250 million.

The transaction follows Neo’s $68.5-million funding round in February and a $150-million credit card securitization announced in April.

Together, the deals broaden the institutional relationships supporting Neo’s lending business. The latest agreement positions credit unions as funding partners for a digital challenger seeking to expand within Canada’s financial system.

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

Canadian Researchers Put Wildfire Mapping on Fast Forward

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Montréal’s Mila and Natural Resources Canada have developed an AI model to map wildfire hazards faster than existing simulation tools.

The system estimates an area’s likelihood of burning, potential fire spread, and intensity. Mila says it runs between 800 and 3,400 times faster than the federal BurnP3+ simulator, depending on computing hardware.

Trained on fire simulation maps, the model can produce hazard estimates within hours instead of months.

Researchers emphasize that its outputs remain approximations. Still, faster mapping could help planners assess changing conditions as Canada faces increasingly severe wildfire risks, demonstrating a practical application of domestically developed artificial intelligence.

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

Dayforce Adds AI Interviewers With Ribbon Acquisition

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Dayforce has agreed to acquire Toronto’s Ribbon AI, adding automated job interviews to its human resources software platform.

Ribbon uses AI-generated voices to conduct screening conversations based on job descriptions. Dayforce plans to integrate the technology into its agentic recruiting tools, helping employers source, screen, evaluate, and engage candidates.

Founded in 2022 by Arsham Ghahramani and Dave Vu, Ribbon raised US$8.2 million in 2025. Its platform has served hundreds of customers and completed more than one million interviews.

Financial terms and a closing timeline were not disclosed. The deal expands Dayforce’s push to automate recruiting while keeping hiring decisions human.

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

1Password Crosses $500M ARR

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Toronto-based 1Password has surpassed US$500 million in annual recurring revenue as demand grows for security tools serving developers, AI agents, and machines. The company says net new ARR increased roughly 60 percent through the first three quarters of fiscal 2026 while maintaining a double-digit free cash flow margin.

Customers using 1Password’s developer and AI security products are growing ARR about five times faster than others. The milestone comes as 1Password expands beyond credential protection with Unified Access and 1Password for Agents, aiming to secure identities and access across increasingly automated enterprise environments as companies deploy more AI-powered workflows globally today.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Wall Street Journal.

Kardium Begins Tracking Real-World Heart Treatments

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Burnaby’s Kardium has enrolled the first patient in its Globe Registry, a study tracking its heart-treatment technology in routine clinical practice.

The registry is expected to include up to 500 patients across Canada and the United States, with follow-up lasting 12 months after treatment.

Researchers will assess the Globe Pulsed Field System’s safety and effectiveness in patients with atrial fibrillation. Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington, enrolled the first participant.

The milestone follows U.S. approval in 2025 and Canadian approval this summer. As commercial adoption expands, the registry will gather evidence about outcomes beyond the controlled conditions of clinical trials.

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

BioWare Shuts Down After Three Decades

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Edmonton’s BioWare is shutting down after more than three decades, ending a chapter for one of Canada’s best-known game studios. The developer behind Baldur’s Gate, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect announced that work on its next Mass Effect game will also stop.

The closure follows parent company Electronic Arts’ decision to cut staff and close the studio. EA acquired BioWare in 2007.

Founded in 1995, BioWare helped establish Canada’s reputation for ambitious, story-driven games. Its shutdown adds to a difficult period for the domestic gaming industry, following Ubisoft’s closures of its Winnipeg and Halifax studios and the resulting job losses.

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