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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Former Defence Minister Backs New Tech Venture

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Former federal defence minister Harjit Sajjan and technology entrepreneur Hunter Scharfe have launched Juno Industries, a Vancouver-based defence technology company developing autonomous systems for Canada and allied nations. Sajjan will serve as executive chairman, with Scharfe as chief executive officer.

Juno closed a $3 million seed round in fall 2025, backed by Canadian entrepreneurs including D-Wave and Sanctuary AI founder Geordie Rose, now a senior advisor. Sajjan said the venture reflects priorities from his tenure, citing predictability and a clear path for defence innovation. With Ottawa committing roughly $80 billion to military modernization, Juno aims to advance dual-use autonomy for high-consequence environments at scale.

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

AI Redraws Workplace Norms in Canada

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As artificial intelligence spreads through daily work, it is reshaping workplace norms alongside productivity. Research from Microsoft Canada shows 59 percent of Canadians believe employees should ask permission before using AI to transcribe meetings, while 63 percent say consent is required for recording.

Expectations are shifting as organizations adopt new tools. The study found AI already influences collaboration: 63 percent say it shapes team culture, 48 percent cite new ways to collaborate, and 47 percent report more confidence before sending important messages. For leaders, the findings raise questions about trust.

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Science&Humans Raises $10M to Scale Hormone Care

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Toronto-based Science&Humans has raised $10 million to accelerate growth after seven years of bootstrapping its hormone-health telemedicine platform. The Series A includes $7 million in equity led by Pender Ventures and $3 million in venture debt from CIBC Innovation Banking, marking the firm’s first external capital beyond a prior BDC credit line.

Science&Humans connects patients with specialists to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances affecting men and women. The company reports seven-figure annual revenue and nearly 60,000 patients served. CEO Aftab Pashaw said rising awareness has pushed hormone health into the mainstream, creating an opportunity to scale nationally, particularly through employer and insurer partnerships.

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

Canada Claims Nine Spots on Global Cleantech 100

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Cleantech Group released its 2026 Global Cleantech 100, spotlighting companies advancing a cleaner, more resilient economy. Now in its seventeenth year, the list reflects intensifying competition after volatile markets, with growth clustering around AI-enabled infrastructure and critical minerals.

Nine Canadian firms were named, matching last year and underscoring national strength in carbon removal, energy systems, advanced materials, and industrial efficiency. Canadian honourees span industrial decarbonization, storage, critical minerals, and digital infrastructure, aligning with global demand for scalable solutions. The showing signals Canada’s depth as capital shifts toward execution-ready technologies supporting energy transition, supply-chain security, and grid resilience in 2026.

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

Veritree, Manulife Partner on Smart Forests

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Vancouver-based veritree has announced a major partnership with Manulife, marking the first corporate deployment of its Smart Forest technology. The collaboration brings Manulife’s reforestation efforts onto veritree’s data-driven platform and introduces the technology to Asia through projects in Japan and the Philippines.

Manulife Impact Forests aim to restore ecosystems, support communities, and enhance climate resilience. Veritree’s system combines satellite imagery, ground data, and bio-acoustic monitoring to track measurable outcomes, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity gains. Manulife called the initiative a model for integrating sustainability, accountability, and innovation. Veritree has helped plant over 180 million trees globally.

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

Portage Takes Over $300M Fintech Portfolio

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Toronto-based Portage Ventures has signed an agreement with New York’s Point72 Ventures to manage select fintech assets valued at nearly US$300 million. The portfolio will move into a continuation vehicle backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives and secondary investors. Portage will serve as general partner, oversee additional Point72 assets, and add Point72 partner Tripp Shriner as a general partner managing the vehicle.

CEO Adam Felesky said the deal reflects confidence in the portfolio’s quality and Portage’s value-creation expertise. Co-founder Paul Desmarais called it a milestone expanding Portage’s global reach. Portage manages nearly US$6 billion across more than 100 companies worldwide.

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

Canadian Traffic Tech Scales Through Global Data

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Miovision Technologies has signed a partnership with Dutch mapping firm TomTom to expand traffic intelligence for cities worldwide. The Kitchener-based company will integrate TomTom’s anonymized traffic data into its Miovision One platform, boosting coverage from 60,000 intersections to more than 300,000 globally.

Founded in 2005, Miovision uses sensors, computer vision, and analytics to help cities optimize traffic signals and reduce congestion. TomTom’s mobile and vehicle data will enable deeper analysis, congestion mapping, and improved signal timing. Miovision says its technology has cut travel times by 25 percent in U.S. cities.

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

Banks Turn to New AI Models for Prediction

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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

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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

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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.