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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Rogers Launches Satellite Service for Remote Canada

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Rogers Communications has launched Rogers Satellite, a new service that promises to keep Canadians connected in areas without cellular coverage. The company says it is the first provider in the country to support voice and video calling applications over satellite, including WhatsApp.

Customers can also access Google Maps, AccuWeather, X and more, with additional apps expected as developers update their software. Rogers is also introducing satellite-to-mobile connectivity for IoT businesses, enabling remote asset tracking and sensor monitoring. The service follows a beta trial that tallied more than one million text messages.

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

Microsoft Commits $19B to Canada’s AI Future

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Microsoft is making its largest commitment to Canada, announcing $19 billion in investment between 2023 and 2027. The technology giant will expand AI and cloud infrastructure, add data centres beginning in 2026, and launch a five-point plan to protect digital sovereignty. Microsoft employs more than 5,300 Canadians and supports an estimated 426,000 jobs through partners.

The company says new capacity will enable secure data residency, confidential computing, and advanced cybersecurity, including a Threat Intelligence Hub in Ottawa. Microsoft pledged further investment in skills training through its Elevate unit to help Canadians succeed in an AI era.

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

Calgary Co-op Tests AI at the Deli Counter

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Calgary Co-op has introduced an AI-powered charcuterie kiosk at its Oakridge store, offering shoppers a virtual “sommelier” for selecting specialty cheeses, meats and pairings. Developed by Calgary-based CGS Immersive, the touchscreen system guides customers through a short conversation about budget, flavour and guest numbers before generating a personalized board based on real-time inventory.

The kiosk prints a shopping list or staff can prepare a finished platter. Specialty cheese carries margins of up to 60 per cent, yet many shoppers lack confidence. The kiosk fills that gap and supports deli teams during the busy holiday season.

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

Calgary Startup Raises $4M to Help Farmers Hedge Risk

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Calgary startup SimpleHedge has secured $4 million in seed financing to expand its platform for managing commodity price risk. Investors include Tall Grass Ventures, Trillick Ventures, Startup TNT, Barrel Ventures and others. The company reports supporting more than US$350 million in transactions from nearly 3,000 farmers, overseeing more than 110 million acres after only eighteen months.

SimpleHedge combines market data, inventory details and pricing scenarios so producers can evaluate strategy without directly trading futures or options. Hiring will occur in Calgary and Winnipeg as product development scales. Backers say the platform brings modern tools to agriculture.

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

Winnipeg’s ConstructionClock Raises $2M to Build Growth

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Construction workers want to build, not push paper. Winnipeg founder David Peters understands this problem after nearly two decades running a subcontracting business where rushed time sheets and “inadvertent time theft” eroded margins. Peters turned that frustration into ConstructionClock, an app that uses geolocation to automate labour tracking.

The company has raised $2 million in seed financing, led by Trillick Ventures, plus returning investors M25 and a Winnipeg “superangel.” ConstructionClock already hosts 3,000 companies and adds about ten daily, mostly in the United States. Peters plans to triple customers and launch payroll with earned wage access.

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

Vancouver Startup Raises $2.6M to Streamline Healthcare Training

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Vancouver startup Simuhealth has secured $2.62 million in pre-seed financing to expand its healthcare simulation platform, exceeding its original target by 25 percent. The round was co-led by Looking Glass Capital and Parade Ventures, with participation from RiverPark Ventures, Altair Capital, Startup TNT, Wormhole Capital, Mike MacCombie and several angels.

Founded in 2024, Simuhealth provides operational software for simulation centres that train healthcare workers. The system replaces spreadsheets and email chains with scheduling, resource management and cost reporting tools. The 13-person firm plans to build product, hire engineers and expand into the United States as demand rises.

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

Cohere AI Joins Thales to Support Royal Canadian Navy

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Cohere is partnering with Thales Canada to bring its artificial intelligence technology to Royal Canadian Navy fleets, marking one of the Toronto AI company’s first deployments in national defence. Thales will use Cohere’s agentic AI platform to support operation and maintenance contracts for Arctic and offshore patrol ships, joint support ships, and other naval vessels.

Cohere co-founder Ivan Zhang said the partnership represents a “strategic leap” toward secure, sovereign AI. The deal arrives amid heightened government investment in defence and industrial benefits policies. Cohere has raised $1.6 billion USD to date and recently crossed $200 million in annual recurring revenue.

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

ServiceNow to Invest $110M for Canadian Government AI

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U.S. workflow-management firm ServiceNow will invest $110 million in Canada over three years to support AI adoption across government. The plan includes a new Canadian-hosted data centre built with Google Cloud and the hiring of 100 staff in customer support and engineering.

ServiceNow is one of eight companies approved to provide cloud services to Ottawa, and has already won more than $3 million in federal contracts since April. The investment arrives as Ottawa looks to modernize operations, embed AI in public service workflows, and reduce costs. Officials say the work will support secure AI adoption and digital sovereignty.

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

Okanagan Angels Back Body-Scanning Startup

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Okanagan Woman Angel Funds has made a pre-seed investment in Canadian startup DOUBL, a technology company developing smartphone-based body-scanning to reduce costly clothing returns. Retailers face more than US$900 billion in return costs annually, according to the National Retail Federation.

DOUBL’s technology aims to help consumers select the correct size across brands, reducing waste and improving inventory planning. The investment is the second apparel-related deal for the angel group, which targets women-led companies. Cofounders Bryn Davis Williams and Jessica Bosman said the backing offers more than capital, adding expertise in retail, SaaS and scaling as the startup prepares for early partners.

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

Ottawa and Alberta Strike Energy Pact

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After years of political friction, Ottawa and Alberta have reached common ground on energy. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at advancing shared energy priorities and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The governments say the partnership will support major projects, generate more than $16-billion in GDP annually and create over 40,000 jobs. The agreement includes provisions for nuclear power generation to support artificial intelligence data centres. Smith described the deal as a “new starting point for nation building,” while Carney said the plan would help make Canada an “energy superpower.”

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