British Columbia’s vibrant tech ecosystem celebrated a significant achievement this week as New Ventures BC revealed the 25 most promising startups advancing to Round 3 of their 25th Annual Competition. The announcement, made on July 17, 2025, represents a quarter-century of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across Canada’s westernmost province.
A Competitive Selection Process Showcases Provincial Innovation
The selection process demonstrated the depth of British Columbia’s startup talent, with 199 companies initially participating in Round 2 of the competition. From this substantial pool, 15 ventures earned direct advancement to Round 3, while an additional 10 companies secured their positions through the competitive Round 2.5 pitch event.
The Round 2.5 pitch event, held on June 18, provided a second opportunity for promising ventures that narrowly missed direct advancement. This intermediary round featured 26 companies presenting to a panel of expert judges, with only 10 earning the chance to join the elite group of finalists.
Vancouver Maintains Dominant Position in Provincial Tech Scene
Vancouver-based startups continue to demonstrate their strength, representing the largest contingent among the Top 25 finalists. Among the companies advancing directly to Round 3, six Vancouver ventures earned their spots: A-Scent Innovations, BryoSphere Biotechnologies, EyecareX, Non-Euclidean, Sigen AI, and Syrina Therapeutics.
The Round 2.5 successful companies further reinforced Vancouver’s leadership position, with Baerfell, Binta Financial, BuildMapper, ImageCyte Technologies, Minpraxis Solutions, and SpamKill joining the competition’s next phase. Beyond Vancouver proper, the broader Lower Mainland region showcased its innovation ecosystem with representatives from Richmond, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Langley, and Lions Bay.
The Complete List of Top 25 Finalists
Companies Advancing Directly to Round 3:
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A-Scent Innovations (Vancouver)
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Axis Base Systems Inc. (North Vancouver)
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BryoSphere Biotechnologies (Vancouver)
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CanDry Technologies Inc. (Coquitlam)
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Cater Dash (Burnaby)
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EyecareX (Vancouver)
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Metallyze (Burnaby)
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NeuroCog.AI (Squamish)
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Non-Euclidean (Vancouver)
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PeerSupport.io (Langley)
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Precision Aquatics Ltd. (Lions Bay)
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Refoundry (New Westminster)
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Sigen AI (Vancouver)
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Soiltrackers Solutions Inc. (Richmond)
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Syrina Therapeutics (Vancouver)
Round 2.5 Companies Advancing to Round 3:
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Baerfell (Vancouver)
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Binta Financial (Vancouver)
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BuildMapper (Vancouver)
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DOUBL Manufacturing Ltd. (Kelowna)
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ediccare Inc. (Richmond)
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HannahHR Technologies Inc. (North Vancouver)
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ImageCyte Technologies Inc. (Vancouver)
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Minpraxis Solutions Ltd. (Vancouver)
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PINA Creation Inc. (Burnaby)
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SpamKill Inc. (Vancouver)
Competition Structure and Timeline
The New Ventures BC Competition follows a comprehensive six-month, four-round structure designed to provide maximum value to participating startups. The competition timeline includes multiple phases of evaluation, mentorship, and business development support.
Round 3 participants will now engage in intensive mentorship, working with teams of 2-3 experienced mentors from New Ventures BC’s extensive network. This phase requires companies to develop condensed 8-page venture plans with the guidance of their mentor teams, with submissions due by July 30, 2025.
The competition will culminate in Round 4 pitches scheduled for September 11-12, 2025, where the Top 10 finalists will present in-person to a jury panel. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on October 1, 2025.
Substantial Prize Package Supports Startup Growth
The 2025 competition offers over $250,000 in cash and prizes to support the development of British Columbia’s most promising tech startups. The prize structure includes:
Main Competition Awards:
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First Place: $80,000 cash plus $31,750 in services
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Second Place: $20,000 cash plus $11,000 in services
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Third Place: Substantial cash and service packages
Specialty Recognition Awards:
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$10,000 Climate Impact Prize for companies addressing climate change
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$10,000 Life Sciences Prize for health and biotech ventures
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$10,000 Woman-Led Venture Prize
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$10,000 SaaS Innovation Prize sponsored by National Bank of Canada
A Legacy of Innovation Excellence
Since its inception in 2000, New Ventures BC has established itself as British Columbia’s largest and longest-running tech competition. The organization’s impact extends far beyond prize money, with alumni companies raising over $1 billion in financing and creating more than 9,000 jobs across the province.
Recent success stories demonstrate the competition’s continued relevance. TIMEZYX, the 2024 first-place winner, developed an innovative digital twin platform for climate resilience. VoxCell BioInnovation, a 2022 third-place winner, went on to win first place at the final Collision PITCH competition, demonstrating the global competitiveness of competition alumni.
Strategic Partnership with Innovate BC
The competition operates in partnership with Innovate BC, the province’s Crown corporation dedicated to fostering technology and innovation. This collaboration ensures that participating companies receive access to comprehensive government support programs and resources.
Innovate BC’s broader mandate includes developing strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders, delivering tools and resources for company growth, and providing input into provincial technology policy. The organization’s recent investments, including $30 million over three years in the Integrated Marketplace program, demonstrate the province’s commitment to supporting tech innovation.
The Road to Web Summit Vancouver
The 2025 competition gained additional significance as part of the Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV), presented by Innovate BC. This connection to the international tech conference, held May 27-30, 2025, provided participating companies with enhanced exposure to global markets and investors.
Twelve New Ventures BC alumni companies participated in “The $10K Pitch: BC’s Startup All-Stars” at Web Summit Vancouver, competing for an additional $10,000 prize while showcasing British Columbia’s innovation capabilities to an international audience.
Looking Forward: The Next Phase
As these 25 companies enter Round 3 of the competition, they join a distinguished alumni network that has significantly impacted British Columbia’s economy. The mentorship phase ahead will provide crucial business development support, connecting startups with experienced entrepreneurs, corporate finance experts, and domain specialists.
New Ventures BC Executive Director Angie Schick emphasized the milestone significance: “Celebrating 25 years of supporting BC’s innovation ecosystem is a milestone we’re incredibly proud of. This competition has helped shape the province’s startup landscape, and we can’t wait to see the next generation of entrepreneurs step up and create the province’s next homegrown success story”.
The competition’s continued evolution reflects British Columbia’s growing reputation as a major North American tech hub, with Vancouver ranking among the top 40 global startup ecosystems and top 15 in North America according to Startup Genome’s 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
As these 25 companies advance toward the final competition phases, they carry forward the potential to become the next generation of British Columbia’s innovation success stories, contributing to the province’s economic prosperity and technological leadership on the global stage.
