Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about how Vancouver Island University has updated its gathering space, learn about a celebrated customer for Peloton Technologies, and check out a new vision for the oceans from MarineLabs.

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 611 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Calling all sustainable seafood startups

More opportunities await for Vancouver Island’s ocean innovators.

Applications for the Ocean Startup Challenge opened this week, offering companies a shot at $25,000 for prototyping and business development, along with mentorship and training. The 2024-25 round of the Ocean Startup Challenge is looking for 15 early-stage Canadian businesses focused on sustainable seafood.

Target areas include:

• AI tech for efficient shellfish processing

• Eco-friendly aquaculture feed

• Innovations to reduce aquaculture mortality

• Tech to boost oyster production

• Sustainable packaging for freshness

• Efficient seaweed harvesting

• Styrofoam alternatives for packaging

Innovators looking for more information can join the upcoming info session on September 11. The application deadline is September 15.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

👋 Let’s get together: Vancouver Island University has expanded its space in the Shq’apthut (a gathering place) building on campus. The new space will be heated and cooled by VIU’s district geo-exchange energy system.

🌊 The ocean makes me cry: MarineLabs shared its dream of using coastal floats around the world’s oceans as real-time data stations.

🙌 Here’s to you: Peloton Technologies celebrated Steve Pearce, senior director of operations at LeftBrain Performance, in their latest customer spotlight.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Project Manager at Myra Systems

• Director Observatory Digital Operations at Ocean Networks Canada

• Electromechanical Support Specialist at Go Power!

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

September 6 | When To Be a Hard-Ass

The vast majority of today’s leadership dialogue is about connecting with your team on their level, being empathetic and compassionate. There is no denying this is all good and valuable stuff. But that might miss that you’ve got a business to run, and you may need to switch your approach to draw a hard line in the sand and be more authoritative. How do leaders know when to be lead with kindness or become the hard-ass? Find out in this session.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

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Email your requests to [email protected].

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