How startups are scaling with precision

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue:

Now on to today’s briefing.

-Emily, [email protected]

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We’re shining a light on the incredible tech talent right here in Victoria, B.C. Through our Community Spotlight series, we’ll be profiling some of the amazing organizations, innovators, and startups that are helping shape the future of technology on the island and beyond. From cutting-edge software to impactful social enterprises, stay tuned as we celebrate the people and ideas driving our local tech scene forward.

⭐️ Know a company who should be featured? Reply to this email to tell us who needs to be next.

Today, we’re featuring Patrick McFadden, co-founder and CEO of Iris Dynamics.

How would you explain what your company does to someone outside your industry?

Iris Dynamics is a technology company developing and manufacturing next-generation smart electric linear motion technology, including ORCA™ motors and six-degrees-of-freedom motion platforms. Our solutions serve a variety of industries including industrial automation, aerospace, testing and measurement, virtual reality, robotics, and more. From labeling bottles on production lines to precision pick-and-place tasks, advanced linear motion is used in countless applications across every industry, and is essential for efficient, accurate, and reliable performance. At Iris, we’re redefining what's possible with electric motion, making it smarter, more sustainable, and adaptive than ever before.

What’s a real-world example that best showcases the value of what you’ve built?

We’re proud to support Zipline, an autonomous drone delivery company known for transporting medical supplies to remote areas. Our ORCA™ motors are used for end-of-line compliance testing on their drone flight surfaces. Their previous pneumatic systems relied on compressed air and produced inconsistent results. After switching to our smart electric solution, Zipline saw significant improvements in reliability and consistency. With reduced maintenance, less downtime, and improved performance, they are now scaling the technology from 3 to 10 test stations.

How has being based in Victoria shaped your company’s culture, product, or business model?

Being based in Victoria has given us access to top local talent especially through UVIC and Camosun, strong co-op programs, a high quality of life that supports recruitment and retention, and a supportive community with experienced mentors and startup accelerators.

Read the full story.

SPONSORED BY REED POPE

Reed Pope Business Lawyers is a leading business law firm based in Victoria, offering top-tier service to a wide range of clients involved in local, national, and international transactions. For over 18 years, Reed Pope lawyers have served as trusted counsel to entrepreneurs, start-ups and emerging companies, established businesses, high-net-worth individuals, investment funds, and other investors. The firm has deep expertise in entity formation and structuring, capital raising and investments, acquisitions, exit transactions, and general start-up advisory services.

Reed Pope is proud to support the local and provincial tech sector and is excited to partner with Victoria Tech Journal to help increase visibility for innovative start-ups, scaling technology companies, and the broader ecosystem. Learn more.

🛳️ We’re on a boat: COAST turned Web Summit Vancouver into a stage for Victoria‑area ocean tech by showcasing dozens of BC blue‑economy startups in front of a global tech crowd in late May 2025.

💸 Money, money, money: UVic researchers in Victoria secured funding from several federal Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council programs to drive projects on health, climate and social justice across B.C., aiming to make real‑world impacts.

🎉 This is how we do it: VIATEC shared the 11 high‑potential tech companies chosen to receive support through its inaugural BOOST program, backed by a $2.5-million investment from Pacific Economic Development Canada.

SPONSORED BY MATEINA YERBA MATE

Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.

Find your next career:

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

July 16 | Startup Challenge Information Session

The Ocean Startup Project is looking for diverse innovators and entrepreneurs from rural, Indigenous and urban communities across Canada – and around the world – who are passionate about building sustainable, ocean-focused solutions for the fifth intake of its Ocean Startup Challenge. 

July 24 | Understanding CUSMA Compliance

Join in Victoria for a half-day, in-person workshop designed for B.C. exporters. This timely session will help you better understand and apply CUSMA trade rules, including tariffs, tax remission programs, and origin documentation.

July 24 | Lunch-and-Learn - Kelp, Astronomy, and Technical Debt

Head to theDock - Center for Social Impact on July 24th for a novel lunch-and-learn highlighting the work of Neil Ernst, an associate professor at the University of Victoria in the Department of Computer Science.

August 7 | Regenerative Thinking for Professionals and Designers

This workshop series has been developed specifically for engineers, designers, planners, consultants, educators, scientists, managers, and leaders seeking to navigate climate complexity, revolutionize the way they approach systems change, and integrate regenerative design principles into the fabric of their work.

Have something or someone we should know about?

Reply or email [email protected] so we can work together to spotlight the lesser-known stories of Victoria's tech ecosystem.