Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about a history-making seed round, 200 earthquakes off the coast of Vancouver Island, a new feature for Peloton Technologies, and an AI breakthrough for ImmunoPrecise Antibodies.

Now onto today’s briefing. It’s 829 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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MarineLabs makes history with seed round

It’s no secret that the Island is home to an impressive group of researchers and entrepreneurs driving forward ocean innovation. Companies like Ocean Networks Canada, Open Ocean Robotics, Archipelago Marine Research and organizations including the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST) and our post-secondary institutions are improving our understanding of marine ecosystems and our relationship with them.

Included on the list of Island innovators is MarineLabs, a Victoria-based company whose data is transforming marine safety and helping to build climate-resilient coastlines.

On Wednesday, MarineLabs put a spotlight on their work — to the tune of $4.5 million. Led by BDC Capital and Seaspan Shipyards, the seed round is the largest investment of its kind in Canadian history for an ocean tech company.

“The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) continues to grow and present new and exciting opportunities for Canada’s marine industry. As part of this growth, it is important that the maritime sector has the ability to adapt to climate change,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “This investment will enable MarineLabs to accelerate product development and expand market reach of its real-time weather intelligence solution, while contributing to building a strong sustainable marine industry in BC and Canada.”

MarineLab’s flagship product, CoastAware, is a real-time weather intelligence solution that enhances safety, efficiency, and sustainability in maritime operations by providing users with detailed, actionable, real-time, and historical weather conditions data for informed decision-making.

“This significant investment is a testament to the confidence our esteemed partners have in our vision and the transformative impact of CoastAware on the maritime sector,” said Scott Beatty, CEO, MarineLabs. “Providing reliable real-time data enables sound decision-making within the maritime industry, while equipping governments and coastal communities around the globe to respond to volatile weather and build climate resilience. We are thrilled to embark on this next phase of our exciting journey with BDC Capital and Seaspan by our side.”

MarineLabs says the $4.5 million seed funding will be used to accelerate product development, expand market reach, and strengthen its position in the industry.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🏦 Bring home the bacon: Peloton Technologies announced the addition of a new feature that brings secure, self-generated payment links to their payment platform. The new feature is intended to ensure payment collections are simpler, customizable, and PCI compliant.

🌅 Shake it off: Ocean Networks Canada detected more than 200 earthquakes per hour at the Endeavour observatory site, 240 kilometres off the coast of Vancouver Island. While the activity could signal a new seafloor forming, ONC president and CEO Kate Moran said, “No one should be alarmed about this great swarm of earthquakes. They are far offshore and cause no danger.”

👉 Put a finger on it: Victoria’s ImmunoPrecise Antibodies (IPA) announced the development of a Foundation AI Model that they say “marks a pivotal moment in the utilization of artificial intelligence for complex biological data analysis and drug discovery.”

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Program Coordinator at Scale Collaborative

• IT Systems Specialist at the Butchart Gardens

• Executive Director at Capital Bike

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

📅 Upcoming events

March 28 | The Creator...Likes Nachos

In a world where AI surpasses human intelligence... will it enjoy nachos? Join the Humans of Victoria in consuming Melted Cheese, Tortilla Chips and Jalapeños to prepare for the AI Revolution. ​​A no-speaker, social-only, nacho-friendly event. Non-tech guests are welcome, but they may be bored by conversations about no-code tools and Generative AI. 

April 4 | The Building Blocks of Black Inclusion at Work

Join an in-depth workshop in partnership with the Black Women’s Business Network.

This will be a meaningful three-hour session with a focus on sharing practical tools and resources, highlighting what leaders can do to utilize EDIB related practices to better support Black professionals.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

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