Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, get resources from the B.C. government for your business in response to U.S. tariffs, discover what inspired Sahar Sam to become an entrepreneur, and learn about why business councils in western Canada are uniting.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 578 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Redbrick adds newsletter ad platform Paved to its portfolio

Redbrick has announced its acquisition of Paved, a leading U.S.-based newsletter advertising platform connecting publishers and advertisers. Paved’s marketplace links ads from companies like Uber, DoorDash, and Salesforce with 253 million newsletter subscribers across over 3,000 publishers, including the New York Times, NBC, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch.

"In a digital landscape dominated by walled gardens, email and newsletters are an essential channel for publishers and creators to own their audiences and capture first-party data," said Marco Pimentel, CMO at Redbrick. "Paved is set to transform newsletter advertising with an automated monetization solution, making email a direct, scalable, and sustainable growth channel beyond feed-driven ecosystems."

Paved’s native ad placement technology lets companies customize every aspect of ads — including font, colour, and imagery. Paved also provides advertisers with real-time publisher performance, clicks, and impressions based on verified data to ensure transparency and impact.

Redbrick is a Victoria-based company that builds, acquires, and supports what it sees as innovative businesses. The company’s technology portfolio, which now includes Paved, aims to give entrepreneurs, teams, and companies a competitive edge.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🇺🇸 We used to be friends: The Province published a page documenting B.C.’s response to U.S. tariffs which provides resources for businesses on how to react. It also details that the region will be halting the purchase of liquor from “red states” and pulling the same brands from BC Liquor Store shelves. B.C. and its Crown corporations will also prioritize purchasing from Canadian and international businesses first.

🏆 Say congratulations: Sahar Sam, co-founder and CEO of Victoria-based Solaires Enterpries, was named to the University of Victoria’s Emerging Alumni awards list.

💪 Come together, right now: The Business Council of British Columbia, Business Council of Alberta, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Council of Manitoba have joined forces to form the Western Business Coalition. The group is “dedicated to ensuring Canada reaches its full economic potential by unlocking the economic power of the West.”

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Mobile web app developer at Caorda Web Solutions

• Product manager, voice/phone solutions at HP

• Manager, assurance and accounting at MNP

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

📅 Upcoming events

March 13 | VIATECH AI Meetup: Business Track

Are you an entrepreneur or tech professional curious about how AI can transform your business and career? Join the VIATEC AI Meetup, where local thought leaders and innovators come together to explore the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and its practical applications. Bryce Bocking and Logan Ashall from MarineLabs will present on their new product: Forecast AI. Mike Leslie from Revela will discuss how the recent launch of DeepSeek is disrupting the AI landscape and making the big model providers nervous.

March 13 | RBCx Startup Tour

​Join RBCx for the Victoria stop on the company’s Startup Tour. Its startup experts are visiting communities from coast to coast to meet with seed-stage founders and innovation leaders. Attendees will learn about how RBCx supports founders and their teams by providing access to unique products and services that are specially designed to help companies grow and scale. If you are an early stage founder or a tech ecosystem influencer, this event is for you.

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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