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

Now on to today’s briefing.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Nominations are open for the 2026 VIATEC Awards, which celebrates Greater Victoria's $5.9 billion tech sector every spring. This year's event happens April 1 at the Victoria Conference Centre with a "Western Neon" theme, and early bird tickets are available now through February 16.

The awards recognize companies, leaders, and people making things happen across the local tech scene. Anyone working in tech in Greater Victoria can nominate—you don't need to be a VIATEC member. Nominations close February 17.

VIATEC CEO Dan Gunn says the awards are deliberately not your typical corporate gala. "They're energetic, inclusive, and genuinely fun—because that's who this community is," he said. The event has gotten creative with themes since 2012, when organizers surprised guests with a Star Wars-themed late-night show set complete with what they claim was the world's largest indoor lightsaber battle.

This year's Western Neon theme is meant to capture the energy of the West as a place where people build and reinvent. "It blends the glow of modern innovation with the spirit of building at the edge—where technology, imagination, and community shape what comes next," Gunn said.

The April 1 event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Carson Hall, followed by an after party until 11 p.m. The evening includes networking, a creative challenge, dinner, and the awards show itself.

Tessa Davies, VIATEC's director of communications and events, says the tech community has been eager to participate in the creative themes ever since that first surprise reveal. "Since then, the tech community has wanted to be a part of it from the get-go in order to showcase their creative and fun side," she said.

💧 Crystal clear: Victoria's Pani made Cleantech Group's 2025 Global Cleantech 100 list for its software that helps water treatment facilities optimize operations and cut emissions.

🔬 Read all about it: UVic researchers shared their latest work this month, covering healthcare robotics, next-generation plastics, and women's health studies.

☀️ Here comes the sun: SkyFire Energy acquired Hakai Energy Solutions, expanding solar services across B.C. including Vancouver Island with nearly 200 renewable energy professionals.

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February 19-12 | 7th Western Angel Investment Summit

Western Angel Investment Summit returns for its seventh year on February 19-20 in Victoria, bringing together founders, investors, fund managers and ecosystem supporters. Day one focuses on founders with workshops on AI-powered sales generation, advisor sessions and a kickoff social, while day two explores current realities for both founders and investors. General tickets are limited; founders day tickets still available.

April 1 | VIATEC Awards

The VIATEC Awards bring the tech community together to connect, to celebrate, and to shine a spotlight on this year's most notable tech companies and individuals within Greater Victoria's $5.9 billion tech sector. This isn't your average award show – The VIATEC Awards are well known for its elaborate and fun production!.

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.