BC Tech is thrilled to announce the launch of BCTech4Startups in partnership with five leading BC Tech Anchor companies – Absolute Software, Amazon, Electronic Arts, SAP Canada and TELUS.

BCTech4Startups enables free membership of BC Tech for qualifying startups and access to a suite of dedicated support services focused on key startup needs – educational resources, networking, valuable brand visibility, peer-to-peer learning, mentor connections, expert advice, job boards and more. 

The impetus behind BCTech4Startups came from a bold challenge. 

There are 11,000 tech companies in BC and only 2% of them achieve scaleup success. While it has been tremendous to cheer on the ‘unicorn’ levels of success that some of the 2% are now achieving, we believe we can do far better. At BC Tech we want to see many more BC tech companies realize their full potential. 

With ScaleUP BC, we have developed a platform to support 800 tech companies across BC to accelerate their scale-up journey and we’re hopeful we will secure federal and provincial investment to launch that platform in the coming year.  

For Startups, we realized there was a tremendous opportunity to expand our Startup membership stream and reduce the barriers to entry so that many more startups can access BC Tech’s valuable programs and services at the early stages when they are most needed.  

We reached out to key BC Tech Anchor companies to ask for their support for this ecosystem investment and we were blown away by the enthusiastic response. It is truly inspirational to see the community come together in this way!

With the generous support of BCTech4Startups Anchor partners, Absolute Software, Amazon, EA, SAP and TELUS, qualifying startups can access critical startup support services to help them to grow and scale.

Details of BCTech4Startups are outlined on the dedicated webpage which can be found here.

Startups can apply to join by completing the form available here.

Anchor companies interested in becoming a supporter of BCTech4Startups please contact hello@wearebctech.com to learn more.

Quotes from partners:

“We are really proud that Absolute Software is one of BC’s key anchor tech companies and we’d like to see many more BC tech startups fulfil their potential and grow into the anchor companies of tomorrow.”
Robert Booker, EVP Human Resources, Absolute Software

“Amazon is committed to supporting BC’s small businesses and entrepreneurs, and their efforts to build strong, purpose-driven companies powered by technology. Our partnership with BC Tech will provide local startups with access to programs and services that support their growth and resilience.”
Jesse Dougherty, Amazon VP and Vancouver Site Lead

“Every big company – including Electronic Arts – was once a startup, founded by entrepreneurs out to change the world. At EA we are excited about the potential of BC’s tech ecosystem and believe that startups play a critical role in driving innovation and growth.”
Dan Box, Vice President of Strategy at EA SPORTS

“SAP’s business is about powering businesses of all sizes to realize their potential and we see this partnership as an investment in the BC tech ecosystem that supports innovation for us all.
Cindy Fagen, Managing Director of SAP Labs Canada

“Small businesses and startups are the lifeblood of BC’s economy. As Anchor company of the year in 2020 TELUS wanted to pay it forward and invest in the pipeline of BC’s tech startups.”
Mario Mele, VP Corporate Planning and Strategy, TELUS

For media enquiries – contact media@wearebctech.com