Blog

Insights for founders

Ideas on networking, community, and building real relationships in Vancouver's startup scene.

Best Startup Lawyers in Canada (2026): Founder-Recommended Firms and Boutiques
Resources

Best Startup Lawyers in Canada (2026): Founder-Recommended Firms and Boutiques

A founder-vetted guide to the best startup lawyers in Canada in 2026. Osler, Fasken, McMillan, Stikeman, plus boutiques, fees, and when to hire.

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14 Canadian Startup Tax Credits & Grants You're Missing (2026): SR&ED, IRAP + More
Resources

14 Canadian Startup Tax Credits & Grants You're Missing (2026): SR&ED, IRAP + More

Most founders leave $100K+ on the table. SR&ED refunds 35% of R&D. IRAP gives up to $1M non-dilutive. Full 2026 list with eligibility + how to apply.

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The Pitch Deck Canadian Founders Use to Close US Investors (2026)
Fundraising

The Pitch Deck Canadian Founders Use to Close US Investors (2026)

Slide-by-slide breakdown of how Canadian founders retool their pitch deck for US VCs: USD sizing, US comps, and the 'why not SF?' answer.

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7 Yaletown Restaurants Vancouver Founders Pick for Investor Dinners (2026)
Vancouver

7 Yaletown Restaurants Vancouver Founders Pick for Investor Dinners (2026)

Where Vancouver founders close deals in Yaletown: Blue Water Cafe, Cioppino's, Homer Street + 4 more. Updated June 2026 with current picks and pricing.

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8 Kitsilano Spots Where Vancouver Founders Network in 2026
Vancouver

8 Kitsilano Spots Where Vancouver Founders Network in 2026

Where Kits founders actually meet in 2026: cafes, restaurants, and patios for co-founder coffees, deal talks, and investor dinners. Local-tested picks.

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Kelowna Startup Ecosystem (2026): The Quiet Tech Hub Most Founders Miss
Kelowna

Kelowna Startup Ecosystem (2026): The Quiet Tech Hub Most Founders Miss

A grounded look at the Kelowna startup ecosystem in 2026: Accelerate Okanagan, UBCO talent, exits like Vidyard and Disney Streaming, and the real trade-offs.

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Where Vancouver Investors Take Founders for Dinner: Insider Map 2026
Vancouver

Where Vancouver Investors Take Founders for Dinner: Insider Map 2026

The restaurants Vancouver angels and VCs actually use to vet founders, mapped by stage. Coffee, pre-seed, seed, Series A. Real spots, real names.

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Hiring Engineers in Toronto (2026): Comp Bands, Sources, and Closing Against US Offers
Toronto

Hiring Engineers in Toronto (2026): Comp Bands, Sources, and Closing Against US Offers

A tactical 2026 playbook for hiring engineers in Toronto: CAD comp bands, sourcing channels, equity expectations, and closing tactics against US remote offers.

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Why Founder Dinners Beat Networking Events: 80% vs 3% Follow-Up (2026)
Community

Why Founder Dinners Beat Networking Events: 80% vs 3% Follow-Up (2026)

Networking events convert at 3%. Curated 5-person founder dinners hit 80% follow-up. The 2026 data on why small tables beat big rooms for real connections.

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Best Startup Banks Canada 2026: RBC, Brex, Float, Loop Compared
Resources

Best Startup Banks Canada 2026: RBC, Brex, Float, Loop Compared

Side-by-side breakdown of the banks Canadian founders actually use in 2026. USD accounts, FX fees, credit limits, and pre-seed vs Series A combos.

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How to Incorporate a Canadian Startup in 2026 (Federal vs Provincial)
Resources

How to Incorporate a Canadian Startup in 2026 (Federal vs Provincial)

A founder's guide to incorporating in Canada in 2026: CBCA vs OBCA vs BCBCA, share structures, founder vesting, and when to flip to Delaware.

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SR&ED Startup Guide (2026): From Zero to First Refund
Resources

SR&ED Startup Guide (2026): From Zero to First Refund

A step-by-step SR&ED startup guide for first-time Canadian claimants. Eligible expenses, T661 walkthrough, consultant vs DIY, and refund timelines.

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Timeleft vs Founder Feast: Which Dinner Table Fits You? (2026)
Vancouver

Timeleft vs Founder Feast: Which Dinner Table Fits You? (2026)

Both seat you with five strangers for dinner. One matches for friendship, one matches founders by industry and stage. Honest comparison: price, format, who's at the table.

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Does YC Accept Canadian Startups in 2026? (Yes, Again)
Fundraising

Does YC Accept Canadian Startups in 2026? (Yes, Again)

YC cut Canada in Nov 2025, then reversed in Feb 2026. What the whiplash means for you: stay a CCPC or Delaware flip, and how Canadian YC alumni decide.

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How to Network as an Entrepreneur in Vancouver (2026)
Vancouver

How to Network as an Entrepreneur in Vancouver (2026)

The 2026 playbook for Vancouver founder networking. Real venues, current events, and why small dinners beat 200-person meetups every time.

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How to Network as a Founder Without the Cringe (2026)
Networking

How to Network as a Founder Without the Cringe (2026)

Most founders hate networking events. Here's how to build a real founder network in 2026 without the name tags, forced pitches, or fake coffee chats.

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Top Toronto VC Firms Backing Canadian Startups (2026 Founder's Guide)
Fundraising

Top Toronto VC Firms Backing Canadian Startups (2026 Founder's Guide)

A founder's map of the top Toronto VC firms in 2026. Cheque sizes, sector focus, partner intros, and how to actually get in the room.

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How to Actually Find a Cofounder in Canada (2026 Guide)
Community

How to Actually Find a Cofounder in Canada (2026 Guide)

The real channels Canadian founders use to find cofounders. Hackathons, dinners, residencies, alumni networks. Plus vetting questions and equity frameworks.

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How Canadian Founders Raise Pre-Seed Funding in 2026 (Without Moving to SF)
Fundraising

How Canadian Founders Raise Pre-Seed Funding in 2026 (Without Moving to SF)

A tactical playbook for raising $500K-$1.5M pre-seed funding in Canada. Angels, micro-VCs, accelerators, SR&ED, and how to structure the round.

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Canada Startup Visa Closed (2026): What Founders Should Do Now
Strategy

Canada Startup Visa Closed (2026): What Founders Should Do Now

The SUV shut January 1, 2026. The new Entrepreneur Pilot has 500 spots. Here's the real playbook: PNP tech streams, C11/C12 permits, and what works in May 2026.

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Building a Startup in Toronto (2026): The Real Founder's Guide
Toronto

Building a Startup in Toronto (2026): The Real Founder's Guide

Toronto raises more VC than every other Canadian city combined. Here's the honest 2026 guide to incorporating, hiring, and raising in Canada's biggest startup hub.

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9 Toronto Restaurants Where Founders Actually Meet (2026 Guide)
Toronto

9 Toronto Restaurants Where Founders Actually Meet (2026 Guide)

Where Toronto founders take investors, recruit co-founders, and close deals. 9 vetted spots from King West to Ossington, picked by the operators who eat there.

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5 Real Connections That Started at Founder Feast
Community

5 Real Connections That Started at Founder Feast

A SaaS founder found her advisor. Two founders started a company together. Here are 5 real stories from Founder Feast dinners in Vancouver.

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Founder Feast vs Networking Events: What
Community

Founder Feast vs Networking Events: What

Founder Feast isn

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Is Founder Feast Worth $200? Here
Community

Is Founder Feast Worth $200? Here

$200 for curation, matching, and coordination. You pay for your own meal. Here

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What Happens at a Founder Feast Dinner? (Step by Step)
Community

What Happens at a Founder Feast Dinner? (Step by Step)

From the morning-of WhatsApp message to the post-dinner group chat. Here

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Why We Only Seat 5 Founders Per Table
Community

Why We Only Seat 5 Founders Per Table

Not 10, not 20, not 50. Here

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Delaware Flip for Canadian Startups: 2026 Guide
Fundraising

Delaware Flip for Canadian Startups: 2026 Guide

Should your Canadian startup flip to Delaware? We break down the costs, tax trade-offs (SR&ED vs QSBS), legal steps, and when it actually makes sense.

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How Canadian Founders Get US Investors (2026)
Fundraising

How Canadian Founders Get US Investors (2026)

US VCs deployed $425B last year. Here

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15 Best Startup Accelerators in Canada Ranked (2026): Funding, Equity & Alumni
Resources

15 Best Startup Accelerators in Canada Ranked (2026): Funding, Equity & Alumni

We ranked Canada's top 15 accelerators by cheque size, equity ask, and unicorn alumni. CDL, Techstars, DMZ, NEXT — see which one fits your stage.

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Canada vs US for Startups: Where to Incorporate (2026)
Strategy

Canada vs US for Startups: Where to Incorporate (2026)

Lawyers say Delaware, accountants say stay CCPC. The real math: SR&ED 35% vs 24x more VC, flip costs, exit taxes. A decision framework, not a debate.

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Vancouver vs Toronto for Startups: Which City Wins in 2026?
Strategy

Vancouver vs Toronto for Startups: Which City Wins in 2026?

Toronto has 3x more VC money but Vancouver founders burn 50% less. We compare funding, talent, rent, and lifestyle across 8 metrics that matter.

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Best Province to Start a Business in Canada (2026)
Strategy

Best Province to Start a Business in Canada (2026)

Ontario, BC, Alberta, Quebec ranked on tax, VC access, talent cost. Alberta's 8% tax vs Ontario's capital: the real winner by startup type, with numbers.

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How to Raise VC in Vancouver: 2026 Founder
Fundraising

How to Raise VC in Vancouver: 2026 Founder

Vancouver

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Building a Startup in BC: Funding, Tax Credits & Accelerators (2026)
Ecosystem

Building a Startup in BC: Funding, Tax Credits & Accelerators (2026)

BC offers 30% SR&ED refunds, $300M+ in annual VC, and 15 active accelerators. Here

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Vancouver Startup Events 2026: 10 Worth Your Evening
Vancouver

Vancouver Startup Events 2026: 10 Worth Your Evening

Updated June 2026. The 10 events Vancouver founders actually rate — pitch nights, founder dinners, demo days — with dates, venues, and what to skip.

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Building a Startup in Vancouver: Founder Lessons
Vancouver

Building a Startup in Vancouver: Founder Lessons

Vancouver produced Slack, Clio, and Hootsuite. We talked to local founders about what makes this city special, what

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Vansh Sobti: University Student to $10M Clothing Brand
Founder Story

Vansh Sobti: University Student to $10M Clothing Brand

At 22, Vansh Sobti turned a university project into Cloud Nine Clothing, a $10M sensory apparel brand. 100 rejections, 100,000 hoodies sold.

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North Vancouver Startups: Why Founders Love the Shore
Vancouver

North Vancouver Startups: Why Founders Love the Shore

Home to Arc

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9 Gastown Restaurants Where Vancouver Founders Actually Meet (2026)
Vancouver

9 Gastown Restaurants Where Vancouver Founders Actually Meet (2026)

Skip the tourist traps. These are the 9 Gastown spots Vancouver founders, investors, and operators pick for real meetings, deal dinners, and intros.

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8 Mount Pleasant Restaurants Where Vancouver's Startup Scene Eats (2026)
Vancouver

8 Mount Pleasant Restaurants Where Vancouver's Startup Scene Eats (2026)

From Hootsuite alums to seed-stage founders, here's where Mount Pleasant's startup crowd actually meets. 8 vetted spots for team dinners, intros, and pitches.

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Founder Feast

Ready to meet Vancouver's best founders?

Every Thursday, 5 hand-picked entrepreneurs sit down for dinner. No pitches. No panels. Just real conversations that turn into partnerships, friendships, and deals.

Apply for a Seat

Free to apply · 2 minutes · We review every application