From 12 Desks to 12 Years of Global Impact: Celebrating Launch’s Anniversary!
April is a special month for us as we celebrate 12 years of Launch! From our modest beginnings to our global reach, we’ve supported thousands of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. Explore our latest milestones, global events, and notable achievements, and witness the power of community-driven innovation.
April is a special month at Launch as we celebrate 12 years of Launch! 12 years ago today our not-for-profit accelerator started with 12 desks, and within 12 months we filled up our 12,000 sq.ft. tech hub with entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners.
In the past 12 years, we have had the privilege of supporting over 6000 entrepreneurs from more than 100 countries and have seen over $2.5 Billion in funding raised by our companies. Thank you for your continued support over the years!
Media & Events
On March 27, 2024, founders, innovators and business minds gathered once again at Microsoft Vancouver for another packed Launch Builders. Five shortlisted presenters Leigh Sembaluk, Datafeel; Anastasia Kiku, Reusables.com; Jakub Narloch, Code Maker AI; Shawn O’Neill, Speedsense and Amer Abu-Khajil, Perceptional unveiled their products, showcasing innovation in action. See Event Recap Here.
Launch CEO, Ray Walia’s article ‘Leveraging AI: A Global Growth Roadmap For SMEs In 2024’ was featured in Forbes exploring the transformative effect of AI, operational efficiency, and the power of community to empower your business for success in challenging times. Read here.
Ray Walia, recently represented Canada’s dynamic tech ecosystem in Malaysia with the Trade Commissioner Service, fellow Canadian delegates and Minister Mary Ng, fostering connections that underscored our tech community’s strength on the world stage. Learn more.
Launch and Boast had the privilege of hosting our exclusive Traction CXO dinner in Dubai. This event brought together a select group of founders and venture capitalists from Canada, USA and across the region in UAE, creating a melting pot of ideas and ambitions. Learn more.
Earlier in March, Ray Walia represented Launch at the LEAP Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At LEAP 100,000+ tech innovators and leading experts from around the world gathered to discover new ideas and connect with inspiring mentors and investors. Watch highlight video.
At Investopia 2024 in Abu Dhabi, Ray Walia dove into a sea of innovation, not just to navigate the “Emerging Economic Frontiers” but to explore how Launch Academy can be a catalyst for change, drive growth and redefine the global startup ecosystem. Watch highlight video.
See Ray Walia’s take on B.C.’s investment revival in the latest BIV article ‘Investment in B.C. normalizes to pre-pandemic level’ drawing parallels to global trends, offering invaluable insights into the economic landscape. Read here.
Abdullah Meer, Launch’s strategic advisor for the MENA & Asia region, recently hosted an info session in Dubai, with a focus on empowering entrepreneurs and tech startups for global expansion through various programs and resources available through Launch. Learn more.
Member & Alumni Milestones
We love celebrating the successes of our community members.
LaunchPad member Ontraccr has raised a $1.2 million seed funding round from construction tech funds, LAB Ventures and Buildtech Ventures. Ontraccr is revolutionizing the construction and field service industries with its no-code approach to operational management. Learn more.
Launch alumni Elevated Signals has raised $7.9 million CAD in a Series A round led by Yaletown Partners, with participation from Third Kind Venture Capital, WGD Capital, Colin Harris, Raiven Capital, and Pareto Holdings to fuel the expansion of its manufacturing operations software into new sectors. Read more.
Featured in CBS News, take a look at how Launch member smartARM is making prosthetics more accessible! smartARM’s cutting-edge hardware product employs AI to understand and enhance the physical interactions of individuals with limb differences. Watch here.
Congrats to Launch’s co-founder Alex Chuang and his team at Shape as they recently unveiled Sephora Universe, the future of brand experiences for beauty. Sephora Universe is leading a new era of commerce by bringing the brand’s innovative DNA into a new chapter of digital brand experiences. Learn more.
Don’t miss this engaging episode of Launch AMA where we talk to Justin Wong, Launch alumni and cofounder of Battlefy as he talks about bridging gaming, tech, and esports entrepreneurship. Listen here.
In this Traction podcast, Launch alumni, CEO and co-founder of Klue, Jason Smith, shares key lessons on building a category leader, from selecting the right co-founder to securing venture capital. Watch here.
These represent just a glimpse of the noteworthy milestones and accomplishments that have shaped our recent path. As we continue our journey, we eagerly anticipate bringing you more narratives of innovation, teamwork, and progress. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected for further updates from Launch!
Launch's International Accelerator Programs
Launch is a designated organization of the Canadian Government’s Startup Visa Program & the Global Skills Strategy Program. Launch’s international accelerator programs are designed to help emerging tech companies expand their business to North America. We help tech companies identify the best path for immigration for their team and their families through Startup Visa, Express Entry, Provincial Nomination, or Global Talent Stream. For more information visit launchacademy.ca/startup-visa-canada.
