BC Tech Association
BC Tech Association is a Vancouver-based non-profit technology industry association that supports British Columbia tech companies through membership programs, peer councils, accelerator initiatives, flagship events, talent programs, and advocacy. It serves BC startups, scaleups, anchor firms, and Indigenous-led technology businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BC Tech Association does
BC Tech Association is a member-led, non-profit technology industry association headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations extending across Western Canada. Founded in 1993, the organization is the largest member-led technology non-profit in the province and positions its mission as making British Columbia the best place to grow and scale a technology company. It operates as a fully virtual team with a staff count reported in the 11-50 range, governed by a Board of Directors currently led by CEO Jill Tipping.
The association generates revenue from three primary streams: recurring membership dues for tech companies organized into multiple classes, program fees from specialized accelerators (including Scaleup Academy, Dragons 1 on 1 Mentorship, the Indigenous-led Tech Company Accelerator with TELUS, the Scaleup IP Accelerator, the BC Tech AI Vertical Accelerator, and the #WhatWorks Market Access program), and event revenue from the annual Technology Impact Awards (TIAs), Dragon's Den Pitch Nights, Scaleup Academy Webinars, and C-Council programming. Distribution is direct through its website, event registration, and member C-Councils organized by executive function.
BC Tech does not develop proprietary technology products. Its core 'product' surface comprises member services — peer councils segmented by role (CEO, CTO, CMO, CHRO), talent programs including an immigration referral program and reskilling initiatives, advocacy output, and ecosystem research such as the State of the BC Tech Nation report and the BC TechMap. Member companies span early-stage startups through anchor enterprises, with named member-company outcomes including Clio ($900M Deal of the Year at the 2025 TIAs), Jane Software (~$1.8B secondary valuation), Svante Technologies, Global Relay, Dorigo Systems, and Novarc Technologies, demonstrating breadth across legal tech, healthcare, carbon capture, communications governance, electronics manufacturing, and welding automation.
BC Tech Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BC Tech Association
- Legal name
- BCTech Association
- Website
- https://wearebctech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BC Tech Association is a Vancouver-based non-profit technology industry association that supports British Columbia tech companies through membership programs, peer councils, accelerator initiatives, flagship events, talent programs, and advocacy. It serves BC startups, scaleups, anchor firms, and Indigenous-led technology businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BC Tech Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Association Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
Keywords
Where BC Tech Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BC Tech Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: BC Tech generates revenue through membership fees from tech companies in British Columbia. The association offers different classes of membership with specific eligibility requirements and fee requirements.
- Event Revenue: Revenue generated from hosting events including Technology Impact Awards (TIAs), Dragon's Den Pitch Nights, Scaleup Academy Webinars, and other community events.
- Program Fees: Fees from specialized programs including Scaleup Academy, Dragons 1 on 1 Mentorship, Indigenous-led Tech Company Accelerator, Scaleup IP Accelerator, BC Tech AI Vertical Accelerator, and #WhatWorks Market Access program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
BC Tech Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BC Tech Association operates as a member-supported industry association for the technology sector in British Columbia. It offers membership tiers, industry programs, advocacy, networking events, talent initiatives, and research/reporting services for tech companies and the broader BC tech ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Technology Impact Awards (TIAs): Annual awards program celebrating outstanding innovation and leadership in British Columbia's tech sector
- ScaleUp Academy
- C-Councils
- BC TechMap
- #WhatWorks
Products and services
- Tech Industry Membership
- Industry Events and Programs
- Policy and Advocacy Services
- Tech Sector Research and Reports
Quantifiable outcome
- The 2025 TIAs highlighted over $3 billion in notable deals
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use BC Tech Association
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BC Tech Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BC Tech Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Sauder School of BusinesscoreClio, a BC Tech member, pledged $3 million to UBC Sauder's Powerhouse Project to support entrepreneurship and innovation. The donation will fund a collaborative space including the Creative Destruction Lab – Vancouver accelerator for science and tech startups.
- TELUScoreBC Tech and TELUS partnered to launch an accelerator program for Indigenous-led tech companies. This strategic initiative supports Indigenous tech founders in scaling their businesses through mentorship, resources, and community building. The partnership was announced in March 2023.
- SAPcoreSAP sponsors the #WhatWorks Talent Series, an educational event series focused on building stronger companies in BC by addressing talent challenges. The partnership provides resources and expertise for tech companies on diversity & inclusion, indigenous talent pathways, and team composition.
- Novo NordiskcorePartnership with Aspect Biosystems to leverage proprietary bioprinting technology and Novo Nordisk's expertise in stem cell differentiation and cell therapy development and manufacturing.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BC Tech Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Communitech: Canadian technology innovation hub based in Waterloo, Ontario that supports startups and scaleups through programs, events, and ecosystem building. Closely comparable non-profit/regional tech association model serving a different Canadian geography.
- MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting high-impact Canadian tech ventures through programs, capital access, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a Canadian non-profit ecosystem builder focused on scaling ventures.
- Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA): National Canadian technology trade association advocating for the tech industry, providing member services, awards, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable membership-based industry association model across Canada.
- Toronto Region Board of Trade: Toronto-based business membership organization offering programs, policy advocacy, and networking for the regional business community. Comparable membership-driven regional business association structure serving tech and adjacent sectors.
- Technology Association of Georgia (TAG): US regional technology industry association serving Georgia's tech ecosystem through programs, events, awards, and advocacy. Closely comparable member-led regional tech association model operating in a different geography.
- Innovate BC: Provincial crown agency supporting BC's innovation economy through programs, funding, and ecosystem partnerships. Direct regional peer operating in the same BC geography with overlapping tech ecosystem mandate.
Broad incumbents
- Silicon Valley Leadership Group: California-based business association representing major employers including tech companies, focused on policy advocacy and regional competitiveness. Broader incumbent operating across multiple industries but with significant tech focus.
- CompTIA: International non-profit trade association for the global IT industry, providing certifications, member programs, advocacy, and industry research. Comparable membership-based tech industry association model at much larger scale.
- Consumer Technology Association (CTA): US-based trade association representing the consumer technology industry, producing CES and industry standards. Comparable industry-association model producing flagship events and serving a tech membership base.
- CCIA (Computer & Communications Industry Association): International non-profit trade association representing leading tech and communications companies through policy advocacy. Comparable industry association structure focused on advocacy and member services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BC Tech Association social profiles
Digital presenceBC Tech Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BC Tech Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BC Tech Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BC Tech Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BC Tech Association
What does BC Tech Association do?
BC Tech Association operates as a member-supported industry association for the technology sector in British Columbia. It offers membership tiers, industry programs, advocacy, networking events, talent initiatives, and research/reporting services for tech companies and the broader BC tech ecosystem.
Is BC Tech Association a public or private company?
BC Tech Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BC Tech Association founded?
BC Tech Association was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BC Tech Association based?
BC Tech Association is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does BC Tech Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue and program Fees.
Who are BC Tech Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Communitech, MaRS Discovery District, Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA), Toronto Region Board of Trade, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and Innovate BC. Broad incumbents are Silicon Valley Leadership Group, CompTIA, Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and CCIA (Computer & Communications Industry Association).
Does BC Tech Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for BC Tech Association.
What industry is BC Tech Association in?
BC Tech Association's product category is Industry Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good), with a secondary code of THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.