What Vancouver Startup Week does

Vancouver Startup Week (VSW) is a non-profit, volunteer-run annual gathering operated by the Vancouver Startup Society, a Canadian non-profit domiciled in British Columbia and founded in 2014. The organization's flagship product is a five-day, multi-venue event held across downtown Vancouver that convenes pre-idea through post-exit founders, operators, investors, students, and ecosystem supporters for workshops, panels, mentorship, pitch programming, and networking. VSW 2026 spanned 17 venues — including a 14,000 sq ft headquarters on the 9th floor of BX1 at Bentall Centre, And-Co Offices, Science World, and SFU Venture Labs — and hosted 85+ events, 5,000+ attendees, 80 volunteers, and programming produced by 100+ partner organizations. The event is community-led rather than commercially driven, with no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on third-party tools including Whova for registration and attendee networking, and Stripe and Square for payment processing.

VSW generates revenue primarily through two streams: sales of All-Access Passes to attendees (pricing not publicly disclosed) and tiered corporate sponsorships (Platinum, Diamond, Gold). Diamond-tier sponsorships in 2025–2026 were held by Google Cloud and Innovate BC, while Platinum-tier included Bentall Centre/Hudson Pacific Properties, And-Co Offices, and Low Tide Properties. A new $150,000 investment prize was featured at VSW 2025, and a Downtown Van Badge Pass Program added a cross-promotional discount layer with six partner businesses for VSW 2026. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through vanstartupweek.ca supplemented by ecosystem-partner referral channels, and demand generation runs primarily through community word-of-mouth, organic social, an active editorial blog, and earned media coverage from outlets such as Techcouver, Daily Hive, The Georgia Straight, and Vancouver Tech Journal. The organization is governed by volunteer co-chairs, holds CCPA-compliant privacy practices, and has grown into one of Canada's most recognizable startup gatherings over a decade of operation.

Name

Vancouver Startup Week

Legal name

Vancouver Startup Society

Website

https://vanstartupweek.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vancouver Startup Week is a non-profit, volunteer-run annual five-day startup ecosystem event in downtown Vancouver convened by the Vancouver Startup Society, serving founders, operators, investors, students, and ecosystem supporters through multi-venue programming, sponsorships, and All-Access Pass ticket sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Events

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Startup community events
• Entrepreneurship networking
• Founder workshops
• Ecosystem building
• Innovation conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event Pass / Ticket Sales: VSW generates revenue through the sale of event passes (All-Access Pass and other ticket tiers) to attendees. Ticket purchases require registration with personal information and payment processed through third-party providers such as Stripe, Square, and Whova.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: VSW operates Platinum, Diamond, and Gold sponsorship tiers where companies pay to have their brand associated with the event, host workshops, activate at venues, or sponsor named stages (e.g., Futurpreneur Stage at VSW HQ). Sponsorship revenue funds event operations.
3. Badge Pass / Partner Discount Programs: Through the Downtown Van Badge Pass Program, VSW All-Access Pass holders receive exclusive discounts at partner downtown businesses. This drives cross-promotional value and may generate co-marketing revenue with partner venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vancouver Startup Week is an annual five-day, volunteer-run startup ecosystem event in Vancouver, BC, featuring 85+ workshops, panels, and networking sessions across 17 venues. The event, organized by the Vancouver Startup Society since 2014, serves founders, developers, investors, and students with educational programming and community-building activities.

Product overview

Vancouver Startup Week operates as a single core product — an annual five-day startup ecosystem event. The event features a main conference with 85+ events across 17 venues, including workshops, panels, networking sessions, startup showcases, and the Ecosystem Showcase Opening Reception. Premium attendees can purchase an All-Access Pass for exclusive downtown dining deals and enhanced access. Cloud32 is a dedicated event venue within Bentall Centre that serves as the physical headquarters during the event week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vancouver Startup Week Annual Event A five-day, volunteer-run startup ecosystem event held annually across 17 venues in Vancouver, BC, featuring 85+ workshops, panel discussions, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities for founders, developers, investors, and students. Organized by the Vancouver Startup Society since 2014.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ attendees, 85+ events, 80 volunteers across 17 venues (VSW 2026)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google CloudcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Google Cloud is a Diamond Sponsor of Vancouver Startup Week 2025 and 2026. It is the presenting sponsor of the Opening Reception and Ecosystem Showcase held at Science World. Google Cloud also hosts hands-on AI workshops during VSW, including sessions on building agents using the Agent Development Kit (ADK) and deploying to Vertex Agent Engine.
• FuturpreneurcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Futurpreneur is a Gold Sponsor of VSW 2026. At VSW 2026, Futurpreneur was assigned a named stage (the Futurpreneur Stage at VSW HQ) for its programming. Futurpreneur hosted two events: 'From Employee to Entrepreneur: Making the Leap' (April 28) and a legal fireside chat (May 1). Futurpreneur also publishes content on the VSW blog about its Black Entrepreneur Startup Program.
• Osler (Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Osler is a Gold Sponsor of VSW 2026. Osler's Emerging and High Growth Companies Group hosts a 'Startup 101: Before You Raise' presentation and Q&A session led by Martin Smith and Eliot Escalona, covering legal building blocks before a first capital raise, financing structures, and cap table management. Osler also publishes legal guidance content on the VSW blog.
• Downtown VanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026VSW partnered with Downtown Van to launch the Badge Pass Program for VSW 2026. All-Access Pass holders can show their badge at six participating downtown businesses (Donnellan's Irish Pub, The Pawn Shop YVR, Diva @ The Met, Stock & Supply, Desi Lounge, and Vancouver Lookout) to unlock exclusive discounts.
• CliominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Clio, a Vancouver-born legaltech unicorn, headlined VSW 2025 with a featured fireside chat led by CTO Jonathan Watson and CMO Reagan Attle. The session covered how Clio grew from a local startup into a global leader in cloud-based legal technology.
• SFU Venture LabsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026SFU Venture Labs is listed as one of the venue locations for VSW 2026, hosting events across the five-day week alongside other partner venues throughout downtown Vancouver.
• Bentall Centre / Hudson Pacific PropertiescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Bentall Centre and its managing partner Hudson Pacific Properties are Platinum Sponsors of VSW 2025 and serve as the primary headquarters venue (VSW HQ) for the event. Bentall Centre also debuted its Cloud32 event venue at VSW 2025. For VSW 2026, the entire 9th floor of BX1 at Bentall Centre (14,000 sq ft) served as VSW HQ, hosting pass pickup, a café, a full programming stage, and dozens of events.
• And-Co OfficescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025And-Co Offices is a Platinum Sponsor of VSW 2025 and serves as a main venue sponsor. Located at 1575 W Georgia Street in Coal Harbour, And-Co hosts key VSW events throughout the week in its versatile event space. For VSW 2026, sessions like And-Co-hosted workshops and Anna Gradie's 'Fearless Founders' talk took place at And-Co.
• Low Tide PropertiescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Low Tide Properties is a Platinum Sponsor of VSW 2025. The company, headquartered in Vancouver, hosts multiple events at its Water Street venue during VSW. Low Tide Properties focuses on creating vibrant innovation spaces in emerging neighborhoods and is a key real estate partner for the ecosystem.
• Innovate BCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Innovate BC is a Diamond Sponsor of VSW 2025 and 2026, with a partnership spanning over 10 years. Innovate BC supports VSW through its Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) Program and hosts events including the Frictionless Data Rooms and IP Summit. Innovate BC also operates the IP Hub and delivers programs including AccelerateIP and the Go-To-Market Microgrant.
• Science WorldcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Science World serves as the venue for VSW's Opening Reception and Ecosystem Showcase, presented by Google Cloud. This is the flagship opening event of VSW each year, bringing together entrepreneurs, founders, and community organizations.
• Vancouver Tech JournalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Vancouver Tech Journal is listed as a community anchor partner for VSW 2026, hosting events including #VTJTalks sessions such as 'Scaling with Purpose: Clio's Journey and the Future of Legal Tech.'
• Toast (Discover Toast)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Toast, co-founded by April Hicke, hosts Men in Tech panels at VSW. Men in Tech 2.0 took place at VSW 2025, and Men in Tech 3.0 was featured at VSW 2026. Toast is a community organization reshaping the startup space for women and beyond.
• RBCxminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025RBCx hosts a founders panel at VSW, including the session 'How to grow your venture from 0 to 1?' at VSW 2025. RBCx is part of the Royal Bank of Canada's innovation and startup support initiatives.
• Angel ForumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Angel Forum hosts 'Venture Financing 101' at VSW, providing early-stage founders with guidance on venture financing and investment readiness.
• New Ventures BCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025New Ventures BC co-hosts the IP Summit with Innovate BC at VSW. New Ventures BC also delivers AccelerateIP, a program providing IP education, funding, and strategy development support to startups across BC, Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut.
• Launch AcademycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Launch Academy is a Vancouver-based startup incubator and co-working space founded in 2012 by Ray Walia. It has graduated 6,500+ founders and helped raise $2.5B in funding. Its Maple program supports immigrant founders. Launch Academy is featured in VSW's Bold Roots, Big Moves founder spotlight series.
• Futurpreneur's Black Entrepreneur Startup Program (BESP)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021The Black Entrepreneur Startup Program (BESP), launched by Futurpreneur in March 2021, has supported over 600 Black-led businesses and disbursed over $20.5 million in loan financing. Funded by RBC with additional loan financing from BDC, BESP is featured at VSW as a partner spotlight and programming contributor. 50% of supported businesses are women-led.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TechCrunch Disrupt: Premier global startup conference featuring pitch competitions, speaker programming, and sponsor activations. Comparable as a high-profile startup ecosystem event competing for founder attention, sponsor dollars, and media coverage.
• Collision Conference: Major North American tech conference (part of Web Summit family) targeting startups and enterprise. Comparable as a large-scale startup and tech event with multi-track programming and similar founder/investor audience.
• Startup Grind Global Conference: Global startup community and conference with local chapter programming and an annual flagship event. Comparable as a community-driven startup gathering with similar founder/operator focus and multi-tier sponsorship model.
• Web Summit Vancouver: Large-scale international tech conference hosted in Vancouver, explicitly cited as the larger event that VSW feeds into via Innovate BC's 'Road to Web Summit' program. Comparable as a Vancouver-based startup and tech event serving overlapping attendees and sponsors.
• SaaStr Annual: Large annual SaaS and startup conference with community-driven programming similar to VSW's model. Comparable in focus on connecting founders, operators, and investors at a multi-day gathering.

Others

• Innovate BC: BC Crown agency supporting provincial innovation that has been VSW's Diamond sponsor for 10+ years and co-hosts programming like the IP Summit. Comparable as a BC ecosystem builder with overlapping founder/investor audience and sponsor relationship.
• Launch Academy: Vancouver-based startup incubator and co-working space that is a VSW programming partner. Comparable as a BC-focused startup community builder whose 6,500+ founder alumni overlap with VSW's audience.

Direct peers

• Startup Week Toronto: Toronto's flagship Startup Week event, part of the global Techstars Startup Week network. Directly comparable as a city-level community-driven startup gathering with a similar volunteer/sponsor model, multi-venue format, and founder/investor focus.
• Techweek: Multi-city tech and startup conference series operating across major US markets. Comparable as a community-style tech gathering with similar sponsorship tiers, multi-venue format, and focus on connecting founders, investors, and corporate innovators.

Regional players

• BC Tech Summit (now VIATEC): BC's flagship technology conference organized by the Vancouver Island Technology Association and partners. Comparable as a regional startup/tech gathering with similar audience of BC founders, investors, and corporate innovation teams.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vanstartupweek
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vancouverstartupweek
• Facebookfacebook.com/vancouverstartupweek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-startup-week
• Instagraminstagram.com/vanstartupweek

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver Startup Week