Vancouver Enterprise Forum

What Vancouver Enterprise Forum does

Vancouver Enterprise Forum (VEF), legally the Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum Society (BC non-profit S-23367), is a Vancouver-based non-profit networking organization founded in 1988 that connects early-stage technology entrepreneurs with investors, professional services firms, and ecosystem partners across Metro Vancouver. VEF operates an event-driven model, hosting eight curated forum events per calendar year from September through June (with hiatuses in March and December), complemented by a Lightning Pitch Program that gives founders up to three minutes of stage time to present to investors and ecosystem players. The organization has run over 200 events since inception spanning cleantech, cloud computing, AI/ML, life sciences, digital media, M&A, and early-stage financing.

VEF monetizes through three streams: Individual Membership at $200/year (one access pass to all eight events), Corporate Membership at $500/year (two transferable tickets, members-only socials, directory inclusion, and AGM voting rights), and event ticket sales to non-members priced from $25 (Founder Rate) to $55 (General Admission). It is volunteer-run and governed by a Board of Directors drawn from partner organizations including entrepreneurship@UBC, NorthX, Spring, Vanedge Capital, Fasken, BDO, Smythe LLP, New Ventures BC, and Pender Ventures. VEF's go-to-market is community-led and ecosystem-driven, relying on referral partnerships with Innovation UBC, Invest Vancouver, Northeastern University, Douglas College, and media partners (Techcouver, DailyHive, Vancouver Tech Journal) to fill events and convert attendees into members. Recent programming includes the Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) initiative with Innovate BC and a November 2025 Climate Innovation event co-hosted with NorthX, signaling targeted vertical expansion into climate tech and women-in-tech founder segments.

Name

Vancouver Enterprise Forum

Legal name

Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum Society

Website

https://vef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vancouver Enterprise Forum (VEF) is a Vancouver-based non-profit networking organization, founded in 1988, that hosts eight annual forum events connecting early-stage technology entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners across Metro Vancouver through memberships, event ticketing, and sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Networking Events

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAGAK

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Technology entrepreneurship networking
• Nonprofit community events
• Startup ecosystem forums
• Entrepreneur membership programs
• Pitch networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership: Annual corporate membership providing two transferable tickets to all eight VEF events per calendar year, plus members-only social events, inclusion in corporate member directory, and AGM voting privileges. Priced at $500 per year.
2. Individual Membership: Annual individual membership providing one access pass to all eight annual VEF events. Priced at $200 per year, offering $160 in savings compared to individual event tickets.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Non-member event tickets sold at various price points: Early Bird ($40), General Admission ($50-$55), Founder Rate ($25), with members receiving free or discounted access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VEF operates a portfolio of eight in-person networking forums per calendar year (September through June) featuring high-profile speakers, lightning pitches by early-stage founders, and structured networking for the Vancouver technology ecosystem. Membership is offered as Individual ($200/year) and Corporate ($500/year) annual subscriptions that bundle access to all eight events, with Corporate members also receiving the directory listing and AGM voting rights. The organization is volunteer-run and acts as a non-profit community convener.

Product overview

The Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum (VEF) Society operates as a non-profit networking and events organization, not a software product company. Its core offering consists of a portfolio of eight annual forum events per calendar year, supplemented by membership programs and a lightning pitch platform. The events serve as a community platform for technology entrepreneurs to network, learn from high-profile speakers, and pitch their ventures. Membership offerings include Individual Membership ($200/year, one access pass to all events) and Corporate Membership ($500/year, two transferable tickets, directory inclusion, and AGM voting rights). The Corporate Member Directory showcases member organizations. The Lightning Pitch Program provides early-stage founders with stage time at monthly events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FaskencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFasken is a law firm that sponsors VEF events and provides legal expertise. Partner Jon Conlin serves on the VEF Board of Directors and moderates events.
• Corporate RecruiterscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Recruiters is a Vancouver executive search firm. Executive Tim Swanson serves as Alumni Partnerships contact on VEF Board and hosts the organization at IQ Offices.
• Innovation UBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation UBC collaborates with VEF on multiple events including AI Unplugged and co-hosts events at UBC Robson Square. Head Michelle Sklar serves as VEF Board Chair.
• Innovate BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate BC partners with VEF on the Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) program, supporting women founders and impact tech ventures through training and pitch showcases.
• Smythe LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSmythe LLP is an accounting firm that sponsors VEF events. Partner Camellia Ho serves on the VEF Board.
• Andersen LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAndersen LLP is listed as a corporate member of VEF, participating in the ecosystem through membership.
• BDO CanadaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBDO Canada is listed as a corporate member of VEF. Director Bonnie Mah serves as VEF Treasurer on the Board.
• Damon MotorsminorOthersDamon Motors is listed as a corporate member of VEF, representing the tech entrepreneur segment.
• Lawson Lundell LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLawson Lundell LLP is listed as a corporate member of VEF.
• Mirai SecurityminorOthersMirai Security is listed as a corporate member of VEF.
• OslerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOsler is listed as a corporate member of VEF.
• Science WorldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience World is listed as a corporate member of VEF, representing the science/education sector.
• NorthXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthX collaborates with VEF on climate tech events including the Climate Innovation event in November 2025. VP Lindsay Chan serves as VEF Co-Vice Chair.
• SpringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring partners with VEF on Road to Web Summit programming and women in tech events. Chief of Staff Crystal Lo serves as VEF Co-Vice Chair.
• Invest VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvest Vancouver collaborates with VEF on events including the Big Exits discussion. The organization provides economic development perspective to the ecosystem.
• BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICE partners with VEF on climate tech and women in tech programming as part of the R2WSV initiative.
• TechcouverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechcouver is a media partner that covers Vancouver tech ecosystem news and events, including VEF activities.
• DailyHiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDailyHive is a media partner covering Vancouver tech news and startup ecosystem.
• Vancouver Tech JournalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVancouver Tech Journal is a media partner covering Vancouver tech news. Founder William Johnson serves on the VEF Board.
• New Ventures BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Ventures BC collaborates with VEF on events. Executive Director Angie Schick serves on the VEF Board.
• Douglas CollegeminorOthersDouglas College sponsors VEF events as a post-secondary institution supporting the tech ecosystem.
• Northeastern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNortheastern University sponsors VEF events and hosts events at their Vancouver campus.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Startup Grind: Global community running recurring monthly founder events, fireside chats, and pitch programming in 600+ chapters. Closest analog to VEF's monthly forum format and lightning-pitch cadence, scaled globally.
• New Ventures BC: BC non-profit running startup competitions, programs, and ecosystem events. Most direct peer: BC-based, comparable scope of founder-support programming, and explicitly a VEF board partner (Executive Director Angie Schick sits on VEF's board).
• Launch Academy Vancouver: Vancouver-based startup hub and accelerator running founder events, mentorship, and community programming. Comparable target audience (early-stage BC tech founders), overlapping event formats, and same geographic market.
• Innovate BC: BC crown agency funding and supporting tech founders via programs, competitions, and ecosystem events. Direct comparable (and current VEF co-programming partner on Road to Web Summit Vancouver) with overlapping mission and BC focus.

Emerging players

• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator and founder community running cohort-based programs and pitch events. Comparable as a pitching/mentorship platform targeting early-stage founders, though structured as a program rather than a forum.
• Spring Activator: Vancouver-based impact-tech accelerator running founder programs, events, and women-in-tech initiatives. Comparable Vancouver geography and overlap on women-in-tech programming, with an explicit VEF board partnership (Crystal Lo, Co-Vice Chair).

Broad incumbents

• DMZ (Toronto): Ryerson/TMU-affiliated startup incubator running founder programs, demo days, and ecosystem events in Toronto. Comparable as a Canadian tech-ecosystem convener targeting early-stage founders and corporate partners.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub running large-scale entrepreneur events, programming, and ecosystem support across deep tech, health, and fintech. Comparable role as a flagship Canadian tech community organizer, with broader scope and far larger budget.
• Startup Canada: National non-profit running founder awards, events, and policy advocacy across Canada. Comparable as a membership/community-oriented entrepreneur convener; broader geographic and policy scope than VEF.

Regional players

• C100 (Canadian Tech): Member-driven Canadian tech executive network running summits, dinners, and mentorship programs. Comparable as a curated, member-paid forum model serving senior tech operators, with overlap on the executive/investor side of VEF's audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vefdotorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/VEFdotorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-enterprise-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Enterprise Forum