Canadian startup news of the week (12/16/18)

Welcome to BetaKit’s startup stories of the week! Here, you will find the week’s most important news, features, and editorials published on BetaKit. If you prefer this update hit your inbox every week, make sure to subscribe to the BetaKit Newsletter using the form at the bottom of this page.

Top Stories of the Week

Lightspeed acquires ReUp, rebrands it to Lightspeed Loyalty(BETAKIT)

Lightspeed now has a loyalty solution integrated and geared towards apparel boutiques and fine dining restaurants.


Yuri Navarro to step down as NACO CEO(BETAKIT)

Yuri Navarro will work on an angel investing initiative with Montreal-based Panache Ventures to encourage more angel funds.


AI and FinTech: What’s next for Canada’s hottest sectors?(BETAKIT)

As the year wraps up, where are these these two sectors—which have both been among the most attractive for VCs—headed in 2019?


Calgary Technologies breaks ground on planned innovation centre(BETAKIT)

CTI will run Platform, which aims to provide collaborative workspaces and programming for startups and enterprises.


Startup Milestones

  • Accenture acquiring financial services assets from Zafin (Read here)

  • Faire raises $133 million CAD with Lightspeed Venture Partners and Y Combinator (Read here)

  • Pursuit, formerly Revlo, acquired by Twitch (Read here)

  • Osprey Informatics raises $3.75 million in funding (Read here)

  • Mysa raises $2 million to develop smart home thermostats (Read here)

  • Meal kit delivery service Fresh Prep raises $3.3 million (Read here)


Must Reads

Canadian VC activity is down, but corporate investors are stepping up. Is that a good thing?(BETAKIT)

A new PwC MoneyTree report on Canadian investment shows that in Q3 2018, corporate participation made up 39 percent of all Canadian deals.


Ask an Investor: How can I create optionality after I get an acquisition offer?(BETAKIT)

No matter what stage your business is in, optionality is something you can be proactively driving towards before an acquisition comes your way.


Your holiday tech wishlist (CanCon ep. 137)

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Amira Zubairi

Amira Zubairi is a staff writer and content creator at BetaKit with a strong interest in Canadian startup, business, and legal tech news. In her free time, Amira indulges in baking desserts, working out, and watching legal shows.

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