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
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Enabling Bottom-Up Entrepreneurship in Canada(BETAKIT)
How can Canadian tech support & enable more entrepreneurs in Canada? What are the tools & mechanisms required? Join Harley Finkelstein (Shopify), Douglas Soltys (BetaKit), and Andrew D’Souza and Michele Romanow (Clearbanc) for a Clubhouse Chat on how to build a network of bottom-up over top-down support!
Despite pandemic, Canadian VC investment remained high in 2020(BETAKIT)
By total VC dollars invested, 2020 beat the previous five-year average of $3.8 billion. However, that total was spread out across a smaller number of deals.
2021 Narwhal List tracks Canada's notable exits, raises, valuations during pandemic year(BETAKIT)
A total of 51 companies are now on track to become Unicorns, more than a 20 percent increase from the 2020 list.
Thinkific files for TSX IPO as Vendasta prices offering at $100 million(BETAKIT)
This news comes as the startup said it has experienced significant growth over the past few years, including during COVID-19.
Gig economy FinTech startup Payfare closes public offering at $65 million(BETAKIT)
Payfare, which offers FinTech software for gig economy workers and employers, filed for its IPO in February.
My journey to parenthood as a founder and CEO(BETAKIT)
Sampler founder & CEO Marie Chevrier shares her journey of becoming a parent and deciding to take parental leave while running a growing Canadian tech startup.
Latest Funding, Acquisitions, and Layoffs
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Hopper raises $213M Series F round (Read here)
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Beanworks to be acquired by Quadient for $104M (Read here)
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SeaSpine to acquire 7D Surgical (Read here)
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Zerospam acquired by Hornetsecurity (Read here)
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Aquatic Informatics acquires Sedaru (Read here)
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LEAF Mobile to acquire Truly Social Games (Read here)
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Apprentx acquired by Edgenda Group (Read here)
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QoC Health to be acquired by Logibec (Read here)
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Mogo to acquire Moka (Read here)
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Arteria AI raises $13.7M Series A (Read here)
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Disco raises $6M seed round (Read here)
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LoginID secures $6M seed round (Read here)
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Visualping secures $2.5M in funding (Read here)
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ClearRisk raises $2.5M in growth capital (Read here)
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Emerge Commerce raises $249,200 (Read here)
RECOMMENDED BY CISCO CANADA
BetaKit Live: Leading Through Change
Entrepreneurs, business leaders, and members of the Canadian tech community join for a panel conversation on leading through change Tuesday, March 30.
WILL CANADIAN TECH REGRET THE MOVE TO REMOTE-FIRST?(BETAKIT)
This week, we answer listener questions about remote work and reflect on what’s been learned from a COVID-focused podcast.
THE NEW BATTLEFRONT BETWEEN SHOPIFY AND AMAZON(BETAKIT)
“Our expectations as consumers have fundamentally shifted. There’s a new gold standard in town.”
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