A|I: The AI Times – Sam Altman isn’t worried—but Yoshua Bengio is
Plus: Italian privacy regulator bans ChatGPT.
fintech
LayerZero Labs raises $120 million at $3 billion valuation to enable more multi-blockchain apps
VCs continue to bet on long-term growth for crypto despite volatile market.
Canadian startup news of the week (4/2/23)
Plus: RenoRun files for creditor protection.
MaRS Discovery District launches new program for “high-growth” Canadian companies
The program is backed by existing FedDev funding.
S|W: The SaaS Weekly – Magnet shareholders ignore critics, back acquisition
How 1Password plans to build a passwordless future.
Federal budget a “huge win” for cleantech, but Canada still at risk of missing out
Now is not the time to stop investing in Canada’s clean economy.
Federal #Budget2023 includes cleantech commitments, little else for innovation
Budget 2023 includes $500 million to SIF for cleantech projects, billions in clean energy tax credits.
Québec budget aimed at stimulating the economy with investments in tech sectors, skilled labour
Cleantech, FinTech, AI, and quantum sciences are getting attention.
Vertu Capital closes first private equity fund with over $300 million
Led by ex-OMERS veteran Lisa Melchior, Vertu is Canada’s first woman-founded PE firm.
Symend reduces team by 25 percent in restructuring, four months after $54 million round
Latest cuts come after Symend laid off 13 percent of staff late last year.
BC suffered biggest year-over-year venture funding drop among all Canadian ecosystems in 2022
Investment in the province’s tech startups fell by 67 percent in 2022.
FreshBooks lays off 10 percent of staff as company targets profitability
FreshBooks’ second round of layoffs since December sees third C-suite exec depart in past year.
DMZ Demo Day event to hand out $300,000 in prizes for startups
Entrepreneurs will get to pitch and network with hand-picked global investors.
BDC appoints Sévrine Labelle as head of $100 million Thrive Lab for women entrepreneurs
Thrive Lab is set to launch this spring.
Synctera secures National Bank funding, partnership to bring banking-as-a-service platform to Canada
Synctera helps FinTechs build and launch compliant financial products debit and lending.