Business

BCIC and New Ventures Announce Tech Awards-Winners

By Ashley Sparrow /

Edvisor, Ziva Dynamics and Change Heroes top finalists in high-profile tech startup competition.

New Ventures BC and the BC Innovation Council (BCIC) kicked-off Vancouver Startup Week on Monday (Sep. 21) by awarding over $300,000 in cash and prizes to Vancouver’s top tech ventures at their 15th annual awards ceremony.Cash wasn’t the only incentive for participates, with both the BCIC and New Ventures organizations offering mentorship and business development to the winners.

With the ever-expanding tech scene in Vancouver, it’s safe to say these local winners should be on your radar for the next few years–have we found the next Hootsuite? Stars of the night include Edvisor: an online management system for education agencies to coordinate studying abroad programs; Ziva Dynamics: a virtual character development tool with applications that range from film characters to surgery simulation, and Change Heroes: a video-driven platform that changes the way Millennials fundraise.

“We were impressed with the quality of submissions this year,” said New Ventures BC Program Manager Angie Schick. “It’s testament to the increasing sophistication and growth of the tech ecosystem in B.C.”Newventuresbc.com, Bcic.ca

Steven Lukas, New Ventures BC Board Member, presents the $100,000 BCIC First Prize Package and Rocket Builders GotoMarket Prize to Edvisor at the 15th annual BCIC-New Ventures BC Competition.

Steven Lukas, New Ventures BC Board Member, presents the $55,000 BCIC Second Prize Package and Rocket Builders Most Promising Pitch Prize to Ziva Dynamics at the 15th annual BCIC-New Ventures BC Competition.

Steven Lukas, New Ventures BC Board Member, presents the $37,000 BCIC Third Prize and $16,000 Vancity Social Venture Prize to Change Heroes at the 15th annual BCIC-New Ventures BC Competition.