Photonic’s unique approach to quantum computing is engineered for unlimited scalability. Its innovative Entanglement First^TM Architecture can eliminate the traditional and quantum-specific bottlenecks that prevent other quantum architectures from unlocking the true value of quantum computing. Leveraging the manufacturability of silicon and the connectivity of existing telecom infrastructure, Photonic’s quantum systems will deliver the scale, quality and performance required for breakthrough quantum applications.

The company is on a mission to help solve some of the world’s most critical challenges. Its quantum computers have the potential to exponentially accelerate development across a wide range of industries, including in the areas of drug discovery, secure communications, climate modeling, advanced materials science and more.

“I’ve spent my career in technology, and what the Photonic team is building is transformative. We’re at a point where quantum computing moves from scientific promise to commercial reality, and Photonic is leading that shift globally. Having InBC alongside us signals that British Columbia understands what’s at stake, not just for the province, but for Canada’s place in the world. There is significant economic impact being created by this technology, demonstrated in the talent, the IP, the jobs being built here. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment that keeps B.C. and Canada competitive not just today, but for decades to come.”

— Don Mattrick, CEO, Photonic Inc.

With its roots in British Columbia, Photonic has in only a few years moved from concept to systems manufacturing. Strategic partnerships with market leaders like TELUS, RBC and Microsoft reflect the wide range of sectors, from communications to financial and quantum services, that are positioning themselves for quantum advantage. Their interest in partnering and investing in Photonic now are strong signals of market confidence in the company’s technology and commercial future.

Photonic is one of 13 global companies that have advanced to Stage B of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), a rigorous and highly selective U.S. Department of Defence program validating a quantum computing approach’s feasibility towards utility-scale performance.

The company was also selected for Phase 1 of the Canadian Quantum Champions Program (CQCP), which recognizes the strategic importance of quantum technologies to Canada’s economic competitiveness and national security. The program is designed to accelerate the development of Canadian quantum, focusing on fault‑tolerant quantum computers and anchoring high‑value jobs, talent and intellectual property in Canada.

InBC invested in Photonic alongside other investors. With the proceeds of this financing round, the company will continue to develop its quantum products and services, expand the business and technical teams, deepen customer and partner engagements, and advance its commercialization strategy to becoming a global market leader. The company already employs over 160 employees, the majority of whom are based in B.C., with additional team members located across Canada, the U.K and U.S.

“Photonic’s technology is game-changing. InBC is pleased to support a world-leading B.C.-based company that has the potential to solve some of the world’s most critical problems and accelerate industrial growth in B.C. and around the world. This investment supports our goals to grow high-potential sectors in B.C. such as quantum and strengthen our industrial capabilities while supporting economic resilience and technology jobs in the province.”

— Thomas Park, Chief Investment Officer, InBC Investment Corp.

InBC’s investment in Photonic is supporting the scale-up of a B.C. established company that is globally competitive while staying headquartered in the province. It is helping to strengthen B.C. and Canada’s industrial capabilities, and works in parallel with provincial priorities to bolster key target sectors identified to have significant economic potential in B.C.

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The post InBC Invests in Photonic Inc., Strengthening B.C. and Canada’s Quantum Capacity appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

InBC’s Board of Directors is comprised of members appointed from public service as well as representatives from industry, finance, academia and other areas of leadership in the province. Their breadth of experience and expertise are invaluable to InBC as we execute our mandate to invest in the growth of B.C. businesses.

Jonathan Michel Dubé has over 17 years of experience in the BC Public Service. He is Acting Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary to Treasury Board within the Ministry of Finance, and was formerly Associate Deputy Minister and Deputy Secretary to Treasury Board. Jonathan has also served as Acting Deputy Minister for the former Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions; as Associate Deputy Minister, Health System Operations at the Ministry of Health; and has held two Assistant Deputy Ministers positions with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. His prior experience in the Ministry of Finance includes seven years with Treasury Board Staff in progressively more senior roles. As Executive Director in the Performance Budgeting Office, he developed and oversaw budget plans for several ministries including Attorney General, Children and Family Development, Public Safety and Solicitor General, Social Development and Poverty Reduction and key social programs including in housing and childcare. Jonathan has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University’s School of Law.

Stefan Larson is a Venture Partner in the venture capital group of Sectoral Asset Management. He also serves as a director on the board of Prilenia Therapeutics and Radiant Biotherapeutics, and is a long-standing member of the Board at MaRS Discovery District. Previously, Stefan was Entrepreneur-in-Residence and later Venture Partner at Versant Ventures, where he led the establishment of its Toronto-based Discovery Engine and was the founding CEO of Northern Biologics. He was co-founder of two medical device companies: Perimeter Medical Imaging and Tornado Spectral. Stefan began his career at McKinsey & Company in San Francisco and Toronto. He has a B.Sc. in Biology from McGill University, M.Sc. in Molecular and Medical Genetics from University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Stanford University.

Monty Sikka is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor and business leader with over two decades of experience building and scaling companies across healthcare, technology and global commerce. He is the Founder and CEO of Monark Ventures, a Vancouver-based investment and operating platform with a global footprint. Monty has led the development of high-growth companies in healthcare services, pharmaceutical access and cross-border logistics, with a focus on improving access, affordability and operational efficiency in complex, regulated industries. He has extensive experience driving strategic partnerships, international expansion and technology-enabled transformation. He is also an active investor and advisor to emerging companies. Monty is a Distinguished Alumnus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is involved in philanthropy through the Sikka Foundation, supporting education, community development and youth empowerment.

The post Introducing InBC’s Incoming Board Members appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

Today, InBC and the University of British Columbia announce the UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund. Our goal is to help more UBC-affiliated companies move from research to real world impact, and to grow here in British Columbia.

Since joining InBC, I have met many founders whose ideas began in university labs or classrooms across Canada. Their talent, especially in B.C., is remarkable. What they often lacked was early growth financing and the kind of support that helps a breakthrough become a company. Too many felt pressure to leave B.C. just to find the capital they needed.

This fund aims to change that.

Why This Fund Matters

The UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund reflects a simple idea.

Public purpose capital, used strategically, can:

• Attract more private investment into B.C.
• Accelerate the path from research to commercialization
• Keep companies, talent and intellectual property anchored in the province
• Strengthen B.C.’s long term economic resilience

UBC and InBC are each contributing $10 million, and the fund is now raising additional private capital. This blended model is intentional. It aligns with our strategy to mobilize more investment into the sectors where British Columbia already has global strength.

A Strong Foundation to Build On

UBC’s record speaks for itself.

To date, UBC has generated:

• Nearly 300 spin offs
• Significant licensed discoveries
• An estimated $13 billion in revenue from those discoveries

Few research institutions in Canada have this scale or impact. The Catalyst Ventures Fund builds on that momentum and expands B.C.’s capacity to move ideas into the market. It ensures these spin-off companies and the jobs they create will stay in the province.

Focus Areas Where B.C. Can Lead

The fund will begin by investing in:

• Life sciences
• Deep tech

These fields combine scientific depth with long term growth potential. They also reflect areas where B.C. is already competitive internationally and where the province sees strategic economic opportunity.

Supporting these sectors helps founders, but it also strengthens B.C.’s long term economic foundation.

Anchoring Companies and Talent in B.C.

At its core, this fund is about anchoring.

Anchoring means:

• Companies can grow from B.C. and stay here
• Talent sees a future in this province
• Intellectual property remains rooted in the local economy
• High quality jobs are created and sustained in B.C.
• Economic benefits cycle back into B.C. communities

When founders have reasons to stay, the entire ecosystem benefits.

Looking Ahead

I am proud of this partnership with UBC. It shows what is possible when public institutions, researchers, and private investors work together. It also demonstrates the strength of B.C.’s research base and what can happen when we match that strength with strategic investment.

This fund is not just about supporting individual companies. It is about shaping the future of B.C.’s innovation economy and creating opportunities that will benefit the province for decades.

If you are building a company connected to UBC, or you are an investor interested in contributing to B.C.’s economic future, our team would be glad to connect.

— Tom

Connect with the InBC team:
I am a UBC-affiliated company | I am an investor interested in the fund

Quotes:

“British Columbia is home to world-class research and development, and this fund will accelerate the growth of university-related innovations. We are proud to partner with UBC, one of Canada’s largest research-intensive universities. This partnership aligns with our goal to attract more capital to B.C. and scale more businesses, anchoring them here to generate economic and jobs growth in the province.”

— Thomas Park, Chief Investment Officer, InBC Investment Corp.

“As co-lead investors, UBC and InBC are working together toward this unique academic public-private partnership to anchor and grow companies in B.C. and further the impact of UBC’s research and innovation in the province, across Canada and beyond. One of UBC’s strategic goals is to partner for purpose to generate economic and social impact, and this partnership is a perfect example of what we can do by working together.”

— Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia

“Since spinning out from UBC and leaving campus in 2017, Aspect Biosystems has grown to a team of over 130, raised more than US$350 million, and developed an industry-leading tissue therapeutic platform. We are deeply committed to continuing to grow here in B.C., and it’s fantastic to see this new fund from InBC and UBC that will help more companies like Aspect scale and innovate here at home.”

— Tamer Mohamed, Founder and CEO, Aspect Biosystems

“Some of the most impactful businesses in North America have begun at UBC. Access to capital is as competitive as ever, and it’s vital that we find new ways to support these innovative companies to grow, create jobs and stay right here at home in B.C. UBC and InBC’s initiative, representing one of the largest government investments of its kind in Canada, works in parallel with our Look West strategy, supporting a stronger, more resilient and more diverse economy that everyone in B.C. will benefit from.”

— Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth

The post Catalyzing B.C.’s Next Wave of Research-Driven Companies appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

“Christine played a pivotal role as InBC’s inaugural Chair and more broadly in strengthening B.C.’s venture capital ecosystem over the last 25 years. She was a visionary leader who dedicated her career and philanthropic activities to building B.C.’s economy with passion, innovation and empathy. She will be greatly missed.”

It is with heavy hearts that the InBC team joins all those who had the privilege of knowing Christine Bergeron in honouring her life and legacy.

Christine was the inaugural Chair of InBC’s Board of Directors. During her term, InBC established itself as a source of capital for growing B.C. businesses, with a long-term vision to strengthen the economy while contributing to social and environmental impacts in British Columbia.

We had the honour of witnessing Christine’s extraordinary wisdom, passion for change and inspiring leadership. She put people at the forefront of every decision she made. She had unwavering conviction and was a champion for community impact, equity and diversity, and the environment. Her legacy, and the lessons that she imparted on all of us, will undoubtedly have a ripple effect for years to come. We are profoundly grateful for the time we have had with Christine.

Christine had a career spanning more than 25 years, most recently as President and CEO of Concert Properties, and for 12 years as President and CEO of Vancity, Canada’s largest credit union. She established bold visions and deepened each organization’s commitments to community and sustainability. She had a knack for empowering teams and bringing people together to advance the causes that we all care about.

Earlier in her career, Christine was a founding team member of Chrysalix Ventures, pioneering investments in renewable energy and setting an example for the industry to invest in a more sustainable future. She was one of few women in venture capital, paving the way for more women in finance. She also co-founded Shoreline Wealth Asset Management to support sustainable companies.

Christine served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the Vancouver Board of Trade, Urban Development Institute and UNEP Finance Institute. She held directorships with Aviso Wealth, the BC Business Council and UBC Sauder. She supported entrepreneurship and women’s leadership through WeBC, Small Business BC and SFU Radius Ventures. Her impact was far-reaching and through empowering others, she touched the lives of many.

Christine’s accomplishments are well recognized. She was named a BC Business Woman of the Year, Business in Vancouver Influential Women in Business, BC Most Influential Women in Finance, Vancouver Power50 and more. She was also recently a YWCA Women of Distinction nominee.

We know the loss of Christine is felt deeply by many in the community. All those who knew her also know that her family was the centre of her life. Our thoughts are with her husband, Rich, and sons, Everett and Theo, as well as all her extended loved ones and friends during this difficult time.

Christine will be greatly missed. Her values-driven leadership will continue to inspire our team as we carry our work forward at InBC. 

From Christine’s family:

In lieu of flowers: If you would like to honour Christine, please consider a donation to the Christine Bergeron Women’s Entrepreneurship Award. To contribute, visit a Vancity branch, or call them at 1-888-826-2489.

Celebration of Life: Those who were touched were touched by Christine are invited to celebrate her life on March 1, 2026. RSVP: https://www.paperlesspost.com/go/DGa3pERcbqyzjktRBRyQ3

The post Honouring the Life and Legacy of Christine Bergeron appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

As of January 31, 2026, InBC’s portfolio is directly and indirectly supporting the growth of 38 B.C. companies that have generated over $90 million in revenue and employing nearly 2,000 British Columbians.

Catch up on what some of them have been up to in the last few months.

Arca has signed an agreement with Giga Metals to explore a 220-million-tonne carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project in B.C. Arca’s Industrial Mineralization pathway leverages existing industrial operations and repurposes alkaline waste to capture and permanently store atmospheric CO₂. This agreement gives Arca exclusive rights to evaluate the potential of the site’s ultramafic waste rock for CDR.

Aspect Biosystems has entered into a new phase of its partnership with Novo Nordisk to develop curative medicines for diabetes. This new phase builds on the existing partnership to develop advanced cellular medicines designed to replace, repair or supplement biological functions, including an islet replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes that can restore blood glucose control without the need for chronic immune suppression.

ChopValue continues to showcase how its circular wood furniture solutions can be applied across industries. From wall panels at Rally Pickleball in Charlotte, North Carolina to custom boardroom tables for a well-known Canadian non-profit, this Vancouver company is helping organizations build sustainable spaces, transforming locally recycled chopsticks into premium wood furniture.

Mangrove Lithium has announced financing from the Canada Growth Fund and other existing investors. This investment comes at a pivotal moment of the company’s growth as it accelerates Final Investment Decision for a second 20,000-tonne plant in Canada, and will support operations at its commercial plant in British Columbia. The company recently completed Phase 1 construction of its lithium refining facility in Delta, B.C., marking a major milestone in Canada’s clean energy future and the domestic battery-grade lithium supply chain.

Following the grand opening of its new headquarters in Victoria, B.C., MarineLabs continues to expand its marine technology across North America, including deploying new sensor nodes in Savannah, Georgia — bringing the B.C. company’s coastal intelligence technology to the U.S. southeast coast for the first time.   

Grand opening of MarineLabs’ new headquarters in Victoria, B.C.

Novarc Technologies has appointed Donato Montanari as Chief Technology Officer. Montanari brings more than three decades of experience in artificial intelligence (AI), machine vision and industrial automation. As CTO, he will spearhead the company’s technical vision at a critical point of the company’s growth as it advances its suite of technology solutions to meet industrial demand in B.C., Canada and globally.

Burnaby-based Svante has commenced operation of its carbon dioxide capture demonstration unit at the Mercer Peace River pulp mill in northern Alberta. The pilot project will evaluate Svante’s solid sorbent carbon capture technology on biogenic CO₂ emissions from the mill’s recovery boiler flue gas. This demonstration phase will enable Svante to gather practical data to assess future opportunities for commercial-scale carbon capture in the wider pulp and paper industry.  

The B.C. companies supported by the venture funds InBC had invested in are also making strides in their growth. Some examples include:

Supported by Pender Ventures

Traction Complete has launched its new product, Complete Discover. Complete Discover turns Google Sheets into account data for experimenting with AI enrichment, testing prompts and uncovering go-to-market insights. These AI enrichment prompts can then be deployed into Salesforce using Complete AI.

Supported by Pender Ventures

Veritree has partnered with Manulife to launch Manulife Impact Forests. Manulife Impact Forests is implementing veritree’s Smart Forest technology, which will provide real-time insights and transparency for its restoration projects. To date, Manulife Impact Forests has restored over 160 hectares of land across the globe, including planting trees at the Nicola Watershed in British Columbia which had suffered extensive wildfire damage.

These are just a few examples of the comnies and funds in our portfolio driving impact both here in B.C. and across the globe.

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The post InBC Portfolio News & Updates: February 2026 Edition appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

2025 was an eventful year for InBC. We focused on strengthening and diversifying our portfolio, including announcing an additional eight investments. As of December 31, 2025, our portfolio is directly and indirectly supporting the growth of 37 B.C. companies.

We also continued to engage in the community to meet entrepreneurs across the province, and collaborate with other investors to drive more investment activity in B.C.

Also in 2025, the inaugural Web Summit Vancouver provided unprecedented opportunity for B.C. businesses to showcase their innovations and meet investors, and for us to promote B.C. as a destination for innovation and investment.

Here are some of our 2025 highlights.

January-March

We began the year by announcing our investment in Aspect Biosystems, a Vancouver-based biotechnology company pioneering Bioprinted Tissue Therapeutics to treat life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, liver disease and obesity.

Then in February, we announced our investment in Reverb Therapeutics, which is advancing an antibody-based platform to redirect and amplify the body’s natural cytokines for the potential treatment of cancer, autoimmune conditions and other diseases.

In March, we announced our investment in Burnaby-based Novarc Technologies and its autonomous welding technology that is improving productivity, safety and weld quality across a wide range of industries.

We also announced a commitment to Vanedge Capital‘s Fund IV, a Vancouver-based venture fund focused on investing in early-stage hard tech (deep tech) companies.

We continued to engage in the community to meet a diversity of entrepreneurs and drive more investment activity in B.C. including:

• Speaking on a panel at the Western Angel Investment Summit in Victoria
• Speaking on a panel at the Misfits Ventures Vancouver launch event for LGBTQ2S+ founders and investors
• Engaging with Asian Canadian investors through Asian Canadian Ventures Collective (ACVC)
• Meeting B.C. tech companies at TechExit.io
• Meeting Black entrepreneurs at the Black Entrepreneurship & Research Symposium
• Meeting Vancouver Island entrepreneurs at the Rising Economy conference presented by South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIIP)
• Cheering on B.C. cleantech companies at the Foresight Canada BC Cleantech Awards

April-June

In the Spring, we committed an investment to BrightsPark Ventures’ Brightspark Canadian Opportunities Fund II, a venture fund investing in early-stage technology companies. Brightspark expanded its presence in B.C. with the appointment of a B.C.-based Partner to lead its investments in Western Canada. The fund has so far invested in two B.C.-based companies.

In May, we attended the grand opening of our portfolio company Svante’s new Centre of Excellence for Carbon Capture & Removal in Burnaby B.C., the world’s first commercial gigafactory for carbon capture and removal filters.

Later in May, we kicked off Web Summit Vancouver by welcoming national and global investors to B.C. In collaboration with our partners Invest Vancouver, AinBC, DigiBC, Innovation UBC, Invest Surrey, Life Sciences BC, Naturally Innovative Alliance and NorthX, we organized insider bus tours to leading companies in the life sciences, cleantech and creative tech sectors across the Metro Vancouver region. A total of 25 B.C. companies were featured through facilities tours, speaker panels and showcase receptions and over 200 attendees — including investors from 17 countries, plus innovation supporters, community leaders and media — participated.

At Web Summit itself, we moderated a life sciences panel and helped judge a life sciences pitch at the B.C. Pavilion. We referred opportunities for our portfolio companies to showcase at the conference and proudly watched them speak and exhibit. Lastly, we met numerous entrepreneurs and investors both on the conference floor and at the many community-run side events.  

Our community engagements in the spring also included:

• Speaking on a virtual panel for Road to Web Summit to help B.C. companies prepare for the conference
• Meeting marine tech companies and speaking at the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) and Coast Innovation Forum
• Meeting Indigenous entrepreneurs at Indigenomics Impact
• Meeting healthtech companies at the National Health-Tech Innovation Conference hosted by the CHEO Research Institute at BCIT
• Mentoring women entrepreneurs and speaking at The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Finale
• Meeting advanced materials innovators and speaking at the CAMTEC Annual Research Symposium at the University of Victoria
• Cheering on Victoria tech companies at the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology & Entrepreneurship Council’s VIATEC Awards
• Engaging with investors at Invest Canada conference presented by Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)

July-September

In the summer, we committed our first follow-on investment to 4AG Robotics. 4AG was InBC’s first direct investment in a company and in less than two years, we watched the company grow from prototype to now operating on leading farms in B.C. and across the world. In 2025, the company opened a satellite office in Vancouver to support its global sales and will be moving into a 36,000-square-foot facility in Salmon Arm, B.C. to increase its production capacity.

In July, we enjoyed a sneak peek of our portfolio company Mangrove Lithium’s new lithium refining facility in Delta, B.C., which will be North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refining plant and a milestone in securing the domestic battery-grade lithium supply chain and advancing the climate goal toward a net-zero future.

We also enjoyed a visit to Sanctuary AI’s headquarters in Vancouver, where its general-purpose humanoid robot Phoenix showed off its dexterity skills.

Later in July, we committed an investment in Yaletown Partners’ Innovation Growth Fund III. InBC had previously invested in Yaletown’s Innovation Growth Fund II, which has backed the growth of six B.C. companies.

In September, following a robust recruitment process, we welcomed our new Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Thomas Park to the InBC team. Tom brings with him a broad and diverse set of experiences and credentials, including nearly a decade at BDC supporting innovation at the national level. He is leading InBC’s investment strategy during this exciting next stage of our growth. Read our Q&A with Tom.

With BDC, we supported two IP strategy workshops hosted by Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) for B.C. founders and investors.

We had a busy summer month supporting the innovation ecosystem across B.C., including:

• Co-hosting the Canada-EU Agri-Food Innovation Roundtable with EIT Food, Innovation UBC and the Canadian Food Innovation Network
• Providing opening remarks at Carbon Connect, an event hosted by Arca and Svante with support from NorthX and Deloitte during PNW Climate Week
• Meeting B.C. entrepreneurs at BC Founders Day
• Engaging with women investors through Canadian Women in VC (CWVC)

October-December

In October, we announced our investment in MarineLabs, a coastal intelligence company with a growing sensor network that provides hyper-localized, high-resolution weather and oceanic data to help marine industries and coastal communities make smarter, safer decisions. Later in November, we attended the grand opening of the company’s new headquarters in Victoria, B.C.

We also attended Raven Indigenous Capital Partners’ Annual Impact Feast. Raven was one of InBC’s first commitments to a venture fund. Since 2022, the fund has invested in seven Indigenous-led companies across B.C.

Then in November, we attended Novarc Technologies’ Open House in Burnaby alongside other supporters such as Seaspan and Pacific Economic Development Canada. During the event, Novarc demonstrated its new SWR TIPTIG Autonomy, the world’s first autonomous Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding solution that can deliver precision and consistency previously unattainable in TIG welding.

In preparation for developing our next three-year strategic plan, we have begun a series of consultations to gather input from the innovation ecosystem to help inform our strategy, including one-on-one engagements and roundtables with entrepreneurial support organizations, investor networks, economic development agencies across B.C., Indigenous innovation supporters, post-secondary institutions and more. The purpose is to gain a well-rounded perspective on the state of entrepreneurship and investment needs across the province. We thank all the supporters across B.C. who engaged with us.

We continued to engage in the community to meet promising B.C. companies and other investors such as:

• Cheering on B.C. tech companies at BC Tech’s Technology Impact Awards
• Giving fundraising tips on a panel at Vancouver Tech Journal’s Fall Fundraising Playbook
• Meeting cleantech companies at NorthX Converge
• Meeting life sciences companies at Invest in BC by Life Sciences BC
• Meeting UBC spin-off companies at UBC Day
• Meeting early-stage companies at the VANTEC Angel Network pitch
• Meeting femtech founders at the Femtech Canada Forum

Throughout the year, we also organized another three venture capital roundtables to connect the B.C. venture capital community and share synergies. We thank BDC for generously hosting us in their space.

This new year, we are excited to continue the important work of investing in the growth of B.C. businesses, to support local founders, anchor companies to B.C., drive more investment in the province, and generate economic and jobs growth while contributing to social and environmental impact.  

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The post 2025 Wrapped: Another Year Investing in B.C. Business appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

As of November 30, 2025, InBC’s portfolio is directly and indirectly supporting 37 B.C. companies employing nearly 2,000 British Columbians.

Catch up on what some of them have been up to in the last few months.

4AG Robotics is celebrating 12 million mushrooms picked in 2025, an increase from two million in 2024. To accommodate its growth — with worldwide orders of its harvesting robots booked through to June 2026, it is moving into a new 36,000-square-foot production facility in Salmon Arm, B.C., which will enable the company to scale production up to four robots per week.

The company has also been snatching up accolades. It was recently recognized at the FIRA USA – World Ag Robotics Forum as Best Startup 2025. Earlier this year it picked up the same title at World FIRA, making it one of the few — if not only — companies to win the pitch and impress the investor jury in both North America and Europe.

Arca has signed an agreement with Microsoft for nearly 300,000 tonnes of durable carbon removal over 10 years. This agreement is a significant validation of Arca’s Industrial Mineralization solution that captures and permanently stores CO₂ from the air as stable carbonate minerals. Microsoft’s long-term commitment is a major step in Arca’s trajectory from pilots to potentially million-tonne operations.  

Vancouver-based ChopValue has expanded in the EMEA with a new satellite office in Copenhagen and its first microfactory in Madrid. Its parent company, Microfactory Venture Platform (MVP), is an approved vendor for Restaurant Brands Europe, which will enable ChopValue’s locally based microfactories to manufacture full-service furniture solutions for brands such as Popeyes and Burger King starting in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

On the R&D side, it has partnered with Takenaka Corporation to advance scalable circular construction materials. Through this collaboration, the company is transforming local waste into engineered materials, supporting Japan’s transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient manufacturing.

Pushing the boundaries of its sustainability, Mangrove Lithium is moving to commercialize a cement clinker substitute from the discards of its lithium processing, which will help cut greenhouse gas emissions from the cement sector. Clinker, the pebble-like ingredient used to make cement, is currently responsible for about seven percent of global carbon emissions.

More recently, the company has received a follow-on commitment from NorthX to help demonstrate the continuous operation of its lithium refining platform — the final step before commercial deployment.

Vancouver-based Netskrt has been busy growing its presence worldwide. The global CDN with last-mile awareness recently announced an expansion in Brazil, now covering over 60 delivery points and handling more than 5.0 Tbps of live and on-demand streaming video across a country with millions of sports fans. It has also announced a strategic partnership with Guam Exchange, improving connectivity, content delivery and access to quality streaming for users across the Pacific region. Lastly, Netskrt has partnered with MIX, one of Italy’s largest Internet Exchanges, to deliver high-quality streaming video to subscribers across the country while also reducing latency and traffic strain on local infrastructure.

Novarc’s Open House in November welcomed InBC, Seaspan, Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) and Honourable Paul Choi, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade to its Burnaby headquarters. The company demonstrated its new SWR TIPTIG Autonomy, the world’s first fully autonomous Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding solution that can deliver precision and consistency previously unattainable in TIG welding. The technology has the potential to improve productivity, safety and weld quality across a wide range of industries such as shipbuilding, energy and clean technology.

Novarc was recently named one of the fastest growing companies in North America in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list.

Burnaby-based Svante has announced a pilot project with Södra, Sweden’s largest forest-owner association which will test the company’s carbon capture technology for potential large-scale adoption. Svante’s entry into the EU forestry sector represents a significant step towards scaling biogenic carbon capture in pulp and paper production. Aligned with Sweden’s national climate strategy, this project is partially funded by Industriklivet, part of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under the Next Generation EU programme.

Watch Svante’s explainer video on carbon management:

The B.C. companies supported by the venture funds InBC had invested in are also making strides in their growth.

Supported by Yaletown Partners

Inverted AI has partnered with Foretellix to advance scenario-based testing with realistic and targeted AI-based simulation. A pioneer of predictive human behaviour models for simulation and planning, Inverted AI is using real-world data to train policies critical for achieving fully autonomous vehicles.

Supported by Active Impact Investments

North Vancouver-based Jetson’s Air heat pump has been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025. Jetson is on a mission to replace fossil-fueled heating systems with advanced electric heat pumps that cut emissions, save on energy and lower costs for homeowners across North America.

Supported by Evok Innovations

For the fifth year in a row, MineSense Technologies has been recognized by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Canada. MineSense’s technology unlocks orebody knowledge in real-time, improving ore recovery, minimizing environmental impact and increasing efficiency in mining operations such as in the critical minerals industry essential to the energy transition.

Supported by Yaletown Partners

Photonic has advanced to Stage B of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), the stage of validation which will assess the plausibility of its R&D roadmap towards industrial quantum performance. Photonic is building one of the world’s first commercial-scale quantum computing systems, with potential use case for a wide range of industries.

Supported by Yaletown Partners

SALUS has launched a smarter version of its SALUS IQ, its AI-powered engine that searches across thousands of safety regulations, manuals and best practices to provide immediate answers for the construction industry. SALUS’ digital safety platform is helping construction teams to simplify risk management, enhance compliance and improve safety.

Supported by Brightspark Ventures

ShopVision has partnered with Similarweb to bring traffic trend data into its industry-wide reporting. An AI super agent and e-commerce intelligence platform, ShopVision is helping merchants to understand the market in real-time and respond quickly.  

Supported by Pender Ventures

Veritree is another B.C. company that has been recognized in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 as one of the fastest growing companies in Canada. Veritree helps businesses invest confidently in restoration projects with real-time, on-the-ground data providing transparency and measurable impact. In October, Veritree’s corporate partners pledged 6.9 million tree plantings as part of their commitments to ecosystem restoration.

A few months back, Veritree was also named in The Globe and Mail’s ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies. All three of the Pender invested companies named in the list — Veritree, Jane App and Traction Rec — are notably based in B.C. (Note: Pender invested in Jane prior to InBC’s commitment and it is not counted under our portfolio)

These are just a few examples of the companies and funds in our portfolio driving impact both here in B.C. and across the globe.

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The post InBC Portfolio News & Updates: December 2025 Edition appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

Get to know Tom as he shares his vision for British Columbia and what excites him most about serving as InBC’s CIO.

What is your vision for British Columbia and how do you see InBC playing a role?

My vision is to build on British Columbia’s strengths as one of the most innovative economic regions in the world. Despite the economic headwinds and immediate challenges facing the province, I want to see British Columbia coming out economically stronger but still grounded in its values. The role I see InBC playing is to mobilize additional capital and investments in the province.

“My vision is to build on British Columbia’s strengths as one of the most innovative economic regions in the world. Despite the economic headwinds and immediate challenges facing the province, I want to see British Columbia coming out economically stronger but still grounded in its values.”

— Thomas Park, Chief Investment Officer, InBC Investment Corp.

What excites you the most about leading InBC’s next stage of growth?

I’m excited because I feel we have a once in a generation opportunity to really double down on the province’s strengths, whether it’s in technology, developing some of the most innovative companies or reaching new markets. What makes me excited is the opportunity to take the organization, evolve it to the next stage and better support the province.

What has been your proudest career moment?

My proudest career moment was when I was working in West Africa. I worked with local stakeholders, donors and investors to reduce stockouts for contraceptives for women. When I walked in, the stockouts were 85% of the time, out of most modern contraceptives. By the time I left, we designed a system that went down to 0% stockout, so there was 100% access. I’m quite proud of that and that showed the power of mobilizing people to create an impactful but sustainable model.

Your resume includes notable roles at the United Nations, Gates Foundation and other mission-driven organizations. What does impact mean to you?

Impact means systemic change, mobilizing resources and stakeholders to solve a problem in a way that is self-sustaining.

There are two types of ways of looking at impact. One perspective is to seed a lot of different initiatives. Another is to take a few big problems and ask, how do I solve those? When I think about climate or life sciences for example, which are a large part of investments in B.C., I think about where we can have the biggest impacts.

So I think of systemic change. How do we take a small amount of investment comparably and make systemic change sustainably?

You relocated your family to B.C. What are you most excited about being back on the West Coast?

British Columbia has a kind of quiet confidence. It charts its own path, and I find that so fascinating. I think that gives it a lot of strength. It’s made British Columbia more self-reliant. I’m excited about the fact that people think differently here. They live in an amazing part of the world and they’re very proud of it. We used to live in the Pacific Northwest, and we really like the lifestyle, how people think. We love the fact there’s less snow here. We love the diversity. It’s just amazing.

Tell us something we might not know about you.

I was a big X-Files fan when I was a kid. Then I found out it was filmed in Vancouver.

Reading’s my hobby. I’m a voracious reader. I can read for at least 12 hours over two days.

We welcome Tom to the InBC team and are excited to have him leading the next phase of our investment strategy. He is already active in the local entrepreneurial and investment communities. Keep your eyes out for him as he engages with founders, investors and innovation supporters across the province.

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The post Q&A: Get to Know InBC’s Chief Investment Officer Thomas Park appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

MarineLabs operates a North America-wide fleet of rugged ocean sensors that deliver hyper-local and high-resolution weather intelligence, providing real-time wind, wave and weather data along with AI-driven forecasts that enable maritime operators to make critical decisions with confidence.

“MarineLabs is proud to be building Canadian-made technology that’s already making maritime operations measurably safer and more efficient across North America. With the support of BDC and InBC, we’re growing our network coverage and entering new markets to deliver even greater impact for the ports, pilots and terminals that keep our economy moving.”

— Dr. Scott Beatty, Founder and CEO, MarineLabs

Its flagship product, CoastAware, sets a new benchmark for weather intelligence by combining real-time data with advanced data processing. The subscription platform delivers hyper-local, real-time weather intelligence and AI-powered 10-day forecasts, helping ports, pilots and other maritime operators to make more confident decisions and improve efficiency and safety, while minimizing environmental impact.

InBC invested in MarineLabs alongside BDC Capital’s Sustainability Venture Fund. Already active in four of Canada’s five largest ports, as well as internationally, the company will be using the investment to further expand its sensor network and grow its market share across North America.

This investment is advancing InBC’s objective to support innovation and is enhancing safety and operations for coastal industries. It is supporting the growth of a globally competitive B.C.-based business that is developing IP on Vancouver Island and contributing to jobs and economic growth in the region.

See InBC’s Portfolio

Are you a B.C.-based company ready to scale in the market and looking for investment? Learn more about how InBC is investing in British Columbia and connect with our team today: Learn More

The post InBC Invests in MarineLabs, Advancing Coastal Intelligence appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.

The venture funds we have invested in also continue to back B.C. companies across sectors and growth stages. As of September 30, 2025, InBC’s portfolio is directly and indirectly supporting 37 B.C. companies employing over 1,800 British Columbians.

Catch up on what some of them have been up to in the last few months.

4AG Robotics has introduced its Forager HX800 mushroom harvesting robot, which can harvest, trim and pack into punnets, detect disease and optimize stem length, and make real-time decisions for size, quality and placement. Developed in collaboration with commercial growers, the HX800 retrofits onto standard Dutch rack systems, and can operate 24/7 and service multiple rooms.

4AG was just named in The Globe and Mail’s annual list of the Top Growing Companies in Canada.

ChopValue has published its 2024 Urban Impact Report, which includes highlights such as 199 million chopsticks diverted from landfills, 9.7 million kg of CO₂ emissions saved and more than 80 micro-factories operating or in development worldwide. The company continues to install its climate-positive premium wood furniture, engineered from recycled chopsticks, for clients across the world including most recently at the office of global non-profit The Bridgespan Group and 7-Eleven in Hong Kong.

Clarius’ Median Nerve AI and Prostate AI technology are now approved in Canada and available for clinical use, helping healthcare providers to enhance the accuracy and speed of carpal tunnel and prostate assessments. The company also launched a new release of its Clarius App, improving patient care with AI-powered ultrasound tools for clinicians such as physiotherapists, plastic surgeons and veterinarians, and for ultrasound education.

Mangrove Lithium was part of the Critical Minerals Trade Mission to Japan, hosted by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). CEO Dr. Saad Dara had the opportunity to present at the Canadian Critical Minerals Investment Seminar at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, sharing the company’s vision for clean, scalable lithium refining. The company was also able to connect with its trade partners in Japan and meet other organizations across the battery and clean energy value chain.

Netskrt Systems has teamed up with Lumen Technologies to scale its live-streaming services. Lumen will provide Netskrt with dynamic Edge Bare Metal (EMB) capacity to support the company’s rapidly expanding content delivery on a multi-national level, increasing Netskrt’s reach and providing more communities with access to high quality live streaming.  

Novarc Technologies has launched the SWR+TIPTIG Autonomy, an autonomous welding cobot that can perform high-precision TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding. The world’s first fully autonomous robot for the TIG weld process, capable of x-ray quality TIG root welds, the SWR+TIPTIG Autonomy is setting a new standard for the pipe fabrication industry.

Novarc Technologies is a finalist in this year’s BC Technology Impact Awards in the Gamechanger AI category.

Svante has been awarded funding from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to enhance its testing capabilities on the durability of its filters for point of source carbon capture. This funding is part of the federal government’s larger investment in Canadian-made carbon management technologies, announced at Svante’s Centre of Excellence for Carbon Capture and Removal in Burnaby, B.C.

The company is also expanding its support for Speed Skating Canada to ensure Canadian athletes have the resources to perform at the highest level leading up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. In 2024, Svante collaborated with Speed Skating Canada to highlight the adverse effects of climate change on outdoor winter sports. Svante’s branding will now be on national team uniforms throughout the 2025-26 season, bringing international awareness to the work it is doing to accelerate a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Svante is a finalist in this year’s BC Technology Impact Awards for the Company of the Year – Ambition category.

Poseidon Ocean Systems has reached a milestone, celebrating its 500th Depth Charge Plume (DCP) unit sold worldwide. Poseidon’s DCP oxygen diffuser technology is a key part of their end-to-end fish life support system for the aquaculture industry, offering advanced aeration, oxygenation and automation, enabling farms to improve fish welfare, increase efficiencies and reduce energy consumption.

Brightspark Ventures has led the seed round for ShopVision, a B.C.-based technology company with an e-commerce intelligence platform. An AI super agent helping merchants to understand the market in real-time and move quickly, ShopVision is already trusted by leading brands like Arc’teryx and Herschel.

These are just a few examples of the companies and funds in our portfolio driving impact both here in B.C. and across the globe.

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The post InBC Portfolio News & Updates: October 2025 Edition appeared first on InBC Investment Corp.