Save the dates: April 27 to May 1 because Vancouver Startup Week (VSW) is back!
And if you have ever built (or tried to build) anything in this city, you already know VSW is the perfect place to celebrate, connect and create.
For over a decade, Vancouver Startup Week has been the heartbeat of BC’s startup scene. It brings founders, operators, investors, students, and ecosystem supporters together for conversations that are tough to recreate online. You hear what people are actually working through, what they are learning in real time, and what they wish they had known earlier. It is the kind of week where a quick chat can turn into a practical intro, a hard-earned lesson, or a new collaborator.
VSW 2026 is about going deeper, into relationships, into lessons learned, and into the homegrown momentum that keeps BC’s startup scene moving forward.
Celebrating Homegrown Success
Vancouver is a world-class hub for innovation. We create an atmosphere that celebrates the culture, the companies, and the unique energy that makes this city a global destination for founders.
VSW 2026 is a chance to put that homegrown strength front and centre, and to make it easier for the next wave of founders to believe: you can launch here, and you can grow from here.
A Community that Keeps Showing Up
There is something grounding about VSW landing on the calendar each year. It is a reminder that while startups can be chaotic, the community does not have to be.
If you are a first-time founder, VSW is often the first place you realize you are not building alone. If you are further along, it is a week to share what you have learned, including the parts that do not make it into press releases. And if you support founders as an investor, partner, corporate team, or institution, it is one of the best ways to get close to what people are actually working on.
The goal is simple: create space for people to meet, learn, and build forward together.
What 2025 Showed Us
Last year reinforced something we have always believed: Vancouver’s startup ecosystem shows up when it matters.
VSW 2025 brought together 5,000 attendees, 200 speakers, and 100 event partners, with 1,000 startups represented across the week. The most important outcomes were not limited to what happened on stage, but those rooms definitely mattered.
Some of the moments that helped set the tone included:
- Vancouver Startup Week’s Opening Reception and Ecosystem Showcase presented by Google Cloud
- Toast’s Men in Tech 2.0
- New Ventures BC and Innovate BC: IP Summit
- Angel Forum’s Venture Financing 101
- Vancouver Tech Journal’s #VTJTalks: Scaling with Purpose: Clio’s Journey and the Future of Legal Tech
- Osler’s Accessing Venture Capital
- Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU: From the Elevator to the Boardroom: How to Get Investors Interested In Your Pitch
- RBCx’s founders panel: How to grow your venture from 0 to 1?
- Vancouver Startup Week’s Closing Party at D/6
Yes, sessions filled up, big topics were covered, but the real signal was what happened in between:
- Conversations that ran long after the session ended
- Introductions that turned into follow-up coffees
- Operators swapping notes on what is actually working right now
- Founders pressure-testing ideas with people who get it
Connection is the Point
VSW is built around human-centered connection.
That means you will see first-time founders sitting next to experienced leaders. You will meet investors who are there to understand the ecosystem, not just chase the next deal. And you will find partners and institutions who genuinely want to learn what founders need right now.
For many entrepreneurs in BC, VSW is one of the few times each year when the whole ecosystem gathers in one place. That density matters. It lowers the friction to find mentors, collaborators, early customers, and peers who are building alongside you.
What to Expect in 2026
We’ve curated five days filled with exciting events—built for you to connect with the startup ecosystem. You can expect hands-on sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, fireside chats–and did we mention, parties?
- The Ecosystem Showcase and Opening Reception at Science World returns, bigger and better than last year.
- A mix of familiar community anchors and new voices stepping up to lead, including Vancouver Tech Journal, Osler, RBCx, and more.
- Toast’s Men in Tech 3.0 is guaranteed to bring the conversation, some controversy, and a lot of laughs.
- A week that is intentionally welcoming, useful whether you are pre-idea, pre-seed, scaling, or supporting the ecosystem.
- Lastly, a Closing Party to celebrate the week with the people you spent it with.
If you have been circling VSW for a few years, this is the year you do not want to miss.
Come if you are building your first company. Come if you are building your fifth. Come if you are hiring, fundraising, stuck, curious, or just ready to find your people again.
Join us this April. Find your community. Build what’s next, right here in BC.
Save the dates: Vancouver Startup Week takes place from April 27 to May 01, 2026. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for updates on early bird access and more, head to www.vanstartupweek.ca.
Sponsor Vancouver Startup Week 2026
Put Your Brand on the Global Stage. With thousands of attendees ranging from early-stage founders to global investors, VSW 2026 offers unparalleled access to the decision-makers of tomorrow. As we celebrate Vancouver’s reputation as a launchpad for global success, your brand will be front and center at the city’s most anticipated business festival.
Whether through hosting a workshop or activating at our events, you’ll gain direct exposure to a highly engaged audience that is ready to connect, celebrate, and create. Don’t just watch the next big thing happen—be the partner that helped power it.
Ready to make an impact? Let’s work together to help our community Start Local and Think Global. Let’s talk: connect@vanstartupweek.ca.
VSW 2026 — April 27 to May 1.
Join the celebration. You won’t want to miss it.
