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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Veritree, Manulife Partner on Smart Forests

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Vancouver-based veritree has announced a major partnership with Manulife, marking the first corporate deployment of its Smart Forest technology. The collaboration brings Manulife’s reforestation efforts onto veritree’s data-driven platform and introduces the technology to Asia through projects in Japan and the Philippines.

Manulife Impact Forests aim to restore ecosystems, support communities, and enhance climate resilience. Veritree’s system combines satellite imagery, ground data, and bio-acoustic monitoring to track measurable outcomes, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity gains. Manulife called the initiative a model for integrating sustainability, accountability, and innovation. Veritree has helped plant over 180 million trees globally.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

Portage Takes Over $300M Fintech Portfolio

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Toronto-based Portage Ventures has signed an agreement with New York’s Point72 Ventures to manage select fintech assets valued at nearly US$300 million. The portfolio will move into a continuation vehicle backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives and secondary investors. Portage will serve as general partner, oversee additional Point72 assets, and add Point72 partner Tripp Shriner as a general partner managing the vehicle.

CEO Adam Felesky said the deal reflects confidence in the portfolio’s quality and Portage’s value-creation expertise. Co-founder Paul Desmarais called it a milestone expanding Portage’s global reach. Portage manages nearly US$6 billion across more than 100 companies worldwide.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Fintech.ca.

Canadian Traffic Tech Scales Through Global Data

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Miovision Technologies has signed a partnership with Dutch mapping firm TomTom to expand traffic intelligence for cities worldwide. The Kitchener-based company will integrate TomTom’s anonymized traffic data into its Miovision One platform, boosting coverage from 60,000 intersections to more than 300,000 globally.

Founded in 2005, Miovision uses sensors, computer vision, and analytics to help cities optimize traffic signals and reduce congestion. TomTom’s mobile and vehicle data will enable deeper analysis, congestion mapping, and improved signal timing. Miovision says its technology has cut travel times by 25 percent in U.S. cities.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Betakit.

Banks Turn to New AI Models for Prediction

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Generative AI has proved powerful at language but weak at prediction, prompting banks and technology firms to pursue new approaches. Companies increasingly rely on structured data to forecast churn, demand, and credit risk—tasks where large language models fall short.

TD Bank has developed a tabular foundation model called Prism through its AI unit, Layer 6, to address the challenge. Trained on a year of transaction, account, and credit bureau data, Prism allows staff to forecast customer behaviour without building separate models for each task. Executives say the approach scales predictive analytics more efficiently across the organization.

Want to know more? Check out the source code The Logic.

Vancouver’s StandardFusion Acquired in $50M Deal

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StandardFusion has been acquired by Wolters Kluwer in a cash transaction valued at approximately $50 million, delivering a notable exit for Canada’s enterprise software sector. The deal folds StandardFusion’s cloud-based governance, risk, and compliance platform into Wolters Kluwer’s Corporate Performance & ESG unit, integrating it with TeamMate audit software.

Founded in Vancouver, StandardFusion serves mid-to-large enterprises with configurable workflows and more than 150 compliance frameworks. In 2024, the company generated roughly $6 million in revenue, largely recurring. Wolters Kluwer expects the acquisition to exceed its cost of capital within five years.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

Shopify Pushes Standards for AI Shopping

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Shopify is rolling out new infrastructure aimed at enabling AI-driven online shopping, launching its Universal Commerce Protocol and expanding access to its Catalog service. Developed with Google, UCP sets common standards allowing AI agents to complete retail transactions, from checkout to loyalty logins.

Shopify will also open Catalog listings to non-Shopify merchants, increasing visibility across generative AI shopping tools. Vice-president Vanessa Lee said the system lowers barriers for new entrants while preserving consumer expectations. The initiative reflects Shopify’s effort to lay groundwork for agentic commerce, a market Morgan Stanley estimates could reach US$385 billion by 2030.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

Kepler Launches Optical Relay Satellites

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Kepler Communications has launched the first tranche of its optical relay satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, moving its network toward operational service. The deployment includes 10 satellites, each roughly 300 kilograms, equipped with optical terminals and on-orbit computing for low-latency data transfer and secure routing.

Once commissioned, the system will deliver real-time connectivity, edge processing, and hosted payload services. Chief executive Mina Mitry said the launch enables a cloud-like environment in orbit. Customers include Earth-observation operators and Axiom Space, which plans on-orbit data centres.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Canada’s Clean Energy Startups Shift to Execution

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Canada’s clean energy sector is entering a pivotal phase as startups move from pilots to commercial deployment ahead of 2026. Across hydrogen, cement, carbon removal, energy storage, and methane abatement, execution is replacing experimentation.

Companies including Ayrton Energy, CarbonRun, CO280, CURA, Kathairos, Moment Energy, Planetary, pHathom, Green Manganese, and Skyrenu integrate with existing industrial and natural systems to deliver measurable climate impact. Spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, these firms reflect Canada’s growing role as a builder of export-ready decarbonization solutions. Demand for proven technologies is accelerating globally.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

Rogers Pledges $50M to Tackle Youth Screen Time

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Rogers has launched a $50 million national effort to reduce children’s screen time, responding to growing parental concern. The five-year program, Screen Break, offers online tools to help families set data limits and device downtime around meals and bedtime.

Developed with Toronto Metropolitan University’s The Dias think tank, the campaign also funds youth physical activity programs, beginning with the YMCA. The initiative follows a Rogers survey showing Canadians aged 11 to 17 spend over five hours daily on phones, exceeding pediatric guidelines. Most parents surveyed agree. The issue is widespread.

Want to know more? Check out the source code The Logic.

MDA Positioned for Golden Dome Defence Bids

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MDA Space has secured an entry point into a major U.S. defence program after signing an IDIQ contract with the Missile Defense Agency under its SHIELD initiative. The Brampton-based space manufacturer can now bid on future tasks tied to the proposed $175-billion Golden Dome missile defence project, which carries a broader $151-billion task envelope.

MDA said the work could span land, sea, air, cyber, and space defence. Investors reacted positively, sending shares up five percent on Thursday. The contract follows recent Canadian defence wins and continued revenue growth despite prior setbacks.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on BetaKit.