OUR STRATEGY

The time is now to push innovation and growth forward in Vancouver.

We aim to build a new future that will last for generations by focusing on three key areas: communications and advocacy, talent, and scaling our ecosystem.

GOALS

**To position Vancouver as the tech capital of Canada and top 5 global leader in frontier technology by 2030**

Increase talent in the startup and frontier technology ecosystem by 250% by 2030.

Boost early-stage technology funding by $3 billion by 2030.

Grow Vancouver to become a top-5 global ecosystem for frontier technology - particularly VR/AR, AI, robotics, climate tech, and biotech - by 2030.

Support local artists and cultural hubs.

Work with ecosystem stakeholders, government, universities and corporates to set the foundation for the prosperity of frontier technology

Increase adoption of frontier technologies in Vancouver and beyond.

Build the narrative of frontier technology’s successes in Vancouver, and promote Vancouver as a top tech destination globally.

Build a shared physical innovation space: a hub in the city for frontier technology and digital arts and culture.

THREE KEY PILLARS

Communication and advocacy

**The issue:**
Despite its huge cluster of frontier technology companies, Vancouver is not known globally as a world-leading technology hub. This hinders recruitment and investment.
**The solution:**
Vancouver leaders must advocate and amplify a new narrative about the city’s frontier technology industry to regional and international stakeholders.
**The Frontier Collective’s strategy:**
Earn local and international coverage telling our stories, advocating for issues we care about, and showcasing the industry.
Centralize storytelling around Vancouver’s strengths and capabilities.
Promote a new wave of leaders with a focus on BIPOC inclusivity and diversity, and offer new voices in the tech conversation.
Educate and support government leaders and stakeholders who see potential in our industries, and attach global stakeholders to supporting local opportunities.
Develop informed data collection to support decision-making and proof-of-outcomes, and communicate it to stakeholders and partners.
Unite government, institutional, and corporate interests under one banner within the Collective.

Build an ecosystem that scales

**The issue:**
Vancouver’s investment in innovation is a fraction of that of the world’s top innovation clusters. Our traction in the fastest-growing technology sectors is fragile unless we create the infrastructure to scale our businesses.
This infrastructure must already be in place before frontier tech becomes ubiquitous. Ecosystems in other cities are already scaling up.
**The solution:**
We must facilitate investment in industry-critical spaces for incubation, design, and collaboration. To do so, we need to create financing for foundational programs in order to scale companies and innovation in Vancouver. The region requires infrastructure to help companies to cross-pollinate, and to remove barriers to collaboration.
**The Frontier Collective’s strategy:**
Build supportive infrastructure, including mentorship programs, community events, workshops, and international trade missions.
Connect companies with investors, clients, mentors, and advisors, and help facilitate funding for early- to scale-up-stage startups.
Host community-building events from private networking events to large-scale activations that bring together talent, investors, corporations, and government.
Work toward building a physical innovation hub space for frontier technologies.
Create partnerships with venture funds, government programs, and corporate entities who understand the importance of frontier technology.

Talent

**The issue:**
Talent is the glue of every ecosystem. Although more people now work in technology in British Columbia than in forestry, mining, and oil and gas combined, our companies are still growing faster than we can hire. Vancouver has a talent gap that will continue to widen without intervention.
**The solution:**
Vancouver needs to make investments in attracting local and global talent, help workers outside the industry re-skill so they can participate in the new economy, and make sure it retains the talent that we have nurtured.
**The Frontier Collective’s strategy:**
Develop re-skilling programs for all workers to prepare them for future tech jobs, permitting everyone to participate in the success of Vancouver’s tech industry.
Attract international startups to BC and offer programs and supports so they can grow.
Attract skilled foreign workers by promoting Vancouver and BC as a premier destination globally.
Work with industry and educational institutions to scale the current curriculum and help develop programs that align with our talent gaps.
Collaborate with educational institutions to help students gain real-world industry experience during their study.

OUTCOMES

The megaphone
- Our articles promoting Vancouver’s tech industry have been published by the Frontier Collective’s leaders in TechCrunch, Forbes, Betakit, VR Scout, VR Focus, the Vancouver Tech Journal, Vancouver Sun, and more.
- We’ve told Vancouver’s stories at some of the biggest conferences in tech. Past events involving the Frontier Collective’s leaders include activations at Collision conference, SXSW, and Web Summit, and producing Western Canada’s own Traction conference.
Building diversity
- We’re dedicated to building diversity and inclusion in the industry. The Frontier Collective is 51% female, and more than half of our team are from BIPOC communities.
- Our Founding partner AInBC has created Athena Pathways, which helps more Canadian women see the potential of the tech sector. This bolsters the talent at Vancouver companies, allowing them to become more competitive while addressing the gender gap in AI.
Supporting businesses
- Collectively, we’ve built one of the largest innovation industries in Canada – for example the VR/AR ecosystem.
- Our founding partner Launch Academy, Western Canada’s top tech incubator, has raised over $1.2 billion for startups, and helped over 6,000 new businesses.
- Leaders in the Frontier Collective have helped facilitate over $500 million in economic development and foreign direct investment .