BC Business
A coalition of entrepreneurs and business leaders plans to make the city a global leader in frontier technology by 2030
Vancouver’s thriving technology sector just got a new champion in the Frontier Collective.
This group of younger entrepreneurs and business leaders bills itself as the first to represent and advance some of the region’s fastest-growing tech industries. Those include Web3, the metaverse, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), artificial intelligence and climate tech, as well as esports, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), visual effects and animation.
The Frontier Collective will focus on promoting the local tech industry worldwide, boosting investment and infrastructure for early-stage companies and attracting diverse talent. The coalition’s goal: positioning Vancouver as Canada’s tech capital and a top-five global leader in what it calls frontier technology by 2030.
“With the right investment and support, Vancouver has an immense opportunity to lead the world in frontier tech, ushering in a new wave of transformation, economic prosperity and high-paying jobs,” co-founder and CEO Dan Burgar said in a release. “The Frontier Collective is building a movement that will ensure early-stage companies have a stronger support system, helping Vancouver become the premier destination for bleeding-edge tech.”
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To that end, the city has a head start. It’s already home to the world’s second-largest VR/AR sector, as well as the biggest cluster of top VFX, video game and animation studios, the Frontier Collective notes. NFT technology was pioneered in Vancouver, which is also a hub for blockchain and Web3 development.
To encourage early-stage investment and help more startups reach their full potential, the Frontier Collective says it plans to bridge the gap between businesses and investors, mentors, clients and advisers. Working with universities to create industry-specific curriculums that address the talent shortage, it’s also joined forces with BCIT to help employ students at local companies.
“Frontier technology will have a groundbreaking impact on every existing industry,” said Erika Finlay, co-founder of the Frontier Collective and head of community and social impact at Unbounce. “No business will be unchanged. By driving forward Web3, the metaverse, climate tech, AI and others in Vancouver, the Frontier Collective will create a new movement of growth and innovation for the city, which will impact companies around the globe.”