Author name: Team Techbeat

Fintech

Why Are IPOs Rare in Canada?

/

In Canada, the IPO (Initial Public Offering) market has been relatively quiet recently compared to our neigbours U.S. In 2024, the U.S. experienced a revival in IPO activity. By the third quarter, the market had surpassed the total number of IPOs from 2023, reflecting steady recovery after a sluggish period. For instance, Nasdaq hosted 66 IPOs in the first half of 2024, raising approximately $8.7 billion. As of October 2024, the U.S. IPO market was on track to exceed the $20 billion raised in the previous year, with increased activity from sectors like technology and life sciences contributing significantly to this rebound So why no IPOs in Canada: Economic Conditions: Global economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures have made investors more cautious, reducing the appetite for new public offerings. Private Funding Availability: Many Canadian companies prefer private equity or venture capital to fund their growth, avoiding the regulatory complexities and scrutiny associated with going public. Market Size: The Canadian market is smaller and more conservative compared to the U.S., making IPOs less frequent and often sector-specific, such as mining and energy. Alternative Listing Routes: Some companies choose to list directly on U.S. exchanges, seeking higher valuations and broader investor pools.

Fintech

Webull Canada Launches Pre-Market and Post-Market Trading

/

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Webull Canada, a subsidiary of Webull Corporation, the owner of the popular Webull digital investment platform, today announced extended trading hours for its users, including pre-market and post-market sessions. This expansion will provide investors with increased flexibility to react to market moving events outside of regular market hours. “With extended trading hours, users can stay ahead of market shifts and capitalize on opportunities outside of traditional trading times,” said Michael Constantino, CEO of Webull Canada. “We are committed to providing our users with greater flexibility and access to innovative tools, and this expansion marks an important step forward.” Extended hours accessibility allows traders to respond swiftly to earnings reports, global events, overnight market developments, and offers faster order execution and opportunities to capture price movements before the next trading day. For investors holding positions overnight or over the weekend, pre-market and post-market trading provides opportunities to hedge against risk by adjusting portfolios in response to unexpected news or market fluctuation beyond regular trading hours. Webull Canada users are now able to trade from 4:00am until 5:30pm eastern time, with additional hours to come. This news follows Webull Canada’s launch of options trading, TFSAs and RRSPs, as well as a Cash Management product, which offers clients the ability to earn interest on uninvested cash balances at no additional cost in their cash and margin accounts. Webull Securities (Canada) Limited is regulated by CIRO and a member of CIPF. Explanatory brochures are available upon request or available at https://www.ciro.ca and http://www.cipf.ca. To learn more, visit Webull.ca. About Webull Corporation Webull is a leading digital investment platform built on next generation global infrastructure. The Webull Group operates in 15 regions globally and is backed by private equity investors located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Webull serves more than 20 million registered users globally, providing retail investors with 24/7 access to global financial markets. Users can put investment strategies to work by trading global stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and fractional shares, through Webull’s trading platform, which seamlessly integrates market data and information, its user community, and investor education resources. Learn more at www.webullcorp.com. SOURCE Webull Securities (Canada) Limited

Start ups

MiniTool’s Biggest Discount of the Year

/

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MiniTool, a committed software development firm, offers MiniTool Partition Wizard, MiniTool Power Data Recovery, MiniTool ShadowMaker, MiniTool MovieMaker, MiniTool Video Converter, and other products in the 2024 Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions. From November 25 to December 6, 2024, customers can visit the MiniTool promotion page to purchase products and enjoy big discounts. Promotions and Activities Entrance 1: Discounts for MiniTool Partition Wizard, MiniTool Power Data Recovery, and MiniTool ShadowMaker (UP TO 65% OFF) Entrance 2: Discounts for MiniTool MovieMaker and MiniTool Video Converter (UP TO 70% OFF) MiniTool’s promotion is divided into three forms: lucky draw, combination promotion, and single item promotion. Lucky Draw: Try your luck to get a discount or coupon for your desired single product. Each user has 5 chances per day during Black Friday sales. Combination Promotion: Or you can directly pick up your favorite bundles with a bigger discount! Single Item Promotion: Enjoy exclusive discounts on individual products! Best Seller: MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate + MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro UltimateMiniTool Partition Wizard is a top disk manager with comprehensive partition management features that can meet the basic disk and partition management needs of home and business users. It is available in Pro, Pro Platinum, and Pro Ultimate versions. Of these, the Pro Ultimate version is the best choice. MiniTool ShadowMaker is a professional backup software based on the Windows system. It can safely back up files, folders, systems, disks, and partitions to internal or external hard drives. MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate and MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro Ultimate are originally priced at $199 and $158, respectively. During MiniTool’s Black Friday promotion, customers can buy these two products for ONLY $160.65 (55% OFF). Double Protection of Data: MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal Ultimate + MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro UltimateMiniTool Power Data Recovery is the best data recovery software for Windows users. It can successfully recover accidentally deleted files as well as files lost due to system crashes or virus attacks. Windows users can use MiniTool Power Data Recovery to recover data from internal storage, as well as external drives (such as HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, etc.). MiniTool ShadowMaker can set up backup items regularly to properly protect your data and computer. It is the best choice for Windows users to back up files, hard drives, systems, etc. MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal Ultimate and MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro Ultimate charge $129 and $158 respectively. Now with a discount of 60% OFF, you ONLY NEED to PAY $114.80 for them. 65% OFF: MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Platinum + MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal Annual Subscription + MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro Annual SubscriptionMiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Platinum offers all the features of the software, plus one year of free upgrades. It can be used on three devices after purchase. MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal Annual Subscription offers all the functions of MiniTool data recovery software and a one-year free upgrade. MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro Annual Subscription allows use on two devices, plus one year of free updates. The original prices of these three products are $129, $89, and $120 respectively. During the Black Friday promotion, you can get them all with ONLY $118.30 (65% OFF). 70% OFF: MiniTool MovieMaker Annual Subscription + MiniTool Video Converter 12-Month SubscriptionMiniTool MovieMaker is the best choice for creating and editing videos. It supports adding transitions, special effects, and text to a video. Even beginners can make stunning videos with templates in MiniTool MovieMaker. MiniTool Video Converter can convert audio and video into more than 1,000 formats. Its batch conversion function makes conversion more efficient. In addition, MiniTool Video Converter allows the recording of partial or full-screen activities without background noise. The regular price of MiniTool MovieMaker Annual Subscription is $59.99, and the regular price of MiniTool Video Converter 12-Month Subscription is $119.99. During Black Friday, enjoy both of them for a whole year for ONLY $53.99, SAVING 70%! For more product details, please visit the two promotion pages mentioned above. About MiniTool® Software Ltd.MiniTool® Software Ltd. is a software development company based in Canada. It is committed to providing customers with the most useful applications, such as MiniTool Power Data Recovery, MiniTool Partition Wizard, MiniTool ShadowMaker, MiniTool System Booster, MiniTool MovieMaker, and MiniTool Video Converter.

Apps, Featured

7shifts Restaurant Workforce Report 2025

/

TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — 7shifts, the all-in-one scheduling, payroll, and tip management app for restaurant operators, released its annual Restaurant Workforce Report for 2025. Based on a survey of more than 900 restaurant managers, the research uncovers important findings about industry growth, hiring challenges, employee engagement, pressing financial considerations, and technology adoption and usage. A highlight from the report shows that the industry grew this year, with quick-serve restaurant (QSR) dining up by 4%, offsetting losses in the full-service sector. In addition, the report found that the restaurant industry grew overall by 1.72%, adding 210,300 jobs over the year. However, recruiting and retention remain top concerns for employers, with 65% of respondents describing the current labor market as “tight” or “very tight.” “Our previous research shows that flexibility, camaraderie, and strong management are essential for job satisfaction and retention in the restaurant industry,” says Jordan Boesch, CEO at 7shifts. “Flexible hours help employees balance their lives, and an environment that fosters camaraderie keeps teams engaged. As always, effective management was shown to be key, with 45% of employees citing poor leadership as a reason for leaving. Moving forward into 2025, it will be crucial for restaurants to utilize the right strategies and tools that prioritizes satisfaction, connection, and supportive leadership.” In addition to the findings already cited, this year’s report revealed the following: Employee Centricity: Benefits like PTO and positive work environments are priorities, but 69% of restaurants don’t offer important services like childcare or mental health support. The research also found that giving feedback is vital for staff engagement, as employees want to know how they’re performing and how they can improve. Tipping Models: Despite ongoing wage discussions, 63% of restaurants reported no changes to their tipping practices in 2024. Rising Wages: Base wages increased by 4% to $14.20/hour, with restaurants offering benefits like 401(k) plans to meet employee expectations and retain staff. Regional Wage Disparities: While wages are up nationwide, the Pacific Northwest and Northern California lead with rates above $20/hour, while the Southeast and Midwest lag at $15/hour. Tech Adoption: 65% of restaurants adopted new technology to manage labor, though 27% still use manual scheduling. Technology is critical for efficiency and workforce management. “I feel encouraged about the coming year; I feel that employers are doing a better job of understanding the needs of their employees, and they are making the extra effort to provide those things,” said Jana Domanico, senior HR operations manager at Boka Restaurant Group. “It is becoming increasingly difficult to say, ‘Well, we have always done things this way,’ and to me, this is a good thing. We have to be adaptable and open to employee feedback. Employees can now shape a more sustainable future for themselves in hospitality.” To learn more and access the full report, visit: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurant-workforce-report. About 7shiftsBorn in the back office of a sandwich shop, 7shifts was founded by Jordan Boesch in 2014 with the goal of building simple solutions to solve even the most complex team management challenges. 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to improve performance for restaurants. The easy-to-use app offers industry-specific features that help more than 50,000 restaurants save time, reduce errors, and keep labor costs in check. To learn more, or to sign up for free, visit www.7shifts.com.

Events, Featured

Web Summit 2024: Record-Breaking Attendance and Industry Highlights

/

Web Summit 2024, held in Lisbon from November 11 to November 14, broke records with 71,528 attendees from 153 countries.  This sold-out event featured over 3,050 companies, 953 speakers, and 1,066 investors. AI emerged as the leading industry, with new innovations showcased by both startups and well-known tech giants.   The conference floor was abuzz with excitement as partners such as IBM, Adobe, Meta, Huawei and American Express showcased cutting-edge technology. Among the 62 trade delegations attending the event Germany and Brazil lead the way It reinforced the global appeal of this important meeting. Opening night featured high-profile speakers, including Pharrell Williams who spoke about the intersection of commerce and creativity and Twelve Etosha Cave who presented the latest methods for producing fuel from water, CO2. Are you passionate about tech innovations, networking, and inspiring success stories from tech leaders? Don’t miss your chance to be part of the TechBeat Summit and Awards at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, on December 11. Secure your spot and buy tickets here! Artificial intelligence took center stage at the event, representing the most significant industry growth with a 16% increase in presence. Other industries included SaaS, fintech, healthtech, and clean tech. Women in tech made remarkable strides this year, with women-founded startups accounting for 44.5% of exhibitors, up from 29% in 2023. Women also represented 42% of all attendees. Web Summit 2024 was again an effective demonstration how technology, creativity, and global collaboration are shaping the future. With an incredibly high attendance and dynamic agenda, it has set a high standard for the tech industry’s most influential conferences. Web Summit 2025 is set to take place in Lisbon from November 10 to November 13. Source: https://websummit.com/ Picture Source: https://websummit.com/

Events

Insight: Synergy & Tech Forum – November 12, 2024

/

Register Now Our valued partners are invited to join us to explore the latest IT trends and connect with fellow Insight partners representing organizations of all sizes. Partners will hear from an incredible lineup of speakers about next steps as we navigate the evolving tech landscape together. Our mainstage speakers will include: Reem Gedeon —Senior Vice President and General Manager, Insight Canada Judith Breen — Vice President, Partner Alliances and Portfolio Solutions, Insight Canada Rob Green — Chief Digital Officer, Insight North America Juan Orlandini — Chief Technology Officer, Insight North America

Featured, Fintech

Interac Survey: Newcomers lose financial confidence after arrival in Canada

/

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2024 /CNW/ – Newcomers are experiencing challenges with their financial confidence. A recent survey by Interac Corp. (Interac) reveals that starting a new life in Canada can cause a significant drop in financial confidence for newcomers. While a majority (61 per cent) of newcomers surveyed felt financially confident when first arriving here, that confidence fell (31 per cent) after contending with the economic challenges of settling in Canada. The Interac survey highlights newcomers are disproportionately affected by financial barriers, with over eight in 10 (85 per cent) reporting at least one such barrier impacts their financial security, compared to over half (58 per cent) of the general Canadian adult population polled. This disparity underscores the importance of providing targeted support and resources to help newcomers build their financial confidence and successfully navigate the Canadian financial system. Adding to the complexity, financial knowledge and practices from a newcomer’s home country often don’t readily translate to the Canadian context. “Newcomers are calling for tailored support, with 54 per cent believing that financial resources should be designed by newcomers,” said Lauren Mostowyk, Head, Integrated Marketing & Communications at Interac. “This is why we’ve focused on providing comprehensive support systems through our partnerships with Credit Canada and ACCES Employment. These collaborations provide mentorship from experienced newcomers and free access to a tailored blend of resources, so we can help empower newcomers to build a strong financial foundation. Practical tools such as online courses covering Canadian banking basics (81 per cent) and budgeting apps for local expenses (77 per cent) are highly sought after by survey respondents. To support the need of available resources, Interac sponsored Credit Canada’s Butterfly app to provide newcomers with free access to the app’s resources. This multilingual resource is intended to empower newcomers to take control of their finances, from budgeting basics to cost-of-living resources and real-time currency conversion. Created by newcomers, for newcomers, the Butterfly app equips new Canadians with the knowledge and confidence to build financial success in Canada. In addition to practical resources, mentorship plays a vital role in newcomer integration, proving significantly more prevalent among newcomers (51 per cent of respondents have had a mentor) than the general Canadian population (31 per cent). For newcomers, mentors have been said to provide invaluable support in navigating language barriers (89 per cent), understanding Canadian currency (86 per cent), and avoiding financial scams (83 per cent). Mentors who have personally navigated the newcomer journey are crucial as one-third of newcomers feel current financial resources don’t reflect their realities, and over half find their needs evolve over time. ACCES Employment is dedicated to tailored mentorship opportunities and has worked with Interac for over five years to scale programming and reach more newcomers. “ACCES Employment serves as an important resource to support newcomers navigating the Canadian job market and re-establish their financial confidence. We empower newcomers to overcome employment barriers, build strong professional networks, and achieve lasting career success in Canada. Our partnership with Interac has been instrumental in expanding our programs and services for newcomer job seekers, including connecting newcomers with experienced mentors,” said Allison Pond, President & CEO, ACCES Employment. About the Interac research An online nationwide survey was conducted by Discover among 1,459 respondents, age 18 years and older. The sample was comprised of a core sample of 1,000 Canadian adults (representative of the Canadian adult population according to the most recent Statistics Canada census data), plus an oversample to result in a subgroup total of 500 newcomers/new Canadians (defined as those who immigrated to Canada after age 18 and have lived in Canada for less than 10 years). The survey was fielded in English and French from October 10 to October 23, 2024. To learn more, visit In The Know.

Apps, Featured

Seed Round Funding: Wine App InVintory Secures $2.3M USD

/

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2024 /CNW/ – InVintory, the cutting-edge wine management platform, has successfully raised $2.3M USD in seed round funding to fuel its expansion into the hospitality and storage industries. This funding round, led by passionate users, as well as angel and strategic investors, will enable InVintory to launch its industry-leading 3D technology to businesses, including restaurants, hotels, golf and country clubs, wine storage facilities, and wine clubs. This round also marks a significant milestone, as Joshua Daiter steps into the role of CEO. Founded in 2019, InVintory has grown from a vision to simplify wine management into a sophisticated platform trusted by collectors and businesses around the world. Streamlining Wine Management for Businesses Building on its success in the private wine collection market, InVintory is now set to empower hospitality operators with a comprehensive solution. The platform will help facilities streamline wine program management, deliver exceptional guest experiences, and support wine clubs in managing their members’ collections. As the hospitality industry increasingly emphasizes inventory efficiency, InVintory’s tailored platform is poised to become an essential tool for wine programs across the sector. InVintory also plans to expand its product into new international markets, beginning with Europe, to meet the growing demand for innovative wine management solutions worldwide. The new funding will be used for the following initiatives: Development of advanced hospitality and storage features including real-time inventory tracking, analytics, and custom workflows for managing wine usage during events. Team expansion to recruit top talent in product development and sales to accelerate growth. Enhanced marketing efforts to capture significant market share with new audiences. International expansion to introduce InVintory’s platform to new markets. Key Features for Enterprise InVintory’s platform is designed to enhance both operational efficiency and guest experience for hospitality and wine club clients: Real-Time Inventory Tracking – Monitor stock levels in real-time for accurate, up-to-date availability. Customizable Reporting and Analytics – Generate insights on sales trends, inventory turnover, and profitability to help facilities make data-driven decisions. 3D Virtual Cellar Visualizations – Seamlessly organize and track inventory across primary cellars and off-site storage locations. Member and Locker Management for Wine Clubs – Provide personalized dashboards, member insights, and locker management for a unique, branded experience for wine club members. Executive Quotes “InVintory was born out of a passion for simplifying wine management, and I’m thrilled to bring that vision to the hospitality and wine storage sectors,” said Joshua Daiter, CEO of InVintory. “Our platform enables venues to elevate their wine offerings and deliver exceptional guest experiences, all while maximizing operational efficiency.” About InVintory Founded in 2019, InVintory provides a powerful solution for managing wine collections. With features like AI-powered recommendations, advanced analytics, and 3D cellar models, InVintory has become an invaluable tool for wine collectors and hospitality venues seeking to streamline operations. The platform’s innovative design and commitment to the wine community position it as a leader in wine inventory management.

Events, Featured

Scale Without Borders

/

Register Here:  Every year, in our annual Immigrants in Tech Summit, Scale Without Borders claims space for thousands of immigrants and newcomers in tech at none other than the Royal Ontario Museum. Throughout the day, we bring the entire immigrant and tech community— key corporate leaders, leading startups, government and non-profit organizations— to support, celebrate, hire and engage the brightest immigrant tech talent and entrepreneurs. Visualize high profile talks, high impact break-outs, curated networking

Featured, Fintech

Top Down Ventures: First Close of US$25M Founders Fund I

/

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 21, 2024 /CNW/ – Top Down Ventures, the premier venture capital firm founded by industry visionary Chris Day, has announced the first close of its US$25M Founders Fund, designed to fuel early-stage SaaS companies within the Managed Service Provider (MSP) sector. Building on its innovative venture studio model, Top Down empowers MSP software startups with not only capital but also unparalleled operational expertise and a proven scaling playbook. The firm’s General Partners – Chris Day, Joel Abramson and Mark Scott –  boast a remarkable track record in the MSP space, including founding and scaling companies like Fully Managed (acquired by TELUS), IT Glue (acquired by Kaseya), N-able (NYSE: NABL), ScalePad, and Produce8. With prior investments in leading MSP software firms such as Backup Radar, Quoter, Control Map and most recently Benji Pays. Focused Expertise in the MSP SaaS Space “We are thrilled with this milestone, which reflects the confidence of MSP founders and executives who make up the majority of our Limited Partners,” said Joel Abramson, Managing Partner at Top Down. “Our deep sector focus and hands-on approach are already driving momentum as we anticipate closing three new SaaS investments in Q4.” Top Down’s Founders Fund targets high-potential SaaS companies generating $1M+ in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with Seed or Series A investments up to $3M. With a carefully curated network of Limited Partners and Operating Advisors – including MSP veterans like Dan Wensley, Janice Siddons and Ryan Voegeli – the fund is uniquely positioned to amplify the success of its portfolio companies. Photo by Aidan Hancock on Unsplash Driving Innovation in a Booming Industry “We’ve been at the forefront of several firsts in the MSP industry, and this fund is the next one,” said Mark Scott, Managing Partner at Top Down. “Our capital, SaaS playbook, and venture studio combined with our global network, provide an unparalleled force multiplier for SaaS startups in an industry that’s on track to reach $1 trillion by 2030.” Top Down not only offers financial backing but also leverages its deep operational experience to drive growth for its portfolio companies. The firm’s venture studio model includes expert guidance in product development, go-to-market strategies, and team building, ensuring that founders receive both strategic and tactical support. To learn more, SaaS founders and LP investors can visit www.topdown.com and sign up for The Future of MSP Work, a thought leadership series exploring key trends and opportunities in the MSP sector. About Top Down Ventures Top Down is a leading venture capital firm specializing in early-stage Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) market. The firm’s Founders Fund I focuses on SaaS companies with $1M+ ARR, offering Seed or Series A investments of up to $3M. With a venture studio model that combines operational support and scaling expertise, Top Down helps MSP software companies realize their full potential. For more information, visit www.topdown.com

Scroll to Top