A group of Yukon technology startups is attending Web Summit Vancouver from May 11 to 14 to connect with industry figures, potential investors, and new customers, including the territorial government.
Described as a venue for advancing professional goals and bringing products to new markets, the summit will see representatives from the government, business support organizations, and local startups, including eight from the Yukon
Yukon’s delegation includes startups building AI‑powered hardware, mapping tools, privacy filters, disaster‑response apps, digital health supports, augmented‑reality site guides and platforms that turn conversations into shareable lessons, all aimed at solving problems in northern and remote environments.
Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture Jen Gehmair met with participating entrepreneurs before their departure. She said the Yukon has always been a haven for creators and innovators because of the unique challenges the region faces.
Gehmair said the summit offers an opportunity for Yukon entrepreneurs to share their creations with the world and demonstrate the innovative spirit of our territory.
It will bring together more than 35,000 founders, investors and innovators, making it one of the largest technology gatherings in North America.
The eight Yukon companies that were selected by Tech Yukon and the web summit team were chosen based on criteria including company age, stage of development, and the likelihood they would benefit from a micro booth at the conference. Two were chosen after winning final pitches in Yukonstruct’s Early Startup Tech Bootcamp.
Tech Yukon executive director Ziad Sahid said that the group is pleased to again bring Yukon companies to Web Summit, noting the territory’s growing base of innovators and entrepreneurs.
This is the second year of Web Summit Vancouver, which replaced the Collision Conference previously held in Toronto. According to a government release, past Yukon attendees have seen success, including HyperYou, acquired by Motorola after attending in 2024, and Apprendo, which secured new contracts during a Team Canada trade mission to Mexico earlier this year.
One of this year’s participants, Bizont Inc., recently announced Interlay, a tool that screens out sensitive information before it’s shared with AI systems. In a May 6 release, the company said it helps northern organizations use AI more safely.
According to Bizont, AI tools like Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude are spreading faster than policy can respond, which the company said poses privacy risks in settings where sensitive or community‑held information is managed.
Interlay sits between users and AI tools, removing sensitive information before it leaves an organization, the company said. Bizont is developing the project with its own funding and up to $99,999 from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
The Government of Yukon said it provides funding support to Tech Yukon to offer programs and services for the territory’s growing technology sector.
Other Yukon companies attending include Alpha‑EL Inc., Altitude Heritage and Resource Protection Canada, Apprendo, DeltaVue, Fireweed AI, PeerSupport.io and POM*POM Resilience.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com