Ottawa Business Journal

Matt Milton is a hometown guy that made it big. Almost one year ago, Milton stepped into the role of president of Microsoft Canada, a high point in a 25-year career in tech that has taken him to places such as New York, Oslo and Copenhagen. As president, Milton oversees more than 5,000 Canadian employees and has a mandate to help Canada get inspired by artificial intelligence. Microsoft Canada is...

The narrative surrounding the Canadian tech sector often focuses on boom-and-bust cycles, brain drain, or the historical demise of past giants. But the numbers tell a different story. Driven by evolutionary waves from telecommunications to software-as-a-service, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, the national technology ecosystem has quietly produced remarkable long-term enterprise va...

Canada is responding to a critical political and economic imperative to modernize its armed forces and better defend national interests. As the country looks to strengthen its domestic defence and security sectors, the University of Ottawa is mobilizing to support this domestic industrial evolution. As a top-ranked research-intensive university, uOttawa is uniquely industry-ready, offering special...

For Ottawa-based tech founders looking to raise capital, these are challenging days. The "valley of death," that precarious gap between initial startup and sustainable growth, appears to be widening. While early funding often comes from family and friends, angel investors play a critical role in bridging this gap. In Ottawa, the Capital Angel Network (CAN) has anchored the local angel investor eco...

Ottawa’s AI scene is evolving. Early momentum was created by companies such as Solink, founded by Mike Matta, which applied computer vision to retail analytics, and Ranovus, led by Hany Mussad, which develops the optical hardware necessary for high-capacity AI data centres. Subsequent growth was driven by firms such as MindBridge, co-founded by Solon Angel and Eli Fathi, and BluWave-ai, led by Dev...

For many business owners, the world of carbon offsets can feel abstract, complex, and disconnected from the bottom line. Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation is helping to change that sentiment. Based in Ottawa and founded by well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Gary Zed, CFTC offers turnkey, customizable nature-based solutions that are practical and measurable. In fall 2025, CFTC partnered wit...

In the fast-paced tech sector, the prevailing question is this: who is the next big thing? In Ottawa, that distinction is determined, in part, by an awards program. In late fall 2025, the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade organized the Best Ottawa Business Awards. One of the highlights of that awards program is called #NextBigThing. With the guidance of Invest Ottawa and RBC, three...

AI is transforming industries and reshaping communities. This episode of Techopia Live takes viewers inside TechTuesday for a closer look at What AI Tinkering Reveals About the Future of Tech Innovation. Hosted by Riaz Sidi, the episode explores how a grassroots movement of builders and experimenters is influencing the trajectory of artificial intelligence in Ottawa and across Canada. The episode...

Kanata-based Fidus Systems is poised for aggressive expansion after agreeing to sell a majority stake to New York private equity firm Catchment Capital. While financial terms remain undisclosed, the company says the deal provides the “rocket fuel” needed to pursue strategic acquisitions and accelerate R&D. Fidus, a designer of complex embedded components for sectors like aerospace and autonomous v...

In this episode of Techopia Live, OBJ brought viewers to the November TechTuesday for an inside look at Kanata North, Canada’s largest tech park, and its role in making Ottawa a global tech hub. Hosted by Veronica Farmer, the discussion highlighted key investments, innovation, and partnerships that have driven Ottawa’s leadership in technology, defence, semiconductors, photonics, and clean tech. T...

Techopia Live was on location at the 10th annual SaaS North Conference in Ottawa, where the city’s tech and business leaders gathered for an energizing two-day conference focused on Future-Proofing SaaS in the Age of AI. Hosted by Riaz Sidi, the event featured conversations with founders, investors, and innovators shaping Ottawa’s tech scene, including: Mark Stephenson (Cube Business Media Inc.),...

Top global tech clusters have strong connections between private sector companies and universities, facilitating the conduct and commercialization of research, the transfer of knowledge, and the sourcing of talent. This vision is taking another step forward with the University of Ottawa’s expanding Kanata North campus. Not only has the campus moved to a larger space at 350 Legget Dr., but other un...

The future of money is digital, and it’s already here. In this episode of Techopia Live, we’re at TechTuesday exploring From Cash to Code: Finance at a Crossroads. Hosted by Riaz Sidi, this discussion dives into how digital currencies, stablecoins, and open banking are transforming the way money moves and how Canada’s financial system is adapting to this global fintech revolution. Moderated by Jos...

Solon Angel, the godfather of AI in Ottawa and beyond, is rapidly scaling his latest venture by embracing the full potential of artificial intelligence. Angel’s latest venture, Remitian, has put AI at the centre of everything it does, from code development and operations to marketing. Remitian serves as a masterclass in building an AI-first business from the ground up. Founded in November 2023, Re...

Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to increase Canadian defence spending to two per cent of GDP could present considerable economic opportunities for Ottawa-based companies. The multi-billion dollar commitment goes beyond reinvigorating Canada’s Armed Forces; the Prime Minister aims to use military spending to bolster industrial policy, extending into high-growth areas like AI, cybersecurity, qua...

Techopia Live was on location at TechTuesday for a thought-provoking panel exploring Pulse Check: Technology’s Role in Healthcare Innovation. Moderated by Wesley Clover International’s Veronica Farmer, the session brought together Ottawa-based leaders who are reimagining how patient-centred care is delivered, scaled, and supported by technology. The conversation featured Bruce Ford of Celestra Hea...

Every tech startup founder faces the same hurdle: funding. It's incredibly tough to grow a tech company when intense research and development come long before a paying customer. But what if there were a proven way to inject significant private capital into Ottawa's tech ecosystem? A dedicated group of Ottawa business leaders, Canada Flow Through Shares, thinks they have the answer. They're pushing...

Ongoing infrastructure improvement and property development are based on an underlying assumption: that Ottawa and Eastern Ontario can continue to rely on a reliable and environmentally friendly supply of electrical power. Is that a safe assumption? Following the launch of City Building 2025 magazine, Ottawa Business Journal publisher Michael Curran speaks with Bryce Conrad, President and CEO of H...

Ottawa’s entrepreneurs, founders and investors gathered on June 12 for AccelerateOTT, the flagship event of Ottawa Innovation Week, organized by Invest Ottawa. The one-day conference brought together many of the city’s founders for a day of keynotes, networking, and critical conversations about scaling, resilience, and the road to global impact. The theme? “Legends in the Making.” In this episode...

Techopia Live was on location at TechTuesday for a compelling panel discussion exploring the realities of fast-growing companies, featuring local leaders recognized by the 2024 Deloitte Canada Technology Fast 50™ and Companies-to-Watch awards. Held in partnership with Deloitte and moderated by Wesley Clover International’s Veronica Farmer, the session offered rare insights into the pressures, pivo...

Techopia Live was on location at the 2025 Ottawa Bootstrap Awards, held during Tech Tuesday at the Brookstreet Hotel, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of local businesses that have grown through self-funding and minimal outside investment. The Annual Ottawa Network Bootstrap Awards recognize early-stage companies across all industries, both for-profit and non-profit, that have demonstrated i...

Techopia Live was on location for April's TechTuesday, focusing on climate action as Earth Day 2025 approaches. The event spotlighted Planetary Technologies and their groundbreaking ocean-based carbon removal solutions. Planetary Technologies was recognized as a Top 20 finalist in the prestigious $100M Carbon Removal XPRIZE. The event featured a presentation by Mike Kelland, CEO of Planetary Techn...

It’s a familiar story in Ottawa’s tech sector. An immigrant entrepreneur, brimming with technical prowess, settles in the city, scales a startup and achieves business success. This is the story of Sergey Poltev. Born in Russia, Poltev started fixing computers at the age of 12. A few short years later, along with some teenage friends, he launched an Internet cafe and computer gaming shop. Business...

Techopia Live was on location for the special International Women's Day 2025 edition of TechTuesday, hosted by Wesley Clover International in collaboration with L-SPARK, Capital Angel Network, and SheBoot. The monthly event celebrated women in technology as founders and angel investors, featuring startup pitches and a panel discussion. Four startups, Atorvia, I.Liv Performance, Quip Medical, and S...

Techopia Live was on location for February’s TechTuesday, hosted by Wesley Clover Corp. The monthly event brought together tech and political leaders for an engaging discussion on the intersection of humans and AI in sales, featuring insights from industry leaders at the forefront of innovation. The panel, moderated by Veronica Farmer of Wesley Clover, included Rose Cain of Visier, Marcelo Burszte...