Clio CEO Jack Newton to Headline BetaKit Town Hall in Vancouver on Oct 22

Canada’s West Coast is preparing for a major event in its tech landscape with the BetaKit Town Hall: Vancouver, scheduled for October 22. This gathering will bring together a wide range of founders, leaders, and innovators from across British Columbia and Western Canada’s tech ecosystems. Organized in collaboration with the Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum (VEF), the event will focus on the current state of the tech industry, exploring themes such as innovation, productivity, and future prospects.

One of the highlights will be a fireside chat and Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Jack Newton, the CEO of Clio, a legal tech company that has made a significant impact on Vancouver's technology scene. Newton, who recently led Clio through the largest funding round in Canadian tech history, will share insights into the company’s growth, his vision for the future, and what makes Vancouver a standout location for technological innovation. Newton’s involvement underscores the city's vital role in Canada’s broader tech ecosystem, which continues to attract top talent, foster innovative startups, and create substantial opportunities for growth.

In addition to Newton, Douglas Soltys, editor-in-chief of BetaKit, will join other prominent speakers in discussions that will delve into the key issues facing the tech sectors in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Western Canada as a whole. The BetaKit Town Hall: Vancouver will be an important moment for the community to unite, assess the region’s standing, and strategize for future developments.

With Vancouver set to host its first Web Summit in April 2025, events like the Town Hall are critical in shaping the city's role in the global tech landscape. This gathering will provide a valuable opportunity for networking, collaboration, and exploring how to propel Vancouver’s tech sector forward.

This event builds on the success of the inaugural BetaKit Town Hall held in May 2024 in Toronto, which featured key figures from Canada’s tech scene, including Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke. The Toronto event brought together leaders from across the country, representing regions such as the Yukon, British Columbia, Québec, Ontario, and the Waterloo Region, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s diverse tech landscape.

At the Toronto event, Sylvia Ng, CEO of ReturnBear, emphasized the critical role that everyone in the tech sector plays in fostering innovation for future generations. This spirit of collaboration and forward-thinking will undoubtedly carry through to the Vancouver Town Hall as local tech leaders gather to exchange ideas, identify new opportunities, and celebrate the culture of innovation that defines the West Coast.

As Vancouver continues to evolve as a key player in Canada’s tech ecosystem, the BetaKit Town Hall will be a crucial event. It will not only examine the current state of the industry but also provide a platform for charting the future trajectory of Vancouver’s tech scene. 

The discussions with industry leaders like Jack Newton, alongside active participation from the broader tech community, will ensure the BetaKit Town Hall becomes a driving force in shaping the future of technology on Canada's West Coast. By bringing together innovators, founders, and tech enthusiasts, this event will foster collaboration and inspire new ideas, leading to transformative solutions and advancements. The Town Hall serves as a platform to address key challenges, explore opportunities, and build a more interconnected and forward-thinking tech ecosystem in Vancouver and beyond. It reflects the region's commitment to growing its influence in the global tech landscape while creating a thriving environment for future technological breakthroughs.