Accelerate Okanagan

06/05/2026

The investors have spoken, and the results are in...

After eight weeks of pitch training, due diligence, and some genuinely tough deliberation, we are thrilled to announce the investment winners of the 8th annual Okanagan Angel Summit Finale.

Three companies secured investment on the night: shuriii took home $188,000; Bullfinch Earth secured $120,000 from the fund plus an additional $25,000 personal contribution from keynote speaker Ben Yoskovitz, for a total of $145,000; and Drawbridge received $74,000. A record $407,000 invested in a single night.

Huge congratulations to all five finalists who took the stage at Metro Hub on June 4: shuriii, Bullfinch Earth, Thermaspire Technologies, Lyrata, and Drawbridge. This was one of the most competitive cohorts in Summit history, and every founder on that stage earned their place there.

This year marked several milestones for the program: a new venue, Canada-wide applications for the first time, and a new investment model that allowed investors to back more than one company and add capital to the fund on Finale night. The result was a record total investment and a night this community will not forget.

Read the full recap at the link below.

https://hubs.la/Q04kjN650

06/01/2026

This Thursday. 5 founders. One final pitch for investment. 🏔️

The 8th annual Okanagan Angel Summit Finale, presented by ATB Wealth, is almost here, and it’s going to be one for the books.

Grab your tickets before they’re gone. Link in bio

05/29/2026

Startup Drinks at at Minga did not disappoint 🍻

Good people, great conversations, and all the energy that makes the Okanagan tech community worth showing up for. Big thanks to the Minga team for having us, it was the perfect spot.

Were you there? Head to the link in bio to grab your photos from the night.

Next up: we’re taking it to the rooftop. 👀 Stay tuned.

05/28/2026

Renée Warren: In a Flash 📸

As Founder of The Pink Skirt Project, Renée Warren is building a community that helps ambitious women create businesses aligned with the lives they actually want.

Blending experience across tech, storytelling, and entrepreneurship, Renée is creating space for bold conversations, meaningful connections, and unapologetic growth. In this In a Flash feature, she shares how she is building an international community rooted in confidence, creativity, and ambition.

🎬 Watch more videos and follow on Instagram >> https://hubs.la/Q04hSYDp0
📰 Read Renée’s full Q&A >> https://hubs.la/Q04hSZQc0

05/28/2026

One week to go until the Okanagan Angel Summit Finale!

Over the past several weeks, this year’s Summit has brought together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders through pitches, conversations, and moments of connection that continue to build momentum.

Join us on June 4 for the 8th annual Okanagan Angel Summit Finale presented by ATB Wealth, where the Top 5 finalists will pitch live for a chance at this year’s $220,000+ fund. The event will also feature a keynote from Ben Yoskovitz, Founding Partner of Highline Beta and co-author of Lean Analytics.

Be in the room as the Top 5 take the stage and this year’s $220,000+ investment decisions unfold live.

Tickets >> https://hubs.la/Q04jf3xw0

05/26/2026

Your IP is one of your most valuable business assets. Do you have a strategy to protect it?

Join us June 8th at Accelerate Okanagan for a practical, founder-focused session on patents, trademarks, and commercialization with experts Richard Okimaw and Paul Matthews of Lawson Lundell LLP.

The AO team will also be on hand to walk through the latest AccelerateIP and IPAssist funding opportunities.

Interactive discussion, real answers, and tacos after. Spots are limited.

🔗 Register now >> https://hubs.la/Q04hX3TG0

Join us for Accelerating Your IP Strategy, a practical session on protecting your ideas and accessing funding to grow your business.

05/20/2026

A big thank you to everyone who came out to our Okanagan Angel Summit Meet & Greet Mixer during Web Summit Vancouver. 🥂

It was an amazing and packed evening with Summit Semi-Finalists, investors, partners, and ecosystem friends all in one room, creating space for real connection ahead of the June 4 Finale.

These moments are a big part of what the Summit is all about.

A special thank you to Cardero’s for being such wonderful hosts. ⚓

05/19/2026

Speaker Announcement 📣

This year’s Okanagan Angel Summit Forum and Finale will feature Ben Yoskovitz, Founding Partner of Highline Beta and co-author of Lean Analytics.

At The Forum, Ben will open the day with a timely look at how AI is reshaping early-stage investing and what actually matters when evaluating founders in a crowded market.

Later that evening at The Finale, Ben returns with a keynote on the role angel investors play in helping founders get started and why early capital matters more than ever.

See Ben live at The Forum and Finale on June 4.
Get tickets >> https://hubs.ly/Q04hbx5C0

05/07/2026

📣 Meet the Top 5 Finalists of the 8th Annual Okanagan Angel Summit.

Starting from a field of 81 companies from across Canada, these five teams made it through a competitive semifinal round and have earned their place on the Finale stage. They will pitch live at Metro Hub in downtown Kelowna, where investors will allocate a $200,000+ investment fund.

Lyrata, Drawbridge, shuriii, Thermaspire Technologies, and Bullfinch Earth. Five companies. Five pitches. One incredible night for the Okanagan investment community.

Read the full finalist announcement and learn more about each company on the blog, then grab your tickets to the Forum and Finale.

https://hubs.la/Q04fT7440