Yukon technology startups heading to Web Summit Vancouver

Press Release

May 12, 2026

A delegation of representatives from the Government of Yukon, business support organizations and local tech startups are attending Web Summit Vancouver to connect with global industry leaders, potential investors and new customers. The event provides a unique setting for leaders in technology and innovation to advance their professional goals and bring their products to new markets.

Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture Jen Gehmair met with the participating entrepreneurs to wish them well and discuss priorities for the event. The Government of Yukon is supportive of efforts to expand the territory’s technology and innovation sector and recognizes the importance of participating in events like Web Summit.

Eight businesses were selected by Tech Yukon and the Web Summit team, based on criteria including company age, stage in the startup progression and the likelihood that the business would benefit from having a micro booth at the event. Two of the companies selected were winners from the final pitch at the end of Yukonstruct’s eight-week Early Startup Tech Bootcamp and were chosen to continue growing their business.

The Yukon has always been a haven for creators and innovators because of the unique challenges our region faces. Web Summit Vancouver offers a fantastic opportunity for these motivated Yukon entrepreneurs to share their creations with the world and demonstrate the innovative spirit of our territory.

Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture Jen Gehmair

Tech Yukon is thrilled to once again lead a delegation of Yukon companies to Web Summit 2026. The Yukon is home to a vibrant and growing community of innovators and entrepreneurs, and it is always exciting to see local ideas evolve into successful, viable businesses. We look forward to showcasing Yukon’s startups and talent at this year’s conference.

Executive Director of Tech Yukon Ziad Sahid

Quick facts

• Web Summit Vancouver gathers the people and companies writing the next chapter of global innovation. This includes over 35,000 founders, investors and innovators defining the future of tech.
• The Government of Yukon provides funding support to Tech Yukon to offer programs and services for the Yukon’s growing technology sector.
• This is the second year of Web Summit, which replaced the Collision tech conference previously held annually in Toronto.
• Past attendees of Web Summit and Collision from the Yukon have experienced success.
• HyperYou attended in 2024 and was recently acquired by Motorola, after growing its business in the Yukon. Apprendo attended in 2025 and took part in a Team Canada trade mission to Mexico earlier in 2026, where they secured new contracts.

Backgrounder

Participating companies:

Alpha-EL Inc. (alpha-el.ca) – John Jensen (CEO)

ALPHA-EL Inc. is a Yukon Indigenous-owned company. It strives to be industry leaders in integrating cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) technologies into robust and remotely deployable hardware with renewable energy power systems.

Altitude Heritage and Resource Protection Canada (ahrpc.ca) – Theo Shaheen-McConnell (founder) *Bootcamp pitch winner*

AHRPC is developing an augmented reality interface to help firefighters collaborate with Indigenous communities, environmentalist and heritage protection consultants to accurately identify and assess work-sites and avoid sensitive areas to work around.

Apprendo (apprendo.co) – Camilo Rivera (CEO & founder), Shane Maley (employee)

Apprendo leverages AI sentiment to extract and transform expertise shared through natural conversation (e.g. interviews, talks, etc.) into bite-sized and easily shareable content for educational institutions, coaches and consultants to market themselves.

DeltaVue Inc. (deltavue.io) – Jim Coates (cofounder) and Astrid Grawehr (cofounder)

DeltaVue links Internet of Things sensors with satellite-connected transmitters to create a secure, encrypted and enterprise-grade software platform that provides live Internet of Things (IoT) sensor mapping, data streaming and alerts.

Fireweed AI (fireweedai.ca) – Cole Robulack (CEO)

Fireweed AI is a sovereign AI infrastructure company founded on the Traditional Territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. Fireweed AI is building governance-first AI systems that keep data on your land and authority in your hands.

Interlay by Bizont (bizont.ca/interlay) – Marcos Castillo (CEO and founder) and Bethany Ryan (account executive and head of marketing)

Interlay is a privacy-first infrastructure layer that sits between an organization’s users and AI tools such as Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude, identifying and removing sensitive data before it ever leaves the organization’s control. Designed for northern governments, First Nations, NGOs and professional teams with privacy obligations, Interlay enables safer AI adoption and protects organizations and individuals from risk.

PeerSupport.io (peersupport.io) – Chirag Jadhwani (CEO and founder) and Sarah Johnstone (people operations lead)

PeerSupport collaborates with premier crisis lines and healthcare providers. Their AI products integrate into electronic health record and telehealth systems – streamlining administrative tasks and proactively mitigating caregiver burnout and ensuring optimal care delivery by providing robust assistive technology.

POM*POM Resilience (pompomr.com) – Stephanie Hawkins (founder) *Bootcamp pitch winner*

POM*POM Resilience is a household and peer-to-peer disaster planning and response app that fosters resilience through community. Designed with low-connectivity environments in mind, POM*POM pulls together information, connections and situational data so users can better help themselves and each other in times.

Media contact

Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
tim.kucharuk@yukon.ca

Saskrita Shrestha
Communications, Economic Development, Tourism and Culture
867-332-8076
saskrita.shrestha@yukon.ca

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