The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced Thursday that it is expanding its Defence Platform with another $1.2 billion CAD in funding from the federal government. This comes in addition to the $1 billion BDC was promised by the Government of Canada in Budget 2025 to support its Defence Platform, which was launched in…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Cancer treatment has no shortage of big ideas, but this one has a certain dark charm: send in bacteria that thrive where healthy human cells struggle, then let them chew through a tumor’s interior. A research team led by the University of Waterloo is working on a therapy concept…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For decades, the Taklamakan Desert was described in stark terms: a “biological void,” a vast expanse of shifting sand where little could survive. Slightly larger than the state of Montana and ringed by mountains that block most incoming moisture, it remains one of the largest and driest deserts on…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For decades, nutrition debates have centered on a familiar question: Is it better for heart health to cut carbohydrates or reduce fat? A large long-term study suggests that the question may be missing the bigger picture. According to new research tracking nearly 200,000 adults in the United States for…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The beauty of the cherry blooms doesn’t last long, but that’s what makes it a spectacular phenomenon to catch each year. Once the trees are fully open, you typically have one to two weeks before wind, rain, or a temperature swing brings them down. Knowing when to show up…
As it prepares to go public, Toronto-based quantum computing firm Xanadu could get as much as $390 million in government support for a major new quantum project. Project OPTIMISM would “significantly advance” Xanadu’s roadmap toward “utility-scale” quantum computing. Xanadu announced on Wednesday afternoon that it is negotiating with the Government of Canada and the Government…
Calgary startup NanoTess has signed a distribution deal with diabetes care company Embecta, bringing its flagship product to more than 14,000 pharmacies across Canada. “NanoSALV focuses on addressing the root cause of biochemical stagnation, enabling stalled healing processes to begin again.” Megan Leslie, NanoTess NanoTess, which develops technology to treat chronic wounds, announced the partnership…
Just under a year after French insurance technology unicorn Alan entered Canada, it has raised 100 million euros ($157 million CAD) to entrench itself in the country. Alan says it’s now licensed nationwide and serves more than 1,600 workers across Canada. Alan announced the fresh funding round, which valued the company at more than five…
Space hardware manufacturer MDA Space is set to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The Brampton-based company announced on Tuesday evening its intention to hold an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The company is selling $300 million USD worth of shares for the IPO, after which it will list…
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP)’s venture growth investment portfolio posted strong results last year, delivering a 30.2-percent rate of return and beating its one-year benchmark of 18.5 percent by a wide margin. Through TVG, the OTPP invests directly in tech companies at the Series B stage and beyond, as well as select venture capital…
