From May 11–14, Vancouver will host Web Summit Vancouver and shine the global tech spotlight on the second edition of this event in Vancouver. British Columbia’s world-class creative technology sector will be highlighted at the event with a globally recognized ecosystem spanning video games, VFX, XR, and animation. powerhouse of innovation and storytelling.
Over 100 of the world’s top tech leaders will be in attendance, alongside thousands of global entrepreneurs, investors, media, and innovators. The Vancouver Convention Centre will become a hub for thoughtful discussions and visionary panels, covering everything from artificial intelligence and marketing to the evolution of tech ecosystems and beyond.
Several features will showcase the province’s creative tech leadership at Web Summit Vancouver. Read on to discover them:
BC Pavilion Creative Tech
With support from Creative BC, DigiBC is helping lead a dedicated creative tech focus at the Web Summit BC Pavilion, highlighting regional talent, innovation and leadership. Together, these sessions reflect some of the most important conversations shaping B.C.’s creative technology future:
Indigenous Sovereignty in Tech
Featuring Natiea Vinson, CEO of First Nations Technology Council mandated by the BC Assembly of First Nations to advance digital skills, connectivity, IM and tech support for BC First Nations, as well as Tech Founder and Investor Josh Nilson, and Filmmaker and Founder of IM4 Lab Loretta Todd.
Creative Tech Investing: What VCs and Publishers want to see in a pitch for a video game studio and product
Moderator: Jeanne-Marie Owens (Critical Path Games Co-Founder and COO, Phoenix Labs, Board Chair, DigiBC. Panelists: Jesse Houston (Griffin Ventures), Arneh Khatchatourians (Kabam), Matt Bilbey (London Venture Partners).
Public Funding’s Critical Role in IP
Featuring: Bob Wong, Vice-President, Creative BC, Janine Steele, IDM Director, Canada Media Fund, and Peter Cowan, CEO, Innovate BC. Moderator: Liz Shorten, COO, CMPA.
Creative Tech Startup Island
Also supported by DigiBC, Startup Island is a critical showcase for early-stage companies, providing a practical market-readiness opportunity, a chance to sharpen messaging, test investor conversations, build relationships and begin seeing themselves in a global context.
Several participating studios are alumni of the Road to Web Summit program, run by Innovate BC in partnership with DigiBC Elevate, a pathway designed to get B.C. creative tech companies market-ready and export-ready.
Participating companies:
- Moonspire Games
- Sonical.ly
- Lost Cartridge Creations
- Fableware
- Simply Sweet Games
- Cartesian Theatre Corp.
- Clip Through Interactive Ltd.
Centre Stage Creative Tech Programming
Creative technology will also be part of major Web Summit Vancouver programming, including Centre Stage sessions such as:
Building a World-Class Creative Tech Hub: Lessons from Vancouver
From Hollywood productions to streaming giants, Vancouver has quietly become one of the most important creative-tech hubs in the world. What made it work? And what will take it to the next level?
Speakers from B.C.: Michelle Grady (Sony Pictures Imageworks, President), Jennifer McCarron (Blue Ant Studios, President).
It’s in the Game (Engine): Interactive Sports’ Tech Evolution
As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways fans connect with sport. Join EA SPORTS to explore how advancements in real-world data, digital human technology, and player creation tools are enabling more authentic, lifelike, and expressive interactive experiences – and shaping more connected, immersive environments for sports fans.
Speakers from B.C.: Andrew Pojar (EA Sports, VP and Head of Technology)
Film Summit
B.C.’s animation and VFX leadership will also shine as part of Film Summit programming, including:
ILM: How Visual Effects Build New Worlds
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look into AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH with Marko Chulev and Rachel Reed, where they share first-hand experiences of how the industry’s most ambitious worlds are imagined, built, and brought to life.
Speakers from B.C.: Marko Chulev (Industrial Light & Magic, Visual Effects Supervisor), Rachel Reed (Industrial Light & Magic, Visual Effects Producer).
KPop Demon Hunters: Crafting a Global Animated Phenomenon
Meet the creative minds behind KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, the hit sensation from Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix, as they discuss blending authentic Korean culture, bona fide K-pop tunes, and a unique visual style into an unforgettable story that has become a global phenomenon.
Speakers from B.C.: Jackie Priddle (Sony Pictures Imageworks, Senior Producer), Andrea Matamoros (Sony Pictures Imageworks, Modeling Supervisor).
Gaming Summit
Gaming Summit sessions will spotlight the people, companies and business realities shaping the future of the industry, including:
Who Builds the Future of Gaming?
The global games industry is entering a new phase, shaped by rising development costs, shifting platform power, and the growing importance of long-term player engagement. This panel brings together leaders from across the ecosystem to explore how these forces are reshaping how games are made, funded, and sustained, and what it takes to compete in an increasingly complex market.
Speakers from B.C.: Rory McGuire (Blackbird Interactive, Chief Creative Officer), Kimberly Voll (Brace Yourself Games, CEO), Justin Dowdeswell (Relic Entertainment, CEO), Victor Lucas (Electric Playground Network, Founder/Content Creator).
Game Over, Continue? Lessons From the Ups and Downs of Building Game Studios
BioWare is a leading RPG studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age. This session features its co-founder, now of ThresholdImpact, alongside two former employees who founded Phoenix Labs and Critical Path Games. They’ll reflect on BioWare’s early days, lessons learned, and how those experiences shaped their success in gaming, investing, and leadership.
Speakers from B.C.: Jeanne-Marie Owens (Critical Path Games, C0-Founder and COO), Jesse Houston (Critical Path Games, Co-Founder and CEO), Victor Lucas (Electric Playground Network, Founder/Content Creator).
Web Summit Vancouver is a celebration of innovation and an exciting opportunity to connect B.C.’s vibrant creative tech sector with the global stage. The full list of speakers, attendees, and programming are all available on Web Summit’s website.
