What we’re about
We invite startup leaders and experts to share their startup story and subject expertise relevant to startups and businesses. We bring value by asking them the hard questions everyone want to know.
We’ve been to many meetups and are tired of hearing people share generic surface level stuff what can be found on blogs and we want the meat and bread wisdom from founders. We focus on sharing stories and practical startup growth tactics that can help you go from 0 to 45K on Instagram in a few months, how to build a powerhouse team, how to get traction or approach reporters and writers, how to start a startup as a non technical and many more.
Vancouver is a growing entrepreneurial hub with many established and prominent upcoming startups. There are startup grants, good support, available capital and quality talents helping many startups scale big. There is no better time to start a startup than today here in Vancouver.
At YVR Startups we believe in the 3 I’s
Inspire- Hear stories from startup mentors and startup peers, be inspired and replicate their successes in your startups.
Inform- Be kept up to date with the latest happenings in the startup scene from new algorithm changes and growth strategies. We invite experts with results who will share with you the meat of growing a startup. No bs.
Involve- Go far and deep with our community. Connect with startup folks at our networking events, meet a co-founder and get started in a startup.
Our presenters include founders and experts in the startup community including finalists at startup competitions, Top 30 under 30 recipients, CMOs, heads of growths, VCs and other successful founders. Get ready to receive great insights on how to grow your startup to the next level.
Meeting times:
Once a month - Monthly large gatherings
Last week of each month - Casual roundtables for networking and discussion
Key links:
Website- www.yvrstartups.com
Startup Directory- www.yvrstartups.com/directory
Facebook- [fb.com/yvrstartups](https://www.facebook.com/yvrstartups)
Twitter- twitter.com/yvr_startups
Got a story to share? [info@yvrstartups.com](mailto:info@yvrstartups.com)
Upcoming events (3)
See all- YVR AI Kickoff event - Burnaby & TricitiesBurnaby Public Library, Bob Prittie Metrotown Branch, Burnaby, BC
Due to limited seating at our venue, please RSVP on Luma to secure your attendance. https://luma.com/iicw5xnl
Tired of the downtown hype? We're building a new community for AI innovation, right here in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities. Join us for the inaugural YVR AI event—a no-frills, high-value meetup focused on practical insights, real-world applications, and genuine community connection. This is where you come to learn, connect, and build, without the fuss.
What We'll Do:
This kickoff event gets straight to the point. Forget the fluff; we're focused on delivering actionable knowledge and fostering meaningful conversations.- Show and tell: Bring your vibe code projects and show us what you've built.
- Knowledge exchange: Learn from people who use AI on a daily basis, shortcuts and best practices to take AI beyond just a glorified search engine.
- In-Depth Q&A: Your chance to ask the tough questions and get real answers from an industry expert.
- Community Networking: Meet and connect with fellow founders, developers, marketers, and AI enthusiasts from your local community. No pressure, just good conversation.
Keynote Bio:
Chin Hing Chang is the Principal Consultant at ClassyNarwhal. He began his career in sales in 2011 and transitioned to working with startups, incubators, and accelerators in 2014. Since then, he has collaborated with over 500 social ventures from various industries globally. Chin is an active Entrepreneur-in-Residence for SwissEP and continues to mentor startups through BCIT, The Forum, and Futurpreneur. Additionally, he served as a visiting professor at IE University.He is also the author of "Selling Ethically: The C.A.R.E. Methodology" and "UnReasonable Transformation: The actionable roadmap for leaders and entrepreneurs to create meaningful personal and professional change", a Kindle International Best-seller.
Who Should Join:
- Startup founders and entrepreneurs looking to integrate AI into their business.
- Developers, engineers, and data scientists curious about practical AI applications.
- Marketers, designers, and other professionals who want to understand how AI will impact their work.
- Anyone living or working in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, or Port Coquitlam who is passionate about technology and innovation!
Important to Know:
- Date: Wednesday, October 1st, 2025
- Time: 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM
- Location: Burnaby Public Library - Metrotown Branch
- What to Bring: Just your curiosity and a willingness to connect with others.
Schedule:
5:45 - Doors open & networking
6:00 - Start & Vision
6:15 - Keynote - How Chin from ClassyNarwhal is using AI for his YouTube & entrepreneur community.
7:00 - Show & Tell (DM Ed & bring your laptop if you have a project to show)
7:15 - Future topics
7:30 - it's a wrap!We believe the future of AI is being built everywhere, not just in downtown Vancouver. We can't wait to kick off this new chapter with you. Grab your spot now and be part of building our local AI ecosystem from the ground up!
Due to limited seating at our venue, please RSVP on Luma to secure your attendance
https://luma.com/iicw5xnl - YVR AI - Knowing your (AI) Tools | Burnaby & TricitiesMetrotown public library, Burnaby, BC
With a massive interest in a Burnaby/Tricities kickoff event, we confirmed the room for our second event. Note that we're meeting on a TUESDAY this month.
AI never sleeps and every day we hear a different platform rising up to take the top spot. We started with ChatGPT and now we have many other platforms. The question is how do we know which one is better for which tasks?
Just as how one would not hammer nails with an electric drill, certain platforms are better for images, coding or general learning. using the right ones will save you from burning up your token too quickly.
Our second event will be a chance to look at the strengths of each platform. We hope to get an expert/power user of different platforms to give a quick rundown on the strengths and limitations of each platform. From OpenAI to Gemni, Claude, Grok and a couple others, each has their strengths and limitations.
**DM Ed if you are an avid user of one or more of the platforms if you want to share**
We will finalize the topic/platforms early October based on the topics from the kickoff meeting.
YVR AI is a no-frills, high-value meetup focused on practical insights, real-world applications, and genuine community connection. This is where you come to learn, connect, and build, without the fuss.
What We'll Do:
Forget the fluff; we're focused on delivering actionable knowledge and fostering meaningful conversations.- Show and tell: Bring your vibe code projects and show us what you've built.
- Knowledge exchange: Learn from people who use AI on a daily basis, shortcuts and best practices to take AI beyond just a glorified search engine.
- In-Depth Q&A: Your chance to ask the tough questions and get real answers from an industry expert.
- Community Networking: Meet and connect with fellow founders, developers, marketers, and AI enthusiasts from your local community. No pressure, just good conversation.
Who Should Join:
- Startup founders and entrepreneurs looking to integrate AI into their business.
- Developers, engineers, and data scientists curious about practical AI applications.
- Marketers, designers, and other professionals who want to understand how AI will impact their work.
- Anyone living or working in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, or Port Coquitlam who is passionate about technology and innovation!
Important to Know:
- Date: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
- Time: 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM
- Location: Burnaby Public Library - Metrotown Branch
- What to Bring: Just your curiosity and a willingness to connect with others.
Schedule:
5:45 - Doors open & networking
6:00 - Start & Vision
6:15 - Main topic
7:00 - Show & Tell (DM Ed & bring your laptop if you have a project to show)
7:15 - Future topics
7:30 - it's a wrap!We believe the future of AI is being built everywhere, not just in downtown Vancouver. We can't wait to grow the Burnaby/Tricities community with you. Grab your spot now and be part of building our local AI ecosystem from the ground up!
