The new wave of industry disruption

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Vancouver 2025: Startups Reimagine Industries at Web Summit

Web Summit Vancouver 2025 kicked off with Startup Showcase, a rapid-fire pitch session featuring founders disrupting various sectors. Mr. Ethan Pierse of Borderless Ventures hosted the event, introducing a diverse range of startups.

Legalmente AI, founded by lawyer Jose Padilla, aims to democratize legal services with its AI paralegal. The platform drafts contracts, conducts legal research, and creates entities in multiple languages and jurisdictions, offering an affordable alternative to traditional legal assistance.

Venue Marketplace, co-founded by Ms. Clara Doumet, is humanizing e-commerce by incorporating live shopping, shoppable videos, and 3D virtual spaces. The platform empowers small businesses to connect with customers in a more engaging and personal way.

Mr. Sage Davies presented Equipment Manager, an app leveraging data from fitness apps and wearables to create digital twins of bicycles. The app provides maintenance triggers, connects users with service providers, and offers data-driven insights to manufacturers.

Veterinarian Dr. Caroline Alms introduced VetTech, a medical symptom tracker for pets. The app translates veterinary jargon into user-friendly support, tracks symptoms, and provides educational resources for pet owners.

LexSelect, co-founded by Ms. Morgan Maguire, addresses the challenges of working with PDFs. The platform converts unstructured documents into clean, machine-readable data, improving AI accuracy and enabling automation for legal workflows.

Ms. Donna Tilden presented Guavi, a platform providing AI-driven price signals for cryptocurrencies. The platform offers real-time insights, alerts, and robust APIs for traders and investors.

Mr. Matt Raoufi introduced Upcut, a mobile-first, video-based platform revolutionizing hiring for blue-collar and service workers. The platform replaces traditional resumes with video profiles, showcasing skills and experience more effectively.

Ms. Aura Monsalve pitched LineUp Club, an app combating loneliness by connecting people with shared interests. The app facilitates real-life meetups with a unique countdown feature that encourages spontaneous connections.

Mr. Pascal Morschbach presented Flowcade and Omlogs, an open locating standard unifying location data from various technologies. The platform streamlines asset tracking across the supply chain, providing real-time visibility for businesses.

Ms. Beth Payne introduced eSense, a digital platform offering therapy for women’s sexual health. The platform delivers cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness exercises in a self-paced format.

Mr. Darren Nicholls presented Bizzard.ai, a business listing search engine and matching platform. The platform uses AI to connect buyers and sellers of businesses, streamlining the acquisition process.

Ms. Claire Odogbo pitched Riskophia, a platform simplifying healthcare regulatory compliance. The AI-driven platform provides guidance, documentation, and training for healthcare providers.

Mr. Mohammed Al Sabagh introduced Helpdesk, a platform connecting people with problems to human helpers instantly. The platform offers real-time assistance via audio, video, and screen sharing.

Mr. Charles Dai presented CarYoyo, an AI-driven platform decentralizing the used car market. The platform connects buyers, sellers, and renters, increasing transparency and efficiency.

Mr. Michael Byrne pitched BIA Neuroscience and their Smart Sleep Mask. The mask uses neurotechnology and music to improve sleep quality.

Ms. Romy Niaz McCarthy presented Whim, an in-person networking app using AI recommendations. The app facilitates authentic connections at events and conferences.

Mr. Liam Irwin introduced Vibe, an app showcasing happy hours and live events in British Columbia. The platform connects users with local businesses and provides a cost-effective marketing solution.

Mr. Adam Healey pitched Novella, a transactional marketplace for the wedding industry. The platform connects couples with vendors, providing real-time pricing and availability.

Ms. Yobe Wang presented Book and Authors, a platform connecting authors with institutions for speaking engagements. The platform streamlines the booking process and facilitates author discovery.

Mr. John Byrne pitched Writer’s Block, a platform protecting and monetizing content for journalists. The platform addresses the issue of copyright theft and provides a simple solution for content licensing.

Mr. Michiel Pruijssers presented Campspotter, a platform predicting the quality of camping experiences based on various data sources. The platform helps users plan trips and avoid unpleasant surprises.