VICTORIA, BC (May 2, 2025)  – With mirror balls spinning, projection-mapped lasers cutting through haze, and a live band belting out disco classics reimagined with lyrics about startups and software, the 2025 VIATEC Awards delivered a night that was part talk show, part fever dream, and all celebration.

Over 600 members of Greater Victoria’s tech sector gathered for the annual spectacle, where 15 recipients were announced from a pool of over 120 nominees and 50 finalists. The night served not only to recognize innovation and achievement but to remind the community what makes it special: creativity, irreverence, and connection.

“This night is about celebrating the impact and creativity of our tech community in a way that reflects who we really are,” said Dan Gunn, VIATEC’s CEO. “We don't do generic galas. Everything is custom-built—just like the companies we’re here to recognize. We throw whales, we hand-make trophies, we write songs about your startup. If we’re asking people to come together, it better be worth it. And it better be fun.”

The evening’s stage was designed like a late-night show set, complete with retro furniture and a custom-built desk. Astronaut trophies—hand-sculpted by local artist Russell Papp—were awarded live, as each winner joined the host for brief interviews before heading offstage under laser lights and a soundtrack of celebratory funk. The finale brought back a VIATEC tradition: Orca Toss Chaos, in which inflatable whales are flung joyfully through the crowd.

The 2025 VIATEC Award Recipients

• Company of the Year: Niricson Software
• Growth Company of the Year: Focal
• Scaling Startup of the Year: Revela Systems
• Emerging Startup of the Year: Tourismo
• Product of the Year: MarineLabs (CoastAware)
• Innovative Excellence (Hardware): Solaires Enterprises
• Innovative Excellence (Software or Service): VoxCell BioInnovation
• Leader of the Year: Darren Beckwith (CTO, Barnacle Systems)
• Emerging Leader of the Year: Ania Wysocka (Founder, Rootd)
• Employer of the Year: Barnacle Systems
• Inclusion Champion: CultureFoundry
• Social Impact Award: Victoria Hand Project
• Janet Baird Award for Community Champion: Charter Telecom
• Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion: Nicole Smith (Founder & CEO, Flytographer)
• VIATEC Member of the Year: PlusROI Online Marketing

Each award, and the event itself, was carefully designed to reflect the imagination and drive of the local innovation ecosystem, which now contributes over $7.87 billion annually to the region’s economy. With humour, spectacle, and a deep appreciation for its people, the VIATEC Awards continue to be a uniquely Victoria celebration of tech-sector excellence.

Media Contacts:
Dan Gunn, CEO
dgunn@viatec.ca
250-882-2820
VIATEC
www.viatec.ca

Tessa Davies, Director of Communications and Events
tessa@viatec.ca 
250-896-7668
VIATEC
www.viatec.ca