Source: Times Colonist, Darron Kloster

Nominations for the 23rd annual VIATEC Awards were announced this week, honouring the people and companies in Greater Victoria’s $7.9-billion technology sector.

The winners in 10 categories will be announced on May 1 at Carson Hall in the Victoria Conference Centre.

The event, with a “DiscoTech” theme, is being touted as an evening of high-energy entertainment, networking and celebration.

The event will include a Creative Challenge, three-course dinner, awards show and after party at The Coda where guests can enjoy live music from local band Tight Hair Disco.

VIATEC said this year’s awards mark a new era of inclusivity and collaboration, thanks to a coalition of local tech-focused organizations including iWIST, UVic Innovation Centre, Cindicates, Women’s Equity Lab and Alacrity Canada.

The coalition has helped refine award categories and ensure that companies across Victoria’s diverse tech ecosystem are recognized.

Finalists have been named across multiple categories, with recipients set to be selected by a panel of coalition delegates.

Company of the Year

Atreides

Charter Telecom

Niricson Software

Solaires Enterprises Inc.

Tecnet Canada Inc

Growth Company of the Year

CultureFoundry

Focal Inc.

joni

MarineLabs

VoxCell BioInnovation

Scaling Startup of the Year

Ocean Diagnostics

Purple Owl Interactive

Puzzle Lab (Robazzo)

Revela Systems

Text Groove

Emerging Startup of the Year

Circl Brain

FrameBright Technology

Full On Lighting

HiBoop

Tourismo

Product of the Year

AML Oceanographic (Endura Loggers)

ASAsoft (ASAInsuTrack707+™)

CultureFoundry (Language Foundry)

MarineLabs (CoastAware)

Text Groove

Innovative Excellence - Hardware

Barnacle Systems (BRNKL Black)

Full On Lighting

Green Edge Computing (GECCO)

Ocean Diagnostics (Ascension)

Solaires Enterprises Inc.

Innovative Excellence - Software or Service

Cloud Diagnostics Canada (Cloud DX)

HiBoop

PlusROI Online Marketing (AI Search Optimization)

Skyward Wildfire Technologies

VoxCell BioInnovation

Leader of the Year

Oguzhan “Ozzy” Alparslan (DynamicCRM)

Darren Beckwith (Barnacle Systems)

Melodie Reynolds (Eluma beauty: DBA Elate Beauty)

Lachlan Shum (Focal Inc)

Jayesh Vekariya (joni)

Emerging Leader of the Year

Claire Gayton (Worldline)

Anastasiia Mishchenko (Redlen Technologies)

Laura Sinclair Faunt (Velora CX)

Laurel Anne Stark (Remarkable Communications)

Ania Wysocka (Rootd)

Employer of the Year

Barnacle Systems

Enrollment Resources

Focal Inc.

Smart Dolphins IT Solutions

Solaires Enterprises Inc.

For more details on the event, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit viatecawards.com.