Innovation Week 2025, hosted by techNL, officially launched its sold-out conference this morning at the St John’s Convention Centre. In it’s 12th year, Innovation Week is the largest annual tech conference in Canada’s most easterly province where the tech sector is thriving and expectations for continued growth are high.  
 
Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector contributed $1.8B to GDP in 2023 and employs nearly 10,000 high-quality jobs with an average salary of $85,000. It is one of the province’s fastest-growing sectors and has set a bold target to reach $2.5B by 2030 and become the leading contributor to the provincial economy by 2050.  

 
Innovation Week 2025 will be buzzing as local companies continue to redefine what is possible in Newfoundland and Labrador. Earlier this month, Spellbook announced the company has raised a $50 million Series B round ($70 M CAD) — led by Khosla Ventures, the same investors behind OpenAI, Airbnb, YouTube, and DoorDash. With plans to triple their team to 300 people and increase their customer base to 30,000 legal teams over the next few years, this places Spellbook on the verge of becoming another Verafin-level success story from the Newfoundland and Labrador tech ecosystem. At the same time, Kraken Robotics is now valued at $1.4B and CoLab CEO Adam Keating is teasing a major announcement next week.  
 
As the tech sector comes together this week, they’ll be looking to capitalize on opportunities and continue to accelerate the growth seen by companies like Spellbook, Kraken Robotics, and CoLab, as well as Nasdaq Verafin, Mysa, Genoa Design and many others. Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech ecosystem continues to prove its strength, with world-class companies being built and scaled here — attracting the attention of global investors.  

From October 27th through 29th, Innovation Week 2025 will host an inspiring lineup of expert speakers, interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and celebrations.  
  

• Keynote speakers will include Michele Romanow, co-founder of Clearco and star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den, on building high-impact businesses; Dan Shaw, former Blackberry executive and Fiix co-founder, on sustainable scaling strategies; and Mohannad El-Barachi, founder of Wrk.com and SweetIQ, on AI-driven innovation. 
    

• Attendees will also hear from some of the most successful local tech companies like Kraken Robotics, Solace Power, Virtual Marine, PolyUnity, CoLab, ClearRisk, and ‘local legends of innovation’, Maurice Tuff, Tech Investor & Entrepreneur, Emad Rizkalla, CEO of Bluedrop ISM, and Anne Whelan, CEO of Seafair Capital. 
    

• Sessions focused on helping companies scale their growth, break into new markets, examine the outlook for the tech sector, and share how government and ecosystem partners can best support growth in 2026 and beyond. Paired with breakout sessions covering cutting edge innovations, building venture-backed start-ups, collaboration between the public service and the tech sector, scaling AI responsibly, elevating sales operations, optimizing multi-generational teams, and the future of capital markets.  
    

• The Genesis Pitch is joining Innovation Week in 2025, with five founders taking the stage to compete for over $45,000 in prizes, including a $25,000 top prize and the iconic Pitcher Plant trophy. Dragons’ Den star Michele Romanow will join the judging panel, along with Holly Hill, Founder and CEO of SiftMed, Adam Keating, Co-Founder & CEO or CoLab Software, Niraj Shukla, Director, Atlantic IP Advan and Nick Warren, Co-Founder and CEO of GroundControl.  
    

• The 2nd annual techfest  will feature five bands made up of techNL member company employees. Bands will take the stage in a fun night of music and friendly competition where proceeds support a local charity.  
    

• The much-anticipated, sold out, student event with an engaging panel of successful students and their employers will be followed by two hours of fast-paced speed networking with local tech companies. Post-secondary students will explore career paths and learn about opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador’s growing tech sector. Participating companies include: Advantage St. John’s, Angler Solutions, Atlantiq AI, Avalon Holographics, Bluedrop ISM, Co. Innovation Centre, CoLab, econext, eThree Consulting, Enaimco, Fortis, Genoa Design, Keyin College, Kraken Robotics, Medicuro, Nasdaq Verafin, NetBenefit Software, Newfoundland Power, PAL Aerospace (CarteNav), PolyUnity Tech, Refined Systems Solutions, Trudell Medical, trophi.ai, Veristart, Vision33, and Virtual Marine. 

See full agenda for more details.  

 
Innovation Week 2025 is supported by the following government partners:  

• The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has contributed $143, 019.   

• The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Industry, Energy and Technology has contributed $60,445.  

Innovation Week is also made possible by the vision and support of its many corporate sponsors, including Innovation Week platinum sponsor BDC.  
 

“As economic, geopolitical, and technological forces reshape the world, Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector stands at a pivotal moment — with the opportunity and responsibility to shape the province’s future innovation-driven economy through strategic, efficient growth. Innovation Week ignites this momentum, driving collaboration and progress across the ecosystem.”  

• Florian Villaumé, CEO, techNL  

“techNL’s Innovation Week shows what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do best: turn ingenuity into real results. Our tech community is moving fast, from AI to clean energy, and we are seeing local ideas grow into jobs and opportunities. When we back our entrepreneurs and startups, we build a stronger, smarter, more resilient Canada for everyone.”  

• The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C., Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 

“I offer my sincere congratulations to techNL and all members on the occasion of Innovation Week. Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector is impressive, and it is clear that the industry plays a vital role in driving innovation, creating high-quality jobs, and strengthening economic resilience across the province. I look forward to working with techNL and innovators to make this province a top choice for investment and job creation. We will support a culture of collaboration and help local tech start-ups grow into larger companies that attract international attention.”  

• Premier-designate Tony Wakeham, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador  

“techNL is laser focused on providing the tech sector the support it needs to accelerate growth, drive innovation, and strengthen economic resilience across Newfoundland and Labrador. There is immense value in the sector taking a couple of days during Innovation Week to intentionally connect, share insights, inspire one another, and engage students and ecosystem partners.  

• Johnanna Brown, Chair of the Board of Directors, techNL  

Sarah Fleming

(709) 725-5830

sarah@covepublicaffairs.ca

techNL is a not-for-profit membership association that accelerates the growth of the tech sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. In collaboration with its network of members and partners, techNL provides business growth services, visibility, and a collective voice to tech and tech-enabled companies in Newfoundland and Labrador with a vision to make Newfoundland and Labrador the most sought-after Canadian tech ecosystem, globally recognized for its collaborative community, diversity, and quality of life.  

A key focus on business growth includes programs and services to support talent development (training and upskilling, employment services, etc.), member connections, digital transformation and ecosystem development in Newfoundland and Labrador.