Vancouver Startup Week pushes innovation despite investment lag

Sessions at Vancouver Startup Week can't be described as dull with names like:

• Zero to 100: Accelerate your Tech Business
• UnicornorBust: Trends in Angel Investing
• Embracing Chaos: Stories from Founder of the Frontline,

More than 3,000 people are in Vancouver for the conference, which ends this weekend. Speakers include those from long established companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers toheadline-makers Uber and social media newbies Latergramme.me.

The goal is toempowernew companies in technology and innovation in the city but also to have a little fun.

Nerf-gun fights and beer pongmay be necessary to helpsoften the sobering thought thatVancouver's tech startup sector is facing tough times.

• Tech statrup industry lags in Vancouver
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• Hootsuitejob fair expects to draw thousands in Vancouver
• Microsoft Canada Excellence Centre to bring jobs to Vancouver

MikeTippett, an industry veteran andfounder of businesses likeNowPublicandGrowLab,has saidthere is no shortage of money in Vancouver but much of it ends up inreal estate as opposed to the tech sector.

The City of Vancouver has been trying to promote itself as the next tech capital.Vision Vancouver's economic plan includes courting tech companies to set up shop.

So far the tactic has attracted giants like Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon.

Vancouver's very own Hootsuite has becomea major playerin the techworld, creating hundreds of jobs.

Despite those efforts, the 2015 Global Startup Ecosystem Rankinghas placed Vancouver 18thin the world for startups, a drop from ninth in 2012.

It said funding is the city's biggest issue, leading to slow growth in the sector.

Some simply describe investors in Vancouver as risk-averse compared toSilicon Valley or New York but there is hope that will change as investors see more value in startups.

In the meantime, there is always Vancouver's growing craft beer industry, which appears to be playing a significant role at Vancouver Startup Week.