Van Island STEAM Crawl
Join iWIST for our first STEAM Crawl since 2019! At each stop, local women and champions speak about their experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) industries, promoting gender diversity. The event provides the chance to network with industry professionals, ask questions, and explore your interests. Check out our featured event sponsors:
VIATEC
VIATEC is honoured to be a part of iWIST’s STEAM Crawl. Our organization was created to help Greater Victoria’s tech sector grow and we see increasing its diversity (including the number of women working in the sector) as a key to achieving that goal. Tech has been our region’s largest private industry for at least 15 years and it might just be growing at its fastest pace ever. That means our local companies need more skilled talent than ever and we are here to do what we can to make sure people know the wide variety of opportunities for them. We have a long way to go but here’s a sampling of some of the things we have done to encourage and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in our local tech community:
Spearheaded the WVenture women-led accelerator program by directing $475,000 towards its creation. The first cohort of 30 women-led ventures were so successful (increased revenues by over $600k, created 49 new jobs) that we are working on another cohort which we hope to announce very soon.
During the pandemic we delivered 19 virtual diversity, equity and inclusion workshops that attracted 1,001 attendees eager to understand the issues, opportunities and specific advice on where to start.
VIATEC was one of the first partners to support the TAP Network’s Diversity and Inclusion Resource HUB as well as providing funding over multiple years
Since the creation of the VIATEC Foundation we have focused our philanthropic efforts on supporting initiatives and organizations aimed at creating and enhancing greater diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our community including:
The Gender Equity Fund received $30K in funding to support gender equity initiatives in our region
The Independent Media Producers Network Society received $16K in funding ($10K from the VIATEC Foundation, $6K from the Victoria Foundation and other fund contributors) for MediaNet’s Filmmaking Camp for Indigenous youth
$ 15,000 to Bridges for Women Society
$ 11,641.34 to BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
$ 10,000 to British Columbia Black History Awareness Society
$ 10,000 to Frontier College/Collège Frontière
$ 10,000 to Indigenous Perspectives Society
$ 18,358.66 to Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services Society
There’s more and we look forward to telling you all about it when we see you on June 1!
FreshWorks Studio
FreshWorks Studio is an award-winning custom software development company that provides UI/UX design, mobile application development, and web application development for healthcare, government, enterprise, and startups. Following agile methodology and principles, we provide end-to-end services in strategy, design, and development of software and digital solutions. Located in Victoria, BC, we have been creating some of teh best tech jobs in BC since 2016. Our two founders moved to Canada to complement their careers in software development with and MBA from UVic. At time, their journey was fuelled by $5 subway sandwiches and involved a failed app startup and a desire to solve complex problems with technology. Along the way, we’ve built an outstanding team in the heart of Canada’s tech sector to help the public and private sectors create scalable and elegant digital solutions.
In 2021, FreshWorks was #15 on the list of Canada’s Top Growing Companies from The Globe and Mail. We believe one of the keys to this growth was the result of our diverse team and inclusive practices. Using a strategy led by employees, we have been able to implement processes and policies that break down biases and foster inclusion and belonging so our employees can bring their authentic selves to work. We continue to look for opportunities to build inclusive spaces and encourage others in our local tech community to do the same by challenging the status quo. You can learn more about our efforts here.
FreshWorks is grateful for the opportunity to support iWIST and it’s mission to encourage all womxn and non-binary people to engage with and thrive in STEAM. We look forward to welcoming you to our head office during the 2022 iWIST Steam Crawl! Until then, feel free to check out our website and our LinkedIn.
Open Ocean Robotics
Open Ocean Robotics is a marine robotics company dedicated to protecting oceans using remote uncrewed data collection. Zero-emission, quiet, and capable of anywhere anytime operations, our solar powered uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) provide safe, affordable, and sustainable ocean monitoring solutions. Based in Victoria BC, we offer services in marine mammal monitoring, environmental monitoring, and security in oceans around the world.
We are a woman founded and led company with females in engineering, project management, communications and more. Diversity and gender equality is crucial for our success and for other companies like us. We need more women in STEAM fields, and we’d like more women to grow their career as part of our team. If you want to find out more about ocean robotics and the impactful role you could play in protecting oceans sustainably please visit our facility as part of the STEAM crawl on June 1 and check out the awesome career openings we have at https://openoceanrobotics.com/careers/.
Redlen Technologies
Redlen Technologies was launched in 1999 after being founded by the late Bob Redden. The genesis for Redlen resulted from the complex challenge Bob undertook for the Canadian Space Agency - growing crystalline materials on the MIR space station. The legacy of Bob's work in space provided the foundational technology of Redlen today.
From its modest beginnings, Redlen has continued to innovate and improve the semiconductor crystal growth and fabrication processes for its world-leading Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) semiconductor sensors. These innovative sensors have three main applications: Medical Imaging, Security Imaging and Non-Destructive Testing. Redlen's technology B&W TVs to high definition 4K LED displays - improving image resolution and diagnostic accuracy, all while substantially reducing radiation dose.
Redlen has grown for 50 to 200 employees in the recent past as it has secured design wins with major fortune 500 industry customers in the medical and security industries. It plans to grow to 400 people and double its Victoria footprint in the next few years. Redlen's impressive technical leadership and innovation led global medical equipment leader Canon Inc. to acquire Redlen for $430M in 2021 - a huge win for the BC tech industry. Redlen has received numerous awards and accolades recently, and prides itself on being a great place to work, including for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) roles, and for being an equal opportunity employer.
