The fintech company outlasted 216 startups from across BC to emerge with the $110,000 Grand Prize
VANCOUVER, BC — October 1, 2024 — Binta Financial, a fintech startup building the infrastructure for borderless credit histories, captured first place in the 2025 New Ventures BC Competition, presented by Innovate BC. Along with securing the $110,000 Innovate BC First Place Prize, the Vancouver-based company has cemented itself as the province’s top startup.
Binta’s platform enables newcomers to carry verified credit histories across borders and access housing, loans, and employment faster, while also offering tools like rent reporting and an AI-powered financial literacy companion to help build local credit from day one. By turning credit into a truly borderless asset, Binta is making it possible for millions of people to arrive in a new country without having to start from zero.
The $55,000 Innovate BC Second Place Prize Package was awarded to PeerSupport.io, whose referral and care navigation tool helps clinics cut wait times by months and reduce administrative burnout. The healthtech startup, which started in Yukon before moving to BC, aims to improve access to care for patients while easing pressure on healthcare providers.
The $30,000 Innovate BC Third Place Prize went to BuildMapper, a fast-growing platform that gives construction sales teams real-time project insights and smarter pathways to new contracts. Both Peersupport and BuildMapper represent the power of AI-driven innovation to bring speed and efficiency to critical industries.
Rounding out the competition, more companies were recognized for excellence across multiple categories.
Funded by NVBC’s volunteers, the Diamond-in-the-Rough Prize is awarded to the most promising pre-revenue and pre-investment startup (as of March 31, 2025).
Aspect Biosystems, a world leader in bioprinted tissue therapeutics, received this year’s Alumni Impact Award. The recognition highlights competition alumni whose achievements have advanced their industries while strengthening and inspiring the broader BC tech community. With groundbreaking work at the intersection of biotechnology and regenerative medicine, Aspect is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare.
216 startups from across British Columbia entered this year’s competition. In addition to competing for over $250,000 in cash and prizes, the startups received exclusive access to mentorship, workshops, and a vibrant community of fellow tech innovators and founders. 2025 marked the 25th consecutive year of the New Ventures BC Competition. Since the competition’s inception, New Ventures BC has supported more than 4,000 startups, who have created more than 13,000 jobs and raised more than $3.2 billion in financing.
QUOTES
Angie Schick, Executive Director at New Ventures BC
“Now in its 25th year, the Competition continues to show how innovation drives economic opportunity. This year’s winners are not only advancing technology through the use of AI, but also fueling growth in key sectors like healthcare, food, finance, and manufacturing — industries that touch the lives of every British Columbian.”
Paschal Okwundu, CEO and Co-Founder at Binta Financial
“Winning the New Ventures BC Competition marks a major milestone for us. Not only does this further validate our vision, but it gives us the extra publicity and recognition we need to accelerate our growth, refine our product, and expand our impact here in B.C. and beyond.”
Peter Cowan, President & CEO at Innovate BC
“Innovation is both an essential driver of British Columbia’s economy and a powerful tool for tackling our most pressing challenges. Innovate BC is proud to support the New Ventures BC Competition once again, which continues to be a launchpad for our most promising startups, helping them transform ideas into scalable businesses that create jobs, strengthen industries, and generate solutions with global relevance. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and to New Ventures BC on 25 years of delivering this important and impactful initiative.”
The Honourable Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance
“Congratulations to this year’s New Ventures BC Award winner and finalists. You are part of a long trend of talented and dedicated innovators in B.C.’s tech sector whose work is fueling our economy and making a difference in people’s lives. These awards recognize not only groundbreaking ideas, but the hard work it takes to bring them to life. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these exciting ventures.”
For 25 years, New Ventures BC (NVBC) has been part of BC’s startup community, empowering early-stage tech companies with the tools, mentorship, and funding they need to succeed. As a non-profit, NVBC programs include the annual New Ventures BC Competition, Accelerator Programs, Capital Compass, IP Pathways and AccelerateIP — supporting thousands of founders as they launch and grow. To date, NVBC has helped launch some of BC’s top tech success stories, contributing to a thriving innovation ecosystem that has created 13,000+ jobs and attracted over $3.2 billion in investment.
Innovate BC helps foster innovation in B.C. so that British Columbians in all regions of the province can benefit from a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive innovation economy. A Crown Agency of British Columbia, Innovate BC funds and delivers programs that support the growth of the B.C. economy by helping companies start and scale, train talent that meets labour market needs, and encourage technology development, commercialization, and adoption.
Supporting Information:
Competition Homepage
2025 Top 10 Announcement
Media Inquiries:
media@newventuresbc.com