Large language models continue to hog the spotlight, yet Augmenta\u2019s Richard Zhang told me he believes the future of AI is using it to solve problems in the physical world.<\/p>\n
That revolution is already underway. Industry leaders like Waabi\u2019s Raquel Urtasun<\/a> and Clearpath Robotics\u2019 Ryan Gariepy think Canada has a chance to become a global leader in this space. But they also worry Canada is leaving opportunity on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cCanada has world-class robotics researchers. The talent is here. What\u2019s missing are the policies to turn that into real outcomes,\u201d Gariepy told me over email on Friday, stating that more must be done to help smaller businesses adopt robotics, and facilitate direct procurement. \u201cThe window to lead in physical AI before the field consolidates around foreign players is real, but it isn\u2019t permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n Gariepy, who also chairs the Canadian Robotics Council, is walking that talk. The CRC recently created a committee to boost investment in domestic robots. Though the feds have also unveiled a broader AI strategy that identified manufacturing and robotics as an area where Canada could lead globally, the majority of Canada\u2019s AI spending so far has gone towards compute infrastructure and software rather than hardware.<\/p>\n One of the AI boom\u2019s leading figures, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, sees robots as a $40-trillion opportunity. If Canada hopes to capture any more than a very small slice of the market, it will need to get better at commercializing the research happening at places like U of T.<\/p>\n Josh Scott, Your finance team has better things to do than chase receipts.<\/p>\n Time is money. Ramp is a finance automation platform built to save you both.<\/p>\n One platform for corporate cards, employee expenses, reimbursements, and bill payments.<\/p>\n See every swipe as it happens. Automatically block out-of-policy spend. When a receipt comes in, Ramp extracts the details and matches them to the related card transaction, which can then be auto-coded with GST\/HST details and sent straight to your accounting system.1<\/p>\n The average customer saves 5%2 in their first year.<\/p>\n Get started for free<\/a><\/p>\n 1 Direct sync available for supported accounting systems: QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, Microsoft Business Central, and Sage Intacct. Top stories from BetaKit<\/p>\n No human CEO required<\/p>\n In 2017, years before the AI gold rush, Microsoft acquired Canadian deep learning research lab Maluuba. Now, two of its co-founders are back with Skyfall AI<\/a>. They\u2019re on a mission to prove that they can build \u201cworld models\u201d capable of running companies, no humans required.<\/p>\n Flex AI shuts down<\/p>\n While the personal training app market is growing rapidly, it\u2019s also intensely crowded. Flex AI learned that the hard way. The Vancouver-based app is shutting down<\/a> after acquisition plans fell through and it ran out of money.<\/p>\n The movies are back<\/p>\n The Odyssey has proven to be a hit, and audiences are clamouring to see it in Canadian-made IMAX, with nine of the world\u2019s 41 IMAX 70mm theatres located in Canada. BetaKit sat down with IMAX global president Mark Welton to learn more about the Canadian innovation<\/a> that turned Christopher Nolan\u2019s epic into a box office phenomenon.<\/p>\n Success after sport<\/p>\n What is an athlete supposed to do when they\u2019re done chasing championships? Vancouver-based startup Free Agent has launched a professional networking platform<\/a> exclusively for athletes, raising $1.7 million USD to help them find post-playing careers and brand deals.<\/p>\n Revolutionizing reproductive health<\/p>\n Elle MD is hoping to develop a birth control method that avoids most, if not all, of the side effects of traditional contraceptives. The Nova Scotia-based healthtech startup has raised $1.1 million CAD<\/a> to launch clinical testing of its new product, the Livv, this fall.<\/p>\n Sponsored stories<\/p>\n How BinSentry built an AI moat in AgTech<\/p>\n By leveraging AI-driven sensors and an enterprise focus to monitor livestock feed levels, Kitchener-based BinSentry has built a defensible moat in AgTech<\/a> and rapidly scaled across North America with CIBC\u2019s backing.<\/p>\n Deals and dollars<\/p>\n Who\u2019s cashing in, or out, this week:<\/p>\n Canadian-founded Ollama raises<\/a> $65 million USD to help devs run open-source AI models. (Palo Alto)<\/p>\n San Francisco-based GrubMarket acquires<\/a> online grocery service SPUD. (Vancouver)<\/p>\n Jane App acquires<\/a> clinic software startup Ginger Desk. (Vancouver)<\/p>\n Landing Zones Canada partners<\/a> with Airbus to advance drone simulation and training for the Canadian Armed Forces. (Medicine Hat)<\/p>\n Tailscale nears<\/a> 40,000 paid business customers as it adds new VP Mike Shaver to guide its next phase. (Toronto)<\/p>\n AI-powered mortgage company Trailfund is acquired by<\/a> KingSett Mortgage Corporation. (Toronto)<\/p>\n ChatFeatured secures<\/a> $2 million USD to optimize chatbot reach. (Toronto)<\/p>\n Meal kit service Goodfood warns<\/a> it may need to curtail operations amid mounting losses. (Montr\u00e9al)<\/p>\n Crypto platform Shakepay joins the Interac e-Transfer network, Fintech.ca reports<\/a>. (Montr\u00e9al)<\/p>\n Main character<\/p>\n \u201cUnless Canada does something to move more towards a more favourable \u2026 regulatory regime, we\u2019re going to continue to see an exodus,\u201d<\/p>\n says business lawyer Aaron Grinhaus, on Canada\u2019s crypto landscape<\/a>.<\/p>\n The refresh<\/p>\n Who\u2019s afraid of the big, bad GPU?<\/p>\n Data centre power and water consumption haunt the public discourse around AI. But doesn\u2019t everyone use the same chips in their phones and PlayStations, too? The Verge<\/a> contextualizes the environmental impact of the upcoming AI data centre buildout and whether the costs outweigh the benefits.<\/p>\n Help shape the next generation of Canadian founders<\/p>\n Velocity is bringing back the Velocity Pitch Competition for Waterloo Tech Week, reimagined with a new format. We\u2019re looking for judges who can bring real-world expertise, sharp feedback, and an eye for ideas with potential.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how it works: 100 student teams, 100 judges, one day. Each team delivers a two-minute lightning pitch. As a judge, you\u2019ll hear from up to 20 teams, give feedback, and help decide who takes home prizes.<\/p>\n This is a chance for industry leaders and entrepreneurs to spot early talent, support the next generation of founders, and stay close to the ideas shaping Canada\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
Reporter<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/600x300_Canda-Asset-Resize-V4-1-1024x512.png\" "\\"600x300_Canda")
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2 This percentage is an estimate, not a guarantee. More details at ramp.com\/canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Christopher](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Chris-Nolan-IMAX.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Aaron.jpg\" "\\"Aaron")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Big-Bad-GPU-for-The-refresh-July-26-1024x503.jpg\" "\\"Big")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/VPC-BetaKit-Suleyman-Begenjov.jpg\" "\\"Velocity")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785158605_590_Eliot-Pence-on-The-BetaKit-podcast-1024x512.jpg\" "\\"Eliot")
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