Web Summit Vancouver 2026 was a welcome reminder of the diverse and innovative tech startups B.C. has to offer—in industry, target demographic and impact. Between May 12 and May 14, countless exhibitors set up camp at the Vancouver Convention Centre, ready to spread the word about their up-and-coming companies.
Here are three standout startups that made a name for themselves this week.
Moonspire Games
Gone are the days of simple language-learning platforms where you review material, answer questions and desperately try to keep your daily language-learning streak alive.
Vancouver-based Moonspire Games is developing an RPG (role-playing game) unlike any other—Speechbound. Speechbound combines elements of education, gaming and narrative to help users acquire new languages in a way that’s actually effective. Manuel Tausch, CEO and co-founder of Moonspire, said that balancing entertainment with pedagogy made the game design process a tedious one. It took a lot more than a mere gamification of learning to produce Speechbound.
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And the game isn’t only for individuals—it’s also for the classroom. Teachers can monitor students’ progress in one centralized location, making it an engaging and pragmatic tool. Tausch’s ultimate goal for Moonspire and Speechbound, however, is to branch out into video games for myriad types of learning, from algebra to corporate training.
WeShare
Coordinating photos with friends during your next summer road trip just got a lot easier. WeShare is an event-based photo-sharing app where groups of all sizes can quickly and easily share photos from the same event in one space. Amar Dave, CEO at WeShare, said he was inspired to create the app after attending an Indian wedding where—between himself and five cousins—over 3,000 photos were taken. With such a large sum of photos spread across different devices, it was a hassle to find the photos he wanted. By inviting friends/family to an event, you can all upload photos to one folder and the photos will appear on everyone’s devices automatically. Uploading photos can either be done manually or you can utilize the built-in camera feature.
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And the cherry on top? The app is platform independent. “You can upload from Apple, you can upload from Android, you can upload from the web,” said Dave. Plus, unlike existing competitors, WeShare features a photo shortlist option for a more user-friendly experience.
Gigsup
Do you remember trying to find your first job in high school? It probably wasn’t easy finding connections in your field of interest—if you even knew what your field of interest was.
Enter Gigsup—Canada’s first career intelligence platform for students. This B.C.-based startup matches customers with potential career options based on their experience and interests, creating a truly personalized experience. And Gigsup’s services don’t end at a career match; it also pairs customers with a mentor and offers curated job postings.
And business is already growing rapidly. “In the few short weeks that we’ve actually launched, we’ve onboarded thousands of students across B.C.,” said Stephanie Brown, founder of Gigsup, during Web Summit Vancouver’s BC Founder Faceoff—a pitch competition for $10,000. If that wasn’t enough, Gigsup actively helps students see their studies through by putting five per cent of all profits to grants.
