techNL

Not every tech success story begins in Canada’s biggest cities. Some take shape in places known for resilience, ingenuity, and a deep sense of community.

And in Newfoundland and Labrador, a remarkable story is unfolding.

Over the past decade, the province’s technology sector has been building steady momentum and transforming possibility into progress. At the centre of that journey is techNL, the industry association for Newfoundland and Labrador’s technology sector, which is championing the people, companies, and partnerships shaping this growth.

What was once seen as an emerging sector is now becoming one of the province’s strongest economic drivers. With a vision of making Newfoundland and Labrador the most sought-after tech ecosystem in Canada, techNL is helping position the province as a place where innovative companies can start, scale, and succeed globally.

A stronger tech ecosystem

techNL works alongside startups, scaling companies, government partners, post-secondary institutions, and industry leaders to help turn shared ambition into coordinated action.

Through its programming, techNL supports companies at every stage of growth by providing workforce development initiatives, business growth supports, visibility opportunities, networking opportunities, sector insights, and connections to customers, capital, and partners. The organization also works to strengthen Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech ecosystem by bringing together industry, government, post-secondary institutions, and community partners around shared priorities that help local companies grow, compete internationally, and create long-term economic impact in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Today, the impact of that work can be seen in communities and companies across the province.

A 2025 State of Tech in NL report (PDF - 4.6 Mb) commissioned by techNL found that Newfoundland and Labrador’s technology sector contributed $1.8 billion to the provincial economy in 2023 — up from $1.45 billion in 2016, representing nearly 24 per cent growth — and supported nearly 10,000 jobs.

Those numbers reflect a significant shift: technology is no longer on the sidelines of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy. It is becoming a central part of the province’s economic future.

Growth across multiple industries

The province’s technology ecosystem is also broader and more dynamic than many people expect. Across Newfoundland and Labrador, companies are creating solutions in artificial intelligence, ocean technology, cybersecurity, digital health, clean technology, and industrial software.

That growth is deeply connected to the province itself.

Newfoundland and Labrador has long been shaped by demanding industries, natural resources, complex environments, and a culture of problem-solving. It is only natural that many local technology companies are now applying that same practical ingenuity to modern challenges.

This experience gives local companies a powerful advantage. Many are building technologies for sectors such as energy, fisheries, mining, transportation, and health care, drawing on both technical expertise and a close understanding of how these industries operate in the real world.

Success stories changing perceptions

Some success stories have gone beyond business growth, helping redefine what is possible in Newfoundland and Labrador.

One of the clearest examples is Verafin, founded in St. John’s and later acquired by Nasdaq in a $3.6 billion CAD landmark deal. Its rise became a defining moment for the province’s tech sector, showing that a globally competitive technology company could be built and scaled in the province while staying deeply connected to the community where it began.

This success sparked something larger. It strengthened confidence among founders, investors, and workers, and helped reshape perceptions both inside and outside the province.

Today, a growing network of startups, incubators, investors, and support organizations is helping write the next chapter of the province’s innovation story.

Verafin’s success is no longer viewed as a one-time story. Newfoundland and Labrador is now home to a growing number of globally competitive tech companies attracting international attention and investment. Companies such as Colab AI and Spellbook are widely seen as contenders to become the province’s next billion-dollar companies, with Spellbook recently recognized as Canada’s fastest-growing company through Built in Canada’s Rocketship Award.

Newfoundland and Labrador is also home to Kraken Robotics, a publicly traded company valued at more than $1 billion and recognized globally for its advanced ocean technology solutions. Together, these companies reflect the growing strength and ambition of the province’s tech sector, which is now recognized as the #1 startup ecosystem in Atlantic Canada. (Source: techNL)

Building the future together

The story of Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector is also a story of partnership. Growth at this scale does not happen in isolation. It is built over time through the combined efforts of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, educators, governments, and organizations working toward a shared vision for the province’s future.

ACOA is proud to be a long-standing supporter of techNL, supporting its programming and initiatives to create more opportunities for collaboration, workforce development, and business growth across the province.

Together, these efforts are helping make Newfoundland and Labrador a place where innovation thrives, companies scale, and people can build meaningful careers close to home.

“ACOA’s long-standing support has helped build real momentum across Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector. That momentum is being driven by ambitious founders, strong collaboration across the ecosystem, and strategic partners working alongside industry to help local companies start and scale globally, attract talent, and strengthen the province’s economy through innovation. It is an exciting time for our sector, and we believe the best is still ahead as we continue building this ecosystem together.”

— Florian Villaumé, CEO, techNL

To learn more about techNL, please visit: techNL