Ocean Waves: Cold Ocean Innovation on the Edge

Newfoundland and Labrador’s vast ocean expertise will be celebrated in St. John’s during Innovation Waves. Hosted by Oceans Advance from December 1^st – 3^rd, 2025, this is an industry showcase focused on cutting-edge cold ocean technologies and applications.

This three-day event brings together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders tackling the toughest challenges of cold oceans and highlighting solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of cold ocean environments. From sustainable fisheries, marine defence, and offshore energy to ocean observation, aquaculture, subsea robotics, and Arctic exploration – the opportunities are here and this conference is a gateway to ocean innovation in one of the world’s most rugged and resource-rich regions.

In addition to expert panels, keynotes and B2B sessions, the conference agenda is enhanced with exclusive tours of world-class test facilities and local industry tours.

Business Basics: Starting a Business in St. John’s Virtual Info Session

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) returns November 17^th-23^rd, a week to celebrate entrepreneurs – especially those who face structural barriers or who may have never considered the possibilities of owning a business. The theme for GEW in 2025 is "Together We Build" and shines a spotlight on the collective power of community, collaboration, and shared ambition.

To mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, the St. John’s Business Information Centre will be presenting on November 18 at Business Basics: Starting a Business in St. John’s info session hosted by the Ukrainian National Federation (UNF)-Avalon branch.  

This event is also your chance to learn about Futurpreneur Canada, a national organization that provides financing, mentoring and resources to young aspiring business owners aged 18-39 including specialized programs for groups like newcomers and Indigenous youth, who will also be on hand highlighting their offerings.

The session will start off with an overview of the entrepreneurial services offered by the City of St John’s through the Business Information Centre. Topics will include how to locate data and statistics to support your business plan, as well as an overview of the municipal permits and inspections required at various stages of business development.

Interested entrepreneurs can register here for this free virtual event.

Thank you to the team at UNF-Avalon for inviting us. The City of St. John’s is proud to support a startup ecosystem where entrepreneurs can get access to workshops and digital resources achieve their small business goals in our province.

Canada Summer Jobs 2026 - Applications now open

The federal Canada Summer Jobs program Call for Applications launched November 4 -- even earlier than typical --- giving local businesses and non-profit organizations a valuable opportunity to access wage subsidies for hiring youth next summer. Eligible employers must be able to provide a quality work experience that helps youth develop skills, gain work experience, and improve access to the labour market. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get additional labour next year at a reduced cost to your business. The deadline to apply is December 11, 2025.

Spellbook capital raise

St. John’s founded legaltech startup Spellbook has secured $50 million USD ($69.9 million CAD) in Series B funding. Spellbook provides an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered contract review software for lawyers. The startup now holds a $350 million USD valuation and has raised over $80 million USD to date. The funding will support the expansion of Spellbook’s AI-powered contract review platform, aiming to scale its team from 115 to 230 employees and extend its offerings beyond contract review.