Vancouver’s Next Big Score… Hidden in Plain Sight

Lessons From the Super Bowl of Canadian Venture Capital

So many people in North America feel like the system has failed them... like it's getting harder and harder to achieve the American dream... like they won't be as successful as their parents.

They can’t afford a house… can’t buy a nice car… can't save enough for a decent retirement…

So, they have this big drive to speculate. To swing for the fences. To hit it big. To YOLO it with crypto, options, etc.

I know it all too well. So well, in fact, I’ve made a career out of it.

For generations, investors have flocked to the city of Vancouver, Canada, to chase giant, life-changing financial wins.

That’s because Vancouver is the world epicentre of public venture capital. It all began in 1909 with the Vancouver Stock Exchange, now the TSX-Venture. This exchange started to fund oil and mining booms. Vancouver became the first place pools of investment dollars were paired with huge ambitions, geologic data, and a big risk appetite.

The Vancouver scene grew to include more than just resources. In the 90s, tech startups surged on the VSE. Then came another commodity boom. In the 2010s, lots of cannabis companies crushed it in Vancouver. Next was crypto. Back in 2017, I made a 200X return on a crypto mining stock. It changed my life. Now, critical metals are booming again.

Hundreds of massive stock market winners were incubated in Vancouver.

It’s the home of the 100X win and broken dreams.

Most lose in this game.

Some win bigger than they ever dreamed.

What I Learned at the Super Bowl of Canadian Venture Capital

Every year in late January, something wild happens in Vancouver. The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) rolls into town. Think of it like the Super Bowl of Canadian penny stocks. It's a hub for experts, packed with chances to make it big. Speculators from all over come to learn about Vancouver’s best deals.

Now, if I had to pick one thing that pushed me ahead, it's being a fixture at these conferences. They opened my eyes to this tricky market.

My first VRIC, 13 years back, was a bit of a shock. But a few conferences later, I was in my element. Making friends, getting the hang of things.

At VRIC12, wearing the entirety of my worldly possessions

Here's a key lesson: these events are for watching and learning, more than stock tips. It's about connecting and picking up patterns. Like this one time, a throwaway tip from a geologist I met at VRIC led to 20X win.

In Canada’s public venture capital arena, it's all about the people. Some folks have the magic touch. And you can't ignore the hucksters either. Their dirt-cheap deals might just spell gold, if you can mix in the right crowd and ditch the dead weight.

These stocks will rocket 500%, then crash 80% in a typical year. You learn to deal with failure. You wait for the right moment and watch out for the big trap: dilution. Often, a stock's value skyrockets while its price drops because of new shares.

Don't put the gurus on any pedestal. Like this one time after a VRIC, a libertarian stock market influencer drove me the wrong way down a highway! He said road rules were a shackle on his freedom. Amid heart-stopping pleas, we screeched to a halt at a convenience store. I escaped, taking a long taxi ride back home.

A packed conference can be another red flag. In 2011, over 12,000 showed up – a sign of a market peak. This year, with about 5,000, the odds look better.

This time around, I'm not just attending VRIC. I'm speaking. My talk: "Vancouver’s Next Big Score… Hidden in Plain Sight." I'll share stories and my latest research.

You could catch it online later, but there’s so much more to gain in person.

So, join me on Monday, Jan 22, 1:40 pm, Workshop 4 at VRIC23. Tickets are free here. Check the agenda here.