[thesmallestcat]

VSE = Vancouver Stock Exchange. Pump and dump is a market timing strategy where you ride an inconsequential stock's rise over a relatively short time and then sell. I have no idea how that relates to parent's last sentence.

[sedachv]

In the 1980s and 1990s the Vancouver Stock Exchange was notorious for fraud, and Vancouver was known as the "scam capital of the world."

[mistermann]

There's an (accepted) culture of dishonesty in Vancouver, particularly in companies listed on the VSE (TSX-V), including the exchange regulators.

I have no idea how accurate the opinion is that this affects raising funding.

[nickler]

It contributes to the investment culture in the city, despite strong efforts from Wertz and a handful of others to lead a more enlightened approach and build great companies.

It's not the only challenge the city has, there are a myriad of forces at play, and some are positive. Best way to fix it is to get more startups earning more customers and growing locally. Nothing stopping them from doing that, just wont be as fast as SV is all.