Farm payroll startup Labora wins SFU entrepreneurship competition Surrey, British Columbia-based FinTech startup Labora has taken home the top prize at Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) 10th annual Venture Prize competition, coming away with a $35,000 prize package. The awards were announced on April 21 during an online ceremony. For the second year in a row, the competition, which was sponsored by BC credit union Coast Capital Savings, was held virtually. According to SFU, this year, the competition saw a 35 percent increase in applications compared to 2020. According to SFU, this year, the competition saw a 35 percent increase in applications compared to 2020. Labora offers a digital payroll service for seasonal agricultural workers and farmers. The startup provides simple, automated payroll transfers, allowing workers to send remittances back home more easily by giving them a “safe, convenient alternative to travelling to a physical bank.”