The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is deepening its commitment to youth innovation with up to $367,000 in new funding for The Knowledge Society (TKS), a global accelerator program preparing high school students to tackle real-world challenges in AI, quantum, and other emerging fields.
The investment comes as Alberta grapples with a youth unemployment rate nearing 17 per cent—among the highest in the country—and will provide scholarships for 130 Calgary students over the next two years.
TKS runs a 10-month program modelled after curriculum from Stanford, Harvard, and MIT, equipping students with future-focused skills and entrepreneurial mindsets. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the partnership underscores the city’s commitment to innovation.
“Reducing barriers to education and innovation is one of the most powerful ways we can shape Calgary’s future,” Gondek said. “TKS equips young people to think bigger, faster, and bolder while developing skills that will not only strengthen our workforce but position Calgary as a city where talent can thrive.”
OCIF’s investment will supplement TKS’s existing scholarship fund, which is supported by corporate sponsors, expanding access for students who face financial barriers.
Brad Parry, CEO of OCIF and Calgary Economic Development, said the funding reflects the city’s ambition to become the innovation capital of Canada.
“This follow-on investment in The Knowledge Society is to ensure that we are supporting the fueling of the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in our city,” Parry said. “Getting our youth exposure to the mentorship, tools and opportunities to interact with local business and start up entrepreneurs at a young age will allow them to see future opportunities to themselves as global problem-solvers.”
OCIF first partnered with TKS in 2024, investing $256,000 to support scholarships for 80 students. The program exceeded its training targets, with Calgary alumni moving on to launch startups, raise funding, and contribute to leading organizations such as SpaceX, Microsoft, and the United Nations.
Since launching in Calgary, TKS has trained students in cutting-edge fields like AI and biotech while fostering leadership and problem-solving skills. Co-founder and CEO Navid Nathoo noted the city’s importance to the organization’s mission.
“While TKS has become a global organization with students around the world, Calgary has always been a core hub for us; not only because of the incredible talent here, but also because it’s where my brother and I were born and raised,” Nathoo said. “Our partnership with OCIF has helped us expand this mission, and the success of the program here is proof of what’s possible when we invest in the potential of youth.”
With applications consistently outpacing available seats, the latest OCIF investment provides a strategic boost as TKS grows its Calgary presence, increases enrollment, and strengthens brand recognition—ensuring more students are prepared to lead in the city’s innovation economy.
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