Alberta’s technology community has another opportunity to recognize the founders, companies, investors, and supporters helping the province’s innovation economy grow.
Nominations and applications are now open for the 2026 Start Alberta Tech Awards, which will return to Calgary for their ninth year on November 4 at Studio Bell.
The annual awards celebrate individuals and organizations making significant contributions to Alberta’s technology sector, with categories spanning the full startup journey—from promising new founders and emerging ventures to established anchor companies.
This year’s awards feature 10 categories:
- Deal of the Year
- Most Promising Founder
- VCAA Rod Charko Service Award
- Anchor of the Year
- A100 One to Watch
- Ecosystem Supporter of the Year
- Investor of the Year
- Woman in Tech
- Scaleup of the Year
- Leader of the Year
The Deal of the Year award, sponsored by Alberta Enterprise Corporation, recognizes an Alberta-founded and headquartered technology company behind a major financing, acquisition, or exit. Eligible transactions must have occurred between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, and must demonstrate a significant impact on Alberta’s innovation ecosystem.
The Most Promising Founder category is aimed at an Alberta-based founder or co-founder who launched a technology startup or scaleup in the province within the past three years. Judges will consider business momentum alongside coachability, community involvement, and contributions to Alberta’s technology sector.
Early-stage companies can also compete for the A100 One to Watch award. The category recognizes an Alberta-founded and headquartered company already in the market and demonstrating the potential to scale, with the winner selected by A100 Charter Members.
At the other end of the growth spectrum, the Anchor of the Year award honours an established Alberta technology company that creates jobs, attracts investment, develops talent, and supports the broader ecosystem. Eligible companies must generate more than $50 million in annual revenue, employ at least 200 people, and have operated for five or more years.
The Scaleup of the Year award, sponsored by Osler, recognizes an Alberta-based technology or technology-enabled company demonstrating substantial growth in revenue and employment while contributing to the community through mentorship and inclusive practices.
Individual recognition will include Woman in Tech, Investor of the Year, Leader of the Year, and the VCAA Rod Charko Service Award. Edmonton Unlimited is also sponsoring the Ecosystem Supporter of the Year category, which recognizes an individual, organization, institution, or initiative supporting Alberta founders through areas such as mentorship, programming, investment, infrastructure, and advocacy.
Calgary companies were well represented among the 2025 winners. Artificial Agency collected both the A100 One to Watch award and Most Promising Founder honours for co-founders Brian Tanner and Alex Kearney. Blackline Safety was named Anchor of the Year, while energy intelligence platform Orennia received Scaleup of the Year.
Other 2025 recipients included Ontopical for Deal of the Year, UCeed for Investor of the Year, Tech Thursday for Ecosystem Supporter of the Year, Lourdes Juan of Knead Technologies for Woman in Tech, and Jillian McLaren of the Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator for Leader of the Year.
Start Alberta operates a province-wide database tracking startups, investors, financings, and other activity across Alberta’s technology sector. The platform is operated by A100 and powered by Dealroom.
Nominations and applications for the 2026 Start Alberta Tech Awards will remain open until September 29. Category criteria and submission forms are available through the Start Alberta awards website.
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