Last year, a medical device company developing biomaterials-based solutions for complex wounds graduated from the 2023 Biomedical Engineering stream of the Creative Destruction Lab program at University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. The Quebec-born BioMimir uses synthetic biomimetics to design biomaterials that are self-adhesive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic, with products targeting complex wounds like ulcers, […]
Freshly Funded RetinaLogik Looks to Prevent Vision Loss with VR Tech Solution
Over two billion people live with vision impairment, data from the World Health Organization shows, with at least half of these cases being preventable or treatable. Targeting this sizeable global market, Alberta’s RetinaLogik this month announced a successful round of pre-seed funding. The Calgary-based eye care innovator raised $783,000 from HaloHealth, Spring Impact Capital, UCeed, […]
Big Rounds Bookend ‘Another Strong Year’ of Venture Capital Investment in Alberta
In 2023, venture capital in Canada witnessed a cumulative investment of $6.9 billion across 660 deals, with the fourth quarter attracting $1.4B over 142 deals, a year-end report from the Canadian Venture Capital Association shows. These data demonstrate “a return to pre-pandemic momentum despite a year-over-year slowdown caused largely by rising interest rates and economic uncertainties,” according to CVCA. Leveraging data from […]
Startup TNT Ranks Among Most Active Early-Stage Investors in Canada
Earlier this year, we reported on a nonprofit organization based out of Edmonton is working to raise capital for startups in Alberta. Founded in 2019 to empower entrepreneurs across Western Canada, Startup TNT hosts Investment Summit that aim to help raise capital for startups and make it easier for local investors, both seasoned and new, […]
Calgary Sport-Tech Startup Heads South of the Border to Join ‘Immersive’ Accelerator
This week, 10 companies were accepted into the fourth class of the Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator powered by Boomtown. The immersive six-month program, slated to kick off in March, selected the lucky few startups among more than 1,500 applicants across over 50 nations. Notably, four are Canadian, rendering Canada the most represented country this year. […]
Calgary Crypto Custodian Balance Builds Back Better After ‘Resilience Tested’
In 2022, Canadian crypto custodian Balance celebrated its fifth anniversary with $500 million of assets under custody. Founded in June 2017, the startup introduced its custody services in a closed pilot in August 2018. The public launch followed one year later, the first of its kind in Canada. Since its August 2019 public launch, Balance has […]
Canadians Invest in ‘Strong and Sustained’ Rental Market of Alberta Through Addy
Addy continues to invest in the Alberta region—and, as a result, so do Canadian investors. The Vancouver-based real estate investing platform, which launched in BC in 2020, dropped its first Alberta project last year. The timing was good: As the province’s key hubs Calgary and Edmonton grapple with Canada’s highest rates of office vacancy, addy […]
Thread Innovations Bringing Carbon Fibre Tech One Step Closer to Commercialization
Regarded as a strategic material in next-generation structure and design, carbon fibre can be significantly stronger than metals such as aluminum and steel, while also offering thermal and conductivity advantages. However, currently most carbon fibre production is neither cost-efficient nor energy-efficient. Last year, we wrote about an Edmonton-based company working toward its vision of unlocking […]
UCalgary and PASQAL Collab to Boost Quantum City Innovation Pipeline
In 2023 we reported on Calgary’s ambition of becoming a capital city in Canada for quantum technology and innovation. Moving toward this goal, the University of Calgary last year formed a strategic partnership with the Government of Alberta and Mphasis to establish Quantum City. Quantum City’s mission is to establish quantum-focused fabrication infrastructure, new talent […]
Calgary Ranked as Emerging Market to Watch for Cybersecurity Tech and Talent
The worldwide proportion of elections targeted by cyber threat activity increased from 23% in 2021 to 26% in 2022, according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s “Cyber Threats to Canada’s Democratic Process: 2023 Update.” The concern is part of a broader trend: Cyberattacks increased globally by 38% from 2021 to 2022, according to data from Check […]