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 […]
News
Calgary’s Helcim Raises $27 Million to Transform Payment Processing
Calgary’s Helcim has raised a $27 million Series B funding round led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Headline. The omnichannel payment processing platform will use the funds to further its mission of delivering superior payment and business management solutions to traditional SMBs and mid-market Main Street merchants across Canada and the U.S. This round marks […]
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 […]
3 Calgary Startups Named to List of Canada’s Most Innovative Tech Companies
The Canadian Innovation Exchange has announced the recipients of this year’s prestigious CIX Top 20 Early and Top 10 Growth awards. These awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of Canadian tech companies at both early and growth stages. Selected by a committee of 150+ esteemed global investors, this year’s winners represent various industries, including climate technology, renewable energy, […]