Key Legal Documents
The Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA) provides key document templates commonly used during the fundraising incorporation and acquisition process. These templates can help you prepare for investor conversations and due diligence.
Start Alberta
The Start Alberta deal flow platform is the most comprehensive database on startups and funding in the province of Alberta. It provides real-time data for founders, investors, corporates, and government stakeholders, cataloguing the regional tech ecosystem. Start Alberta is the source of facts on the region’s innovation and tech ecosystem that equips investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers with the insights needed to make their next big move.
Ensure your company is profiled
Who to Connect With
Alberta’s tech ecosystem is supported by a growing network of founders, mentors, and support organizations. Below are some of the key communities and networks to explore.
Mentorship
- A100: Alberta’s community of seasoned technology founders and executives.
- C100: An organization of Canadian entrepreneurs living in Silicon Valley and other major tech hubs globally.
- Threshold Impact Venture Mentoring Service (TIVMS): A mentoring program at the University of Alberta that helps entrepreneurs discover and build their skillset.
- Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta (VMSA): An entrepreneur mentorship program that supports founders at the scale-up stage by surrounding them with a team of business leaders.
Professional networks
- Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) provides unique programs and support services for women entrepreneurs in Alberta at all stages of business, including advising, financing, and network development.
- Endeavor Canada supports high-impact entrepreneurs by providing them with access to mentors, investors, and peers from Canada’s established business leaders and Endeavor’s international community.
- Product Leaders Unite brings together product leaders from various industries to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. They host events and provide resources to help product leaders succeed in their roles.
- Futurpreneur Canada provides financing, mentoring, and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Their goal is to help young entrepreneurs turn great ideas into successful businesses.
- Tech West Collective is a group of companies aiming to make Alberta an internationally recognized tech powerhouse by developing people, supporting tech companies, and uniting the ecosystem.
- Digital Alberta represents industries such as digital media, martech, video game development, eLearning, visual effects, animation, AI, and VR/AR, aiming to advance the interactive digital technology ecosystem in Alberta.
- Technology Alberta supports Alberta’s small-to-medium-sized technology business sector by providing resources and community support to help advance Alberta’s entrepreneurial technology companies nationally and internationally.
Where to Go
Alberta is home to a growing network of innovation hubs that support entrepreneurs at every stage. These organizations offer mentorship, workspace, programming, and connections tailored to specific industries and technologies.
Industry Agnostic
- Edmonton Unlimited focuses on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Edmonton, providing resources and support for startups and the broader business community.
- Platform Calgary is dedicated to accelerating the growth of technology startups in Calgary by offering programs, resources, and a collaborative space for entrepreneurs.
- House 831 is a highly vetted clubhouse in Calgary for founders, builders and creators.
Life Sciences Focused
- Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) provides end-to-end support for life sciences researchers, businesses, and innovators, helping them navigate the path from idea to commercialization.
- BioHubX provides mentorship, resources, and space to support growing health ventures, aiming to ignite the life science ecosystem in the region.
- Health Cities creates environments and relationships for change in primary care and health data and helping inform decision-making and delivery of new technologies and innovative solutions in Alberta.
- Health Innovation Hub at the University of Alberta is a community incubator for innovators and entrepreneurs working towards better human health outcomes, providing programming support, access to space and training resources, coaching and consulting support, and connections to peers and advisors.
- Life Sciences Innovation Hub at the University of Calgary, activated by Innovate Calgary, supports research-intensive companies to deliver commercially-viable products and services to market by providing access to infrastructure, expertise, and startup services.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) is one of Canada’s preeminent centres of artificial intelligence, bridging world-leading research and industry, cultivating scientific excellence, developing talent, and coaching businesses on AI adoption.
- AltaML offers a comprehensive suite of services and expertise encompassing the entire machine learning life cycle, from evaluating potential use cases and determining feasibility, to piloting solutions, putting code into production, and ensuring models evolve over time.
Quantum
- Quantum City is building an ecosystem for quantum science and technology in Alberta, bringing together researchers, developers, industry, investors and adopters of quantum technology and services.
IOT
- Alberta IoT promotes the growth of the Internet of Things industry in Alberta. They provide resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy for companies operating in the IoT space.
Aerospace
- Aerospace Innovation Hub (AIH), in collaboration with the University of Calgary, offers incubation space, equipment, accelerator programming, and a community for companies developing the next generation of technologies for the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Accelerators / Incubators
Accelerators and incubators offer mentorship, programming, and resources to help startups grow. Some operate in cohorts with structured timelines, while others provide ongoing support. Participation may be free, equity-based, or tied to venture capital investment.
- CDL Rockies is a branch of the Creative Destruction Lab, CDL Rockies is an accelerator program based in Calgary, focusing on the development of technology startups in various sectors.
- Plug and Play Alberta supports startups by connecting them with corporate partners, investors, and resources.
- 500 Global accelerator program in Alberta is affiliated with 500 Startups, a renowned venture capital firm that helps startups grow through mentorship, investment, and resources.
- GrowthX provides support to startups through its program, focusing on helping companies develop sales and growth strategies to accelerate their expansion.
- CSW Accelerator focuses on addressing the social and safety challenges facing our communities. CSW offers a platform for startups to enhance their growth, offering mentoring, resources, and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs.
- Alberta Catalyzer aims to foster innovation and collaboration by bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders in Alberta to drive technological advancements.
- SVG Thrive is an agri-food innovation platform that supports startups and companies working on solutions to transform and improve the agriculture and food sectors.
- Avatar Innovations supports a new energy future through leadership, entrepreneurship, collaboration, and capital.
* Alberta Enterprise is not responsible for any advice or information provided through these resources.