Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this edition:
Calgary tech talent grows
Exec changes in Calgary’s tech scene
Changes to the industrial carbon tax program
Have a great day. We'll see you again next week.
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Photo: Unsplash
$5.2M funding round backs Calgary AI startup Ultimarii's regulatory technology
Anyone who's watched major infrastructure projects crawl through regulatory approval knows the frustration—what should take months often stretches into years. Calgary-based Ultimarii Ltd. thinks it has a solution, and investors agree, backing the company with $5.2 million to expand its AI platform that promises to cut through regulatory red tape. The technology can churn through thousands of pages of filings in minutes, flagging issues that might otherwise derail projects down the road.
Behind Ultimarii are co-founders who know both sides of the regulatory game: Doug Schweitzer, Alberta's former Justice Minister, and tech entrepreneur Josh Malate. They've assembled a heavyweight advisory team that reads like a who's who of Canadian regulatory experience, including Grant Sprague, Alberta's former Deputy Minister of Energy, and Gitane De Silva, who previously ran the Canada Energy Regulator. It's the kind of insider knowledge that could make the difference between a platform that works on paper and one that actually gets used.
The funding came from Staircase Ventures, Alpaca VC, and Scale Good Fund—a mix of Canadian and American investors betting that regulatory technology has real commercial potential. With backing from local institutions like the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and Alberta Innovates, Ultimarii is positioning itself as a homegrown solution to a problem that extends well beyond Canada's borders.
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🤝 Funding, Deals, and Partnerships
Calgary’s Bōde secures AWS support to scale real estate platform. Founded in 2019, Bōde is a digital real estate platform that enables homeowners to list, market, negotiate, and sell directly online. Calgary.Tech
Foodtech next program supports Calgary innovator Knead as upstart advances pilot. The Canadian Food Innovation Network is funding five food-tech startups, the national support network revealed today. Calgary.Tech
📰 Need To Know
Calgary tech talent grows to 7.9 per cent of economy. A recently released CBRE report has identified Calgary as one of the fastest-growing tech talent cities worldwide, giving Calgary an outsized presence in the city’s GDP from tech firms. Livewire Calgary
Alberta changing industrial carbon tax program to recognize company investments in emissions reduction. Critics say changes could weaken value of provincial carbon credits. CBC News
Leadership changes hit Benevity and Fable as CEOs step aside for board seats. Toan Dinh replaces Fable co-founder Alwar Pillai while Soraya Alexander steps in at Benevity. Betakit
Headversity taps former Benevity CEO to lead ‘important transition’ for Calgary firm. Calgary-based Headversity unveiled Kelly Schmitt as the new CEO effective October. Calgary.Tech
Exro Technologies discontinues US business. It is anticipated that the Toronto Stock Exchange will place the company under delisting review and there can be no assurance as to the outcome of such review or the continued qualification for listing on the TSX. Exro Technologies
New implant restores blood pressure balance after spinal cord injury. Neuroscientists and neurosurgeons from Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands collaborate on life-changing research and innovation. University of Calgary
Alberta startup to test saltwater battery on Medicine Hat's electrical grid. An Edmonton-based startup is getting its first chance to test battery technology the City of Medicine Hat hopes will provide an alternative to expensive electrical grid upgrades. CBC News
Alberta wants to become an AI data centre hub, but this rural county just rejected a big proposal. Neighbouring landowners cited concerns about new data centre complex on farmland, future water implications. CBC News
Innovative Japanese wastewater treatment technology being evaluated at UCalgary for use in cold climates and rural communities. International partnership addresses water sustainability challenges, from Japan to Alberta and beyond. University of Calgary
Building Thin Air Labs over the past 5+ years was one of the most important chapters of my life. And now it’s time to start the next one. Andrew Browne