Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this issue, learn why Alberta Enterprise Corp. poured $7.5M into a U.S. venture fund, plus, nine other things you need to know. Have a great day. We'll see you again Wednesday.

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AEC invests $7.5M to help Alberta tech startups access US capital and markets

Alberta Enterprise Corporation’s (AEC) latest investment is expanding access to US capital for local startups.

AEC, which invests in venture capital funds that finance Alberta technology companies, has invested USD $7.5 million into Alpaca VC to provide early-stage capital to companies in the province that are focused on proptech, construction tech, fintech, foodtech, agtech, supply chains, and marketplaces.

"A large portion of the startups in Alberta fit within Alpaca's investment focus, and an investment from Alpaca into these companies opens up access to US capital and markets," said Kristina Williams, CEO of Alberta Enterprise Corporation, in a statement. "Connecting local startups with the experience, connections and capital of the Alpaca team provides a real growth advantage."

🤝 Funding, Deals + Partnerships

• Terrestrial Energy invests $18M, plans to create 29 jobs through new Calgary office. Calgary Tech Journal

• Edmonton's Areto Labs, led by CEO and co-founder Lana Cuthbertson, received $30,000 from The Firehood. BetaKit

📰 Need To Know

• ICYMI: Calgary innovation community spotlights its women in tech. A dispatch from Plug and Play's Women in Tech Networking event. Calgary Tech Journal

• Ownly and IronSight are turning tech solutions into companies through support from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) and Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies (CDL-Rockies)

• University of Calgary's UCeed spotlights important players in the startup community. Helen Dunlop / UCalgary News

• Capital. Connection. Capacity: Alberta Women Entrepreneurs 2023 Summit is March 24. Get the details

• SAIT's School for Advanced Digital Technology announced a new Interactive Design Diploma program. Details

• ATB Financial's Jennifer Koo is spotlighted as a Bright Leader of Calgary. Calgary Economic Development

• On International Women's Day, entrepreneurs work to set examples for other women in Calgary. Shelley Boettcher / Calgary Herald

💡 POV: Ideas and Insights

• Joe Ceci, MLA for Calgary-Buffalo, says in a Twitter thread that if the NDP is elected, they will restore the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit

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