Alberta Innovates shifts into high gear

Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about Calgary’s VC ranking among other Canadian cities, data centres in Alberta and their impacts on the power grid, and the Blue Sky City’s projected 2025 economic growth. Plus, there’s 10 other stories you’ve missed.

Have a great day. We'll see you again on Wednesday.

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🗳️ Question of the Week

Alberta Innovates shifts into high gear

After a summer hiatus, Alberta Innovate’s Shift podcast will be back on the airwaves this September. An innovation and entrepreneurship-focused broadcast, Shift highlights the work being done in Alberta’s tech ecosystem, from startup accelerators to agritech and housing.

Episodes this year so far include:

• An interview with the head of accelerator and startup ecosystem at Google Canada

• A conversation on health data, technology, and privacy concerns

• An exploration of Alberta’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovation

Shift episodes will be released bi-weekly starting September 2, and are available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Buzzsprout.

🤝 Funding, Deals, and Partnerships

• Credivera approved to sell digital trust solutions to Canadian Government. The company has successfully qualified to sell its flagship product, the Credivera Exchange, to the Government of Canada under the Innovative Solutions Canada's Pathway to Commercialization program. Credivera

• Acceleware to pitch electromagnetic heating tech at Rice Alliance Forum. Acceleware is an advanced electromagnetic heating company with scalable solutions for large industrial applications. Calgary.Tech

📰 Need To Know

• Calgary among top Canadian cities for venture capital investment. In the first half of 2024, the Blue Sky City placed third among major Canadian cities in both venture capital (VC) dollars invested and number of deals, behind Toronto and Montreal. Calgary Economic Development

• Data centres are hungry for power, and Alberta is pitching itself as the place to build. Province wants to lure investment from Silicon Valley, but is also wary of possible impacts to the power grid. CBC News

• Varcoe: Alberta expected to see stronger economic growth into 2025, but needs job gains — and no rail disruption. Alberta’s economy is projected to outperform the rest of Canada’s through 2024 and the following four years, as a growing population, expected interest rate cuts and the Trans Mountain expansion help it gain strength. Calgary Herald

• Calgary tech company BigGeo earns recognition in Times Square for participation in startup challenge. Much of BigGeo’s work with geospatial data and intelligence is attributed to advancements made in 3D modelling and mapping. The Gauntlet

• Company founder pitches alternatives to plastic during event in Olds. Kumu Corporation founder Rebecca Ung's presentation was one of 17 made during the first DiscoveryLab@AgSmart Pitch. The Albertan

• Calgary’s GERI competes for top energy innovation award. GERI (General Energy Recovery Inc.) is an energy transition tech company that provides enhanced heavy-oil recovery solutions to simultaneously recover more oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Calgary.Tech

• Canadian women-in-tech accelerator to propel startups into U.S. Markets. The Canadian Women-in-Tech SaaS Market Accelerator, hosted by the Washington Technology Industry Association, is set to support 10 Canadian startups as they evaluate and prepare for expansion into Washington state and the broader United States. Calgary.Tech

• Calgary leads the way in quantum tech: events you can’t miss. Calgary will serve as the host city for major quantum technology events this fall. The Quantum Insider