Sunday Briefing: $300K for fintech startups

Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this issue, learn about the fintech startup competition handing out $300,000 in cash prizes, the winners of the first-ever Alberta Cleantech Awards, plus 10 other stories you've probably missed. Have a great day. We'll see you again Wednesday.

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Calling all startups: Calgary Fintech Award applications are now open

The second annual Digital Commerce Calgary Fintech Award has been launched to help foster innovation in the city’s financial technology industry.

The award, organized by the Digital Commerce Bank and Platform Calgary, supports fintech companies based in Calgary or those looking to expand to the city.

A total of 25 startups are selected to participate in the six-week program. Startup founders have exclusive access to interactive workshops, leadership panel discussions, coaching, and mentorship from industry experts, as well as peer networking opportunities. The top five selected startups will live-pitch to a panel of judges to compete for the grand prize. The winners will be announced during an award gala in October.

🤝 Funding, Deals + Partnerships

• Alberta Enterprise Corporation invests CAD $5 million into Calgary-based The51 Food and AgTech Fund to support early-stage agriculture-focused startups in building a profitable, sustainable global food supply. Alberta Enterprise

• The Government of Canada invests more than $635,000 in 14 Alberta communities to help put in place innovative asset management strategies. Infrastructure Canada

• Canadian companies innovating to tackle microplastics from tire wear with Government of Canada support. Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenges Phase 1 recipients will each receive up to $150,000. Environment and Climate Change Canada

• Headversity acquires Respect Group with goal of improving workplace culture. Two of Calgary’s most influential workforce training companies have joined forces in the hopes of reaching more people and improving workplace culture. Calgary Herald

• Geothermal energy research receives major funding boost. University of Calgary researchers have received funding for a four-year, $3-million project focusing on understanding and improving processes in capturing heat from geothermal energy systems. Schulich School of Engineering

• Government of Canada invests $1.4 billion in strategic research at postsecondary institutions. University of Calgary’s One Child Every Child: A Transformational Child Health Research Initiative to receive $125M. Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat

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📰 Need To Know

• Meet the winners of the 2023 Alberta Cleantech Awards. The province’s first cleantech awards, organized by Foresight Canada, celebrated local leaders working towards net-zero. Calgary Tech Journal

• Solar panels set to fire up Telus Spark's commitment to renewable energy. Later this month, staff at Calgary's Telus Spark will flip the switch on its expansive solar panel carport, which is a symbol of the facility's move toward a greener future. CTV News Calgary

• Neo Financial Sets a Target of 13,000 Rewards Partners by the Start of the 2023 Canadian Small Business Week. Neo’s rewards network currently offers customers over 10,000 rewards programs in one card and gives businesses access to a streamlined loyalty program. Neo Financial

• Calgary carbon capture companies finding new markets. According to market analysts MarketsandMarkets, the global carbon capture industry was worth US$2.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow nearly 20 per cent a year through most of this decade. CTV Calgary 

• Attabotics Appoints Gary Moss as Chair of Board of Directors. Currently the President of Vantage Management Consultants, Inc., Moss brings 35 years of industry agnostic, deep leadership experience to Attabotics’ Board of Directors. Attabotics

💡 POV: Ideas and Insights

• Evan McCann, startup sales advisor at Cold Start, with part two of How to book more sales meetings

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