Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this edition:
A smart insole for people with diabetes
Quantum computing lands in Alberta
Who will step in to support DiscoveryLabs?
Have a great day. We'll see you again next week.
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🗳️ Question of the Week
👋 Will we see you at the Toast Summit in Calgary on Sept 25?
Calgary to host third Toast Summit featuring leaders from Google, Shopify, and Calgary Wild FC
The Toast Summit returns September 25, 2025 with a clear mission: to build the skills and community needed for more inclusive workplaces. Now in its third year, the summit gathers women and allies in tech for a day of connection, learning, and practical strategies to spark real change in organizations.
Attendees can expect a powerhouse lineup. Google’s Anna Baird, Chief Customer Officer for Generative AI GTM, will unpack why trusting your gut can sometimes beat the algorithm. Siri Agrell, CEO of BetaKit, and April Hicke, Toast’s own CEO, will reveal this year’s Top 25 Women in Tech. Farkhunda Muhtaj, Calgary Wild FC midfielder and human rights advocate, will share lessons on leading through crisis in a candid fireside chat. And in Purpose is Profitable, Linda Biggs, co-founder and CEO of joni, will show how values-led companies can outperform the market.
Panels and workshops will tackle everything from trailblazing female entrepreneurship—featuring Andrea Grand of Barbet and Sarah Stockdale of Growclass—to the lighter side of leadership in Men in Tech: Dad Edition with Shopify’s Ralph Sadowski and Redbrick’s Marco Pimentel.
Recognizing that community building happens both on and off stage, organizers have created intentional spaces for connection: the “Liit Childcare Zone” for working parents, the “Lone Loaf Lounge” for introverts to recharge, and the “Woman Founded Market” to showcase local female-led businesses. Wellness breaks will keep energy high throughout the day, capped off with a sober happy hour and branded takeaways for all attendees.
The summit uses a “gender pay gap informed” pricing model, with women’s tickets at $225 plus tax and men’s tickets at $260 plus tax.
🎟️ Tickets go on sale August 13—get a reminder to buy yours here.
SPONSORED BY NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
Health + Tech = Career Growth
Northeastern University Vancouver’s online Master of Science in Health Informatics integrates technology, data, and healthcare. With faculty-guided research and top career resources, graduates excel in high-demand roles. Register now to the webinar on August 21 to learn more.
Want to reach Calgary tech leaders? Advertise in the Calgary Tech Journal to get in front of founders, investors, and innovators. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
🤝 Funding, Deals, and Partnerships
Mars and Toyota Mobility Foundation select participants for the Mobility Unlimited Hub's second cohort. Calgary-based Possibility Neurotechnologies has developed a mobile app that transforms EEG headsets into brain-computer interfaces, allowing users to control devices and communicate using only their thoughts. Mars Discovery District
PhantomOmics and Garden Loft Partner to launch world’s first smart modular senior homes with embedded health scanning technology. Two Alberta innovators, PhantomOmics Inc. and Garden Loft Construction Ltd., have announced a groundbreaking exclusive partnership to deploy biometric health scanning devices in modular senior housing across Canada. PhantomOmics
📰 Need To Know
It came to my attention this week that DiscoveryLabs is in stasis because it was unsuccessful securing funding. DiscoveryLabs and Startup TNT are the only players in Alberta's innovation ecosystem that actively, and effectively, support Alberta's startups during the hardest challenge to overcome for their innovation to deliver improved productivity; raising capital pre-revenue. Mark Olson
Orpyx launches sensory insole program to combat >$80B annual cost of diabetic foot complications. The Orpyx Sensory Insole program is a sensor-enabled smart insole system with remote patient monitoring that tracks physiological indicators to signal early deterioration in foot health. Orpyx
Canada's first quantum computing hub boots up in southern Alberta. Businesses can test out publicly accessible supercomputer at Economic Development Lethbridge. CBC News
NiaHealth in good shape as freshly funded upstart unveils ‘significant expansion.’ To support NiaHealth’s mission, the Alberta company has hired Candy Lee as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Calgary.Tech
Calgary and Edmonton anchor tech scene in Alberta with 90% of provincial talent. In Alberta, roughly 5% of the workforce is in tech, with the sector employing more than 120,000 Albertans in total. Calgary.Tech