Keep an open mind about AI in Alberta

Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about an alternative to traditional real estate listings, a new creative arts hub in Calgary, and seven other stories you may have missed. Have a great day. We'll see you again on Wednesday.

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Proptech startup HonestDoor introduces flat-fee brokerage service

Proptech startup HonestDoor is evolving from a data shop into a commerce business. The Edmonton-based company recently announced the launch of a brokerage service, which allows Canadian homeowners to list their properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) — a marketplace for buyers and sellers — for just $500.

HonestDoor was launched in 2019 by co-founder CEO Daniel Belostotsky after purchasing properties and realizing property data wasn’t readily available to the public at large. HonestDoor was launched to make data transparent for everyone in the real estate ecosystem — consumers, brokers, and financial institutions. Now, with this recent launch, the startup is taking the next step: giving consumers a chance to control their property listings.

The new service has already completed dozens of successful transactions, according to HonestDoor.

“Our brokerage service offers a compelling alternative to traditional real estate listings," said Belostotsky. “We manage the listing and placement on Realtor.ca, allowing homeowners to set the commission they wish to pay a buyer's agent. If an unrepresented buyer contacts the seller, the savings can add up to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the value of the property.”

At that point, both parties can speak directly and agree on a price. They can then reach out to many of HonestDoor's recommended real estate lawyers or use their own lawyer to ensure everything is legitimate.

🗳️ Question of the Week

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Meet Calgary's Most Investible Cleantech Ventures

On November 8, Foresight Canada announced the 2023 Foresight 50, recognizing Canada's most investible cleantech ventures from coast to coast. Eight of these inspiring cleantech stars call Calgary home: Ayrton Energy, Earthware Reusables, Innervision Borehole Technologies, Kanin Energy, Litus, Recover, SolarSteam, and Solfium.

Learn more about these cleantech game-changers.

🤝 Funding, Deals, and Partnerships

• OCIF invests in the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub at Bow Valley College. The location will be a world-class facility right in downtown Calgary, and a creative arts ecosystem that aims to grow careers and companies in the creative industries. Calgary Economic Development

• "A game-changer": Calgary's getting its first esports arena inside a new media hub. Bow Valley College will be home to a new digital entertainment centre that will transform the esports and digital media industries in Calgary. Daily Hive

• Huawei backs new Canadian AI lab. One of the foremost researchers in artificial intelligence is hoping people will keep an “open mind” about where his new lab is getting its money. The Peak

📰 Need To Know

• Amazon selects Alberta to build first Canadian wind farm project. The announcement marks Amazon’s fourth renewable energy project in Canada. Global News

• A multi-year redevelopment of SAIT’s campus centre is underway. The new centre includes the construction of renewed facilities that the institute said are dedicated to promoting health and supporting student learning, community, and wellness on campus. Daily Hive

• Homegrown business: Amanda Julian of Monark. The brainchild of its two visionary founders, Monark was born out of a perceptive recognition of an unmet need within the market. Calgary Guardian

• Five questions with Helcim CEO Nic Beique. Helcim is a Calgary, Alberta-based payments company which provides Canadian and American businesses an opportunity to accept credit card payments at affordable and transparent rates. Council of Canadian Innovators

• Founder Friday with Chloe Smith of Mercator AI. Led by Chloe Smith, Mercator AI is a Calgary-based startup providing a market intelligence platform for the construction industry that maximizes relationship-based business development teams with real-time data. The51