Transforming Alberta's Economy: Issue 03

Welcome to Issue 03 of Transforming Alberta's Economy! Here's a sneak peek of what you can find inside:

1?? Farewell, Minister Schweitzer, you will be missed.

2?? Alberta wins where Canada loses.

3?? Funding, innovation and newsworthy business events.

4?? The latest episodes of Collisions YYC.

Keep reading to discover what news stories you might have missed.

Farewell, Minister Schweitzer, you will be missed.

Thank you, Doug Schweitzer , for your dedicated service to Alberta.

I was sad to hear that Minister Schweitzer resigned from the cabinet and his role as Minister for jobs, economy and?innovation. Under his leadership, Alberta saw unprecedented development in many key industries, along with emerging ones. I am confident we will reflect on his time in office as a critical turning point for our economic landscape and future growth. Join me in thanking former Minister Schweitzer for his exceptional service.

Alberta wins where Canada loses.

The rest of our country might see Alberta as an underdog province, but time and again we prove that underdogs can still come out on top.

TRANSPOD UNVEILS “ULTRA-HIGH-SPEED” FLUX JET VEHICLE AS IT BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON PROPOSED ALBERTA TRACK

What if you could go from Calgary to Edmonton without a white-knuckle drive along the snowy, blowy Queen Elizabeth II highway? TransPod hopes to make that a reality with its ultra-high-speed flux jet vehicle. Their proposed transport link between two key cities will travel faster than a jet and 3x faster than a high-speed rail line. But don't be confused -- this is neither a train nor a jet; it's an entirely new type of vehicle.

Using electric power, Transpod will carry people and goods in a low-pressure, sealed tube environment at speeds that exceed 1,000 kilometres per hour. Alberta has outlined plans to modify its Railway Act later this year to integrate TransPod and ensure it has the access it needs to the Expropriation Act to construct the line.

Read more over at BetaKit.

AS CANADIAN VENTURE FUNDING LOST STEAM IN Q2 2022, ALBERTA TECH CONTINUED TO SHINE

Alberta set a new venture funding quarterly record with $268M raised. Alberta’s tech companies raised $268.6 million through 12 deals in Q2 2022. Our province saw a 31% increase in total investment quarter-over-quarter and a 1553% increase year-over-year!

68% of that funding went to Neo Financial , which raised $185M Series C funding, providing a megadeal to Neo Financial and a huge boon to our province. “Megadeals continue to be an example to other founders, investors, and community members that Alberta is a place to build and scale a company,”

Read more over at BetaKit.

Funding, innovation news and upcoming events.

INVESTMENT IN ALBERTA'S TECH SECTOR SOARS

Previous Collisions YYC guest, Nic Beique , recently spoke to CBC Calgary news about the growth in our tech sector.

Not only did our province attract $500M in funding through the first half of 2022, but Nic feels incredibly optimistic. Helcim , the company he founded, has doubled its business in the last six months alone.

The article also features Virtual Gurus , founded by another past Collisions YYC guest, Bobbie Racette . Virtual Gurus recently received $10M in funding from several sources. Two years ago, the company had five employees. It now has 40 and plans to double that number by the end of the year, providing more jobs to Calgarians.

Read more over at CBC.

The Canadian Blockchain Consortium is hosting its annual conference this fall from October 19 - 20, 2022. The conference is an exciting multi-day event that brings together leading organizations, companies, and thought leaders to showcase how this emerging technology is transforming the future.

Don't wait! Save money - and the date - by securing an early bird ticket right here.

Tech Talent Tuesdays take place at the Platform Calgary Innovation Centre every other Tuesday from 4 - 5 pm. These events are an open door to our thriving tech industry. All Calgarians are welcome to attend!?

On Tuesday, August 16th, you'll learn from headversity . Make sure you RSVP to secure your spot!

The latest episodes of Collisions YYC.

This month I hosted guests in industries including health tech, legal tech, content marketing, hemp production, web3 and plenty more. No matter what fascinates you and keeps you curious, there's an episode of Collisions YYC for you!

Crystal Phillips , Health Lead at Thin Air Labs , Co-Founder of Branch Out Neurological Foundation and Board Member of Tactile Orthopaedics ?

In this episode, discover the exciting field of life sciences innovation and how Alberta is leading the charge from Crystal Phillips. Crystal is entrenched in the ecosystem, partly due to a multiple sclerosis diagnosis that changed how she viewed health sciences and her work as Thin Air Labs’ Health Lead, among other roles. Discover how her life experiences have given her the insight and expertise to contribute to the venture capital ecosystem in health.

Brett Colvin , Co-Founder of Goodlawyer

In this episode, Brett Colvin shares the start-up story of GoodLawyer. Brett Colvin started GoodLawyer, a company in the legal industry that began as a way to help early-stage companies. The team ultimately decided to work with entrepreneurs and help them establish relationships with high-quality lawyers at fixed, predictable costs. Brett shares lessons learned along the way, including how maintaining a purpose helps define his vision for the brand.

Darren Bondar , President and CEO of HEMPALTA

In this episode, hear from Darren Bondar, who became the President and CEO of HempAlta in early 2018. He’s brought his expertise to disrupt this century-old industry by applying innovative solutions to meet the demands of modern consumers. Discover how HempAlta is an important part of Alberta’s future economy and the challenges in raising capital for AgTech.

Chris Hogg , Founder and Managing Partner of Digital Journal Group (DJG) .

In this episode, Chris Hogg, the Founder and Managing Partner of Digital Journal Group (DJG), shares how content marketing relates to the media landscape and outlines how businesses can increase their involvement in the conversation surrounding their brand. By providing valuable insight into content marketing and how it works, Hogg helps companies get more out of a single piece of content and deliver greater value to their customers.

Koleya Karringten , Founder of Absolute Combustion International Inc.

In this episode, hear from Koleya Karringten, Founder of Absolute Combustion and disruptor extraordinaire. She believes true innovation is about delivering a product that solves real customer problems, not just building a product that you think will solve those problems. A successful startup is born when entrepreneurs work closely with potential clients to identify actual issues and develop solutions to them. Find out how obsessing over your customers can contribute to radical success.

Colin Knoll, PMP, CBAP , Director of Strategy of FIRMA and Al Del Degan

In this episode, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of cryptocurrencies, web3, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) — technologies that are revolutionizing the way we interact with the digital world. Colin Knoll, Director of Strategy at Firma — a Calgary-based FOREX company — and Al Del Degan join us to discuss how these technologies work, their potential applications, and the risks and opportunities involved.

Catherine Brownlee , President and CEO of CBI

In this episode, we discuss how to improve employee retention. The show begins with Catherine Brownlee, a seasoned HR professional well versed in the nuances of a competitive job market. With extensive experience and a vast network, she knows what it takes to help organizations find the right candidates. By focusing on onboarding new hires with comprehensive training and thorough attention to their development needs, companies can attract and retain top talent.

Melissa From, MPA, CFRE , President and CEO of JA Southern Alberta

In this episode, learn how JA Southern Alberta is developing the next-generation workforce with its small business and financial literacy programs. Melissa From, President and CEO, highlights both the progress of JA in Alberta—including the expansion of its partnerships with government stakeholders, leadership support from local businesses, and new field-based learning opportunities for students—and how students are benefiting from the organization's commitment to helping young people succeed.

Joel Cowley , CEO of The Calgary Stampede

In this episode, explore the origins and impact of the Calgary Stampede, one of western Canada’s oldest celebrations. Joel Cowley, the new CEO of this more than 100-year-old organization, explains its purpose and ambition. Western lifestyle events such as this bring people together from all around the world through competitions, trade shows, and community festivals. This annual event elevates citizens and creates stronger communities in Alberta.

If you made it all the way to the bottom of this month's newsletter, thank you! As a reward for your dedicated reading, here's a comic on how to deal with your data being sold by advertisers and online platforms.