Platform Calgary unveiled its top 10 tech companies to watch, but three of them separated themselves from the pack.
The list was presented after their 2023 Launch Party, a fitting wrap-up to Innovation Week YYC late last month in Calgary. Thousands attended dozens of startup-geared events focused on continuing the growth and progression of Calgary’s innovation ecosystem.
Platform Calgary CEO Terry Rock said that the week was a celebration of the growth in Calgary’s tech community.
“Launch Party has been taking place since 2010, featuring hundreds of Calgary’s most promising tech startups,” said Terry Rock, Platform Calgary president and CEO.
“Calgary’s tech sector is enjoying an emergence on a global scale, setting records for venture capital attraction and in supporting companies that are making meaningful contributions to the local economy.”
In Alberta’s Q3, venture capital in the province hit $128 million based on 21 deals. The province said that was a 357 per cent increase over the $28 million in Q3 of 2022.
“With five record years in venture capital growth, our success is not a one-off,” said Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish.
“We are becoming a major venture capital player in Canada as the technology sector becomes entrenched into our economy.”
Innovation Week YYC is one of the top events in Alberta that draws investors entrepreneurs, government and others looking to foster further growth in Alberta’s technology sector.
The top 10 list
Annually, 10 Calgary-based startups are a part of a showcase on the final night of Innovation Week YYC, and three of them receive awards.
Local tech companies must apply and then are reviewed by past Launch Party alumni. These include founders and investors in such companies as Propra, Waitwell, SkipTheDishes, StellarAlgo, Orpyx, Virtual Gurus, Red Iron Labs and more.
Applicants must have been in business for less than three years, show positive revenue and have future growth prospects. Here are the top 10 for 2023, starting with the three award winners.
People’s Choice Award: ENA Solution, which is a thermostat control system for small and medium-sized businesses.
The Alex Raczanko Pitch Award: Oraq AI leverages AI and machine learning in dental care, allowing dentists to provide better dental care, along with a better patient experience.
Alumni’s Choice Award: AITHR Automotive Intelligence is a car searching software that scans inspected vehicle inventory and optimizes deal structuring for car seekers.
Here are the remaining seven from the top 10 from Launch Party at Innovation Week YYC 2023.
- Neobi is a market intelligence data solution providing real-time Canadian cannabis data analytics.
- Monark is an interactive, data-driven development and performance optimization platform transforming new and middle managers into tomorrow’s super leaders.
- MedEssist builds and deploys world-class clinical solutions, business tools, and a full-service technical support team to bolster independent pharmacies.
- Huumans is an AI-powered financial service and accounting ecosystem changing perspectives on small business accounting and bookkeeping.
- Hempalta’s mission is to be at the forefront of the next evolution in agriculture by harnessing the immense potential of industrial hemp.
- Digital Carbon Bank is providing a secure platform for standalone companies and joint ventures to efficiently manage digital emissions and carbon assets.
- Collegium Technologies Inc. is a fully-digital, data and AI-driven commercial real estate development management company.
