Edmonton Startup Week puts founders in the spotlight

A message from Edmonton Startup Week:

Edmonton Startup Week wraps up today after a showcase of Edmonton's startup talent, conversations about turning pilots into paying customers, and new connections between founders and investors. The Oct. 5 to 9 gathering has put Edmonton's entrepreneurs in the spotlight while creating opportunities that will have a lasting impact.

"Here in Edmonton, exceptionally talented and creative people are building companies that are tackling some of the most complex challenges facing our world," Mayor Andrew Knack shared in a post. He pointed to nearly 80 investment meetings associated with Deep Tech Day, including 66 with investors from outside Edmonton, as an indication of the interest in what the city's entrepreneurs are building.

At the Oct. 5 kickoff, this year's Top 10 companies to watch took to the MNP Pitch Stage. Selected from 59 applicants, the lineup included 7 Summits Snacks, which won the People's Choice Award, Aqtiva, Dualchemy, InnovativAI, Osprey Systems, Proholistic Discovery, Pulmvita, RNARevive, TaxFormify, and Zylotex. Spanning food, agriculture, health, materials, aviation, defence, and AI, these companies were also the focus of the Launch Party celebration on Oct. 8.

Aqtiva entered the week riding a wave of recognition. Founder Tanay Kumar credited Edmonton Unlimited's Venture Pilots program with taking the company "from a prototype to an actual pilot with real field data in a real field." The University of Alberta spinoff is developing irrigation technology to reduce conventional fertilizer use and improve crop yields.

The question of how to turn promising technology into a growing business ran through the week. At Deep Tech Day on Oct. 7, founders and investors shared lessons on customers, capital, commercialization, and scaling, including the story of Edmonton's Matrikon and its acquisition by Honeywell. Edmonton Unlimited also announced Deep Tech Foundry, a new program designed around the longer timelines, technical risks, and financing needs of deep tech companies.

That focus on customers also emerged in the latest update from MIT REAP Edmonton. After two years of studying the region's innovation ecosystem, the group is calling for more organizations to identify business problems they are willing to pay startups to solve. Edmonton Unlimited will support a continuing partnership to put those lessons into action.

At the kickoff, Pulmvita, Proholistic Discovery, and RNARevive shared their work on oxygen delivery and drug development. Food entrepreneurs gathered to discuss building businesses and the circular economy, while experienced game developers explored opportunities for independent studios in Edmonton.

The week also created space to talk about who gets to build, lead, and invest. The Women in Tech & Innovation conversation explored ambition, resilience, and supporting people through change. HG Investment Club also hosted a wealth conversation to help women explore risk, ownership, and capital.

There is still time to meet the next generation of founders. Today's Student Founders: Ones to Watch, presented by Futurpreneur, gives 10 student entrepreneurs three minutes each to pitch at Edmonton Unlimited, followed by a panel and networking over lunch. A Futurpreneur workshop on validating a business idea takes place in the afternoon.

Visit the Edmonton Startup Week calendar for the remaining events, and explore Edmonton Unlimited's programs for more ways to step in, step up, and step forward.