An Edmonton startup that builds autonomous robots and a Spruce Grove spinoff that makes cleaning equipment for high-voltage infrastructure are among the companies graduating from Batch 3 of the Alberta Accelerator by 500 this month.
Aro Robotic Systems and SPI Utilities Solutions are the two local representatives among the 13 startups that will be pitching to investors at the accelerator's Demo Day at the Edmonton Convention Centre on April 18.
Other participants in the program are from all over the world, including Poland, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, India, and Dubai, as well as Toronto, Delaware, and Florida. All got into the program by demonstrating an interest in doing business in the tech innovation ecosystem of the Edmonton-Calgary corridor.
The demo day is the conclusion of a 12-week program run by Alberta Accelerator by 500, one of several accelerators that Alberta Innovates introduced in 2021 with the Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program.
Christine Tsai, the CEO of the San Francisco-based 500 Global, will deliver opening remarks. Hanif Joshaghani, co-founder and CEO of Symend, will give the keynote. His Calgary-based software-as-a-service business is one of North America's fastest-growing companies.
Previous Edmonton-area graduates of the accelerator include Air Trail, Cash 2 Crypto, The Public Food Hub, Umay, Deeleeo, Swift Charge, and Fly and Fetch. Applications for Batch 3 open on April 17.
Photo: Participants in Batch 3 of the Alberta Accelerator by 500 have gathered in person and virtually with mentors and staff in Edmonton since January. (Fatima Mohamed/LinkedIn)