Three Edmonton companies are among the finalists for ScaleUP Awards, which recognize high-growth ventures in Western Canada. Gummy Nutrition Lab is a finalist for the Rising Star award, which recognizes a bootstrapped company showing potential to become the next big success story. "Making the finals is a huge deal, and we're incredibly proud to be among the top companies in the running," co-founder Jolene Ali posted. Ali and co-founder Jim Gibbon will talk about the business at Coffee Community Takeover at Edmonton Unlimited on May 6.
SketchDeck.ai is a finalist in the Emerging category, which is presented to a company in the early stages of scaling that is demonstrating exceptional potential for future growth. The steel-estimation startup closed a funding round led by Montreal's Boreal Ventures in April. Mitsoh, which makes Indigenous dried meat snacks, is a finalist for the Inclusive award, which recognizes a company achieving significant growth while exemplifying cultural values, fostering inclusivity, and contributing to the success of its community. Mitsoh secured a multimillion-dollar investment from Raven Indigenous Capital Partners late last year.
Most of the other finalists are from Calgary, Vancouver, or Winnipeg, with a couple of rural exceptions. The awards, which are for companies that generate between $1 million and $75 million in annual revenue with fewer than 250 employees, will be presented at a gala in Calgary on June 10. All finalists are eligible to win one of three additional awards at the gala — Company of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and People's Choice. Voting for the latter is open until May 15. ScaleUP will also host a breakfast in Edmonton on the last day of ScaleUP Week, which runs from June 8 to 12.