The Pulse: Nov. 9, 2021

With Investment Summit IV less than two weeks away, Startup TNT has announced the top five Edmonton companies that will pitch to investors on Nov. 18.

• Dryrun: A startup providing financial professionals with uniquely powerful modelling and cash management software in one platform.
• Flawless Inbound: A company offering digital transformation services for organizations that want to grow through channel or franchise programs.
• Fly & Fetch: A modern shipping company providing international shipping that's 80% cheaper and twice as fast.
• PulseMedica: A platform that combines laser technology and machine learning to treat retinal disease.
• Rogue 7: A startup offering machine learning solutions for the challenging problems affecting oil and gas industry leaders.

"These five companies tell me that our local entrepreneurs are building great companies in a plethora of different verticals right now — and I think we'll continue to see this diversity as our ecosystem grows extensively over the next decade," Startup TNT co-founder Zack Storms told Taproot.

Following a due diligence process, investors selected the finalists out of the city's top 20. More than 100 startups applied for the summit, and Startup TNT has signed on over 80 investors.

Storms said it was a thorough and extensive debate between investors to determine the top five companies for the summits in Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatchewan, which will be running in tandem on Nov. 18.

• As of Oct. 29, City of Edmonton crews have repaired 53,000 more potholes this year than in 2020. CBC analyzed 311 data on pothole complaints, showing that an average of 7,912 potholes are reported each year.
• City council's community and public services committee unanimously voted to update the city's public places bylaw, forbidding harassment through gestures or symbols that target race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
• As international borders open, the Canada Place passport office in downtown Edmonton is seeing long lines as demand for passport services surges. "People are eating in line, visiting. I saw a couple brought cards and were playing crib," said one would-be traveller.
• An Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Alberta legislature Nov. 8. An estimated 12,000 Indigenous people enlisted in the Canadian military during the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War.
• Amazon is investing $4.3 billion in a cloud computing hub in Calgary. The new Western Canada region is expected to launch in late 2023 or early 2024.

Edmonton's inaugural Sample the City will highlight up to 120 local restaurants between Nov. 12 and 26 in an effort to boost the food and beverage industry.

Each participating business has chosen a dish or item to feature during the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce campaign, explained CEO Jeffrey Sundquist. You can expect to see offers like Guru Kitchen + Bar's custom Sample the City platter, Rosewood Foods' breakfast beer and sandwich special for $15, and more.

"Our local restaurants have been through so much, so we came up with a barrier-free marketing campaign that could drive traffic through their doors and expose them to new customers — the restaurants pay nothing to participate, and it was simple to sign up," Sundquist told Taproot.

Edmontonians who participate and share their experience on social media using the hashtag #SampleYEG will be eligible for prizes like gift cards and custom dining experiences.