The Pulse: Sept. 16, 2022

Startup TNT has moved into a new space on 104 Street with a vision to get more investors together in one place and get more deals flowing in the city.

"The game plan is to build out a space for investors of all types ... and have us all co-locate in one space so that we can both share deal flow, but (also change) how to be doing the deals," Startup TNT co-founder Tim Lynn told Taproot.

The project will start with getting venture capital firms into the space at 10177 104 St., and then ideally include more family offices and corporate investors. In the same way that coworking spaces are set up for startups, the new Startup TNT space is intended to foster a natural exchange of ideas and more extensive collaboration among investors, Lynn said.

"All the investors in Edmonton, by and large, are sort of operating on their own," he said, "which is fine, but it's hard to get deal flow. If we're able to coordinate deal flow in our investments into our local companies by sharing what's happening here, then it just makes it easier for us to sort of all pile in on the great opportunities that exist. Which then ideally leads to more companies here getting funding, and ultimately more companies staying and growing."

The co-locating space has the capacity for 12 to 20 firms, and Lynn said there are companies ready to join them in the months ahead, with some startups helping to fill up occupancy while the project gets moving. Further down the line, Lynn anticipates it will also act as a place where investors from outside of Edmonton could do business and make deals while they are in the city.

Lynn is confident the move makes business sense for the startup community and for Startup TNT. "Plus," he added, "it's more fun to work on things together."

• The Edmonton Urban Coyote Project, lead by biology professor Colleen Cassady St. Clair, said the past month has seen an increase in the number of coyote encounters recorded in their database, many of which involve pets. Possible reasons, St. Clair said, include rabbit hemorrhagic disease, which could be depleting a major coyote food source, and the increased ownership of cats and dogs during the pandemic. She advises walking dogs on a leash, keeping cats inside, and removing outdoor food sources. Last year, the city passed a bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wildlife other than cats and birds.
• The Edmonton Federal Building, located at the northeast corner of the legislature grounds, will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Building, a change originally planned to mark her Platinum Jubilee. The building was designed in the 1930s and housed federal staff from 1958 to 1988. Since 2010, it has been used as office space for MLAs and government staff. A renaming ceremony will take place Sept. 27.
• Edmontonians have until 6pm on Sept. 16 to sign the city's book of condolences for Queen Elizabeth II, which will be in the City Room at City Hall.
• Dwayne's Home, an abandoned transitional housing complex at 102 Street and 100 Avenue, was the site of a fire on Sept. 15 for the second morning in a row, bringing the total to 19 fires this year so far.
• The Edmonton International Film Festival is returning for its 36th season from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1. This year will include 42 features and 110 short films. Most showings will be at Landmark Cinemas 9 in City Centre. A complete film guide is available online.
• Shoot Pass Support is a charity event organized by domestic violence shelters and women's organizations in the Edmonton area to raise funds for families at Jessie's House and WIN House. The event will have its first run over the Thanksgiving weekend, featuring two games, a wing night, and a try-hockey activity.
• The Edmonton Elks will be wearing #15 on their helmets during their Sept. 16 game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders to pay tribute to Ricky Ray, the legendary quarterback who played nine seasons with Edmonton. The same night, Ray will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario.
• Sportsnet has published a complete 2022-23 Oilers broadcast schedule which starts with a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 12 followed by the Calgary Flames on Oct. 16.

Two Edmonton entrepreneurs were among those honoured at the 2022 AWE Awards, presented by Alberta Women Entrepreneurs.

Jennifer Schaeffer, the founder of Onlea Enterprises, received the Emerging Entrepreneur Award, which is presented to a female entrepreneur who has built "a strong, scalable business foundation and has achieved early success with strong market potential." The e-learning education company started as a non-profit at the University of Alberta in 2014, but it transitioned to a for-profit organization in 2020, just before the pandemic created a boom in online learning.

"Leading is always a team sport," Schaeffer wrote on LinkedIn after winning the award on Sept. 13. "My co-founders Adriana Lopez Forero and Jonathan Schaeffer have been with me through our journey from nonprofit spin-off to profitable startup, and they inspire me every day to keep dreaming and building."

Vanessa Marshall, CEO of Jack59, won the Indigenous Entrepreneur Award, recognizing someone with "a strong business concept (who) demonstrates plans for future growth, long-term business viability and commitment to the community." Her company, founded in 2015, makes shampoo and conditioner in bar form, which saves on water and plastic packaging.

"Our mission is simple," she told Women of Influence. "Increase the number of good hair days you have while decreasing your carbon footprint. From the responses we get from our customers, to how we're helping the environment — I know we're having an impact."

Innovate Edmonton presented the Upsurge Award to Breanne Everett of Orpyx Medical Technologies, a Calgary-based health innovation company. The ceremony closed with the presentation of AWE's Celebration of Achievement Award to Manjit Minhas of Minhas Brewery, Distillery and Winery and Dragons' Den, which launched its 17th season on Sept. 15.

Photo: Jennifer Schaeffer, founder of Onlea Enterprises, and Vanessa Marshall, founder of Jack59.

This weekend offers Hearts in Living Colour on Alberta Avenue; cosplay and comics at the Expo Centre; a home tour for ballet and a chance to make a home for bees; plus events involving sculpture, film, and fashion.

• Sept. 16-18: Kaleido Family Arts Festival, presented by Arts on the Ave
• Sept. 16-18: Edmonton Comics and Entertainment Expo at the Edmonton Expo Centre
• Sept. 16-18: Keith Turnbull: …and the virus made everything a bit strange at Harcourt House (continuing until Sept. 24)
• Sept. 17, 10:30am: Fall Filmmakers Panel and Networking Event from the Edmonton Short Film Festival
• Sept. 17, 12pm: Build a Bee Hotel at the Urban Farm
• Sept. 17, 6pm: African Fashion Week Edmonton 2022
• Sept. 17-18: Ballet Edmonton Home Tour

Find even more things to do in the Arts Roundup.

Photo: The Kaleido Festival kicks off on Sept. 16 with the Aurora Lantern Parade, starting at the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse at 9pm. (Kaleido Festival)