Tech Roundup
March 17, 2026
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack is urging entrepreneurs to keep in touch so the city can offer as much help as possible. "We want to know what you're working on, because even if we're not the person who will ultimately solve the problem, we want to know what you're doing so that we can make sure we're communicating those stories," Knack said at a meet-and-greet with entrepreneurs at Edmonton Unlimited on March 11.
Knack said city council identified four strategic priorities in its first few months, one of which is economic development. "We want to support businesses as they're starting and as they're growing, and we know that we have a great opportunity to be active partners with you," he said. "At the same time, we know that we need you to help build out our city and to turn it into what we need it to be." He asked attendees to identify the top one or two things that the community needs from the city to succeed. He encouraged entrepreneurs to reach out to Robyn Taylor, the economic development policy advisor in his office.
Meanwhile, Edmonton's city administration is working on identifying a viable pathway for the next phase of the Edmonton Edge Fund and exploring how to fund future phases, ideally with reduced dependence on the city's budget. Administration is also working on a report about Edmonton's economic development agencies, including Edmonton Global, Edmonton Screen, Explore Edmonton, and Edmonton Unlimited. It is expected to be presented to council in April.
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Headlines
- Startup TNT has been recognized as Canada's most active private venture capital firm in the 2025 CVCA Venture Capital Report. It is calling for a community-driven approach to early-stage investing to counter the concentration of Canadian venture funding in a small number of large deals.
- UCeed Investment Funds is investing in Hi Finance, a financial management service for students and recent grads that was born at the University of Alberta in 2025. Hi Finance has helped more than 2,000 Edmonton and Calgary students access more than $4 million in grants and other funding, UCeed said. "With the additional funding and support, we will be able to not only develop automated grant and savings processes, but expand our services to help students at campuses across Canada!" founder Zach Prusko posted.
- Wyvern has launched two international partnerships, one with US-based Orbital Advisors for oil and gas pipeline monitoring, and the other with Saudi government-backed Neo Space Group for agricultural applications in Saudi Arabia.
- Samdesk founder James Neufeld joined the Fed Gov Today podcast to argue that AI-powered information infrastructure is not competing with military readiness but is essential to it. Meanwhile the Samdesk blog examined the "messy middle" of disruption — the phase between a first alert and effective response when information is incomplete and events are still unfolding — and outlined how organizations can bridge the gap between detecting a crisis and acting on it.
- Shani Gwin of pipikwan pêhtâkwan and wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is among the women cited by Abi Awomosu in a piece on women who are building sound and responsible AI. "The dominant industry built AI by fathering it — directing it, shaping it, deploying it — before mothering it. Before the foundational work of attunement, reciprocity, and genuine care for the being being brought into the world," Awomosu wrote. "Shani built the mothering first."
- Zero Point Cryogenics will showcase its Model L dilution refrigerator and its new collaboration with Rigetti Computing's Novera QPU Partner Program at the APS Global Physics Summit, which runs in Denver until March 20. "By officially partnering with Rigetti and featuring their Novera QPU in our Model L fridge, we are moving past the 'assembly required' phase of quantum computing," CEO Chris Cassin said in a release. "We are offering a solution where users can perform quantum operations from day one."
- Clavis Studio is participating in a Canadian trade mission to the Biennale of Sydney, showcasing its immersive 3D technology in collaboration with Canadian artists and marking its official entry into the Australian market.
- The Drive AI has launched its iOS app, bringing AI-powered file management to iPhone users following its earlier Android release.
- RUNWITHIT Synthetics founder Myrna Bittner argues that Edmonton's grocery deserts are perpetuated by restrictive covenants that prevent small food businesses from serving neighbourhoods. Edmonton city council is set to discuss the covenants at a meeting on March 17. Bittner said RWI's platform can help show where food deserts are located.
- Edmonton Tech Wednesdays will celebrate its third anniversary at GRETA Bar on March 18.
- Global Chamber Edmonton, led by Barbara Engelbart McKenzie, has named three business leaders to its advisory board: Terri Davis of ProFound Talent and oolu; Sukhi Grewal of NexGen Wellness; and consultant Marcela Mandeville, former CEO of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs.
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Jobs and opportunities
- Nanostics is seeking a vice-president of technology to lead its AI-driven medical diagnostics platform through FDA review and scale deployment across laboratories in North America and internationally.
- Future Fields is hiring a biotech quality control technician, a biotech quality control lead, and a protein purification PD specialist.
- Stantec is hiring a generative AI developer.
- zag is hiring a digital problem solver.
- Edmonton Unlimited has reposted a call for Indigenous entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses at IndigiRise Pitch Night, an event focused on community, partnerships, and economic reconciliation.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
- March 18: ASTech Awards Information/Office Hours Sessions starting at 1:30pm online
- March 18: Venture Pilots: Built World Tech Showcase starting at 5pm at Edmonton Unlimited
- March 18: How Canadian Marketers Are Really Using AI starting at 5:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Calder)
- March 19: Edmonton Region Research and Commercialization Day starting at 8:30am at Edmonton Unlimited
- March 19: Smarter Property Workflows with Caret starting at 11:30am at Epcor Tower
- March 19: Sales Management Bootcamp Part 1 starting at 6pm at Edmonton Unlimited
- March 21: Hack Day starting at 11am at Edmonton Unlimited
- March 26: UofA Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Pop-Up: Free Student Legal Support starting at 12pm at Edmonton Research Park
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- April 15: Place Brand & Innovation: examining the intersection of brand and business at Edmonton Unlimited
- April 21-23: Canadian Hydrogen Convention at Edmonton Convention Centre
- May 3-5: Alberta Aerospace & Defence Summit at Edmonton Convention Centre
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.
This roundup was sponsored by Edmonton Unlimited.
Now is the time for us, Edmonton's innovators, and our city. Headquartered in Alberta's capital city, Edmonton Unlimited harnesses the power of possibility and brings the very best of Edmonton to the world.