Innovate Calgary

Lab2Market Validate takes participants through the process of unlocking the business potential of a research idea – from talking to customers, building a network, and most importantly, developing entrepreneurial grit. The 16-week program for Alberta researchers is a full-time commitment and offers: - Curriculum delivered by practitioners, - Funding of $10,000 to support the cost of getting ideas off the ground,  - Access to mentors to help participants through the commercialization process - Network of entrepreneurs facing similar challenges 🔗Join us for an info session April 30 to learn more:  https://lu.ma/nljxxaa6 🔗Apply by May 23: http://bit.ly/3XIDIGL Led by the University of Alberta with Innovate Calgary The University of Lethbridge and Edmonton Unlimited as delivery partners, Lab2Market Alberta is a regional hub for the national Lab2Market program that helps brilliant minds in graduate and postdoctoral programs reimagine their futures.

Looking to connect with some of University of Calgary's brightest alumni entrepreneurs? Check out the UCalgary Alumni Built Business Mixer: Table Topics — an exciting evening of connection, conversation, and insight with founders and business leaders from the #UCalgary alumni community. 🗓️ April 29, 2025   🕔 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.   📍 Canadian Heritage Roasting Company Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in focused discussions with alumni who’ve built and led successful businesses across industries. Registration: https://lnkd.in/gEi7RMi9

The UCeed Cenovus EDI Accelerator has always been committed to supporting underrepresented founders. We’re now excited to expand that support with a dedicated fundraising stream — designed to help founders move from pitch to close. This isn’t your typical startup bootcamp. It’s a practical, hands-on experience for founders who are ready to raise capital — launched just in time for the upcoming conference season. You’ll get 1:1 coaching to: 🔹 Build your data room, pipeline, and fundraising collateral 🔹 Teach you how to write outreach that gets replies 🔹 Guide you through a structured fundraising process 🔹 Connect you with real investors — through warm intros and curated events 🔹 A chance to be selected for a $10k non-dilutive cheque to support your next stage of growth If you're an underrepresented founder looking to take your raise to the next level, we'd love to work with you. 🟢 Applications are open until April 30th, 2025. Limited spots available. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDxt7D3C Let’s get you funded. UCeed Investment Funds

Join us for our next Founders Lunch, for a session that dives into the operational journey of early-stage startups—from laying solid foundations to scaling with confidence. Our panel will explore how to prioritize key functions, set up efficient workflows, and decide when to formalize operations or bring on an operations lead. We'll also tackle common pitfalls, the role of automation, and how to choose the right tools to support growth without overcomplicating things. Whether you're just starting out or preparing to scale, this discussion will offer actionable insights to help bring clarity to your chaos. Meet the Panel: - Inês Bartilotti, Senior Director, New Ventures at Innovate Calgary - Brett P. Elder, Co-Owner at Golf Fanatics & CoS at Rail - Margaret Glover, Founder of Product Better - Shayan Rahnama, SVP, Growth Ops and Revenue Assurance at ZayZoon - Kevin Huey, Director of Operations at Fluid Biomed Inc. For more information and to register: https://lnkd.in/g9BJtKg9 This event is part of the monthly Founders Lunch Series, which aims to empower and support entrepreneurs. It's organized by Innovate Calgary and supported by Alberta Innovates, ElevateIP Alberta, and the TD Ready Commitment Program. #FoundersLunch

After three impactful years, Innovate Calgary is proud to pass the leadership of the Energy Transition Centre to the newly formed ETC Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing clean-tech innovation and community building. Since launching, the Energy Transition Centre has supported over 60 companies, hosted 150+ events, and helped bring in more than $8M in private investment. As the centre evolves, we'll continue to support ventures through the UCeed Investment Funds, our innovation hubs, and programming. We're grateful to our partners, funders, and community for making this journey a success, and we're excited for what's ahead. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gZUpjkr9

Now Hiring: Vice President at Innovate Calgary Looking to make a bold move in your career? We're searching for a dynamic leader to join us at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization. As Vice President, you'll work directly with our President & CEO to shape the future of innovation in Calgary and the province. This executive role oversees key areas like: - Business Development   - Intellectual Property & Technology Licensing   - Industry Partnerships   - Startup Creation & Support   - Investment & Fund Management You'll also champion the innovation agenda at the University of Calgary and help turn groundbreaking research into real-world impact. Application deadline: May 9, 2025 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gS79Cdd7

We're hiring for the position of Program Manager for the Founder Matching Program at UCeed Investment Funds. If you're passionate about startups, entrepreneurship, and the venture capital ecosystem, this is your chance to lead a unique program connecting top-tier founders and high-potential ventures. - Hands-on experience in VC   - Build relationships with early-stage entrepreneurs   - Help shape the future of innovation Apply by April 30, 2025: https://lnkd.in/gpXEqaqi

✈️💡What if your idea could shape the future of air travel? We're looking for innovators, disruptors, and forward-thinkers who believe that travel can—and should—be better. Whether you're working on smarter baggage systems, seamless check-ins, or something totally out-of-the-box, this is your chance to test your solution in a real airport environment and work directly with Innovate Calgary, WestJet and The Calgary Airport Authority. Here's what you get: ✅ Direct access to industry experts and mentors   ✅ Real-world testing at one of Canada's busiest airports   ✅ A six-month accelerator program at the Aerospace Innovation Hub   ✅ A chance to connect with customers, refine your tech, and launch something meaningful You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need a bold idea and the drive to explore it. 👉 Take a look. Consider applying. See where it takes you.   🔗 https://lnkd.in/guD8_7Ee #AerospaceInnovation #StartupChallenge #AviationTech

This month for the Social Innovator Breakfast Club, we're thrilled to welcome Justin Zhou for a behind-the-scenes look at Western Mechatronics — a nonprofit on a mission to make robotics and STEM education accessible, inclusive, and exciting for youth across Alberta. Whether you're passionate about youth education, STEM, or social impact, this session is not to be missed. Register: https://lnkd.in/gd3c4USN

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Inclusive Innovation Showcase at the Social Innovation Hub to celebrate the incredible entrepreneurs and changemakers in our portfolio. Since November 2022, we've had the honour of working alongside diverse founders—supporting their journeys, navigating challenges together, and helping bring their bold ideas to life. The event was a powerful reminder of what's possible when we build an innovation ecosystem that's truly inclusive. A heartfelt thank you to Prairies Economic Development Canada I Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies and MindFuel.ca Foundation. This event and the work behind it wouldn't be possible without your support.