Alberta Innovates

Inventures 2024
2024-05-29 - 2024-05-31 | Alberta
Inventures is a one-of-a-kind experience that challenges convention and inspires transformational thinking. It invites participants to explore new currents of thought, leading to unexpected insights and amazing possibilities. It showcases bold ideas and novel approaches to solving urgent local and global challenges.
Hosted by Alberta Innovates, Inventures brings together entrepreneurs, thought leaders, startups and investors to connect, foster new collaborations and spark deal-making opportunities. It’s the place to discover new technologies, talent, capital, customers and markets, from health tech and clean tech, to agtech, fintech and more.
Interested in getting involved?

Be a Speaker
Be a Sponsor
Suggest a Session
Pitch your Startup

IQubed Conference
2024-04-18 08:00 - 2024-04-19 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Heritage Inn & Conference Centre, 1217 2 Street West, Brooks, Alberta, T1R1P7, Canada
Harnessing the exponential power of collaboration.
Inspiration, innovation and investments. Details are to be released soon. Save the date!

RIN Pitch-Up: Rural Pitch Competition - Scaleup Category
2024-04-05 10:00 - 12:45 | Virtual Event
Pitch-Up! offers Alberta-based entrepreneurs a provincial stage, a chance to be seen by the community, practice their pitch, and get in front of potential investors. Thank you to Alberta Innovates for making this event possible.
Schedule

9:30 am – 10:00 am: Pitch competitors, sign in and get set up, networking on Remo
10:00 am – 11:30 AM: Pitchers present
11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Keynote Speaker
12:05 pm – 12:15 pm: Winners announced + Sponsor spotlight

About the Regional Innovation Networks
Pitch-UP! is powered by APEX, WBRIN, CARIN, RINSA, GPRIN and the East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Networks.
Regional Innovation Networks are entrepreneur-centric, community-based networks with the goal of providing programs and services to accelerate the growth of technology and knowledge-based businesses in those jurisdictions.

Innovating our way through the Alberta drought
2024-03-21 12:00 | Virtual Event
Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, which includes researchers and subject matter experts across the province, knows it will take more than just taking shorter showers and not watering our lawns to address this issue. This discussion features leaders in water management from across the province on how research, technology and best practices are helping to address the most pressing water issues and plan for a better future.
Speakers include:

Mark Summers, Associate Vice President, Agriculture and Environment, Alberta Innovates
Pamela Duncan, team lead, Environment Strategy, City of Calgary
Margo Jarvis Redelback, executive director, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association

Plug and Play AI in Energy Innovation Challenge
2024-03-11 - 2024-05-31 | Hyatt Regency Calgary – Imperial Ballroom, 700 Centre Street SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G5P6, Canada
The Challenge
With the world’s population projected to hit 10 billion by 2050, the demand for energy will surge, intensifying the need for sustainable energy solutions. This surge comes amid a transformative era in the energy sector, driven by the exponential growth of artificial intelligence, demanding a re-evaluation of how we use and manage energy resources.
Alberta, Canada, renowned for its abundance of natural resources and commitment to driving technology and innovation, is at the epicentre of this evolution. The intersection of AI and energy presents an unprecedented opportunity to not only boost the provincial economy but also champion global initiatives toward a sustainable future.
In partnership with Alberta Innovates, Plug and Play is launching an Innovation Challenge focused on AI in the energy sector. This challenge seeks to source top technology startups worldwide, inviting them to showcase their cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions that are poised to address critical challenges in the energy sector.

Use-Cases of AI in Energy

Energy Asset Utilization Software
Risk Forecasting
Digital Twins and AI Copilots
R&D Acceleration
Compliance Automation
Wastewater Treatment
Waste Identification and Sorting
Modeling New Molecules
Material and Mineral Traceability
Data Cleanup and Centralization

Selection Criteria

Open to startups ranging from Pre-Seed to Series A fundraising stages
Startups must present novel technology that is directly applicable to the energy industry
Technology must leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, or innovation
Startups must have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) demonstrating the core functionality of their technology
Startups should be prepared for pilot projects or commercial agreements, demonstrating readiness to deploy and scale their technology

Challenge Timeline

Portal Launch Date: Mar 25, 2024
Applications Close: Apr 20, 2024
Top 20 Solutions Shortlisted: Apr 29, 2024
Top 10 Solutions Shortlisted: May 6, 2024
Top 5 Invited to Pitch at Inventures: May 13, 2024
Pitch Day: May 30, 2024

Prizes

$10,000 Cash prize
Opportunity to present to the Plug and Play Ventures team and be considered for a Plug and Play investment of up to $500,000
1:1 meeting with Plug and Play CEO, Saeed Amidi, a seasoned investor and executive with 30 years experience in founding, operating, and growing successful companies
Two exclusive tickets to the Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit in November 2024
A guaranteed spot in the Plug and Play Sustainability Accelerator Program in Fall 2024
Personalized 1:1 mentorship sessions with world-class mentors from the Plug and Play network

Benefits

Startup pitch opportunity at Inventures 2024 to an audience of corporations, investors, and government.
Marketing and promotional exposure across Plug and Play’s influential social media platforms.
Access to Plug and Play’s upcoming events, expanding your network and potential partnerships.
1:1 pitch polishing session led by the Plug and Play Ventures Team ahead of Inventures 2024.

Applications are now closed.
Join us at Inventures 2024 as our exciting finalists pitch for top prize!

Pitch your Business with Craig Elias | February Week #3
2024-02-24 09:00 - 11:15 | Virtual Event
Week #3 | Feb 24th – Creating A Compelling Elevator Pitch
Want to know how to create interest in your product or service in the shortest amount of time possible?
Then join us for the final session in the series, where you’ll learn the power of seven-word elevator pitches and how not telling people what you sell right away can be the secret to getting customers, mentors, investors and employees.
About the sessions
Each week’s session will feature fresh content and the opportunity to practice your pitch and get feedback from the facilitator and the other participants.
This is a multi-session event. Please choose the sessions you would like to register for. Session run Feb 3, 10 and 24.
These sessions are brought to you by Alberta Innovates and Alberta’s six rural Regional Innovation Networks.
Facilitated by Craig Elias, winner of a $1,000,000 prize in a global Billion Dollar Idea Pitch Competition, who helped one startup win two different $100,000 pitch competitions in less than 24 hours and was twice chosen as Canada’s #1 sales expert (#15 in the world) by LinkedIn.

Growth Catalyst Lunch & Learn
2024-02-15 11:45 - 13:00 | Medicine Hat College, 299 College Drive Southeast, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 3Y6, Canada
Ignite your business growth. Join us for an exciting and informative lunch and learn in the Courtyard Room at Medicine Hat College.
The Growth Catalyst Lunch & Learn is a must-attend event for entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals looking to scale their ventures.
Growth Catalyst prepares businesses across all industries to achieve exponential growth and thrive in today’s marketplace.
We support dynamic cohorts of ambitious leadership teams with an evidence-based, practical approach to creating a strategic growth plan. Leaders leave equipped with the insights and the support network necessary to successfully scaleup their operations.

Inclusive Leadership: Women Breaking Glass Ceilings in STEM
2024-02-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Moving into the future, every occupation will require STEM skills, and women continue to face challenges in the male-dominated STEM industry.
If we want gender equity, we must address the barriers that prevent women from entering and progressing in STEM professions, including workplace cultures, lack of role models and mentorship opportunities, current branding of the industry, gender-based stereotypes and stigmas.
The panel is a group of women who have succeeded in a STEM career despite all odds and have “broken the glass ceiling.” We will explore success factors and barriers at the individual, organizational and societal levels through recent research.

Rural Investor Education Series | Four-part Series, Feb 12–15
2024-02-12 19:00 - 2024-02-15 21:00 | Virtual Event
The Rural Investor Education Series is an 8-hour course, broken down into four 2-hour segments. This series runs from February 12–15, 2024 at 7–9pm MST.
Learn how to invest in early-stage, rural Alberta-based companies you believe in. This course is free for eligible people based in Alberta.
Taught by someone who’s done it! Before raising $32 million for her first venture capital fund, Brooke Harley was an angel investor targeting purpose-driven companies she believed in. She is a former VC fund manager, Lululemon executive and M&A Attorney. She’s from the prairies too – Winnipeg, Manitoba!
Do you want to invest in an innovative businesses in your community – but you’re not quite sure how?
The goal of this education series, provided through the Alberta Innovation Network partnering with ClassRebel, is to introduce you to angel investing and to get you so well-versed and comfortable with the language and mechanics of angel investing, that you can confidently approach any early stage founder whose company you really believe in, and secure yourself an investment that could change your life and your community, no matter how small your cheque.
After the Rural Investor Education Series, you’ll be able to:

Develop an industry-specific investment thesis
Understand how Convertible Notes and SAFEs work
Understand how the Priced Round works (Convertible Preferred Shares)
Understand how equity in a Company’s option plan works
Persuade a founder to let you invest in their early-stage company

Pitch your Business with Craig Elias | February Week #2
2024-02-10 09:00 - 11:15 | Virtual Event
Week #2 | Feb 10th – Perfecting Your Five-minute Pitch
Want to craft a two to five-minute pitch that captures and keeps your audience’s attention and makes them want to learn more about you and your business?
Then join us for this fast-paced session where Craig Elias shares the critical components of a successful pitch, different pitch formats, how to differentiate yourself from the competition and how to avoid the two mistakes that can kill the interest you create.
About the sessions
Each week’s session will feature fresh content and the opportunity to practice your pitch and get feedback from the facilitator and the other participants.
This is a multi-session event. Please choose the sessions you would like to register for. Session run Feb 3, 10 and 24.
These sessions are brought to you by Alberta Innovates and Alberta’s six rural Regional Innovation Networks.
Facilitated by Craig Elias, winner of a $1,000,000 prize in a global Billion Dollar Idea Pitch Competition, who helped one startup win two different $100,000 pitch competitions in less than 24 hours and was twice chosen as Canada’s #1 sales expert (#15 in the world) by LinkedIn.

Pitch your Business with Craig Elias | February Week #1
2024-02-03 09:00 - 11:15 | Virtual Event
Week #1 | Feb 3rd – Five Ways to Attract Investors and Mentors
Want to know how to capitalize on the five things savvy investors and mentors care about the most?
Then join us for this informative session where Craig Elias shares how to help potential investors/mentors understand that your idea/business has what it takes, and for them to be more interested in your business.
About the sessions
Each week’s session will feature fresh content and the opportunity to practice your pitch and get feedback from the facilitator and the other participants.
This is a multi-session event. Please choose the sessions you would like to register for. Session run Feb 3, 10 and 24.
These sessions are brought to you by Alberta Innovates and Alberta’s six rural Regional Innovation Networks.
Facilitated by Craig Elias, winner of a $1,000,000 prize in a global Billion Dollar Idea Pitch Competition, who helped one startup win two different $100,000 pitch competitions in less than 24 hours and was twice chosen as Canada’s #1 sales expert (#15 in the world) by LinkedIn.

January Tech Night
2024-01-31 17:00 - 19:00 | Medicine Hat College, 299 College Drive Southeast, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 3Y6, Canada
Tech Nights are a fun, relaxed networking event connecting the STEM community in Southeast Alberta. The event hosts a Tech Talk from a founder/entrepreneur, researcher or expert in the field.
Everyone is welcome. It’s a great opportunity for students and industry to engage. And the innovation and startup-curious.
January’s Tech Talk speaker is Melissa Hozack.
Melissa is the co-founder of TruMe Whole Health. She’s a serial entrepreneur and a pharmacist. Melissa will share her startup story and her passion for helping people.

Alberta's Water Resources in A Hydrogen Economy
2024-01-31 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
About this session
An overview of the hydrogen sector in Alberta and examples of efforts underway to understand and manage potential impacts, including the potential for new development to be affected by inadequate current or future water supply.
Speakers
David Van Den Assem – Director, Hydrogen Centre of Excellence at Alberta Innovates
David Is the Director of the Alberta Hydrogen Centre of Excellence which supports Alberta’s Hydrogen Roadmap to integrate hydrogen into Alberta’s energy system and for export. Alberta Innovates and the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence are open to Innovative next-generation technologies along the hydrogen and CCUS value chains.
David Is also the theme lead for the Clean Resources Innovation Network’s (CRIN’s) Carbon Capture and Value Add Products (CCVAP) focus area, which includes CCUS, hydrogen, critical minerals, carbon fibre and nanomaterials, partial upgrading and alternative energy.
Steve Herman, M.Eng., P.Eng. – Director of Engineering at WaterSMART Solutions Ltd.
Steve is a Professional Engineer who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from Queen’s University and the University of Calgary. As the Director of Engineering at WaterSMART Solutions, Steve uses his expertise in water management, regulations, and technologies to help clients make the best use of this precious resource through a range of services related to water access, sustainable water management strategies, and water risk management.

Pitch your Business with Craig Elias | January Week #3
2024-01-25 18:00 - 20:15 | Virtual Event
Week #3 | Jan 25th – Creating A Compelling Elevator Pitch
Want to know how to create interest in your product or service in the shortest amount of time possible?
Then join us for the final session in the series, where you’ll learn the power of seven-word elevator pitches and how not telling people what you sell right away can be the secret to getting customers, mentors, investors and employees.

Pitch Your Business with Craig Elias | January Week #2
2024-01-18 18:00 - 20:15 | Virtual Event
Week #2 | Jan 18th – Perfecting Your Five-minute Pitch
Want to craft a two to five-minute pitch that captures and keeps your audience’s attention and makes them want to learn more about you and your business?
Then join us for this fast-paced session where Craig Elias shares the critical components of a successful pitch, different pitch formats, how to differentiate yourself from the competition and how to avoid the two mistakes that can kill the interest you create.

Pitch Your Business with Craig Elias | January Week #1
2024-01-11 18:00 - 20:15 | Virtual Event
Week #1 | Jan 11th – Five Ways to Attract Investors and Mentors
Want to know how to capitalize on the five things savvy investors and mentors care about the most?
Then join us for this informative session where Craig Elias shares how to help potential investors/mentors understand that your idea/business has what it takes, and for them to be more interested in your business.

Building the Well Remediation Toolbox 2
2023-10-31 09:00 - 11:30 | Virtual Event
This is a webinar series hosted by InnoTech Alberta on the use of alternative materials and emerging technologies in wellbore remediation and decommissioning. This is the second of our Well Remediation Toolbox webinar series.
Wellbore leakage affects all types and ages of oil and gas wells in both onshore and offshore settings. Evidence suggests that using alternative products and technologies will significantly improve well remediation outcomes while potentially lowering the number of interventions for vent flow remediation and reducing industry costs.
Considering the complexity of well remediation and closure operations, operators need a diverse toolbox of technologies to choose from. This InnoTech Alberta webinar provides an opportunity to learn about new developments from industry leaders while discussing experiences and challenges across the industry.
Talks will explore four technologies with a technical focus, including:

material characteristics;
suitable applications;
placement and operational practices;
case studies;
laboratory testing;
field trials; and
supporting technologies with presentations from technology companies.

These presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer period with each webinar’s featured speakers.
For our second webinar, three speakers will be featured:

Ryan Wilton, SNF
Kyle Roebuck, BASF
Mike McDonald, National Silicates
Christian Rosnes, Interwell

Register today and join us on Oct. 31 to build your well-remediation toolbox!

Going Global – ONLINE
2023-10-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
Attention AB innovators! Get the inside scoop for expanding your business on a global scale at the Alberta Innovates Going Global event at this exciting ONLINE event
DYK: Small-to-medium sized enterprises engaged in global value chains tend to be more productive, have higher revenue, and obtain access to more diversified products and services.
Get ready to expand your network, gain valuable insights, and explore new opportunities. Whether you’re a new or a seasoned innovator, this event is designed to inspire and empower you.
Going Global is your chance to connect with the Alberta Innovates team and learn why you should consider taking your business to international markets.
Mark your calendars! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and make lasting connections.

Going Global – YEG
2023-10-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Alberta Innovates – Edmonton Research and Development Park, 250 Karl Clark Rd NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6N 1H5, Canada
Attention, Edmonton innovators! Get the inside scoop for expanding your business on a global scale at the Alberta Innovates Going Global event
Join us for an exciting in-person event – Going Global happening at the Alberta Innovates offices in Edmonton.
DYK: Small-to-medium sized enterprises engaged in global value chains tend to be more productive, have higher revenue, and obtain access to more diversified products and services.
Get ready to expand your network, gain valuable insights, and explore new opportunities. Whether you’re a new or a seasoned innovator, this event is designed to inspire and empower you.
Going Global is your chance to connect with the Alberta Innovates team and learn why you should consider taking your business to international markets.
Mark your calendars! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and make lasting connections.

Using Isotopes to Study Climate-Related Changes in Our Water Resources
2023-10-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Join us for the next edition of the Water Innovation series on Alberta Innovates Unbound. The impacts of climate change can be clearly seen in our water resources. In Alberta, water quality is changing, and water supply is more variable and increasingly uncertain due to extreme weather events. Stable isotopes have been used to investigate water balance processes, and the relationships between hydrology, vegetation and ecosystems. These tools can help build an accurate baseline of water resources to better understand potential future states.
This webinar brings together four researchers who are using isotopes in different ways to characterize how climate change is affecting our water.
Speakers

Dr. Tricia Stadnyk, Professor & Canada Research Chair, University of Calgary
Francisco Castrillon Munoz, M.Sc., P.Geo., Senior Researcher – Environmental Services, InnoTech Alberta
Dr. John Gibson, Principal Researcher – Environmental Services, InnoTech Alberta
Dr. Bernhard Mayer, Professor, University of Calgary

Going Global - YYC
2023-10-17 09:00 - 11:00 | Alberta Innovates – Calgary Research Park, 3608 33 Street Northwest, Calgary, Alberta, T2L 2A6, Canada
Attention, Calgary innovators! Get the inside scoop for expanding your business on a global scale at the Alberta Innovates Going Global event
Join us for an exciting in-person event – Going Global happening at the Alberta Innovates offices in Calgary.
DYK: Small-to-medium sized enterprises engaged in global value chains tend to be more productive, have higher revenue, and obtain access to more diversified products and services.
Get ready to expand your network, gain valuable insights, and explore new opportunities. Whether you’re a new or a seasoned innovator, this event is designed to inspire and empower you.
Going Global is your chance to connect with the Alberta Innovates team and learn why you should consider taking your business to international markets.
Mark your calendars! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and make lasting connections.

ACRC 2023 Annual Conference with DiscoveryLab
2023-09-25 08:00 - 2023-09-26 16:00 | Holiday Inn Conference Centre, 4485 Gateway Blvd, Edmonton, Alberta, T6H 5C3, Canada
Capitalizing on Alberta’s strengths in clinical research: connecting innovators, expanding frontiers, and fostering real-world impact.

World Petroleum Congress 2023
2023-09-17 - 2023-09-21 | Stampede Park, 650 25 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 4K8, Canada
The World Petroleum Congress (WPC) is a charitable, UN-accredited NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) dedicated to the pursuit of sustainable practice and innovation development regarding the world’s petroleum use and acquisition.
Involving both OPEC and non-OPEC member nations and projecting 15,000 visitors, 5,000 delegates, and over 200 exhibitors from 100 countries, the WPC represents the world’s energy economy coming together to tackle increasing global energy needs while mitigating the environmental impacts of meeting them.
Calgary has been chosen for this year’s host city with a conference theme of “Energy Transition: The Path to Net Zero.”

Carbon Capture Canada 2023
2023-09-12 - 2023-09-14 | Edmonton Convention Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 1N9, Canada
Carbon Capture Canada is Canada’s leading conference on carbon capture, storage and utilization, bringing together thought leaders and heads of industry to tackle obstacles, promote clean tech innovation and discuss the future relating to the recapture of CO2 emissions.
With fireside chats, panels, exhibitions, knowledge bar presentations and networking opportunities, this conference represents Canada’s carbon economy coming together to define the obstacles of today, a vision for tomorrow. and a plan to get there through innovation and collaboration.

New Mexico Tech Summit
2023-09-07 - 2023-09-08 | Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd St. NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, United States
The 2023 New Mexico Tech Summit (NMTS23) is an opportunity for the brightest minds in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) to converge upon one conference to discuss local and global trends embracing the latest in innovation.
Speakers, demos, experiential content and networking opportunities are the hallmark of NMTS23, with 30 talks centred around the tech economy.
Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease will be attending as a keynote speaker for this event.

AgSmart 2023
2023-08-01 08:30 - 2023-08-02 16:30 | Olds College Campus, 4500 50 St, Olds, Alberta, T4H1R6, Canada
AgSmart, proudly produced by Olds College, is a must-see educational expo focused on data and technology across the agriculture industry. Taking place August 1 and 2, 2023 at Olds College, where producers and industry gather to learn by seeing the latest innovations being demonstrated, hearing from industry experts and engaging with leading innovation focused exhibits.
The unique expo format brings the conference outdoors, showcasing why it makes sense to invest in equipment and technology to capture data and how to implement that data to increase productivity and profitability for farm operations.

Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge Phase III webinar
2023-05-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
This seminar is for potential applicants to the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge Phase III program. Join Bryan Helfenbaum and Paolo Bomben for an overview of this phase of the grand challenge and for an open question and answer session. This seminar is not intended for a general audience.
