Entrepreneurial Investments

Investing in Alberta Business

The innovation journey is rarely a linear, sequential process. We assist high-growth, high-potential SMEs to reduce the time it takes to commercialize new technology and knowledge-based products, and to scale their business. 

Finding the right fit

Through our funding programs, we invest in high-growth, high-potential companies that will become self-sustaining and positioned to provide economic and social benefits to Alberta.

Where we help

We support innovation in all sectors, and in recent years have increasingly focused on aligning our investment portfolio and funding to innovation in the following focus areas:

Data-enabled innovation

  • Transforming data into actionable information and enabling digital transformation

Digital technology for business transformation

  • Products that leverage technology to sense and measure information to conduct business
  • Development and sale of digital technology valued by businesses. Examples include sensor and measurement technology
  • Saleable products that enable innovative production and distribution

Clean technology for a lower carbon future

  • Innovation for a low carbon future

Innovative production and distribution

  • Additive manufacturing and distribution technologies

Who we help

High-growth, high-potential Alberta-based small-medium enterprises (SMEs) developing and/or commercializing new technology

Companies developing innovative products and processes intended to be commercialized and sold, not for internal productivity benefits.

Refer to the table below for examples.

Looking forward

We remain flexible in our focus areas and adapt our programs as needed. The following are the Alberta Innovates overall corporate focus areas:

  • Digital Health
  • Innovative Hydrocarbon Products
  • Smart Agriculture
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Continuing support in growing Alberta’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Our impact

To clarify understanding of what we invest in to help grow Alberta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, it’s helpful to review our technology commercialization scorecard for 2021:

 

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Can your tech company contribute to these metrics? If so, check below. We may have a program for you.

Browse our programs

Coaching, Community, and Capital!

Commercialization Associates

This program is designed to fund high potential, high growth technology and knowledge-based Alberta SMEs to employ a highly trained resource with the goal of advancing business readiness levels and/or accelerating product commercialization.

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Digital Traction

This program provides funding for Alberta SMEs that rely on software development as core to one or more of their products and/or services and intends to rapidly scale in the global marketplace to accelerate their revenue growth.

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Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program

The Ecosystem Development Partnerships (EDP) Program is designed to provide support for non-profit and for-profit entities to deliver launch-ready projects that will assist Alberta technology start-ups and SMEs to scale and grow and contribute to a thriving innovation Alberta ecosystem.

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Export Readiness Micro Vouchers

This program is intended to help Alberta Small and Medium-sized Enterprises align their international plans with global opportunities and to evaluate the risks and benefits of exporting prior to entering new global markets.

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Innovation Micro Vouchers

Micro vouchers are aimed to help Alberta’s small- and medium-sized enterprises in the technology and knowledge-based sector hire a service or product provider to advance their technology closer to commercialization.

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Innovation Vouchers

Vouchers are for Alberta’s small- and medium-sized enterprises in the technology and knowledge-based sector with technologies in the mid-to-late developmental stages. It could include some early developmental stages.

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International Technology Partnership Program

The International Technology Partnership program is designed to de-risk the commercialization process by providing funds and coaching to high potential, high growth technology Alberta small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to further product development or pilot the technical and business merits of their product to prove the value, and advance commercialization.  

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Product ScaleUp Pilot Program

We designed the Product ScaleUp Pilot Program to help propel Alberta SMEs forward as they refine and iterate their highly scalable digital technologies.

The program is a grant of up to $100,000 for one year for qualified SMEs to hire a product associate with expertise in developing, commercializing, and scaling digital technology using a product management model. A matching percentage is required.

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Product Demonstration Program

The Product Demonstration Program is a focused, business-to-business partnership, allowing the applicant to access funding and key alliance resources, which can help accelerate their product to commercialization.

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r&D Associates

This program is designed to fund high potential, high growth technology and knowledge-based Alberta SMEs to employ an r&D professional that has the advanced technical skills required by the SME to make that last leap from research to a marketable product.

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Regional Innovation Networks

Regional Innovation Networks are entrepreneur-centric, community-based networks with the goal of providing programs and services to accelerate growth of technology and knowledge-based businesses in those jurisdictions.

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Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program

The Alberta Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program will accelerate the growth and scaleup of Alberta companies and propel digital transformation.

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Technology Development Advisors

Our Technology Development Advisors provide front-line business coaching and technology development advice to small & medium size enterprises in technology or knowledge-based industries to accelerate clients through their client journey.

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News

A photo of Andrew Goldner from GrowthX

Shift podcast: Everything communicates

A few of our many stops along the way include a discussion around what Andrew calls the signal to noise ratio and how founders need to protect their time, the importance of humility and the need to learn from our mistakes, and his mantra that everything communicates.

A photo of Levven Electronics CEO James Keirstead

Shift podcast: Conquering uncertainty or at least getting comfortable with it

James Keirstead is a tireless advocate for entrepreneurs in Edmonton and Alberta, and this candid interview really sheds light on his approach to business and life.

A photo of Edmonton Unlimited CEO Catherine Warren

Shift podcast: Edmonton Unlimited spearheads Edmonton Startup Week

Alberta has a lot to boast about when it comes to female tech leaders, and our next guest is no exception. Catherine Warren leads the newly-rebranded Edmonton Unlimited as a vital cog in Alberta’s tech entrepreneurial ecosystem.