Alberta has a scaleup gap. While half of all startups survive over five years, only 0.1 per cent of small firms become mid-sized, and only two per cent of mid-sized firms become large. We want to help Alberta’s scaling startups and small businesses grow so they can reap the benefits while positively contributing to economic growth and prosperity in our province.
In partnership with three levels of government including the Government of Alberta, Prairies Economic Development Canada, and both the City of Edmonton (Edmonton Unlimited) and City of Calgary (Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund), Alberta Innovates designed and continues to administer a provincial scale-up and growth strategy that has since developed into a burgeoning program centred around two pillars – the use of global accelerators and the Fellowship Alumni Network.
The Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program provides end-to-end services for companies who are just fleshing out their business plans all the way to organizations who need advice or investment to help them through the hurdles of going global. In 2021, we contracted with one local pre-accelerator and four global accelerators to bridge the scaleup gap: Alberta Catalyzer Pre–Accelerator, Alberta Accelerator by 500, Plug and Play Alberta Accelerator, Telus Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator powered by Alchemist, and SVG Thrive Studio, Pre-Accelerator and Accelerator to support agricultural startups.
Together, these global accelerators will help us:
- address scaleup gaps to help Albertan, Canadian and global ventures to scale, grow and contribute to a thriving innovation ecosystem in Alberta;
- diversify Alberta’s economy by supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in new technology areas that will create high-quality jobs throughout the province; and
- drive Alberta’s global innovation mindset by attracting global technology firms and investment to Alberta via a world-class acceleration ecosystem.
Here are programs to continue to help you scale and grow through:
- Capacity building through acceleration including one global week
- Enabling Global Connectivity
- Simplifying Industry adoption
If you are looking to increase your entrepreneurial skillset:
- For startups at seed stage, click here.
- For startups just launched, click here.
- For agri-food tech startups just launched, click here.
If you want to prepare for your Series A fundraising campaign:
- Click here.
If you want to make global industry connections:
- Click here to access the Alberta Innovates Global Growth Gateway powered by Plug and Play.
If you are an agri-food tech startup looking for industry adoption:
- Please see details here.
Leading in Learning Forum
Looking for more information that will supercharge your scale-up? View these live streamed keynotes, panels, and masterclasses from industry experts at the 2022 Leading in Learning forum:
- Day 1 – IMPACTSET: a foundational playset is IMPACTSET which designs for impact upfront and links benefits to those in the ecosystem whether entrepreneurs, researchers, policy makers, practitioners etc., creating a ripple effect to local, national and global communities.
- Day 2 – TOOLSET: there are many tools in our toolbox. Depending on our role in the ecosystem we have access to many tools for effecting change.
- Day 3 – TEAMSET: create your own impact A-team. Innovative, impactful teams that are interdisciplinary, cross-functional and diverse are shown to be higher performing.
- Day 4 – MINDSET: the mindset fuels the other sets. Fostering entrepreneurial traits (e.g. drawn to opportunities, innovation, calculated risk, action oriented, fearless, resourceful, focus on what matters) in all ecosystem players promotes a driving focus on growth.
Hear from our Alumni