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Home > Strategic Initiatives > Alberta Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program
The Alberta Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program helps entrepreneurs bridge the scaleup gap, take their business to new heights and go global.
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.
BDC defines accelerators as, “programs that give developing companies access to mentorship, investors and other support that help them become stable, self-sufficient businesses.”
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:
Here are programs to continue to help you scale and grow through:
If you are looking to increase your entrepreneurial skillset:
If you want to prepare for your Series A fundraising campaign:
If you want to make global industry connections:
If you are an agri-food tech startup looking for industry adoption:
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:
By engaging in the Plug and Play Ventures Alberta Accelerator we were able to get connected to Government and Industry leaders across the province as well as other start-ups launching new initiatives. These connections have led to a number of different opportunities, many of which we are actively pursuing today to bring equitable access to care in a truly public-private partnership across Alberta.
Home Spritz and I have learned so much from our amazing mentors in the Alberta Innovates programs through their lived experiences. Our mentors keep in touch with us and help us manage our growth and plans. The accelerators we have been a part of in the Alberta start-up ecosystem have been key to our success and continued growth. I don’t think we’d be as motivated and excited to keep our growth going as we would be without their support.
Alberta Innovates Accelerator program really taught us the ins and outs and nuances of building business worldwide & raising investment. It accelerated our understanding of how to go about it for the first time, massively prepared us for the process, and put us in a much stronger position than we were in before. We have increased our revenue by 4X during the 1st month of this accelerator program. The team is mind-blowing and very supportive like family.
Executive Director, Accelerators
Director, Accelerators