On November 20, 2024, Ha Nguyen was recognized with the Ecosystem Supporter of the Year Award as part of the 2024 Start Alberta Tech Awards. The Ecosystem Supporter of the Year is awarded to an individual or organization known for their dedication to helping start-ups, scale-ups, and entrepreneurs grow in Alberta.
Ha is a long-time, active member of the Alberta tech community, a Partner at McRock Capital and co-founder of Migr8. She is dedicated to helping diverse startups, scaleups, and entrepreneurs grow in Alberta.
She describes her own journey to Alberta 7 years ago as part of her inspiration for creating Migr8. “I had no idea how much of an impact this place would have on me and how much I would love to call it home. Alberta has this incredible energy, full of change-makers and innovators who constantly redefine what’s possible. It’s the sense of collaboration and lifting each other up that makes the work so meaningful, and that’s what inspired me to co-found Migr8.”
Migr8 is a community that provides support to help immigrant entrepreneurs realize their potential and overcome obstacles. It consists of two entities to address the specific needs of newcomers in the tech industry: a venture capital fund (Migr8 Capital) and a nonprofit firm that helps immigrant entrepreneurs access the resources they need for a successful launch (Migr8+).
Migr8+’s team of specialists have created exclusive content, products, and services for immigrant investors and entrepreneurs, and they collaborate with multiple partners in the ecosystem to offer best-in-class services to the immigrant innovation community. It services complement existing programs and services in the Alberta ecosystem, including Evolve Lab, ERIN, Platform Calgary and Edmonton Unlimited.
Ha added, “I wanted to create a system to welcome brilliant entrepreneurs from all over the world, making them feel valued and supported, just as I have felt since coming here. In Alberta, diversity may not be the first thing people see, but it’s here and it’s powerful.”
Since 2018, the Start Alberta Tech Awards have recognized individuals and organizations for their contributions to Alberta’s innovation ecosystem and those significantly impacting the province’s tech sector. The Start Alberta Deal Flow Platform is the most comprehensive database on startups and funding in the province, providing real-time data for founders, investors, corporates and government stakeholders. Start Alberta offers insights on the health of the regional innovation economy while showcasing Alberta’s tech and innovation ecosystem to the world.
View the full list of 2024 Tech Award winners.
