The 2022 Start Alberta Tech Awards
The 5th annual Start Alberta Tech Awards powered by ATB took place on November 17, 2022. The awards recognized 10 individuals and organizations for their success and contributions to Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, and for making a significant impact in the province’s tech sector.
Previous
Next
The 2022 Start Alberta Tech Award Winners:
- SAIT Digital Talent Champion Award presented by SAIT: IncluCity Calgary
- Ecosystem Supporter of the Year Award presented by Health Cities and Calgary Economic Development: Alberta IoT
- Tech Investor of the Year Award presented by Alberta Enterprise Corporation: Accelerate Fund
- Most Promising Startup Entrepreneur of the Year presented by Edmonton Unlimited and Platform Calgary: Julian Mulia Goycoolea, NanoTess
- ATB Impact Award presented by ATB Financial: PurposeMed
- Rod Charko Service Award presented by VCAA: Shawn Abbott
- Most Significant Tech Transaction of the Year Award presented by Osler, Hoskin, and Harcourt LLP: Circle Cardiovascular Imaging
- The A100 One to Watch Award presented by the A100: NanoTess
- Woman in Tech Award presented by The 51: Amanda Hall, Summit Nanotech
- Tech Deal of the Year presented by Alberta Enterprise: Neo Financial
The 2022 Tech Awards awarded the following categories:
Tech Deal of the Year
Awarded to the tech company who has raised the largest amount of capital in its most recent fundraising round.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Successful capital raise that occurred between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022
- Publicly reported and verifiable capital raise
- Demonstrable and significant impact on the Alberta ecosystem
- Technology-focused start-up or scale-up headquartered in Alberta
Most Promising Startup Entrepreneur of the Year
Awarded to a dynamic early-stage founder recognized for their coachability, community involvement and ability to launch a technology-focused company in Alberta.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Active community involvement in the tech and innovation ecosystem
- High willingness to help other entrepreneurs with pay-it-forward motivation by providing their expertise and time
- Located in Alberta-based founder or co-founder
- Launched a technology-focused start-up or scale-up within the past three years in Alberta (September 30, 2019 – September 30, 2022)
Digital Talent Champion Award
The Digital Talent Champion Award presented by SAIT highlights those who are dedicated to developing and fostering one of our province’s most critical resources: digital talent. The award recognizes companies, programs and/or individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership in developing the talent ecosystem, growing the digital talent pool and – as a result – accelerating innovation and diversification in Alberta.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Past or ongoing development and/or support programs and initiatives that foster digital talent development
- Prioritized hiring of local talent and initiatives to grow this effort
- Avid collaboration within and champion of Alberta’s technology and innovation ecosystem
VCAA Rod Charko Service Award
Awarded to an individual that has gone above and beyond for the venture capital and technology ecosystems in Alberta. Past winners include Zack Storms, David Edmonds, Brad Zumwalt, Alice Reimer, John Pinsent and Ray Muzyka.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- A commitment to creating entrepreneurial impact in Alberta
- An impact of activities on the Alberta ecosystem
- A long term, consistent commitment
ATB Impact Award
The Impact Award presented by ATB Financial will be awarded to the tech company that demonstrates their commitment to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, or through their products and services assists other companies or society in general to make improvements in one or more of Environment, Social or Governance areas.
The winning organization will describe how their offering best met these aims.
The A100 One to Watch
The A100 One to Watch Award recognizes one of Alberta’s early-stage companies that will be the “most likely to succeed”, as voted by the A100 membership.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Must be an innovative tech or tech-enabled company incorporated in Alberta
- Must have been in operation for less than 3 years
- Must be in market and demonstrating traction
Ecosystem Supporter of the Year
Awarded to an organization known for its dedication to helping start-ups, scale-ups, and entrepreneurs grow in Alberta.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- A mandate to support Alberta-based entrepreneurs in the innovation ecosystem
- Entrepreneurial impact
- Collaborative engagement with other support organizations
Tech Investor of the Year
Awarded to an individual or investment firm that has displayed the best investment acumen over the last year in Alberta’s tech sector. This could be demonstrated through an exit, early investment in a notable tech startup or realization of an earlier investment in the tech sector.
Criteria:
- Number of tech deals
- Amount of capital invested
- Number and dollar amounts of impact in Alberta
- Preference given to those who have a strong history of investing in Alberta
- Preference given to those who have had a significant impact on the growth of Alberta’s tech ecosystem
Woman in Tech
Awarded to a woman recognized for her entrepreneurial success and ability to launch a venture-backable technology-focused company in Alberta. This individual has also demonstrated a passion for supporting gender equity and promoting women’s advancement, making a lasting impact on Alberta’s technology ecosystem.
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Must identify as a female in the Alberta technology and innovation space
- A leadership role in an Alberta-based startup (founder, co-founder or C-level executive) and has been in her role for more than 12 months
- Record of launching a venture-backable technology-focused startup within the past three years in Alberta (September 30, 2019 – September 30, 2022)
- Year over year revenue growth (based on review of financial statements from September 30, 2019 – September 30, 2022)
- A passion to support and promote the advancement of women in tech in Alberta
Most Significant Tech Transaction of the Year
Awarded to the tech company that has had the most significant acquisition or exit.
Criteria:
- Based on a significant transaction between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022
- Transaction must be publicly reported and verifiable
- Preference will be given to companies that have made a significant impact on the Alberta ecosystem
- Must be a technology- focused company headquartered in Alberta
