The 2023 Start Alberta Tech Awards
The 6th annual Start Alberta Tech Awards will take place in Edmonton on October 11, 2023, during Edmonton Startup Week! The awards will recognize 12 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. There are two new exciting award categories for 2023: Scaleup of the Year, and Leader of the Year!
Join us at the event ceremony to celebrate and network with Alberta’s innovation ecosystem community.
Event Schedule
5:00 pm – VIP Reception
6:30 pm – Awards Ceremony
8:00 pm – Conclusion




















2023 Tech Awards categories:
Deal of the Year
The award recipient demonstrates:
- A publicly reported and verifiable capital raise that occurred between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023
- Significant impact on the Alberta ecosystem
- Is a technology-focused start-up or scale-up headquartered in Alberta
- Applications and nominations are not required for this category
Most Promising Founder
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Active community involvement in the tech ecosystem
- High willingness to help other entrepreneurs with pay-it-forward motivation by providing their expertise and time
- An Alberta-based founder or co-founder
- Launched a technology-focused start-up or scale-up within the past three years in Alberta (September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2023
Digital Talent Champion
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 tech ecosystem
VCAA Rod Charko Service Award
The award recipient demonstrates:
- A commitment to creating entrepreneurial growth and success in Alberta
- An impact of activities on the Alberta ecosystem
- A long term and consistent champion of the Alberta tech ecosystem
Impact Award
The winning organization will describe how their offering best met these aims.
A100 One to Watch
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Must be an innovative tech or tech-focused 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
The award recipient demonstrates:
- A mandate to support Alberta-based entrepreneurs in the innovation ecosystem
- Entrepreneurial impact
- Collaborative engagement with other support organizations
Investor of the Year
- Displayed the best investment acumen over the last year in Alberta’s tech sector (demonstrated through an exit, early investment in a notable tech startup or realization of an earlier investment in the tech sector)
- Raises the profile of local investing
- Sets a positive example within the Alberta investment community with a high level of integrity
Woman in Tech
The award recipient:
- Must identify as a woman in the Alberta technology and innovation space
- Holds 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
- Has a record of launching a technology-focused startup within the past three years in Alberta (September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2023)
- Year over year revenue growth (based on review of financial statements from September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2023)
- A passion to support and promote the advancement of women in tech in Alberta
Most Significant Transaction
Criteria:
- Based on a significant transaction between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023
- 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
- Applications and nominations are not required for this category
Scaleup of the Year
The award recipient demonstrates:
- Considerable growth in both revenue and employee count
- Giving back to the tech community as mentors and/or advisors
- Through policies and/or action are executing on inclusion and diversity in the Alberta tech ecosystem
- Must be an innovative tech or tech-focused company incorporated in Alberta
- Must have been in operation for more than 3 years