Alberta’s tech sector has scored a handful of successes in the past four years, with a series of unicorns appearing on the landscape.
But how do you turn this elite group into a full-fledged herd?
It’s been a remarkable run for the industry, diversifying the economy, creating jobs and attracting investment
Alberta’s tech sector has scored a handful of successes in the past four years, with a series of unicorns appearing on the landscape.
But how do you turn this elite group into a full-fledged herd?
“It’s harder to get to unicorn status today than it was in 2021 because of the market conditions and the valuations. But I do see that because we have more companies . . . and they’re maturing to that stage, we will see more of them.”
Since 2019, Alberta-based companies such as Benevity, Neo Financial, Solium Capital (now Shareworks by Morgan Stanley) and RS Energy Group have gained billion-dollar valuations, underscoring the expansion taking place within the province’s tech industry.
It’s been a remarkable run for the industry, diversifying the economy, creating jobs and attracting investment.
More than $2.5 billion in venture capital funding has been invested in Alberta tech companies since 2019, according to data from the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA).
Alberta has set records in this area for four consecutive years, reaching $782 million last year.
During the July-to-September period, there were 20 deals involving $118 million, more than double the amount seen during the third quarter of last year.
And in October, Calgary-based geothermal firm Eavor Technologies announced the completion of a $182-million financing round.
“We’re seeing year-over-year record-breaking investment numbers in Alberta while the rest of Canada is declining,” Technology Minister Nate Glubish told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, during the annual Innovation Week held in the city.
Yet, it’s been a difficult 18 months for the sector across Canada, with growing concerns about a recession, ongoing inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and layoffs at some of the industry’s largest players.
During the third quarter, venture capital funding deals across Canada tumbled by 60 per cent in value (to $1.2 billion) from the previous three months, although up from a year earlier.
“It’s definitely tougher than it has been, but Alberta still is the place in Canada that is seeing enthusiasm and growth,” said Terry Rock, CEO of Platform Calgary.
“It’s not like the tap is off.”
Malcolm Adams, CEO of TangoRide Inc., is hoping the tap remains open for startups like his Calgary-based firm, which has a real-time carpooling app that matches drivers and passengers, and handles the cost recovery transaction. TangoRide is in the middle of raising funds, garnering about $400,000 toward its target of $750,000 in a pre-seed financing round.
“Yes, tech has come off in the last year and Alberta is bucking that trend. Part of that is we have a super strong entrepreneurial spirit here,” said Adams. “We hope to be commercial with our app by June of 2024.”
Chris Edwards, managing partner of Tall Grass Ventures, an investment firm based in Calgary that’s focused on the agriculture and food sector, said the tech industry in Alberta remains generally healthy, and people from the outside are noticing.
Last week, Deloitte Canada identified some of the fastest-growing tech companies in the country, including Calgary-based firms Symend, ZayZoon, Convrg Innovations and Falkbuilt on its list.
Within Deloitte’s category of companies to watch, fintech firm Neo Financial had the highest revenue growth at a staggering 81,732 per cent over the past three years.
Alberta is seeing the benefits of entrepreneurs planting a number of seeds in the sector several years ago, said Neo Financial CEO Andrew Chau.
Alberta tech companies aren’t immune to the broader economic challenges but businesses that can attract investment are usually meeting a higher bar today.
“Those entrepreneurs and those in the earlier stages can look to the Benevities, the Soliums — or even the Neos — and say, this is a team that was able to do it here in Alberta. That means I could do it, too.”
There’s also outside recognition of what’s happening.
Two weeks ago, research firm Pitchbook released its list of the 20 fastest-growing startup hubs in the world over the past six years. Calgary was the only Canadian city to crack the list, landing in 12th spot.
Companies in other cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver continue to attract the lion’s share of VC funding in the sector, with Calgary and Edmonton ranked in fourth and sixth place this year.
Williams noted that while Canadian venture capital activity has fallen, sitting around half of last year’s overall levels, Alberta’s figures remain on pace with 2022 record levels.
“We’ve seen a number of unicorns . . . showcasing that Alberta technology companies can be grown here,” she said.
“That’s sending an important signal to investors.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Tesla soared Wednesday as investors bet that the electric vehicle maker and its CEO Elon Musk will benefit from Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Tesla stands to make significant gains under a Trump administration with the threat of diminished subsidies for alternative energy and electric vehicles doing the most harm to smaller competitors. Trump’s plans for extensive tariffs on Chinese imports make it less likely that Chinese EVs will be sold in bulk in the U.S. anytime soon.
“Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, in a note to investors. “This dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment, coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players.”
Tesla shares jumped 14.8% Wednesday while shares of rival electric vehicle makers tumbled. Nio, based in Shanghai, fell 5.3%. Shares of electric truck maker Rivian dropped 8.3% and Lucid Group fell 5.3%.
Tesla dominates sales of electric vehicles in the U.S, with 48.9% in market share through the middle of 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Subsidies for clean energy are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. It included tax credits for manufacturing, along with tax credits for consumers of electric vehicles.
Musk was one of Trump’s biggest donors, spending at least $119 million mobilizing Trump’s supporters to back the Republican nominee. He also pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters signing a petition for his political action committee.
In some ways, it has been a rocky year for Tesla, with sales and profit declining through the first half of the year. Profit did rise 17.3% in the third quarter.
The U.S. opened an investigation into the company’s “Full Self-Driving” system after reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian. The investigation covers roughly 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016 through 2024 model years.
And investors sent company shares tumbling last month after Tesla unveiled its long-awaited robotaxi at a Hollywood studio Thursday night, seeing not much progress at Tesla on autonomous vehicles while other companies have been making notable progress.
Tesla began selling the software, which is called “Full Self-Driving,” nine years ago. But there are doubts about its reliability.
The stock is now showing a 16.1% gain for the year after rising the past two days.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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