Startup Calgary Drives the Next Generation of Economic Development BY STEPHEN EWART
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uch of the attention around spurring economic growth in Calgary has focused on efforts to attract leading companies from around the globe. It’s a critically important element in the task of building a more diverse and sustainable economy.
activities and programming. Its activities range from Startup Drinks – a monthly discussion of the world of startups – Startup Weekend and the Ask an Expert series to the celebration of local startups and leading entrepreneurs each November called Launch Party.
Recruiting those game-changing companies – like Silicon Valley tech accelerator RocketSpace – is a big deal but it’s not the half of it.
In 2016, 46 companies applied to pitch their ideas to the 700 attendees at Launch Party. Both numbers established record levels of interest.
Supporting the new generation of entrepreneurs who are emerging in this city with a legendary “can-do” attitude and rich history of creating millionaires and billionaires is equally important to a vibrant local economy that is driving innovation.
Structural changes in the economy and technological shifts in all industries are changing the way we do business. In Calgary, there’s little expectation that the big energy companies are going to bring back the large staffs they geared for growth during the oilsands boom.
To better serve early-stage entrepreneurs, Calgary Economic Development recently announced Startup Calgary would become part of the organization.
There are now an estimated two dozen coworking spaces in Calgary as workers find new ways to compete and collaborate. The ATB Entrepreneur Centre has also opened to provide resources and advice to businesses and the University of Calgary just opened the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking.
Startup Calgary is one of more than 20 Startup communities in Canada that use the “Startup” brand and provide access to training, knowledge exchange, tools and resources. Startup Calgary is an advocate and collective voice for the local entrepreneurial movement. The three-year pilot project to bring it into Calgary Economic Development follows Edmonton Economic Development acquiring Startup Edmonton in 2014 and the Economic Development Office of the City of Seattle acquiring Startup Seattle the same year. The transfer of Startup Calgary’s programs to Calgary Economic Development was approved by city council in April. As with Edmonton and Seattle, Startup Calgary will retain its name and its brand identity. Since its launch in 2010, Startup Calgary has connected with hundreds of local entrepreneurs through its networking
Calgary Economic Development worked closely with Startup Calgary and Innovate Calgary to support the sustainability, capacity and velocity of the innovation ecosystem. Transferring the delivery of the Startup programing to Calgary Economic Development will increase efficiency. Since its launch, Startup Calgary has referred eight companies it has worked with to business accelerator programs and another four companies to the Alberta Innovates and National Research Council voucher programs. In a shifting world, where entrepreneurs and small businesses are driving much of the growth, Startup Calgary plays a key role onboarding them into the innovation ecosystem. Stephen Ewart is manager of communication and content for Calgary Economic Development.
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AUGUST 2017 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM