Innovate Calgary

We’re kicking off 2025 with an exciting Founders Lunch, presented in partnership with YYC Data Society! In this session, we’ll explore how startups are leveraging #AI to streamline workflows, cut operational costs, and unlock new levels of efficiency. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or team member, this event will offer practical steps to harness the power of AI for smarter decision-making and scalable growth. Featured panelists: - Josh Rainbow, Director, YYC DataCon (Moderator) - Drew Gillson, Co-Founder, @Gravity Foundation - Wish Bakshi, Founder, Quant AiQ   - Akbar Nurlybayev, Co-Founder, CentML  Mark your calendars and register: https://lnkd.in/g5648gaD

The deadline for Evolve to Innovate(e2i) applications has been extended to January 7, 2025.    Evolve to Innovate (e2i) is an experiential training program designed to support University of Calgary postdocs, research associates, and graduate students as they develop and improve the skills needed to translate their research into impact outside of academia. #e2i offers funding, programming, and mentorship to empower participants as they navigate the innovation process.   Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/3VJ78ne

✨ Happy Holidays from the Social Innovation Hub! ✨  Our team at the Social Innovation Hub wishes you a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!  In this video, we celebrate the diversity of our team, sharing holiday wishes in different languages and cultural influences:  - Chantal Palmer – Jamaican Patois   - Adaeze Hubbard – Spanish & English   - Eva Verity – French   - Matthias Dyckerhoff – German   - Joanne Nowak, PhD – Polish   - Jerome M. – English  As we head into 2025, we hope you experience success, balance, love, joy, and inspiration—and continue to bring your full selves into everything you do!  Are you a social impact founder looking to create videos and amplify your story? Check out the Social Innovation Hub’s memberships to access equipment, resources, and support for your journey: https://lnkd.in/gDaWFNT Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday season! 🎉

The Institute of Health Economics (IHE) offers funding and programming to help health startups make data-driven decisions. In partnership with Innovate Calgary, they are hosting a virtual Lunch & Learn session next Wednesday, December 18th.   Whether you’re unsure where to focus next to maximize your impact, evaluating how your innovation compares to current treatments in terms of outcomes and cost-effectiveness, or determining the data you need to collect to support your case, IHE is there to guide you through these critical decisions.   Join a 30-minute virtual session, discussing how early economic insights can help demonstrate your innovation's potential to transform health outcomes and improve cost-effectiveness.   Register Today! https://lnkd.in/gY5zTsBD   We look forward to seeing you there.

Last night, we gathered at the Life Sciences Innovation Hub to celebrate the incredible milestones of the startup founders and entrepreneurs taking part in our programs. From raising funds and testing prototypes to pivoting strategies and networking, our founders have had a remarkable year! A huge thank you to the presenters who shared their progress and vision for the future: - Dion Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder, Possibility Neurotechnologies - Akpeko Gasonoo, CEO and Co-Founder, PrintedSUN Inc. - Sarah Harper, CEO, My Fertility Labs - Danny Zahynacz, Founder, RAD Medical Technologies - Maryam Omidvar, CEO and Co-Founder, Ethox Energy ltd. - Erin Creegan-Dougherty, CEO and Founder, Maskwa Backcountry Foods - Mohammad Abbaspour, CEO and Co-Founder, MLCan - Ali Pormohammad, CEO and Co-Founder, MHCombiotic Inc. (unable to attend due to travel) We are so proud of your accomplishments and grateful for the community of founders, advisors, and partners--like Alberta Innovates and the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking - UCalgary--who make this ecosystem thrive. Here's to another year of innovation and success in 2025! For more about the event: https://lnkd.in/gUVUrUxz

VIDEO: Driving Sustainable Energy Innovation We're excited to share a groundbreaking collaboration between the University of Calgary and Questor Technology, brought together by Innovate Calgary's Energy Transition Centre. This partnership focuses on energy efficiency by utilizing an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator to convert waste heat into electricity, providing both heat and power to #UCalgary. This initiative was inspired by Master's student Areej Khaddaj, whose passion for sustainable energy solutions led her to take on this project. Her work exemplifies how academic innovation can merge with industry expertise to address real-world energy challenges. 🎥 Watch the video below and learn how this project is shaping a more sustainable future.

This month's Social Innovators Breakfast Club had the pleasure of being on the air with Dmytro Gospodinov, the creative force behind UCAN Radio. He shared his journey as a newcomer entrepreneur in Canada, building on his extensive entrepreneurial experience from back home. His inspiring story is one of resilience and about the importance of creating platforms to be loud and proud to preserve Ukrainian culture. Attendees were also treated to an exciting draw for UCan Radio's next cultural experience--an event filled with music, community, and great food! Dmytro's insights into blending media, community building, and cultural preservation sparked meaningful conversations, reinforcing how storytelling and connection can create impactful change. A big thank you to Dmytro and everyone who joined us this morning. See you at the next one!

Ready to turn your research into impact?     Evolve to Innovate (e2i) is an experiential training program designed to support #UCalgary postdocs, research associates, and graduate students as they develop and improve the skills needed to translate their research into impact outside of academia. Participants will gain essential skills to communicate their research, develop solutions, and plan for the next steps in applying their innovations.    Applications are now open until December 31, 2024.    Evolve to Innovate (e2i) has been enhanced this year—please review the changes before applying. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZjV65U  

Happening Next Week! Don't miss this online event on December 4. Building a great product is just the start--lasting success comes from mastering growth. In today's competitive climate, having a strong growth strategy is more critical than ever. Don't leave growth as an afterthought--learn how to prioritize it from the beginning. Join us to explore:   - Why growth is key in today's tech-savvy world   - How to kickstart a growth strategy that works   - Measuring progress without compromising user trust or integrity Matthias Dyckerhoff, Product Designer for the Creative Studio at the Social Innovation Hub, is a growth expert specializing in user research, experimentation, prototyping, and strategic frameworks. His experience helps businesses accelerate success by turning ideas into scalable strategies.   📌 Save your virtual spot now: https://lnkd.in/dcTFrNsk

A big thank you to everyone who joined us at the Founders Lunch on November 28! We loved seeing the energy and engagement as Dr. Mohammad Keyhani shared insights into building software with no-code tools and generative AI. It was a fantastic way to close out the 2024 #FoundersLunch Series! As we look ahead to 2025, we're excited to continue fostering connections, sharing knowledge, and empowering entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for details about our next Founders Lunch in January. See you there!