From first-time founders to scaling startups, Edmonton offers the support, space, and community needed to turn bold ideas into world-class ventures. Its growth is fueled by a robust network of over 20 organizations, including Edmonton Unlimited, Startup TNT, the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Alberta Innovates, and Health Cities. The city’s startup ecosystem is further energized by community-driven initiatives, like Messed Up Mondays, Tech Wednesdays, and YEG Startup Community Awards, which foster collaboration and celebration among entrepreneurs.
Edmonton's tech sector has seen unprecedented growth, with local companies securing over $2.7 billion in venture capital funding over the last five years, creating thousands of jobs. In 2024 alone, startups raised over $170 million across 95 deals – the highest number of transactions since tracking began. Alberta Enterprise Corporation further bolstered this growth in December with a $15 million investment into Accelerate Fund IV to support early-stage tech startups.
Edmonton is also emerging as a leader in Life Sciences. Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and the University of Alberta are spearheading the $200 million Canadian Critical Drug Initiative, a national project that will significantly boost the region’s Biotech and pharmaceutical capacity.
The city is one of six global regions in Cohort 11 of the prestigious MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP), running through 2026. This program provides a practical evidence-based framework to accelerate innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Edmonton’s REAP team unites stakeholders from government, academia, and industry to co-create strategies that strengthen the city’s innovation economy.
