At Innovate Edmonton, we champion innovation for all, by all. There is potential in all of us. Let's take it to the world.
From day one, our purpose has been clear: unite a globally recognized innovation community to create jobs and enduring economic vitality. We’re one community. We thrive when we act as one.
Innovate Edmonton was born of a visionary city council ready to invest in economic diversification and is reinventing innovation with a progressive strategy. In alignment with the City of Edmonton’s Economic Action Plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and modern Environmental, Social and Governance principles, we support and promote inclusive innovation aimed at solving the world’s biggest issues, showcasing Edmonton on a global stage and generating economic, environmental and social benefits for Edmontonians.
We welcome all, with an expansive definition of innovation once reserved for certain people with particular skillsets. For us, an innovator can be anyone, and innovation must be nurtured across early-stage founders to multinationals, all sectors and industries, and equitable to all genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, and voices.
Because it starts with one. One community. One great idea. One powerful connection.
Simply put, we are positioning Edmonton as a global innovation capital with innovations that tackle the world's greatest challenges. Through three distinct program divisions - Startup Edmonton, Scaleup Edmonton, and Accelerate Edmonton - we steward equitable innovation-intensive entrepreneurship at every stage of growth.
We are placemakers, transforming Edmonton's downtown and taking innovation into the public realm. We forge partnerships locally, nationally and internationally because we're stronger together. This is innovation made in Edmonton, for the world.
It starts with one.
It starts with Edmonton.
It starts with you.
One great idea.
One powerful connection.
One community.
One global innovation capital.
Edmonton innovators
At Innovate Edmonton, we believe that innovation isn’t reserved for well-funded market-makers or ivory tower thinkers. An innovator can be anyone. Because innovation is for everyone. It’s how we’re solving global challenges right here in Edmonton.
Here are just a few of the local innovators tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. And we’re just getting started.

Keenan Pascal (he/him),
Founder & CEO, Token Naturals

Abby Aiyeleye (she/her),
Co-Founder, Clavis Studio

Connie Stacey (she/her),
Founder & President, Growing Greener Innovations, Inc.
One Global Innovation Capital
We’re putting Edmonton on the map with innovators tackling the world’s thorniest problems. Watch this space — great things are happening, and they’re happening fast.
Fastest Growing tech
ecosystem in North America
Source: CBRE
930+
STARTUPS AND SCALEUPS
Source: Start Alberta
Over
43%
OF COMPANIES WITHIN STARTUP EDMONTON PROGRAMS* ARE FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES
*Beyond Business 101
Ecosystem
strengths
in Health
Technologies
and AI
Source: Startup Genome
Our Plans and Progress
Together, we have lofty goals and we’re working hard to meet them. Through our four pillars —positioning, partnerships, programming, and placemaking — we're supporting home-grown innovation as a gateway to solving the world's most pressing problems.
CITY GOAL TO CREATE
121k+
NEW JOBS BY
2030
3
PROGRAM
DIVISIONS
Acquired in June
Startup Edmonton
Startup Edmonton is our multi-step programming that guides founders from the beginning of an idea to reaching the first stages of growth.
Launched in September
Scaleup edmonton
Designed for existing startups, Scaleup Edmonton helps companies scale their business after validating their product-market fit.
Launched in September
Accelerate
Edmonton
With support from three levels of government, Innovate Edmonton has partnered with Alberta Innovates, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to fund and attract three world-class accelerators: Plug and Play Alberta, Alberta Accelerator by 500, and Community Safety & Wellness (CSW) Accelerator powered by Alchemist.
Innovate Edmonton also funded and launched Alberta Catalyzer, in partnership with Platform Calgary, creating a new suite of programs for early-stage founders.
Supporting Local Innovators
Our three world-class program divisions and 24/7 programming space steward entrepreneurs along every stage of growth. Together, we're all part of the special sauce that brings Edmonton’s ideas to the world.

14,000 sq ft of community, programming space
Scaleup
Edmonton
Accelerate
Edmonton
500+ companies/individuals served in Discover & Validate, Preflight: Build, Test, Learn, Preflight: Market, Sell, Pitch and Propel
701 individuals in Business Model 101
360+ client meetings
37 tenants/members
ERIN* Coach: 42 companies, 118 coaches, over 600 coaching hours
ERIN* Post-Secondary Institution Program: 12 business development support projects, 6 mentors, 12 companies (75-150hrs/company)
*Edmonton Regional Innovation Network (ERIN)
Learn more about Scaleup EdmontonPartnered with Alberta Innovates, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to fund and attract three global accelerators to Alberta
Alberta Accelerator by 500 Global
Community Wellness & Safety Accelerator powered by Alchemist
Plug and Play Alberta
Innovate Edmonton also funded and launched Alberta Catalyzer, in partnership with Platform Calgary, creating a new suite of programs for early-stage founders.
Innovation's Big Tent
Come one, come all. We make room for everyone Because we all have the potential to innovate. It’s really that simple.
Value equity, diversity, and inclusion
Support investors and companies on the path to Environmental Social Governance (ESG)
Committed to 6 internal initiatives in the spirit of Reconciliation
14 Innovation Growth Council members representing diverse local innovators
120+ local innovations supported
Partner for ELITE (Program for Black Youth), in collaboration with the University of Alberta and Dr. Andre McDonald, Faculty of Business.
Partner with ANZA "New Beginnings" - a program designed to foster entrepreneurship amongst at-risk youth in Alberta, in collaboration with the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCE), supported by Business Link and the Edmonton Police Service.
Sponsorships to amplify local innovators and supports – Startup TNT, Amii’s Ai4Good, Start Alberta’s Most Promising Startup Entrepreneur of the Year, Inventures, 2021 Ember Awards Indigenous Innovator of the Year.
Partnered with Calgary Economic Development, Platform Calgary, Edmonton Global, Health City, Edmonton Screen Industries Office to join in the launch of the Start Alberta portal.
Innovation Funding
Our money works hard. Backed by public and private partners, we judiciously apply our funding to help innovators get greater returns.
5 YEAR
CITY OF EDMONTON CORE FUNDING
$5M
NEW MUNICIPAL FUNDING FOR ACCELERATORS WITH EDMONTON FOOTPRINT
$3.8M
NEW PROGRAM FUNDING
From the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network (ERIN) and Alberta Innovates (AI)
GLOBAL CHALLENGES NEED EDMONTON INNOVATION
Our
Partners
Collaboration is part of the equation to ensure that Edmonton is positioned as a global innovation capital. Support from these partnerships helps position Alberta's capital region as a dynamic and competitive place for innovation growth.
Here are our funding partners:




Here are a few of our community partners:



