While the Deep Tech Showcase investor panel explored what makes a company investable, the event’s fireside chat offered a different perspective: what it looks like to build a deep tech company while actively navigating the realities of growth.
Moderated by Arden Tse, Partner at Yaletown Partners, the conversation featured Chris Robson and Callie Lissinna, Co-Founders of Wyvern, an Edmonton-founded space technology company building a globally competitive hyperspectral satellite business from right here in Alberta.
Together, they shared an inside look at the challenges and opportunities of building a deep tech venture in real time. From translating breakthrough technology into commercial products to navigating growth, partnerships, customers, talent, and capital, the discussion provided a candid look at what it takes to scale a company in one of the world’s most complex industries.
While every startup journey is different, several themes emerged throughout the conversation—offering practical lessons for founders, researchers, and innovators working to turn ambitious ideas into globally competitive businesses.
Building in Deep Tech Requires Patience and Persistence
Deep tech companies rarely follow a straight path.
Unlike many software startups that can move quickly from idea to market, deep tech ventures often face longer development timelines, complex technical challenges, and significant capital requirements. Progress can take years rather than months, requiring founders to stay focused while navigating uncertainty and solving difficult problems along the way.
The Wyvern team spoke candidly about the persistence required to continue moving forward when the path is not always clear. For founders in the audience, it was a reminder that success is often built through steady execution, continuous learning, and the ability to adapt as challenges emerge.
Commercialization Is as Important as Innovation
Developing advanced technology is only one part of building a successful company.
Throughout the discussion, commercialization emerged as a recurring theme. Technical expertise may create an opportunity, but sustainable growth requires a deep understanding of customers, markets, and the problems being solved.
The conversation reinforced that innovation creates value when it is paired with a clear path to adoption. Building customer relationships, validating demand, and refining a value proposition are all critical parts of the journey.
Think Globally from Day One
Although Wyvern was founded in Edmonton, the company was built with global markets in mind.
Deep tech companies often operate in highly specialized industries where customers are distributed across countries and continents. By focusing on meaningful problems and building technology with broad applications, companies can create opportunities that extend far beyond their geographic location.
The discussion served as a reminder that founders can build globally competitive companies from Edmonton while remaining connected to the ecosystem that supports them.
Growth Requires More Than Great Technology
As companies scale, the challenges evolve.
Beyond technology development, founders must build teams, attract capital, establish partnerships, and make strategic decisions that position their organizations for long-term success. The conversation highlighted the importance of balancing technical innovation with business execution and developing the leadership skills needed to support growth.
Building a company is rarely just about the technology itself—it’s about creating an organization capable of delivering that technology to the world.
The Power of Ecosystem Support
Another important takeaway was the role community plays in the success of deep tech companies.
Access to talent, mentors, investors, customers, and strategic partners can significantly influence a company’s ability to grow. Edmonton’s innovation ecosystem continues to bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders who help create the conditions for innovation to thrive.
A Glimpse Into What's Possible
The fireside chat with Wyvern offered more than a company story—it provided a real-world example of what it takes to build and scale a deep tech company from Edmonton.
The conversation demonstrated that globally competitive companies can be built here, but success requires more than breakthrough technology. It takes persistence, customer focus, strong execution, and a willingness to keep learning as the business grows.
For founders, researchers, and innovators in attendance, the message was clear: while the path isn’t always easy, Edmonton’s growing innovation ecosystem is creating new opportunities for ambitious companies to succeed on the world stage.
Building What's Next?
Whether you’re commercializing research, launching a startup, or scaling a company, Edmonton Unlimited is here to help.
Connect with our team to explore the programs, opportunities, and resources available to support your innovation journey.