Thursday, April 13, 2022, Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Unlimited released its 2022 annual report entitled, Innovation from Here for the World. Results reflect the first full year of program delivery to Edmonton’s founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, as well as other benefits to the City and Edmontonians.
The municipal innovation agency positions Edmonton as an inclusive global innovation capital, accelerating Edmonton-made solutions to global challenges. With goals to drive sustainable prosperity, advance local solutions for international market share, and attract strategic investment, Edmonton Unlimited released metrics and impacts for Edmonton and the agency following the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholder on April 12, 2023.
Edmonton is on a roll. The city was recently named North America’s fastest growing tech sector and since 2020 the ecosystem value increased by 236 percent. “Contributing to this extraordinary success in 2022, Edmonton Unlimited unleashed 1,200+ seats for entrepreneurs in our free programs and unlocked 9,750+ mentorship and coaching hours free to founders and companies to help them start, grow, and scale to tackle global challenges,” said Edmonton Unlimited CEO Catherine Warren. “Not only are their local solutions what the world urgently needs, they also meet international market demands, attract enlightened investment, and demonstrate Edmonton’s significant bench-strength.”
“On behalf of Council, I extend thanks and congratulations to the board, staff, and partners of Edmonton Unlimited,” said Edmonton City Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “Our city is fortunate to have an organization that is dedicated to supporting local founders and companies, creating more economic opportunities for all Edmontonians, and supporting downtown vibrancy and placemaking.”
Other results and impacts from the annual report include:
- Of the 1200+ seats filled, 85% of program participants were working on early-stage ideas and companies
- 25% of program participants plan to seek funding and financing in 2023
- 125+ founders/companies were working on ideas and solutions to global challenges and 250+ founders/companies were working on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Our programs serve diverse innovators from all wards across Edmonton:
- 48% of founders are female; 41% of founders are visible minorities; 3% of founders are Indigenous
- During Edmonton Startup Week, we delivered:
- 80+ community events to 1,500+ attendees, including 750 at Launch Party
- Launch Party is the annual flagship event of Edmonton Startup Week. Since 2010, 115 celebrated companies have launched their businesses and raised more than $278M USD in investment and $22M CDN in grants to grow and scale
To read our 2022 Annual Report, visit our Impact page.
Edmonton Unlimited is also pleased to announce the results of an April 6 Shareholder Meeting where seven new Directors were elected to the Edmonton Unlimited Board. The election is the result of a 6-month open process that saw nearly 100 applicants put their names forward for vacant positions. Congratulations to the new Board Directors:
- Lindsay Dodd, CEO, Cashco Financial; and Board Chair Edmonton Unlimited
- Jacquelyn Cardinal, Founder and CEO, Naheyawin; Inaugural member of Edmonton Unlimited’s Innovation Growth Council
- Launa Aspeslet, COO, Hepion Pharmaceuticals
- Wendy King, SVP, Operations & Innovation, WCB Alberta
- Blaine Labonte, President, DJI Capital
- Maureen Moneta, CPA and Board Member for: Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, Mainroad Group and AGLC
- Arden Tse, Investment Manager, Yaletown Partners
New Directors join current Board Directors: Nicole Janssen, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at AltaML; and Farzad (Haider) Alvi, Assistant Professor of Innovation Finance at Athabasca University. Inaugural Board Chair Naseem Bashir, Executive Chair for Williams Group of Companies, has stepped down from the Board after successfully launching the company.
“It is a great privilege to thank and recognize Naseem Bashir for his contributions as Edmonton Unlimited’s inaugural Board Chair,” said Mayor Sohi. “Under Naseem’s governance leadership, the Board set a firm foundation for the organization, established a founding management team, provided oversight of the strategic and business plans, and selected the location for Edmonton’s newest innovation destination at 10107 Jasper Avenue, which opens publicly next month.”
“On behalf of the Edmonton Unlimited team, it’s my pleasure to welcome our committed and mission-driven Board Directors,” said Warren. “We look forward to guidance from this illustrious group as we double down on Edmonton’s strengths as an inclusive global innovation capital, co-create vibrancy in our downtown core, and generate substantial economic opportunities for all Edmontonians.”
On May 12, Edmonton Unlimited will officially unbox Edmonton’s newest innovation destination, an inviting and accessible 18,000+ square foot home for innovators, programs, and public events.
Media inquiries and interview requests:
Erin Gobolos
Vice President, Marketing & Community Relations, Edmonton Unlimited
780.721.5519 | egobolos@edmontonunlimited.com