Meet the 9 Startups Driving Innovation in Southern Alberta’s New Velocity Cohort
Introducing the Newest Alberta Catalyzer Velocity Startups from Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat!
The Velocity program is designed to accelerate growth for startups that are already generating recurring revenue and preparing to scale. These companies are on the cusp of major expansion, gearing up to refine their operations, strengthen their business models, and become investment-ready.
Photo Credit: Ampersand Grey
A group of startup founders sit together at Platform Calgary. They represent the latest cohort of innovators in the latest Alberta Catalyzer Velocity South program (Cohort 13 | Fall 2024).
Cohort 13 features nine startups that are building cutting-edge solutions across diverse industries in Southern Alberta. From gamified security platforms, arts and entertainment ventures, and recruitment innovations to transformative advancements in retail, education, fintech, and real estate, these founders are driving impactful change and setting new standards in their fields.
On November 13th, you have the chance to watch these founders pitch live as they take the stage to pitch their companies live at the Alberta Catalyzer Velocity South Showcase in Calgary.
Meet the Startups | Cohort 13
Brekade
Founder: A.J. Leece
Brekade turns your security program into a custom gamified experience, testing your business's readiness to respond to industry-specific threats. Their tabletop simulations help identify security gaps, engage your team, and make security programs more accessible, all while highlighting the costs of potential breaches.
Eventpaddy
Founders: Abiodun Oduniyi, Babatola Awoniyi, Femi Babatunde
EventPaddy is a versatile virtual event management platform designed to seamlessly host and organize social events online. Offering user-friendly tools to create, customize, and manage events, EventPaddy simplifies virtual event planning for any occasion.
InterviewPal
Founder: Aryan Panchal
InterviewPal helps job seekers ace their interviews with customized questions, real-time feedback, and progress tracking. By analyzing responses, InterviewPal boosts confidence and allows users to practice anytime, anywhere, making interview prep easier and more effective.
Fitzba
Founder: Alana Baxter
Fitzba connects consumers with local brick-and-mortar retailers through a location-based platform, making it easier to shop locally. Acting as a shopping search engine, Fitzba helps customers find what they need in nearby stores, supporting sustainable practices and contributing to vibrant communities.
HOODO
Founders: Mary Llaneta, Brandon Potts
Hoodo modernizes the vehicle delivery process by streamlining the make-ready workflow, eliminating the need for spreadsheets, sticky notes, and emails. Their innovative software solutions ensure timely vehicle delivery, enhancing customer satisfaction and empowering automotive professionals to optimize performance and productivity.
Educify Inc.
Founders: Oluwaseun Adegunju and Tobiloba Adegunju
Educify.org connects qualified teachers with students across Canada, the United States, and globally, ensuring a safe learning environment through background-checked tutors. Established in 2020, Educify provides accessible and affordable educational platforms on both web and mobile devices, making it easy for students to pursue their educational dreams with just a tap.
Weciny
Founder: Farbod Jamali
Weciny is a private social network for apartment and condo buildings, allowing residents to connect and communicate securely. Users can build relationships, share recommendations, organize events, and stay updated on community news, all while rating and reviewing their buildings.
Smile + Co.
Founder: Morgan Sylvain
Smile + Co. is a digital recruiting platform connecting dental professionals with local clinics and job opportunities. Their focus is on creating meaningful connections, helping businesses find the right hires, whether permanent or temporary.
RIGHT
Founder: Pavel Bondarev
RIGHT is a financial management platform that helps users take control of their finances. It automatically creates personalized budgets, tracks spending, and provides a debit card that is refilled daily with a pre-planned amount to prevent overspending.
About Alberta Catalyzer
Alberta Catalyzer is a merit-based pre-accelerator that offers company support, resources, and coaching to entrepreneurs aiming to launch and grow their tech-enabled companies, preparing them for advancement to the scale-up and acceleration stages.
Launched in 2022, Alberta Catalyzer is developed and delivered by Platform Calgary and Edmonton Unlimited, with support from partners and organizations across the Alberta Innovation Network.
Apply to join the next cohort in one of three programs: Engage, Traction, and Velocity.
Alberta Catalyzer is a part of the Alberta Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program (Scaleup GAP), led by Alberta Innovates. The consortium, which also includes Technology and Innovation, Edmonton Unlimited, the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), allocated $35 million over three years to retain business accelerators. It’s part of an overall government goal to help create 20,000 jobs and increase technology firm revenue to $5 billion by 2030.
Alberta Catalyzer is open to ALL entrepreneurs launching and growing a tech-enabled company in Alberta – which includes the development of a new solution, product or process that has the potential to improve or advance the industry with commercial viability.