Recognizing Startup Success and the People's Choice Award Winner for Cohort 10 at Velocity North Showcase!
Wondering the latest applications of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain? At the recent Velocity Showcase North, held at Edmonton Unlimited, the stage was set for an exciting display of innovation and entrepreneurship as 11 early-stage startups presented their bold ideas.
From AI-powered customer engagement tools like Arii to accessible fractional real estate investing using smart contracts and blockchain technology with Constructschön, this cohort showcased diverse applications of emerging technologies. Additionally, our jaws dropped as we listened to Q-Block Computing share their R&D and hardware solutions which illuminated the future potential of quantum sensing and quantum communication applications.
Cohort 10 Companies: Scooly, Arii, Beyoo, Constructshön, Gummy Nutrition Lab, LitLife, My Fertility Labs, Partyra, Q-Block Computing, Re[Source], RankUs
About Velocity Showcase
The Velocity Showcase serves as a unique opportunity for early-stage startups to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions, pitch live, and gain valuable exposure within the tech and startup community. With two showcases, Velocity North and Velocity South, spotlighting tech startups from different regions, attendees also get a firsthand look at local innovation in action and be part of the buzz in Edmonton’s startup scene! Browse the showcase photo gallery on our Meta page.
Celebrating Alberta’s Startup Community
Amidst the electrifying atmosphere, special guest speakers infused the event with even more inspiration and motivation. Dr. Launa Aspeslet, the interim CEO of Edmonton Unlimited, kicked off the night, highlighting the important partnership between Edmonton Unlimited and Platform Calgary through Alberta Catalyzer.
"Collaboration is at the heart of innovation, and our partnership with Platform Calgary through Alberta Catalyzer underscores our commitment to supporting the growth and success of startups across Alberta," remarked Dr. Aspeslet.
And if you were fortunate enough to have snagged a spot in the sold-out audience, you would have been treated to insights from the Honorable Minister of Tech & Innovation, Nate Glubish. He shared valuable perspectives on the traction of the province's increasing appeal to capital investments, especially in early-stage ventures. Laura Kilcrease, CEO of Alberta Innovates, also took the stage to share the remarkable successes of the Alberta Scaleup Growth and Accelerator Program, boasting impressive figures in fundraising, job creation, and revenue from the alumni community. It's clear that Alberta is rapidly emerging as the premier destination to launch and scale startups.
The Meaning Behind People's Choice Award
One of the highlights of the Alberta Catalyzer Velocity Showcase is the People's Choice Award. This award recognizes the startup or founder that resonates most with attendees, shining a spotlight on their achievements and contributions to the startup community. It's a testament to the hard work, dedication, and ingenuity of the winning startup.
And the Winner is…
Drumroll, please! The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived – it's time to announce the winner of the People's Choice Award! After a suspenseful round of voting, we're thrilled to congratulate Sarah Harper for capturing the hearts and minds of the audience with My Fertility Labs, an accessible and personalized solution empowering women and men with tailored fertility care.
“This award stands as a testament to the vital importance of ensuring access to fertility care and miscarriage prevention for all individuals and couples. It serves as a powerful reminder of our unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those facing reproductive challenges.” - Sarah Harper
The picture above features People’s Choice Award winner My Fertility Labs co-founders Sarah Harper and sister Laura Duguay posing for the camera with the Honourable Minister Nate Glubish.
Photo Credit: Ampersand Grey
For Sarah, the showcase represented eight weeks of personal growth. She shares her biggest takeaway was “...growing in our confidence in where we are headed… a lot of it comes from the program, the coaching, and having the mentors in place to help us determine the next best step.”
My Fertility Labs’ modern approach addresses the shortcomings of existing market solutions in identifying the root causes of infertility and miscarriages. Resulting in a shorter path to conception, lower costs, and most importantly increased success.
For Sarah, the Velocity program was an opportunity to commercialize a needed solution. Working with her coach and entrepreneur Jennifer Keith, Sarah worked to understand who her customers were and what they were willing to pay as a minimum viable product. "...the Velocity program stood out as a way to refine our MVP approach. When we first started, we had 3-4 approaches of how the MVP could look." she explains. “We've leveraged these learnings to refine our path to market and enhance our marketing approach,” Sarah emphasizes, “further solidifying our dedication to serving those in need within the fertility community.”
My Fertility Labs is now progressing through technical development and has plans to expand its current web platform to include fertility screening, home blood tests, and developing ongoing care plans in 2024. They are diligently working to launch in the USA market by Q3 of 2025.
My Fertility Labs is currently seeking partners for pilot programs, healthcare insurance providers, and connections to healthcare personnel, including general physicians, fertility coaches, and pharmacists.
Wrapping up, cohort 10 and the Velocity North Showcase demonstrated the incredible talent and ingenuity driving Alberta's startup scene forward. With such promising ideas and initiatives, the future looks exceptionally promising for our province's tech industry.
Together, we're shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship in Alberta, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for our startup community.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of celebration, collaboration, and community. See you at the next showcase.
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 the next cohort in one of three programs: Engage, Traction, and Velocity.
