Alberta’s tech sector spotlighted CoolIT Systems and PurposeMed among 10 finalists at the Start Alberta Tech Awards, celebrating standout companies from Calgary’s most notable exits. Both firms earned recognition during Wednesday’s ceremony.
Tamara Woolgar, the executive director with The A100, said the award honourees are building technology that meets real needs for people around the world. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements in Alberta’s tech sector.
The Start Alberta Tech Awards, now in its ninth year, held its ceremony at Calgary’s National Music Centre. Recipients were honoured across 10 categories, including Deal of the Year and Anchor of the Year.
CoolIT Systems took home the Deal of the Year award for its $4.75-billion USD exit to Ecolab. The exit, announced last March and closed in July, is the largest disclosed acquisition price for an Alberta-based company in history.
PurposeMed took home the Anchor of the Year award, honouring a flagship company that supports the foundation upon which others build in Alberta. The company behind telehealth startups Freddie, Frida, and Foria was recently acquired by dating platform Grindr in another high-value acquisition, netting $250 million USD.
Pete MacLeod, PurposeMed co-founder and CEO, said, “You can build a real company in Alberta without burning through capital.” Helcim, the Calgary-based FinTech and payment processing platform, took home Scaleup of the Year for more than doubling its team since 2021.
The remaining list of winners and award categories include: Most Promising Founder: Cheng (Jack) Su, EnerNode AI; Investor of the Year: Graphite Ventures; A100 One to Watch: NiaHealth.
Jade Alberts received the VCAA Rod Charko Service Award for his decade of work with Peer Guidance, a fractional support network for founders. Kristina Milke, a general partner at Sprout Fund, received the Ecosystem Support of the Year award.
Dr. Christy Lane, co-founder and co-CEO of Flora Fertility, received the Woman in Tech award. Dr. Caley Shukalek, former chief medical officer of PurposeMed, received the Leader of the Year award.