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Celebrating Innovation: ZayZoon and Verano.AI Shine at the 2024 Start Alberta Tech Awards

For the seventh consecutive year, the vibrant community of Alberta’s tech ecosystem gathered to recognize exceptional achievements at the annual Start Alberta Tech Awards. This event showcased the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial talent that defines the province’s tech landscape, highlighting notable startups and venture capital leaders who are making waves in the industry.

Honoring Remarkable Companies

The 2024 Start Alberta Tech Awards took place at the iconic Studio Bell in Calgary, where the spotlight fell on the fastest-growing companies and standout deals from the past year. With awards distributed across 11 categories, including those focused on women in tech, impactful deals, and service excellence, the evening served to honor both established players and emerging ventures in the province’s startup ecosystem.

Verano.AI: Acknowledged as "One to Watch"

The highly coveted A100’s One to Watch award was presented to Verano.AI, an early-stage company recognized by the Alberta tech community for its promising trajectory and likelihood of future success. This distinction, awarded by A100 charter members, is a testament to the company’s remarkable growth and potential in the industry.

Founded by president Clay Swerdelian and product manager Hugo Kiqumoto, Verano.AI has carved a niche in developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI)-powered compliance software tailored for regulated industries. The startup has forged notable partnerships with major firms such as Deloitte and ServiceNow and completed the Creative Destruction Lab’s Rockies accelerator program. Swerdelian, a serial entrepreneur with five ventures under his belt, was also honored with the Most Promising Founder award for his leadership.

"Winning the A100 One to Watch award not only showcases our efforts but also signifies that people are genuinely interested in the work we’re doing," Swerdelian shared. "Over the past 12 to 14 months, we have dedicated ourselves to visibility and engagement, which has put us on a rapid growth path."

ZayZoon: Scaleup of the Year

In an impressive achievement, the title of Scaleup of the Year was awarded to ZayZoon, a Calgary-based FinTech company that is transforming how workers access their wages. This innovative platform allows employees to receive a portion of their earnings ahead of traditional paydays, effectively providing them with increased financial flexibility.

Start Alberta praised ZayZoon’s founders—CEO Darcy Tuer, president Tate Hackert, and CFO Jamie Ha—for their significant contributions to the local tech sector through mentorship initiatives and industry engagement. Tuer reflected on the inspiration drawn from previous award winners, noting that their successes inspired ZayZoon’s journey.

"Winning this award motivates us to inspire future entrepreneurs to take bold risks, just as those before us have done," Tuer commented.

Exceptional Recognitions Across the Board

The awards did not stop at ZayZoon and Verano.AI. The Deal of the Year award was claimed by cleantech company ClearSky Global, which successfully closed a $168 million USD funding round in June. This was soon outpaced by Neo Financial, who secured an impressive $360 million CAD in Series D financing this month, marking a major milestone in Alberta’s funding landscape.

Moreover, the Impact Award was presented to Christa Hill, co-founder of coaching platform Tacit Edge, in recognition of her commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive pathway to product management careers for underrepresented groups. Meanwhile, Jana Rieger, CEO and co-founder of True Angle—a medtech startup focusing on wearable solutions for health and wellness—earned the Women in Tech award for her entrepreneurial achievements.

Supporting Growth Through Innovation and Inclusion

In addition to the awards, figures such as Pierre Lemire of Kent Imaging and Jacques LaPointe of Metiquity Ventures were celebrated for their leadership and investment contributions within the Alberta tech ecosystem. Ha Nguyen, partner at McRock Capital, was recognized as the Ecosystem Supporter of the Year for her initiative, Migr8, which provides resources and venture funding for immigrant entrepreneurs.

“I aimed to nurture a welcoming environment for brilliant entrepreneurs worldwide, making them feel valued and supported—mirroring my own experience as an immigrant,” Nguyen explained. “Although diversity may not be the most visible aspect of Alberta, it is undeniably present and impactful.”

Navigating legal Challenges with AI legalese decoder

In a landscape where innovation and entrepreneurial endeavors flourish, navigating the complexities of legal documentation remains a critical challenge for startups. This is where AI legalese decoder can play a transformative role. By utilizing revolutionary AI-driven technology, it helps decode intricate legal jargon into clear and understandable language, ensuring that founders like Swerdelian and Tuer can focus on their core business strategies without getting bogged down by legal complexities. This tool enhances their capability to make informed decisions, understand contractual obligations, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.

Through AI legalese decoder, startups can find valuable clarity in legal matters, empowering them to navigate the intricacies of their industry with confidence. In a world where clarity can breed innovation, such tools are essential to fostering a thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurship.

By honoring companies like Verano.AI and ZayZoon, along with the multitude of other trailblazers recognized at the Start Alberta Tech Awards, the tech community collectively demonstrates the power of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity in carving a brighter future for Alberta’s entrepreneurial landscape.

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