Big opportunities from Canada’s top investors, operators & founders

“The management of a core commodity - electricity - is at a unique point in time. On one hand, the shift towards renewable energy production affects the topology, composition and dynamics of the electricity grid.

On the other hand, electricity consumption patterns are drastically changing given the rise of AI (data center usage) and the electrification of the transport sector along with residential & commercial buildings. Umbrellaing that is a stark increase of climate variability (winter 2024 in Canada anyone?) affecting the supply, demand and distribution of electricity. Rapid changes on all three fronts will present opportunities for innovative founders to create massive businesses.”

“Alberta stands at a pivotal juncture in the global dialogue on energy transition, with a clear acknowledgment of the need for groundbreaking and sustainable technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and secure Alberta's economic future in a progressively low-emission world. This subject is central to both economic and political discussions in the region, where the energy industry has historically been the bedrock of Alberta's prosperity and is expected to remain significant. The consensus is shifting towards the belief that the path forward for this sector lies in embracing technological innovation, ranging from intensive industrial research and development to more agile, startup-driven models.

The push towards cleantech not only promises substantial societal advantages but also heralds a new era of economic rejuvenation for Calgary, amidst a time of significant change. According to the 2022 Alberta Energy Transition Study, the cleantech industry could potentially introduce 170,000 new employment opportunities and contribute an additional $61 billion to Alberta's GDP, illustrating the profound impact that innovation in clean technology could have on the province's economic landscape and its role in the global energy transition.”

“In the rapidly growing creator economy, platforms are poised to capitalize on the surge of content creators, now estimated at around 200 million globally. The challenge, however, lies in harnessing detailed social intelligence at the point of registration to provide highly personalized experiences that enhance user retention. Current methods fall short, failing to tap into the rich, nuanced data essential for deep personalization, especially with the advent of Generative AI technologies.

The solution lies in an API-driven system that not only aggregates a creator's social data across platforms but also delves into the finer details of their online activity. This includes analyzing post frequency and dissecting content themes to offer a granular view of their creative habits and the messages they convey. By moving beyond simple niche categorization to explore the rhythm of their postings and the recurring themes and keywords within their content, platforms can gain a more dynamic and holistic understanding of each creator.

This advanced level of insight would revolutionize the way platforms tailor their experiences and services, significantly boosting creator satisfaction and success. The ideal solution would integrate this deep social intelligence effortlessly, using a single API call to unlock a detailed portrait of a creator's engagement strategies and thematic nuances, providing businesses with a deeper, more actionable understanding of the creator's brand and audience connection.”

“The challenge of managing an overwhelmingly busy calendar has become a common plight among professionals, particularly exacerbated by the shift to a predominantly virtual meeting environment post-pandemic. Traditional scheduling tools and plugins, despite their promise of efficiency, fall short in accommodating the dynamic and densely packed nature of modern work calendars. This issue is not isolated but shared among many colleagues, underscoring the need for a more sophisticated solution that transcends the capabilities of existing scheduling aids.

The opportunity here lies in creating an intelligent, adaptive scheduling system that not only finds optimal meeting times but also incorporates strategic breaks and considers the varying priorities and urgencies of different appointments. Such a system should be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing digital calendars and communication platforms, offering a streamlined, intuitive interface that minimizes the need for manual intervention and the potential backlog associated with traditional assistant-based scheduling.”

“The Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem exhibits a notable gap in the facilitation of high-quality mentorship connections, as well as in the provision for mentors to evaluate and enhance their mentoring capabilities. This challenge is pervasive across all industries but is particularly pronounced for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs, who face additional barriers in accessing impactful mentorship.

This situation presents a dual opportunity: firstly, to develop platforms or programs that efficiently match entrepreneurs with seasoned mentors tailored to their specific needs and industry challenges; and secondly, to offer resources and training for mentors to refine their skills, ensuring they can provide the most effective guidance. Addressing these needs will not only elevate the quality of mentorship but also ensure a more inclusive and supportive entrepreneurial environment in Canada.”

“The allure of international markets often tempts Canadian founders to relocate, particularly within the tech industry where early-stage ventures seek robust support and investment.

A notable instance in 2023 involved the founders of a Toronto-based AI startup, who, while in the process of capital raising, received a compelling proposition from a major US VC to move their operations stateside. This scenario underscores a recurring challenge: the potential brain drain and loss of innovative ventures that could flourish within Canada's unique ecosystem. Therein lies an opportunity to enhance the support structure for Canadian entrepreneurs.”