“Calgary is not trying to be the next Silicon Valley,” says Kelly Schmitt, CEO of Headversity.
The Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network Global Startup Ecosystem Annual Report, released todayplaces Calgary in the range of #41-50 globally and #26-30 in North America, and top 30 positions for both deal timing and funding track.
Calgary it’s also in the top 10 in North America for affordable talent. Software engineers earn an average of $71,000, well above the global average of $54,000, though below the regional average of $101,000.
Total venture capital funding from 2021 to 2025 reached $3.4 billion, with ecosystem value standing at $7 billion and 151 exits recorded during the same period, above the global average of 103.
The numbers on the ground reinforce the upward trajectory of Canada’s fourth-largest city.
Calgary’s platform Impact Report 2025 confirmed $323.9 million in investment provided by member companies, pushing cumulative capital raised over $1 billion since 2018, with 1,563 founders backed, up 36% year over year.
Neo Financial, a Canadian fintech success story, raised $68.5 million in 2026 to launch a loan insurance program backed by a syndicate of more than 100 Canadian investors. Calgary-based geothermal energy leader Eavor secured $89 million in late-stage funding, ranking among Canada’s largest VC deals in 2025. CropMind was selected for the Google Startups Accelerator Canada 2026 cohort, one of only 14 AI-driven startups selected nationally.
Calgary’s mix of sectors, from fintech to cleantech, AgTech to AI, energy to defence, is a feature of how the city is positioned.
“We’re building something unique,” Schmitt added. “A deeply collaborative ecosystem where talent, capital and hard-earned lessons are shared to solve real-world problems. This combination of humility, grit and ‘we’re in this together’ ambition is why I chose to join Headversity and scale another company here.”
Calgary Innovation Strategy and local funding are at the heart of growing the ecosystem, with the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) investing millions starting in 2025.
With growth in early-stage funding scoring seven out of 10 and the Calgary Platform predicting a further 20% increase in founder participation by 2026, the ecosystem’s momentum is clear.
“The GSER 2026 findings validate what we’ve seen on the ground: Calgary isn’t just participating in the innovation economy – we’re setting the pace for the rest of Canada,” says Jen Lussier, CEO of the Calgary Platform.
“Growth at four times the national average is a remarkable achievement, but the real story is the sustainability of this trajectory. These economic benefits are now deeply embedded in Calgary’s economy. We’ve gone from ’emergent’ to ‘core,’ and the momentum we’ve built since 2020 provides a solid foundation for the next phase into the final decade of growth.”
The last shots
- Calgary’s cumulative capital raised surpassed $1 billion as of 2018, with $323.9 million secured by Calgary Platform member companies in 2025 alone, and founder participation increased 36% year over year.
- The ecosystem ranks in the top 10 in North America for affordable talent, with 151 exits from 2021 to 2025, above the global average of 103.
- Sector diversification into fintech, cleantech, AgTech, AI and defense is strategic, supported by the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and coordinated through the Calgary Platform, Calgary Innovation Coalition and Calgary Economic Development.
Startup Ecosystems Unpacked
Digital Magazine has published additional coverage of the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, including Canadian ecosystem reports. Explore more:
