Digital travel guide startup 10Adventures and augmented reality company SOS WebAR were recently awarded with the People’s Choice and Alumni Choice awards, respectively, at Startup Calgary’s 12th annual Launch Party.
On November 23rd, as part of Startup Calgary’s Innovation Week, ten companies from the province were celebrated for their achievements throughout the year. The startups that were named in the top 10 list are: 10Adventures, Discovery DNA, Integrity Technology Solutions, Levelling Up, SOS WebAR, SpikeFli, Tracecost, Village Wellth, Wordkit AI, and Xerris.
Founded in 2016, Alberta-headquartered 10Adventures describes itself as a one-stop-source for all travel needs. Its platform gives users access to travel guides for more than 60 destinations as well as guided tours.
SOS WebAR was incorporated in 2013 and provides augmented reality experiences using a web browser rather than an app, eliminating the need for new users to install a new application on their device.
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The companies are nominated by the Calgary innovation community and selected by a committee of four Launch Party alumni founders. To be selected, companies must be active for less than three years, be revenue positive, and demonstrate potential growth.
Among the roster of ten startups, two may receive the People’s Choice and Alumni’s Choice awards. The People’s Choice award recipient is voted on live during the event, while the latter is chosen by a selection committee.
While the event was held virtually it attracted more than 300 attendees with live components streamed from the Platform Innovation Centre.
Startup Calgary started in 2010 as a grassroots initiative focused on providing programming and events for the city’s early-stage tech community. This year, Platform Calgary took over its operations from Calgary Economic Development.
Terry Rock, president and CEO of Platform Calgary, attributes Calgary’s growing startup success to an increase in financing. Venture Capital Association of Alberta reported that the province saw a record year for venture capital investment in 2020. In that year, 51 deals were completed, representing a cumulative $455 million in investment.