Calgary Case Study: How Inventures Became a Massive Success Story

What do drones, plant-based proteins, and quantum computing have in common? They’re all part of the program at Inventures , a three-day experience that unites more than 3,500 futurists, investors, and researchers in Calgary each May. While Inventures is a relatively young conference — Alberta Innovates hosted the inaugural edition in 2018 — it has already cemented its status as a must-attend event for anyone who aims to have an impact on what’s next for the world.

Read on to learn how Inventures has become such a success story — and what that story says about Calgary.

How does a conference focused on innovation continue to set new registration records each year?  The community of innovators around it continues to get even bigger. According to the most recent Scoring Tech Talent report from CBRE, Calgary is the the fastest-growing tech talent market in North America.

“There's a buzz around the city,” Nicole Shokoples, vice president, stakeholder relations and communications at Alberta Innovates, says. “We're advancing fairly fast as a tech and innovation ecosystem.”

Shokoples mentions Calgary-based companies like virtual care platform PurposeMed, ticketing industry disruptor Showpass, and food rescue company Knead as a reflection that the city now rivals other destinations known for tech. “There is a real commitment to innovation here,” says Shokoples, “and investors are starting to take notice.”

While Shokoples says the organization places weight on having more local voices, she says there is a big push to welcome those from outside the community, too. “It’s a balancing act for us,” she says. “Our mandate is to propel Alberta to the world. Bringing people in from across the country and internationally is important because that helps us with learning and driving the ecosystem forward.”

Take one look at the Inventures registration list, and you might be a bit surprised; attendees don’t all have an obvious connection to each other. Instead, the audience comes from just about every field, and the sessions cover just about everything.

“The unique thing about Inventures is that we are not limited to just one sector,” Shokoples says. “We have a cross section of academia, industry, startups, creatives, and policymakers.”

Consider the 2025 agenda - attendees could brainstorm new solutions for strengthening water systems in one session before heading to a discussion about the nuances of developing indie video games. Participants could meet with Eldon Weasel Child — a history professor, country music artist, and former member of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association — one day and connect with Jim Balsillie, the retired chairman and co-CEO of Research In Motion, the next.

“It really speaks to how we’re trying to break down silos and create space for unexpected partnerships,” she adds. “We want attendees to have those moments where they say, ‘If that’s happening in this industry, maybe I can apply it in my work, too.’”

Making those moments happen isn’t always easy, but the host venue — the state-of-the-art and recently expanded BMO Centre — was designed to spark conversations. From The Exchange, which offers 15,000 square feet of casual networking space, to the iconic Brand Room and its neighboring outdoor patio, Shokoples says the venue “embodies how we’re trying to create an immersive experience with a place for connections.”

In addition to taking advantage of the venue’s unique spaces, organizers empower participants to think of Calgary as a blank canvas. “We've also encouraged partners to activate around the city and let us know so we can help spread the message,” Shokoples says. “Rather than us being the convener and owner of all of these events, the whole city gets a chance to be part of it.”

Connect with the team to learn more about the rich intellectual capital in Calgary that plays a pivotal role in Inventures’ success — and can fuel the program at your next meeting.