Alberta is home to 19 cities, but the main ones are Edmonton and Calgary. More than half of Albertans live in these cities, and they’re also home to where most tech innovation takes place. In 2024, Alberta accounted for 15 percent of all tech deals in Canada, surpassing its proportional share of the national economy.
Thanks to these impressive statistics, more international companies are finding themselves drawn to Alberta. For instance, DraftKings is the latest huge brand considering a launch in the province soon.
DraftKings Set to Launch in 2026
Despite being a leading tech hub in Canada, Alberta has been slow to jump on the growing online gambling market in the country. However, that looks set to change soon, with the iGaming market in the region expected to welcome private operators by early 2026. This will represent a major shakeup in the online gambling landscape and could lead to even greater evolution for the industry in the country.
DraftKings is one company that’s well positioned to take advantage of this move, as the brand already offers daily fantasy sports in Alberta. When sports betting in Alberta becomes fully legal in 2026, the iconic brand is expected to be one of the first to launch. This is a strong signal of international confidence in Alberta’s digital infrastructure and is likely to inspire other brands to follow suit.
How Did Alberta Become a Hub of Innovation?
There are various organizations in Alberta that have helped it become one of the leading regions in Canada for innovation. Alberta Innovates and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute have been at the forefront of this drive, with a vast amount of investment in nurturing emerging tech fields. For instance, there’s been a great focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning in recent times, as these technologies are projected to have a massive impact in the years ahead.
There’s been a spike in venture capital investments in Alberta in the last few years, with funding rising from $561 million in 2021 to $707 million in 2023. On top of that, Calgary companies led roughly a $20 billion investment in digital initiatives from 2021 to 2024. Along with support from these investors and the government, institutions in the province are also churning out top talent in tech. That means that startups in the region have a great chance of success.
Benevity – A Calgary Success Story
It’s not just the global brands entering Alberta that are stealing all the headlines. There are also plenty of homegrown tech success stories, with Benevity being one of the top examples.
The Calgary-based software company has become a world leader in cooperate social responsibility and employee engagement platforms. Now, hundreds of major brands, from Google to Coca-Cola, use it to manage workplace charitable initiatives.
With local startups thriving and international attention soaring, Alberta’s success as one of Canada’s primary tech hubs is set to continue. The next couple of years will be hugely exciting, and the introduction of major brands will lead to the attraction of others.
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