Innovation Journeys: Lessons from the Frontlines

This special edition of Founders Lunch, in collaboration with Technology Alberta, puts the spotlight on ASTech Award winners. This panel celebrates the achievements of ASTech Award-winning innovators and offers a chance to learn from their diverse entrepreneurial journeys. Some panelists come from academic backgrounds and have successfully navigated the path from research to market, while others bring different industry perspectives. Together, they will share insights on the challenges of commercialization, gaining industry adoption, and scaling in traditional sectors. The discussion will also explore how ecosystems can better support both academic and non-academic entrepreneurs—and what it might take to build Canada’s most entrepreneurial universities and innovation hubs. The ASTech Awards, presented by Technology Alberta, are a prestigious annual event that recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievements in science, technology, and innovation within Alberta's innovation ecosystem. The awards highlight the contributions of individuals, organizations, and teams across various sectors, including industry, academia, entrepreneurship, and government. Panelists: Karen Benzies, CEO, Liminality Innovations Mohammad Alikarami, CEO & Co-Founder, BioOilSolv Megan Leslie, CEO and Co-Founder, NanoTess Yashasvi Purwar, Lead Advanced Process Control, CruxOCM Gail Powley, Executive Director. ASTech Awards - moderator Liminality Innovations – Winner of the ASTech Award for Outstanding Social Innovation/Educational Technologies, for improving the quality of care delivered to families in the NICU. BioOilSolv – Winner of the ASTech Award for Environmental Innovation in Energy, recognized for their work on carbon-negative solvent production from agricultural and forestry biomass for sustainable bitumen recovery. NanoTess – Winner of the ASTech Award for Medical, Healthcare, and/or Pharmaceuticals, for their catalytic nano-solutions offering a novel approach to wound care and skin health. CruxOCM – Winner of the ASTech Award for AI/ML Advancement, for revolutionizing industrial automation with their RIPA technology. ___ This event is part of the monthly Founders Lunch Series, which aims to empower and support entrepreneurs. Organized by Innovate Calgary and supported by Alberta Innovates, ElevateIP Alberta, and the TD Ready Commitment Program, this dynamic platform connects entrepreneurs, fosters knowledge sharing, and inspires collaboration. Be a part of this transformative experience to expand your network, learn from industry leaders, and confidently navigate your entrepreneurial journey. ___ Lunch will be provided. Parking is $1.50 /every 30m or $10/day, and the building is accessible by transit. The Brentwood Train station is about a 10-minute walk away.