Investing in the innovation ecosystem

Community Initiatives are entrepreneur-focused activities that reflect and support the goals and values of the innovation community by addressing key needs such as networking, visibility, and learning. These initiatives can include events, workshops, and other collaborative opportunities, ranging from single-day events to multi-day programs. In the 2025 funding year, the Community Initiatives Fund will offer up to $10,000 to cover eligible costs for initiatives that enhance Edmonton’s innovation ecosystem. Applications are now closed.

Here are the initiatives that were successful in receiving support through the 2025 Community Initiatives Fund—congratulations to all the recipients, and thank you to everyone who applied for helping strengthen our innovation ecosystem.

Submit Your Post Community Initiatives Report

  • The Community Initiatives Fund is designed to support activities that have a demonstrated impact on entrepreneurs and founders within the innovation ecosystem while benefiting the broader Edmonton entrepreneurial community. The purpose of the fund is to strengthen the innovation ecosystem by addressing the existing needs of entrepreneurs, such as networking opportunities, enhanced visibility, and learning experiences.

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with partners to enhance the impact and alignment of their initiatives within the ecosystem. ERIN emphasizes matched funding to promote partnerships among ecosystem members and does not provide funding for initiatives retroactively. Applications are assessed by the Sub-Committee to identify those with the highest potential value, ensuring they align with both current and future funding priorities.

    More detailed information is available in the Community Initiatives Information Package. Please take the time to review this information prior to submitting your application.

  • Eligibility will be assessed on a case by case basis by the Community Initiatives Sub-Committee. However, it is generally understood that all funded initiatives should be hosted in full or in part in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and applicants must be members of the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network.

    The ERIN welcomes applications from both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, encouraging initiatives that create meaningful, measurable impacts in the community. The ERIN does not fund business development or startup activities.  Therefore, applicants operating a for-profit enterprise must demonstrate that the community benefits of their initiative outweigh the advantages to their business.  

    To align with ERIN's collective goal of building a collaborative and cohesive innovation ecosystem, applicants are strongly encouraged to form partnerships with organizations or institutions engaged in similar or complementary work. This approach fosters alignment among service providers and enhances the impact of funded initiatives.

  • This is a high-level overview of the types of expenses that are eligible and ineligible for funding. Please refer to the linked Community Initiatives Information Package document for detailed information on eligible/ineligible expenses.

    Eligible Expenses:

    • Labour: Up to 25% of the total funding for salaries (excluding benefits) related to program activity. Professional training and development essential for the program's success.

    • Materials: Reasonable costs for designing and producing learning materials and collateral for attendees.

    • Marketing & Promotion: Paid social media promotion that provides value exceeding the cost.

    • Capital Assets & Software: Software necessary for data reporting, initiative implementation, or improving information sharing with ERIN.

    • Sub-Contractors: Costs associated with using subcontractors to develop new programs or curricula.

    • Food & Venue Costs: Venue fees and food/beverage expenses (up to $25 per person, per day).

  • ERIN will hold a call for proposals in spring 2025, providing an opportunity to apply for funding. The application period will open on February 17, 2025 and close on March 28, 2025. Applicants are required to complete the application form and submit it for review.

    Once submitted, all applications will be reviewed by the ERIN Community Initiatives Sub-Committee. The committee will vote on which initiatives will receive funding and determine the funding amount, up to a maximum of $10,000. Funding decisions will be based on how well the application meets the established criteria.

    Final decisions will be communicated to all applicants by April 30, 2025.

  • Each application will be evaluated across 8 key metrics:

    • Total value, impact, and volume of entrepreneurs benefitting

    • Need being addressed in the Edmonton ecosystem

    • Applicant’s ability to execute the initiative

    • Clearly defined goals and key performance indicators

    • Support received from partner organizations (in-kind and financially)

    • The ongoing sustainability of the initiative

    • Strength of the budget, emphasizing reasonable, eligible costs and responsible spending

    • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, demonstrating meaningful and thoughtful practices

    Scores will be assigned based on how well the application meets each of these criteria. Each criterion is weighted according to its importance in the overall evaluation process.

  • The ERIN team will offer support through a series of Information Sessions to help guide you through the application process. These sessions will take place on:

    If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, please email manager@edmontonrin.ca, and we can arrange for someone to answer your questions. Please remember that if you would like support with your submission, requests must be made no later than 10 business days before the application deadline. Please note that review requests made after this time may not be possible.

“The funding we received helped us turn a dream into a reality. Upstart was born out of the desire to help creatives hone their entrepreneurial skills to be able to forge liveable careers in the arts, and the support from ERIN gave us the funds to incorporate an organization and begin engaging our community. We use a combination of social workshops, social events and panel discussions to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, none of which would have been possible without ERIN.
”
— Sam Brooks, Creative Professional

Past Grant REcipients

From 2022 to 2025, we proudly allocated $393,000 to fund small-scale programs and events that strengthen the Edmonton Innovation Ecosystem. Over this period, we supported 56 outstanding community initiatives. Below are a few of our grant recipients.

“The support from Edmonton Regional Innovation Network for the BBE Trade Fair 2024 played a fundamental role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within our diverse community. Your commitment amplified the opportunities for local businesses to thrive and strengthened the ecosystem for collaboration, growth, and success across multiple sectors.”
— Ibukun Orefuja, Founder, Black Business Edmonton
Submit Your Post Community Initiatives Report

The Edmonton Regional Innovation Network’s Geographic Focus.

 

Disclaimer

The Edmonton RIN is not liable for any risks associated with funded initiatives such as inappropriate or inaccurate content, injury, loss of or damage to personal property, among other things. 

 

Community Initiatives Sub-Committee

The purpose of the Community Initiatives Sub-committee is to support innovation-based community initiatives which foster connection and cooperation within the Edmonton innovation ecosystem.

 

chris lerohl, Management Consultant, CICG

Chris Lerohl is the Co-Founder and CEO of both Uproot Food Collective and Honest Dumplings Ltd., where he leads innovative approaches to scaling sustainable food startups. With a background in management consulting through Campus Innovation Consulting Group, Chris brings expertise in startup development, competitive and market analysis, e-commerce strategy, and grant funding. His skill set spans digital marketing, business analysis, and strategic thinking, all grounded in a strong commitment to sustainability and entrepreneurial growth.

 

Jwalant Desai, Telus

Jwalant Desai is a globally experienced innovation leader with 20+ years in venture capital, enterprise sales, and digital strategy. He has worked across Asia and North America, advising governments and leading APAC operations in tech. Active in Alberta’s startup ecosystem, Jwalant mentors founders, shares thought leadership, and champions emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. A passionate connector and traveler, he’s driven to build impactful, collaborative solutions across borders.

 

Michelle Plach, Honest Door

Michelle is the Chief Growth Officer at HonestDoor INC, where she leads strategic initiatives at the intersection of real estate, data, and technology. She works closely with industry partners and consumers to develop innovative solutions that improve transparency and modernize the real estate industry. In addition to this, Michelle serves as Board President of ACT Alberta, where she provides governance leadership and strategic oversight in support of initiatives that strengthen communities and advance social impact. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she brings together business strategy and community-minded thinking to drive meaningful change. Michelle is passionate about building partnerships and solutions that create lasting impact across her communities.

 

Maryam mirzaei, NAIT

Maryam Mirzaei is Applied Research Chair of Data Management and AI at NAIT Industry Solutions and Data & Insights Strategist at Start Alberta, with expertise spanning generative AI, machine learning, and applied research across energy, agriculture, and healthcare sectors. Holding a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Alberta, she has led interdisciplinary AI initiatives and built strategic partnerships that connect cutting-edge research with real-world industry needs. A recognized leader in AI product development and innovation strategy, Maryam brings her expertise in road mapping, stakeholder engagement, and AI-driven solution deployment to support the mission of the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network.

 

Randal Adcock, Wayfinders Business Co-operative

Randal brings extensive experience in business management, economic development, teaching, and coaching to support individuals and organizations in their growth journeys. Passionate about promoting best practices for personal, professional, and community development, Randal collaborates with independent businesses through Wayfinders Business Co-operative.

 

SUKHI Grewal, GPA LLP 

Sukhi Grewal is a strategic finance and R&D funding advisor who helps startups, scale-ups, and innovation-driven companies leverage SR&ED, government grants, and innovation tax credits to fund R&D, strengthen financial foundations, and scale sustainably. Her work integrates strategic finance, tax planning, and operational insight with graduate-level research in leadership and strategy, ensuring innovation is structured for long-term commercial impact.

With a science degree and experience in federally funded research programs, combined with prior roles as an Income Tax Auditor and SR&ED Reviewer at the Canada Revenue Agency, Sukhi brings a unique, end-to-end perspective on claim optimization, compliance, and audit risk. As a Fractional CFO and advisor, she works closely with founders, executives, and investors across a wide range of innovation-driven industries, from technology and life sciences to advanced engineering and emerging ventures across AI, fintech, health tech, and biotech, to align R&D incentives with growth, capital strategy, and commercialization.

 

EX-Officio Members

  • Manager, ERIN (Ex-Officio)

At ERIN, we are proud to have Committee Members who are devoted volunteers, working to support entrepreneurs and drive innovation. Their contributions are essential to the thriving ecosystem of innovative businesses in the Edmonton region, and we are thankful for their dedication.

Learn more About Volunteering