A new investment is aiming to put Calgary on the map for quantum innovation — not by chasing hype, but by backing people and companies who can make the tech work in the real world.
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is putting up to $675,000 over three years into QAI Ventures, a Swiss-based firm that’s expanding its accelerator and startup programs into Calgary. The funding is designed to support talent development and company growth in the emerging field of quantum technologies, including quantum computing — a technology that promises to change how industries solve complex problems, from financial forecasting to drug discovery.
“Calgary has demonstrated to the world that our city is the place to be if technology is your passion,” Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said in a release.
“Through the investment in QAI Ventures from City Council’s Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, we are now elevating our economy by building a robust quantum ecosystem that will support innovators in addressing our most complex challenges and create opportunities we have not yet imagined.”
Developing talent for quantum’s next wave
The funding will support two sequential programs: a pre-accelerator focused on early-stage development, followed by a five-month accelerator that provides startups with mentorship, commercialization resources, and access to global industry networks.
QAI Ventures will award capital investment to three companies with a presence in Calgary that graduate from the accelerator, helping them bring their quantum solutions to market
This approach is as much about people as it is about tech.
“By supporting the development of quantum talent and startups, we’re not just investing in technology — we’re investing in the people and ideas that will drive Calgary’s economic future,” said Brad Parry, CEO of OCIF and president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development.
“This initiative strengthens our innovation economy and ensures we remain competitive on the global stage.”
Participants in both phases of the program will work with global experts to tackle real industry problems. The pre-accelerator focuses on rapid prototyping for local teams, while the accelerator brings startups into an international network spanning academia, corporations, and fellow founders.
Why Calgary?
For QAI Ventures, Calgary offers more than just financial backing. The company is establishing operations at Quantum City — an innovation hub tied to academic research and commercialization efforts — embedding itself in Calgary’s growing quantum community.
“The future of quantum and AI innovation lies in collaboration,” said Alexandra Beckstein, CEO of QAI Ventures.
“By bringing startups and corporates together early on, we create an environment where industry challenges become opportunities for real-world impact. Through QAI Ventures’ ecosystem, startups gain direct access to strategic mentorship, industry partnerships, and the resources they need to scale — from prototype to commercialization.”
QAI Ventures, which already operates a quantum and AI accelerator in Basel, specializes in supporting early-stage companies in advanced computing, with a focus on commercializing research and helping teams go global.
Beckstein points to sectors like finance, life sciences, and energy as prime candidates for quantum-enabled breakthroughs. With established industry players in those spaces already based in Calgary, the city offers a natural testbed.
OCIF’s broader mission
Since its inception in 2018, OCIF has committed more than $86 million across 34 projects. According to Calgary Economic Development, those investments have helped create or scale nearly 900 companies and generated more than $900 million in economic activity — a nearly 11-fold return.
This latest investment is about extending that momentum into one of the world’s most complex and promising technology fields.
“As industries increasingly turn to quantum computing and AI to solve complex problems, the QAI Ventures accelerator will ensure that Calgary is at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field,” said Parry.
“The investment will help cultivate a sustainable talent pipeline, positioning the city as a leader in applied quantum innovation.”
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