From business software to biotech, web 2.0 to interactive hardware, Calgary is home to some of the most innovative inventors and hottest tech companies anywhere in the world. With new inventors mixing it up with serial entrepreneurs, Calgary’s tech sector is on the rise.

What better way to draw attention to this growing industry bringing new energy and diversity to the Calgary economy, than to have a night dedicated to Calgary’s own TechRev Innovators. These are 10 of the hottest tech companies in Calgary giving our prairie city the distinction of the next hotbed for tech in Canada.

Event Shines Spotlight on Industry and promotes Investment

On September 24, some 200 movers and shakers in Calgary’s tech community came out to the SMART Technologies’ world HQ to hear which companies would be recognized as TechRev Innovtors 2009. Kicking off the program was Calgary Technologies CEO, John Masters. Before introducing Calgary’s Mayor, he gave his take on why CTI supports TechRev’s mandate of promoting investment in the sector and collaboration in the tech business community. Next, Mayor Dave Bronconnier sang his praises for the tech sector and its importance to driving innovation. He’s a firm believer that tech is poised to play a vital role in Calgary’s economy.

Jim Colvin, founder of Urban Dispatch engaged the crowd with his insights into tech in Calgary today before counting down the companies. Fred Stewart, a driving force in the tech sector whose resume includes former Alberta Minister of Technology, Research and Telecommunications and Government House Leader, and TechRev Advisory Council Member, presented each company with a memento of recognition.

The final list of 10 was whittled down from 132 nominations. Check out TechRev Innovators 2009 to read more about the companies, the technologies they are developing, and the people behind the scenes.

Solium Capital Online – The idea behind Solium Capital and the product now known around the world as Shareworks™ is straightforward, and yet ambitious – to change the way employee stock purchase plans are administered and accessed. In 1999, Solium set out to build an innovative stock plan administration experience on a web-based, software-as-a-service model. Solium has successfully executed a strategy of growth through acquisition. Read More... 

Tynt Multimedia – Initially, Tynt was a tool used to add fun details to a person’s profile on social networking sites, altering photos of friends by putting them in different clothing or drawing hats on them. However, Tynt’s founders unexpectedly recognized another application: monitoring user engagement on websites. So in December of 2008, they reworked Tynt to suit the needs of online publishers – and Tracer was born. Read More... 

Oncolytics Biotech  – While conducting research at the University of Calgary  in the mid-1990’s,  Dr. Patrick Lee, along with two research assistants, realized that they were working with an agent that could become a therapeutic drug to treat cancer.  Testing on animal models confirmed their hunch and they founded a company to support the subsequent development of the drug Reolysin. More than fifteen years of research will culminate in Phase III clinical trials over the next two years.  The results of these trials will either see Reolysin approved and available to cancer patients or declined, there is no middle ground. Read More... 

Evoco – Evoco solutions are trusted by thousands of retail and real estate development clients throughout North America to manage design, construction, remodel, compliance and facility management projects.  Living the motto “Build more Simply,” Evoco provides users with the tools to manage prototype designs, improve communication between various stakeholders, support RFI’s and cut out unnecessary costs. This focus on cost savings has helped Evoco effectively weather the economic downturn. Read More... 

CoolIT Systems – CoolIT designs and sells liquid cooling systems for computer CPUs and GPUs, available in retail kits at computer stores and also embedded in OEM devices. The entire computer industry wants their CPU’s to go faster and the primary hurdle in going to liquid cooling solutions, which is the most efficient approach, is that there have not been any highly reliable suppliers with the track record, history, and ability to interface on a large scale with the big guys. Through its collaboration with DELL, CoolIT is on the way to dominating that niche. Read More... 

Print Audit – Print Audit is a global leader and one of only a handful of companies around the world that produce software designed to help companies reduce and recover their costs from printing and photocopying. Now considered an environmental play, reduced printing, thanks to Print Audit, saves 190, 000 trees every year. The culture of the company has had a phenomenal impact on the way customers perceive Print Audit. While customer service is an expression frequently used by companies it is truly demonstrated by Print Audit, particularly in the area of technical support. Read More... 

Replicon – With three failed products based respectively on workflow, document management and customer support, the co-founders of Replicon were seriously thinking about abandoning their company and going back to consulting. But instead of closing up shop, they incorporated the lessons learned from their failures into a new product, launching Web TimeSheet in 1998.  As pioneers in the web based timesheet software market, Replicon harnessed the Internet as a sales and marketing platform, offering “Software as a Service” solutions. Read More... 
 
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging – Circle Cardiovascular was founded in 2007, providing the foundation and infrastructure for developing the world’s leading cardiology imaging software, cmr42 Inspired by doctors and developed in collaboration with a number of medical professionals, cmr42 is poised to change the way in which cardiologists collect data and deliver diagnoses. Currently installed in cardiac centres in both Europe and North America, Circle Cardiovascular is looking forward to rapidly expanding their reach. Read More... 

3esi - Coming out of a successful exit with one technology company, the founders of 3esi decided to explore different verticals and different opportunities, deciding that upstream oil and gas was the place to focus. 3esi developed an integrated Oil and Gas Enterprise Software Solution aimed at managing a diverse portfolio of assets. This solution was the first of its kind anywhere in the world and today, 3esi enjoys the reputation of an international innovator, generating two-thirds of its revenues outside of Canada. Read More... 

SMART Technologies – SMART is considered a pillar of Calgary’s technology sector, recognized around the world for their revolutionary SMART Board™ technology. The company and the founders are an inspiration to every innovator who is living the dream, bootstrapping, and hanging on for that big break. With a new world HQ located right here in Calgary, SMART is proof that tech can yield a bumper crop on the Canadian prairies. Read More...