On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2024. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Laura ↗
In their words
when folks approached me to come here and actually grow the innovation scene for the province, I just thought it was just such a super opportunity and almost missionary for me to come and do what I've done in Austin, Texas
over $150 million of transactions between people that had met there. But in fact, they expected that to surpass a quarter of a billion within 12 months of the original conference
we try and orchestrate meetings and collisions of individuals where you have this opportunity that you don't have
Around the web ×2
Quick answers
Who is Laura Kilcrease?
An English-born, Austin-based investor who founded the Austin Technology Incubator in 1989 and Triton Ventures in 1999, then moved to Canada to run Alberta Innovates, the province's innovation funding agency, from 2017 until June 2024.
What is Alberta Innovates?
The innovation engine for the province of Alberta, in her words — it funds research and technology (including Amii, Alberta's machine-learning institute), runs accelerator and scale-up programs, and works with large companies on technical problems, on a one-to-thirty-year horizon (TechTO podcast 2024-05-24).
What is the Inventures conference?
An Alberta Innovates conference she started to connect investors, founders, industry and policymakers. She cited a PwC report on Inventures 2023 finding over $150 million in transactions between people who met there within three months, projected to pass a quarter of a billion within twelve (TechTO podcast 2024-05-24).
Is she still CEO of Alberta Innovates?
No. She left the role in late June 2024, about a month after this podcast, after seven years; Michael Mahon was named interim CEO effective July 1, 2024 (Calgary Tech Journal, 2024-06-30). Triton Ventures' own site continues to list her as its founder and managing director (checked 2026-08-27).