SASKATOON—Innovation Saskatchewan announced investment of more than $1 million in four companies involved in industry-led research and development technologies, which will result in employment opportunities and economic growth for the province.
The funding will come from the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund (SAIF) and the Agtech Growth Fund (AGF). These investments will provide significant support to some of the province's key industries.
Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Warren Kaeding said these research and development grant programs fund projects by local companies to develop technological solutions in the province’s key industries—agriculture, energy, healthcare, manufacturing and mining—and help bring their products to market.
EcoLoop Sustainable Technologies ($450,000), Greenwave Innovations ($255,000), Archetype Global 3D ($250,000) and BetterCart Analytics ($135,000) are the four recipients of SAIF and AGF funding for the spring 2025 cohort. Kaeding, who is also the trade and export minister, announced the grants on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Co.Labs and Environmental Material Sciences' office at Innovation Place.
EcoLoop is developing a process that removes chemicals found in firefighting foams from soil and water while producing a material that can be used as fertilizer. Greenwave is creating a data-driven platform that automates industrial equipment monitoring, eliminating waste and unnecessary costs. Archetype is developing an easy-to-assemble concrete 3D printer that produces building materials faster than current models.
Co.Labs Director Jonathan Lipoth, Innovation Saskatchewan CEO Kerry Harvey, Environmental Material Science (EcoLoop) CEO Stephen Siciliano, and BetterCart Analytics founder and CEO Melanie Morrison attended the event. Morrison’s tech startup is developing an advanced artificial intelligence-driven price analytics platform that aims to reduce food costs in the supply chain from distributors to customers.
“Saskatchewan companies continue to develop impactful technological solutions for critical industry challenges in our core sectors. Funding programs like SAIF and AGF help accelerate made-in-Saskatchewan innovations to reach new global markets, driving economic and employment growth in communities across the province. What we're seeing now is a company that has the opportunity to advance its brand and product and get to that next phase—commercialization. And when you're able to commercialize, you're able to employ people, develop new products—ultimately, the world is your limit,” Kaeding told reporters after the announcement.
“[It is] important to help startup companies because you see that initial phase when they've gone from product research … to product development. It's tough to attract investment capital, so this gives that impetus to get to that stage of commercialization, opening a wide door for opportunities. We've heard worldwide that sustainability is a key component to doing business when we're on trade missions and talking to companies and corporations, whether they're based in Saskatchewan or Singapore.”
He added that the government will do whatever it can to support the goals of every startup company in providing sustainable products, which the SAIF and AGF grants aim to support. Saskatchewan is increasingly focusing on sustainable and environmentally friendly investments, reflecting feedback from industry partners in other nations.
Siciliano, whose company is emerging as a leader in the tech ecosystem, said their mission is to remediate, restore and improve the soils and waters used in agriculture and non-renewable resource extraction. He added that healthy soils serve as the foundation of life, particularly in the agricultural industry. Funding from SAIF and AGF grants, with support from Co.Labs and Innovation Saskatchewan, helps startups like his grow and increase returns on their investments.
“The AGF and support from Innovation Saskatchewan are critical to the development of LiORA by EMS. The LiORA product provides a real-time estimate of carbon sequestration and nitrogen losses due to nitrous oxide emissions. AGF support allowed us to enhance the product by incorporating new nutrient sensors into the LiORA package so that the agriculture sector can obtain real-time carbon and nitrogen efficiency estimates.
“As a startup grows, we have an idea that we recently demonstrated was a hundred times better than our traditional competitors. However, the issue is that we have to achieve product velocity and product fit while losing money. The nature of a tech company is doing something that, when we tell people we can do it, they go, ‘That's impossible.’ Then we have to show it,” Siciliano said.
“The support from the provincial and federal levels and [Co.Labs] is crucial for that. [Also], Saskatchewan's openness to newcomers, especially highly skilled ones, is critical to our success. The ability to bring people in with deep expertise that we cannot find in Saskatchewan is invaluable. They love Saskatchewan, never want to leave, and do things we didn't even know were possible. I'm proud to say that we have 800 sensors working worldwide at over 60 sites. We have new products that we're expecting to release this year, and all of that is largely due to the support of Co.Labs, Innovation Saskatchewan, and our federal and other provincial partners.”
Lipoth said Co.Labs’ mission is to turn the ideas of Saskatchewan-based startup founders, who are focused on developing sustainable technologies, into multi-million-dollar businesses that can enter global markets and compete internationally. Co.Labs is Saskatchewan’s first tech incubator and one of Innovation Saskatchewan’s tech partners. It has supported more than 200 startups, generating over $85 million in revenues and $50 million in private investments, making it an integral part of the province’s startup ecosystem.
“Investments in startup companies greatly impact the local [startup] ecosystem. These [SAIF and AGF] grants make new technologies possible and create opportunities for disruptive companies to make their mark. There’s great upside in investing in our local technology companies. These companies are why we are at Co.Labs; much of this support exists. It's their ambition, matched with our support here in Saskatchewan, that creates these incredible outcomes,” said Lipoth, who decided to return to Saskatchewan and has been Co.Labs’ executive director for almost two years.
“I've seen firsthand how these startups thrive when you have the right mix of resources, funding and mentorship. Since 2017, Co.Labs has supported over 200 startups, helping them move from the idea stage to a multimillion-dollar business. One of the most important roles we play in the ecosystem is that of a connector. We're linking successful startups and those up-and-coming to key startup and ecosystem supports like the ones we've discussed today.”
