Calgary's OCIF backs youth founder program MindFuel with $1.07M grant
What's the deal? The Opportunity Calgary Investment FundDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (OCIF) will provide up to US$1.1M (roughly $1.07 million) over three years to The MindFuelDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → Foundation, a nonprofit that helps youth turn ideas and prototypes into startups and innovation careers.
Where the money goes: The grant funds the new MindFuel Institute, a founder development and venture creation program for participants with strong commercialization potential. It also strengthens MindFuel's Connect2Innovate-AI platform, which connects youth to mentorship, internships, funding, and hands-on prototype work.
The targets: OCIF expects the investment to create 14 Calgary startups, three high-skill jobs within MindFuel, and 60 indirect high-skill jobs across Calgary startups.
Why now? Calgary is working to retain young talent and build a steady pipeline of founders and skilled workers. "We need to ensure they have more opportunities to stay, succeed and grow their companies in our city," said Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas.
By the numbers: MindFuel reports a 79% talent retention rate in Alberta. Thirteen percent of youth projects it supported were commercialised in under four years, and alumni from nine projects had raised more than $43 million in venture capital as of September 2025.
The track record: Alumni have contributed to Calgary companies including FREDSense, CalgaryToSpaceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and While She Is TrueDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. "With OCIF's support, we will expand youth innovation and talent development pathways," said Cassy Weber, chief executive officer of MindFuel.
The signal: The grant reflects a public-sector bet on talent development as infrastructure, funding the earliest stage of the founder pipeline rather than existing companies. For a city positioning itself as an innovation hub, the wager is that today's students become tomorrow's scaling ventures.
Read more: AP News
Image credit: Mindfuel
